Velwythe

For more than three years a group from the Floran Province University, headed by a man named Allost Pence, has been researching the Isle of Despair. Pence initially began the project as part of his graduate work. Since then, Pence has graduated and devoted his entire life to the project. His goal was never to uncover the cause of the ‘curse’ that many claim is responsible for the strange deaths. Instead, he wanted to create an ongoing documentary and history of the island which has become more and more mysterious and awe inspiring the longer it goes unoccupied.

Pence’s work will be featured at this year’s AFAE in the form of a capture show, journal and poetry readings, as well as a question and answer session with Pence himself and three others that have accompanied him throughout a majority of his work.

Since the first day of construction on the asylum hundreds of years ago, almost everyone who has ever stepped foot on the column of rock that juts into the air for hundreds of meters, has said it is cursed or haunted. The mortality rate for those who spend more than a day on the island (one that has been around even before the asylum was finished) has been over 75%. This absurd number is absolutely unheard of for any natural phenomenon and has long puzzled those who have never even seen the isle. Despite the widespread interest in the isle and the supposed curse, little has been done to study it simply because it is so dangerous.

Pence set out to study the history of the isle, searching for records and writings of those that worked there, and those that were held there. Traveling as far as Bedrin and Seratov, he was able to find influences and stories of the isle’s past.

Despite what it seems like on the outside, those that live near the isle today in and around Floran, and those that have lived there for any amount of time, have an almost intimate and hidden knowledge of the isle. While Pence has not uncovered the cause of the curse, he has begun to discover just how deeply the isle affects the natives of the area. Many of the local holidays, legends, lore, festivals and even religious ceremonies have something to do with the isle. Pence has even suggested that he has been involved with a local cult that worships the deity of the isle, something he never anticipated encountering, let alone getting involved. However, specifics on the possibility of cult worship are being saved for his presentation at the AFAE.

Pence spoke with the Critique about what his purpose of the presentation is, and what he hopes will happen. “There is more to this isle, this lore and legend than I could have ever imagined before I began this journey. So many of the people of Floran are deeply involved in some way with Despair, even if they haven’t ever stepped foot on the sacred and cursed soil (in fact, few people alive today have ever done so). This isn’t just about an abandoned precipice, it is about the very lives of the people and an almost magical quality surrounding a terrifying place. Despair has not been forgotten, it has become linked to more people and places than anyone could ever imagine.” When asked whether he has ever stepped foot on the isle Pence winked and replied, “Wait until AFAE, only then will you understand”.

—3rd of Vos