The Deathless Isle and the Tree of Life

A natural paradise of spirits and nightmares

The Tree of Life is tallest and largest tree in all the world, and if you are lucky enough to be near it when it wakes from one of its decade-long slumbers it will tell you that its roots have dug into every part of the island on which it sits. It will tell you that from its point of view there is no difference between it and the island, no point where the Tree ends and the Isle begins.
The fact that the Tree can speak is the least supernatural aspect of it. If you could do the impossible and cut deep into its trunk, you would within its heartwood the remnants of the man it used to be. The Tree of Life is only a tree now, but it began its life as a man possessed by a nature spirit. Who this man once was, no one can say, not even the Tree itself. By the time the spirit had transformed the man enough that he took root, the man's consciousness had been completely subsumed by the spirit and the man was lost forever deep within the Tree's wood. Many believe that this was the first time a spirit had fully taken over a human and permanently established itself in the mortal realm. Because of this, many have taken to calling the Tree of Life the Father of Spirits and it has become a place of pilgrimage for those possessed by or harbouring spirits.
It is because of the Tree of Life that the Deathless Isle is known as such, or perhaps it is because of the nature of the island that the Tree of Life is known as such. In either case, the island name has more than an element of truth to it. Death is not allowed on the island, the Tree sees to it. Nothing is allowed to die on the island, and nothing is allowed to inflict death on anything. Anything that happens to be on the edge between life and death is captured by one of the Tree's tendrils that are found throughout the island. These tendrils burrow their way deep into every part of the dying organism and keep it alive forever. Unfortunately, this also means that the organism is kept immobile for the rest of eternity. This is no concern for any plant that this happens to, but it is a nightmare for any animal. They are kept alive and conscious forever more, but unable to move a little more than their eyes.
This is the same "punishment" paid to anyone who tries (or succeeds) to inflict death. This is the Tree's way of protecting both the offender and everything else on the island. The Tree itself also cannot kill, so it does what it can to put a permanent end to death-dealing. While the obvious victims of this punishment are humans or predatory animals, you will find all manner of herbivores and insects trapped as living statues. Even destroying one leaf or branch of a plant is more than enough for the Tree to spring into action. Over the years it has weeded out all animals other than those that drink only the nectar of flowers, or can sustain themselves without the need of destruction.
Knowledge of the Deathless Isle has traveled far and wide, and while those in the interior of the continent believe it to be a myth, many on the coast and on the island know it to be the one true place of sanctuary in the world. The Deathless Isle has been a haven for more criminals, fugitives and other wanted men than can be counted, because they know that noone can kill them once they step onto it. Many of these still remain on the island, trapped there forever. They were too frightened to return back to face their pursuers that they stayed on the island until they died, or almost died and the Tree took them in its embrace.

A Spiritual Home

As the oldest corporeal spirit in the world, the Tree of Life holds the most eminent place amongst those who are spirit possessed. Eventually, all those who harbours spirits within themselves travel to the Deathless Isle to commune with and learn from the Tree of Life. It has a lot of wisdom to give, and the spirit possessed (especially those who are new to the experience) are eager to receive it. Living with two souls inside you can be a frightening and life-changing experience, and many need as much help as they can get. The Tree of Life has helped scores of spirits settle into their new corporeal life and adjust to a physical experience.
Some spirit-possessed are so enraptured by the Tree of Life that they become semi-permanent caretakers of the isle. They leave only to acquire food, and then return to take care of the plantlife that covers the isle, and to the Tree of Life.
Over the long centuries, the Tree of Life has just as much from the pilgrim to its isle as they have from it. It may be removed from the world, but it delights in learning about what transpires in it. It even has long standing agreements with communities on nearby islands, that they will come and speak with it so the two could learn from one another. Over the years this has become a ritual, a holy day of feasting where entire communities descend upon the island to celebrate with the Tree of Life. As long as they bring their food with them (and no death transpires on the isle), it is an entirely enjoyable event.

Type

Island