Curse of Leojenta

The 'Curse of Leojenta' is a theory that the island of Leojenta is cursed, causing all attempts at human residence there to end in the deaths of its settlers. The curse's origins are in the three 'Tragedies' that occurred across the history of Stevenis. In February 2002, Insomnia Central claimed the island, and its neighbouring isle of Eslovar as a colony.

## Geography of the island

The island is located to the east of the Stevic mainland. Strong ocean currents act between the island and Insomnia Central.

To its east is a much smaller island named Eslovar.

## First Tragedy

During the 2nd century, there was a period of natural cooling called the First Frozen Era. The drop in temperature was felt across Stevenis, but mostly affected the area of modern day Insomnia Central. This caused fish to migrate out of the area and the limited crops grown by the early Somic people to struggle. The subsequent famine caused many of the Somes to flee the area. Those leaving from the north of the Some tribe drifted on a easterly current to the island of Leojenta. It is thought that many children were left behind on the Somic beaches, due to the large number of lone child skeletons found there, as well as the small number of youths found among the dead of Leojenta.

The refugees landed in the center of Leojenta. Little is known about the exact timeline of their experience. Fifteen settlements have been uncovered in ruins by modern Wordsmithian scientists, as well as a few single dwellings. There were houses built in the ancient Somic style. The households were not arranged as they were in ancient Somic culture (that being one man, his spouse(s), children, and any elderly relatives). Instead, the houses found on Leojenta are believed to have been shared by people all doing the same job. It is also believed that women on Leojenta took up work outside of the home (something very unusual in ancient Somic times) The supporting evidence for this is that some female skeletons have been found apart from their proven biological children, suggesting they lived with others of their profession, just as the men did.

It is believed that the people attempted to fish for food, however the fish in the shallow waters of the island were either too small or too large to be a reliable food source. Some remains of carrots and leeks has been found in the soil near the homes. The crops are hypothesised to have failed for two reasons: a fungus native to Leojenta that spoilt much of the harvest, and bad farming - the soil on Leojenta is much less moist than that of the Somic lands, and the un-agricultural Somes did not change any farming practises to better suit the new environment.

It is estimated that the majority of Somes died within three years of arrival. A total of 3392 bodies dated to this tragedy have been uncovered on the island.

## Second Tragedy

In 1295, Vlid invaded the Somic tribe of Marken. The majority of those fleeing were forced into the very tip of modern day Williamshire, and they set sail in large groups from this point. This turned out to be an incredibly lucky site of departure, as the refugees were in the perfect place to reach the then uninhabited island of Wordsmith, on which they prospered. Those that fled from coasts south of this tip, would not be so fortunate. Following the same currents as the ancient Somes did 1000 years ago, these Marken (northern) Somes arrived on the island of Leojenta.

It is estimated that around 2500 people ended up on the island. A single written account survives from a man named 'Jontross'. He writes of the arrival:

> "Wonderful news - We have found shore! The first time I placed my feet on the sand, I was so overcome with joy that I fell upon my knees and began to bury myself in it. Ille [his wife] pulled me out before I asphyxiated. There are a few small fishes here which I caught and ate. They were bitter, and also bland, but I did not complain for fear of insulting dear Ille's cooking."
>
>

Jontross appears to have come across a monument built by the previous deceased settlers:

> "Marst brought me over to a large pole he had found away from the houses. I think that it was once coloured red and blue, however the paint was almost all gone. Still, the pole was extremely large and it reminded me of the Gadmons built by (insert name of original Somic folk religion that Shiver-Pillians still followed). Marst climbed it and sang \_\_\_What a mystical place this is!"
>
>

Modern historians believe to have located the exact pole that Jontross found (although it is no longer standing). Jontross clearly did not explore the area further, or he would have found a house with the remains of 37 people.

INCOMPLETE

They died.

Jontross wrote that his writing will never be read by anybody as everyone is going to die.

## Third Tragedy

In 1890, long-ruling Reddish leader Qamar was overthrown by a Somian-minority led coup. Qamar accepted his fall from power by believing that the end of his rule was best for Redding. Qamar became extremely self deprecating, and would give long passionate speeches to people about how they, as an individual, did not matter. In 1894, the \_\_ was formed on the idea that the unimportance of the self is empowering, since no actions that you take truly matter (except from when they harm others). Only Qamar himself could be the judge of whether an action harmed others. Qamar attracted thousands of followers within the 2 short years of the cult's existence.

INCOMPLETE

In 1896, took followers to Leojenta to form a community where no-one harmed each other.

Bad farming, poor management, and disease caused them to die before the end of the year.

Qamar tried to commit suicide but his followers insisted that his death would harm them. They tied him up, but when they all died, Qamar was left with no-one to tend to him and he starved in bondage.