The map of the Blue Sun’s island, if they have it, is a MacGuffin: it can be used to help drive the players to the Vale and what lies beyond the Vale, but it doesn’t mean much to the adventure. If you choose to let them find the map, you might also let them find some clue or item along with it that leads them to the Vale. Or you may let them find the map in one place, and then the clue elsewhere after they’ve researched the children’s poetry about the Vale.
The Hollow Oak
While traveling far from civilization, the characters are somehow brought to the oak tree that is the entrance to the vale. There are any number of means to this. One is to have the White Rabbit rush by, perhaps steal an apple or other fruit in its mouth, and rush away into the oak tree.
The oak tree is the most mobile of the entrances to the valley, and may be the most useful entrance for an accidental foray into the valley.
Illustrious Castle
It’s possible that they may realize, if they get to the cavern underneath Illustrious Castle, that an entrance or exit from somewhere is nearby. If they find that entrance, they will end up at the Wyvern’s black lake, area 10 in the Long Caverns.
The Haikiutl
There is a cave in the sacred mountains of the Haikiutl, which was once traveled by one of their greatest shamans, Dodna, about two hundred years ago.
The Crossroads
Characters who are already traveling into other worlds may come upon the crossroads of Dead Rome. There is, for example, an entrance to Hamokera in the sewers of Byzantium, and an entrance to the crossroads in a grove near the old city of Barcelas.
A Magic Acorn
They might acquire a magic acorn (perhaps along with the map, although someone who draws a map of their house probably isn’t someone Cirkegrad would give an acorn to), and told to plant it only if they need to escape. They may or may not be told that after planting, they’ll need to wait up to a day before the escape route is available.
