True Doors
Doors made by mortal hands are a pale imitation of the real thing, the same way that trees made of wood are mere memories of the great stone trees whose stumps we call mountains. True doors cannot be seen by most mortal eyes, with the exception of bees, possums and talking starfish. They tend to hide in ancient, untouched places, though by their nature they can exist in plain sight in the middle of a habitation.
Clues that a True Door may be near
- An out-of place wall of live stone
- Scuffs on the floor where a heavy door has swung out
- A confusing crossbreeze, smelling of clove and frankincense
- Moss, lichen, spiderwebs and barnacles seem to shun a patch of wall
- An uneasy drowsiness falls over the group
- Strange, glittery dust motes settle on faces and clothes
How to open this True Door?
- Mark it with a unique sigil in chalk, charcoal or blood
- Shine a certain colour of light on it
- Perform a dance of opening. The cactus dryads can teach you how
- Push really hard. Combined strength of 60 required
- Use a loadstone to slide a pin through an internal maze
- Ask nicely, state your business plainly. True doors appreciate honesty
Where does this True Door lead?
- The other side of the wall
- The nearest tavern
- A nearby dungeon
- An ancient temple in the wilderness
- A crypt on the other side of the continent
- A nexus, connecting to different True Doors around the world
By running a seven-strand braided rope in one True Door and out another, they can be joined as one. Their former connections dissipate and the universe moves one step toward oblivion.
Listening To: Leaving this Rotten World by Warlock Corpse
Reading: The Arm of the Sphynx by Josiah Bancroft