Isle of the Blessed

Poliel's Isle of the Blessed was the name used by the leper-like exiles who lived on the island — the exiles being sufferers from the plague of the "rotting flesh". The outer world referred to the same island as the 'Isle of the Cursed', and avoided it because it was believed that just visiting the island would mean being exiled there for life — which could lead only to death. The Isle of the Blessed was located just offshore the southern coast of Quon Tali somewhere between the cities of Horan and Wal Fend.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 4, US TPB p.66/68
The only way to reach the island was to wade there at each day's low tide. Then, for a few hours the island and the mainland were separated by a "boggy stretch of tidal mudflats", which the inflicted unfortunates traversed as best they could. The weakest of the afflicted often became trapped during the difficult passage in "heavy clinging mud", and would usually be left to drown by their stronger fellows.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 6, US TPB p.94
Reaching the island then meant climbing a shore of black gravel; passing decrepit makeshift huts and their inhabitants; proceeding along a dirt path studded with crude shrines; passing cultivated fields; to finally reach the "Temple of Poliel, goddess of pestilence and illness". Inside the Temple, a number of large chambers led to the carved, contorted, humanoid altar — upon which Poliel, herself, would lounge when she was present on the island.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 6, US TPB p.96-98
==In Kellanved's Reach==
In the very early days of the formation of the Malazan Empire, Heboric, the 'Chosen'Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 6, US TPB p.98 of the Great Boar, Fener, was on a pilgrimage that he felt "called" to make in order to discover the meaning of some very strange events then occurring amongst various gods and Warrens. After visiting a number of Quon Tali cults, temples, and the like;Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 4, US TPB p.66-68 Heboric arrived at the Isle of the Blessed and made his way to the Temple of Poliel to ask questions and to hope for helpful answers.Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 6, US TPB p.94/96-98
==Notes and references==
Category:Quon Tali
Category:Islands