Isle of Dreams

Lying off Mu's southeastern coast, the Isle of Dreams is among the strangest places known. It looks like paradise: fields of many-colored flowers stirring in soft breezes, fruit groves among cool green hillocks, crystal springs and waterfalls, and within a short walk every sort of fruit, berry and herb, each with a delicate, distinctive taste.

No dangerous creatures are known there, yet people of nearby islands hold it taboo and will not land, the Zephyr hate even to fly over it, calling it haunted by mad spirits, and a Khitan legend says it is not real at all but an illusion conjured by a mighty, wise dragon to tempt fools to their deaths.

The only dependable record, the logbook kept by Ahmahd of Joktan, a wandering sage, is itself baffling. He first praised the island's beauty and treasures, costly herbs and spices, trees bearing golden fruit, magical pools and grottos and irresistibly lovely nymph-like maidens, while he stayed aboard to supervise repairs. Two days later a Turanian crewman was found hanged from a bow wood tree wearing a hideous grin, the first mate leapt laughing from a cliff, and the captain attempted a bizarre suicide involving a cask of wine and seven nymphs until the carpenters and Ahmahd stopped him. Many sailors were left witless, collapsing into hysterical laughter at the slightest thing or weeping at the thought of leaving, though a few seemed untouched. Ahmahd only wanted to get away.