Isle of the Short Lived

This island is off of the southern coast of the Absayris Desert and the Hammershard Muntains. It has long been held as a mystery, though there are many who observe it from afar. This place is the genesis of Humans, that rare and accursed race. Once every 100 years, 160 humans appear on the island. Each time it happens, they are the same people, leading the same lives, experiencing the same feelings, dying the same deaths. They appear at different stages of life, from child to adult, but none appear to be older than 30 or so when they appear. The only exceptions are those that leave the island. 50 years after they appear, anyone who is still on the island disappears. Then the cycle begins once more after 50 listless years. 
No one is able to approach the island, as there seems to be some kind of invisible barrier preventing interferance with the island's happenings. As such, there are some observation setups in the southern Hammershard Mountains. Some also take boats, but it appears that the islanders cannot see what is on the other side of the barrier. That said, they can cross the barrier from their side, but once they have, they cannot return. Observers have seen that the same events play out on the island, down to the weather and freak accidents. In each cycle, for instance, the same man, Hernley Kreane, is struck by lightning. Once any humans that leave do so, however, their lives are different. While some of them follow in their previous incarnations footsteps, others forge entirely new paths for themselves. One has even been known to leave behind journals for his future incarnations.
Those that have escaped have described a mural that is inside the only structure on the island: the House of the One-Sixty. The mural depicts many of the events that the humans there live through, including the fate of Mr. Kreane. Interestingly, even the humans of the first generation that escaped had seen and described this mural. The mural and the repeating cycles on the island have inspired many scholars and philosophers to speculate on the nature of free will. The house itself has stores of food and rooms for everyone. The food itself lasts about six months, which is almost exactly as long as it takes the humans to form a stable organization with roles and duites. 
The whole scenario is quite bizzare, and no one seems to know quite what is going on. No gods, wizards, or spirits have taken credit for this strange island, but suspicion and theories abound. Some think it is the work of Athneron, trying to create his own perfect race. Others point to Jakular and his endless experimentation with life. Quetminook is another frequent figure in these theories, as the entire situation does feel a bit like an elaborate experiment. The Great Spirit of Stasis has also been accused of involvement since the events here play out the same way time after time. 
The only deductions that seem to be agreed upon by these theories is that there must be some form of chronurgy involved, that who or what ever is perpetuating the Isle must be exceptionally powerful, and that the island itself simply appeared in 2887 with no warning. Beyond these three facts, much that is theorized about the situation has been built on suspicion and jumps in logic. The goals and purpose are shrouded in mystery, one that has been ongoing now for over five hundred years. Many of those invelved are ametuer slueths, out to prove their own theories about the situation.

Geography

The island is roughly 400 miles by 300 miles. The large area and the low population allows peoople that are not getting along within the confines of the house to spread out and avoid each other. The northwest half of the island boasts a tropical forest, with many small criters, fruits, vegetables, and nuts available to eat. On the southern side of the island, there is a bay, well protected from storms or choppy seas. On the East side of the islangs, there are a couple lakes, where many go to escape the heat in the summers.

Localized Phenomena

While there may be additional phenomena, the only ones that have been confirmed are the barrier and the repeating cycle of events that transpire on the island. Some of the 'escapees' view it as a curse, that they are forced to live life after life with no memory of what came before. Others see it as a sort of bastardized immortality, a way to build a legend that will never die. Still others have no strong opinion on it at all, determined to live their lives without considering or interacting with anything from their past incarnations' lives.

Climate

The same weather patterns play out in a 100 year cycle, within the barrier. Tropical storms, lightning strikes, and balmy winds play out the same way. Even the leaves blown off of the trees happen the same way at the same time each repetition.

Fauna & Flora

There are several plants that have been described by those who left that have not been found outside of the island. Those who left the island do carry some endemic plants and animals for food in their escape, but there are many more that researchers have resigned themselves to never seeing.
Examples of retrieved flora include pineapples, certain varieties of rice, and cumin.

History

The Island first appeared with its inhabitants in 2287. Of the origional 160 people that continuously appear on the island, only 18 ever leave. Those 18 include Vermillion Emberwraith and Pittney Bowes. So far, there have been five incarnations of each of these 18 individuals. Any humans, or human hybrids, are all decendants of one or more of these 18 people.

Tourism

While no one can get to the island itself, many come to witness the moment that a human emerges from the barrier. Human rights activists often prevent tourists from getting too close and overwhelming the newly differentiated people. The activists do occasionally bring people who knew past incarnations to meet the new ones, however. This can be a bit akward, but puts them directly in contact with someone they can trust. Not all of the individuals are embraced this way due to their point of emergance not being known.

Type

Island