Island of Blessings

Land of Sanctuary & Healing

Once lush and beautiful lands give way to frozen ice and snow, the desolation absolute where once were healing lands that brought forth life. The freezing temperatures of the tundra on the continent sweep southward, becoming more barren, more icy as they wash over the large island and its lake. An isle of unparalleled beauty, secluded from the mainland by distance and waterways, became even more secluded after the Eldritch War, separated from the north and civilization by climate and erasure.

It is odd to see green replaced so wholly by white, sweeping landscapes shrouded in deep snows, something that had never once touched this place. But the magic here is different now, warped from what it used to be by things that should never have been here.

— Unknown Scholar

The Island of Blessings was once a paradise of color, beauty beyond what could be found elsewhere in the world. When the Eldritch War began and a section of the island turned into a Deadzone, the magic that once spurred the civilization of the Lesser Celestials turned, erasing enlightenment with snow and cold that could not be reversed. What was once there was quickly gone, even the people fleeing for the aching cold bit through the thickest of garments and chilled even those that visited from the Either Tundra. Other than the lake in the center of the isle, all had completely changed.
Much like the Djinn Ruins of the Southern Continent, the Island of Blessings once held great civilizations of enlightenment, art, and trade. For those who could travel the great distance across the ocean to the isle, it was a place of relaxation and healing, a popular vacation destination for those who had the funds. Now, the island is a place that is best left unexplored, the once great civilizations little more than ruins buried by snow and ice.

Geography

The Island of Blessings is thousands of miles of frozen landscape that can be found closest to the Strangeway Flats on the Southern Continent. There is no natural land bridge connecting the island to the main continent, instead, a couple hundred miles stretch between the two depending on where one might cross from.
Hills, valleys, caves, and ruins are common throughout the isle but the deep snow and ice often hide many of these except for the larger ruins. Only near the shores of the lake does the snow recede a little, giving way to pristine shores that are very similar to what they had been before the Eldritch War.
No matter the time of year, the climate on the Island of Blessings is considered one of the coldest places in the world with temperatures below freezing and whipping winds that cut through nearly anything. While often likened to the climate of the Either Tundra, that example is an understatement compared to what the isle became after the changing magic. Even the far north of the world cannot compare in terms of temperature.

Island of Blessings

Island of Blessings by Landscape via Artbreeder, created by RiverFang

An isle of once great beauty, the Island of Blessings has changed to a landscape of ice and snow as the events of the Eldritch War greatly changed the once amazing magic that was there.

Fauna & Flora

Penguin

Penguin by Cornelius Ventures on Unsplash

Penguins are only found in the coldest reaches of the world, often along the frozen coast of the Southern Continent and on the Island of Blessings. These creatures have adapted to deal with cold temperatures and freezing waters.

While it is truly unknown how many of the previous species still exist on the Island of Blessings, a number of new species have appeared that are better suited to the freezing temperatures that are now common. A variety of Penguins, Seals, and Whales are common in and around the coasts. Other smaller creatures, similar to those found in the Either Tundra on the Southern Continent and the Neither Tundra on the Northern Continent, live towards the center of the island and around the lake.
Most creatures that can be found on the Island of Blessings have a thick layer of blubber that insulates them from the cold as well as thick hair that is made to get wet and still keep in heat. Few birds outside of Penguins call the area home as the wind makes flying quite difficult. Even the Penguins are equipped with feathers that are meant for being wet and insulating them from the cold water as they search for food.
Flora on the island is somewhat sparse but a large majority of the plant life here thrives under the snow and ice. Some Scholars have named a small shrub-like plant the Blessed Brush as it is one of the few remaining flora that resembles the lushness of what the isle used to be. Other flowers and grasses from the vibrant days of the isle can be found within caves or sheltered valleys, but their numbers are few.
It is believed that a great deal of aquatic life still exists beneath the surface of Heaven's Mirror but it is difficult to tell as the lake is covered with a thick layer of ice. The lake may be the only remaining area where the ecosystem is unchanged from before the Eldritch War. Some aquatic life can also be found off the coast, allowing for the creatures there to thrive.

Type

Island

Location under

Nótios

Points of Interest

Most of the old landmarks on the island have been turned to ruin but some things still remain from the days when the island was once abundant and thriving. Some of these landmarks are known even beyond the Southern Continent.

Heaven’s Mirror

Heaven's Mirror is the large lake in the center of the Island of Blessings. Found on top of a large plateau, this lake is fed by subterranean streams, keeping the water cool and fresh.

Deadzone

While other places throughout the world have Deadzones, the one created on the Island of Blessings is very different from the others. Instead of burning sands, the Deadzone is covered with millions of glass shards that are almost dust-like in consistency due to being pulverized.

Blessed Ruins

The island was home to the once-great civilization of the Lesser Celestials. Known for their enlightenment, art, and trade, these people built monolithic cities and buildings that have been reduced to nothing more than ruins.

Myths of the Island of Blessings

One myth is at the center of many people still attempting to reach the Island of Blessings and Heaven's Mirror, even after the island has been so changed.

Blessed Waters

It is believed that the Blessed Waters of @heav and the new tributaries have magical healing properties. The healing ability spoken of in myth is known to heal Dragons of maladies and others of injuries that are impossible to heal with other magic.