Constatlas - Prison Island

This large island of about six square miles sits at the base of the Rhea river where it flows out into the Gulf of Valshin.
It is largely barren and devoid of most vegetation except for large fast growing plants.
The name 'Prison Island' comes from the centuries-old practice of Kraylin depositing convicted prisoners on the island. As a general rule, the worst criminals are consigned to the Pits to fight and will never be sent to the island. Those placed on Constatlas are placed there as being seen as a burden to the society. Many beggars and homeless often end up there along with those indebted beyond recovery yet not fit to be a slave. Runaway slaves are also commonly sent to the island. Being placed on the island is more or less a death sentence, though, in the minds of the public, it is claimed to be a merciful existence when capital punishment is the alternative. These factors often result in many of those being sent to the island being of elderly status.
Any placed on the island are branded with an 'x' on their left cheek if a runaway slave, or an 'x' on a shoulder if indebted.
Life on the island is harsh and most die within the first few weeks from starvation. Once a week, a food boat heads out of Kraylin and catapults food packages into the island. The food packages are often of poor quality and consist mostly of old breads and rotten fruits. That is the only support the island inhabitants get from the outside, for the rest, they are on there own. Water is obtained from either drinking the brackish water in the bay or from the collected rainwater of the frequent rains.
The city's navy patrols the bay and will sink any boat they find trying to escape the island. However, due to the lack of trees on the island, making something seaworthy is difficult.
Those surviving on the island often form bands and are predatory of newcomers. Cannibalism is a long accepted rumor of those who live on the island. Short-lived gangs pop up frequently on the island with few of the gangs lasting more than a year or two before being absorbed into newer gangs.
While escape is probably common, the public belief is that escape rarely happens. In fact, the innocent person escaping is an element of many stories. Many who try to make the swim will find the swift currents of the Rhea still strong enough to sweep them out to sea where they eventually drown.
Over the years, several pit lords have discovered that the island is a good source of fighters when expendable individuals are needed. The pit lords will send secret forays into the island with the goal of rounding up and capturing the toughest survivors. As escaping the island is in and of itself a capital crime, those recovered via the pit lord's secret raids are considered condemned to die as soon as they are returned to Kraylin. The exception is of course, how long can they survive fighting in the pits. Many pit lords will even offer to have the branding removed if they can survive a set number of fights, thus releasing them from the visible signs of their imprisonment.