How to Find Bliss by Jawl Highwind

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[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="5"]How to Find Bliss[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE="1"]by [FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Jawl Highwind[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE="3"][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]The Isle of Bliss, as it is commonly refered to by locals, may be the furthest location from the Ziggurat that can be walked to. Accessible by a sandbar along the rugged southern shore, the Isle can be difficult for a group to reach if they are unprepared. Making the journey alone is not advised, although it is possible under the right circumstances. Travellers should expect a long distance to cover, as the Ziggurat is on the northern shore of the island and the Isle of Bliss is on the opposite side.

The simplest route begins by crossing the Webbed Wood. Invisible travellers may encounter difficulty here if dire spiders are hunting, though they will hunt other spiders which makes for an excellent distraction. After passing beyond the nearby cliffs, walk to the south and locate a footpath leading to the southwest. Avoid the ruins to the east, as spiders often gather there in enourmous groups. The only reliable options for defeating them if they notice you are spells that effect a wide area, such as Call Lightning or Fireballs. Stay to the path and you will most likely avoid any wandering spiders, as they prefer to stick to the trees. The exit to these woods can be found through a gap in the cliffs to the south.

It will lead you to the northern bog, where a dense variety of dangerous creatures make their home. Cross the water and follow the base of the hills, still heading south. From here your choices are to continue west along the edge of the woods to pass through a small ravine, or to risk exploring the tunnel system underneath the island. It is possible to take the tunnel route and avoid some monster encounters, but this guide will be discussing the overland route. You may encounter oozes and swarms of insects, and trolls are nearly always found congregating within a few hundred yards of the exit to the Webbed Wood. Of great concern are Shambling Mounds, which are enourmous and hostile masses of walking vegetation. Despite their appearance, they are unaffected by fire-based attacks; save your magic for other enemies, and try to distract the Mounds with a summoned creature if they are in your path.

Emerging from the bog, you will find yourself at the southern shore. There are few hostile creatures directly outside the bog, but as you journey to the east you will encounter more. Oozes can be found here as well, as well as gibbering, howling, formless creatures. Orc, Troll, and goblinoid tribes wander this area, and hunters are often found in groups. Continue to follow the southern shore to the east. Eventually you will encounter the hunting grounds of several native werewolves, which may make you wish to make this journey during the day; enchanted weapons and magic are the best way to deal with these threats, though they are fast and sturdy. Finally, you will pass beyond the Sharktooth goblin tribe; they rarely leave guards outside their cave, so it is easy to sneak past. Just the same, you may wish to give them a wide berth.

The path becomes more difficult beyond Sharktooth land. The shore grows more rugged, with narrow sandbars being the only path to take. In the direction of the cliffs are wild bears, mysterious shrines, and the ruins of the Ilythiiri. Since your destination is the Isle of Bliss, ignore these places and follow the sandbar route to the south. Werewolves also patrol this area during the night, so if you must travel with the moon out then be prepared to fight your way past. As the cliffs are left behind, the sandbar gradually widens until three carriages could pass comfortably abreast.

Along the edges of the sandy shore, the first sight visible to a traveller will be chairs in the design of clamshells and tables of marble. Several such furnishings can be found along around the Isle of Bliss, along with dolphin-shaped fountains of stone. Once the cliffs behind you are out of sight, the primary attraction of the "Island" will come into view: the Sated Shark Inn, a two-story structure resembling any other inn you might find on a civilized land mass. The Inn has a bizarre sense of welcome despite its mysterious circumstances, surrounded by a tall stone wall on all sides yet having no gate in the front. The only separation between the residents inside and the monsters outside is a simple wooden door.

The Isle of Bliss is not exactly an island in the proper definition of the term, but it may as well be. It has a sense of seclusion and separation, though it is connected to the main island in more than one way. Travel around to the far side of the walled Inn and you can find a small hill on the southern edge. This hill conceals the shrine of some water deity, with countless statues depicting elementals and a powerful blue light permeating the caves within. Deep beneath the Isle of Bliss, through the Shrine, is a large monument to the water deity, presumed to be Istishia. However, travellers should beware before wishing to pay their respects at this shrine, as accounts from local adventurers claim that a mysterious force enthralled their minds, forcing the drowning death of one of their own. Through a hidden passage in the very back of the Shrine, an astute observer can find their way back to the main Island underground.

The Sated Shark Inn proudly displays its island motif, complete with palm trees and hanging vines. Beneath the shells and potted plants, it is a colorful and comfortable place to rest after a long journey. Paintings of varying quality can be seen hanging sparsely on the wall, and all in all it is a very clean, wholesome place. An older, half-elven resident describes it well: "...it is so perfect here, the most fitting word for the place is simply 'bliss'. If you lived here as long as I did you'd start to like it too." Although this author did appreciate a proper bed after six weeks of cots and bedrolls, the "bliss" seems to be a little elusive for someone just passing through.

Standing at a counter beyond the entrance hall is a young hostess with a warm, perpetual smile and a welcome for visitors to the Inn. She is the daughter of the establishment's owner, Jonathan. One of the few permanent residents, she shares the general sentiment of delight and contentment that seems common amongst all who stay. To those who ask, she will also explain the origin of the Sated Shark Inn: "My father says he and his men escaped the slave pits of Traensyr about 20 years ago, if you believe him that is. He likes to sensationalize stories sometimes. At any rate, him and his men were captured by the drow, and he supposedly led a slave revolt up here to the surface. He'll talk your ear off about it if you ask him sometime."

Another permanent resident of the Inn is Jhallabah, a "fine taster of wines" from all over Toril. A large man, with dark skin and hair, he seems perturbed by the subject of shirts; it is best not to broach this topic with him if you seek a conversation. His story is simple: He was a traveller that came across the Isle of Bliss while searching for meaning in his life. He claims that food tastes better when living on the Isle, and so he decided to stay. He resides there still as of the writing of this guide, enjoying fine wines and cheeses.

Calley Olwyn, once a resident of Sanctuary and a Seeker, also resides at the Sated Shark Inn. She seems quite content to spend her days singing for the visitors who come by the Isle, and her attitude is uniquely cheerful even amongst the other residents. Not being found of the Ziggurat, she found her way here after escaping from the Underdark, and intends to remain for the foreseeable future. To quote from a song she sang for this author, "...now we have hope, beauty, and love, / On this Isle so sweet, pure as the dove..."

Finally, the owner of the Sated Shark Inn is a man named Jonathan. A Tymoran Half Elf, he tends the bar and handles transactions. For 10 coins, you can rent a room for the night, and he has plenty of space for people wishing to stay longer. Wearing a particular shade of blue common both to his daughter and the ex-Seeker Calley, Jonathan is, by his daughter's account, a survivor of the Underdark. He is as friendly as any of the other residents, although he does have one very unique quality: an interest in leaving. "Wanderlust leaves me wanting to adventure more and more each day, and I admit I've no real desire to stay here forever. If I can find someone ambitious and worthy enough to take over this inn someday, I'll likely give it to him."

Mysteries abound within the Isle of Bliss. The first and most obvious is the Sated Shark's very existence: How does such an undefended location remain open in the midst of violent and hostile creatures? There is no gate, no guards (save one on the second floor in front of a locked door), and no obvious reason why it should still be around. Yet somehow the Inn survives, even prospers, and travellers passing by the south shore should be grateful for that.

Other mysteries come from rumours started by adventurers. Local druids claim that an Illithid resides on the Isle of Bliss, although there is no evidence to support such a claim. However, other reports do substantiate the claim of a mind-affecting force nearby, such as the events of the drowning victim in the water shrine. The loyal, permanent residents of the Sated Shark Inn seem to show no concern for any of these problems; is this an indication of mental influence at work, or simply the result of comfortable living on an island where such is hard to find?

The evidence is simply not there to answer the myriad of questions that are raised by the Isle of Bliss. For now, the only thing we know for sure is that there is a little bastion of comfort that has some locals second guessing its sincerity. If you wish to explore the Isle for yourself, take a walk along the southern shore and make sure you are prepared for a fight along the way. Meet with the people, hear their stories, and determine for yourself whether the Isle of Bliss is worth another visit.[/FONT][/SIZE]