Heart Pool
"I had the absolute pleasure to stand witness to a ceremony uniting two ethereal beings of prismatic light and soundful joy upon the waters of the Heart Pool. Immediately after, there was a joining of many of these beings in what I assume was a copulatory revel. I abstained upon being invited to join." - from the memoirs of Lewin Von Treet, Vault: the Land of Stuff and Things
East of Arik's Pass is a lake, smaller than Cradle Loch, but no less important to the people of Highcroft. Known as the Heart Pool, this magical place has very obvious fey influences, from the bright, vibrant colors to the visceral mirth of the area. Flora unlike any other on Vault grows in the Nimblewick Woods surrounding the lake, and the creatures inhabiting the area seem to be travel back and forth between realms without issue.
While the Heart Pool exists as a crossing between the material and fey realms, it is used for so much more than that. Acting as a bridge, a sanctuary, and a crossroads between realms allows this place to be used by many across the multiverse. It seems to have a special power to embrace and empower those who come to it with love in their hearts, and thus it has become a destination for beings beyond the material to convey their love for one another.
Celestials, elementals, mortals and more come to the Heart Pool to join hands and pronounce their love to one or many. It often involves a ceremony but even the people of Highcroft have been known to wander the pool simply to be in love.
Being a grounds for adoration is not its only significance, however. It is here the fey of the Seelie court convinced the pegasi of the Mythrisyl Forest to come to the aid of the people of Highcroft in their war against the dragons. That meeting, known as the Íobairt Accord, took place beneath the Crest Falls, where no mortal was allowed audience. Many in Highcroft leave offerings at the Heart Pool to thank the fey for whatever words convinced the pegasi to save their homes.
To threaten the Heart Pool is to incur the wrath of multiple planes of existence, and those who bring hate into it waters are cursed for the remainder of their very short lives.
