The Island That Shouldn't Exist: Buyan

The Island beyond the veil, have many interpretations throughout Slavic folklore, but this is mine.

Buyan is said to be a real island hidden somewhere beyond the boundaries of the mortal world. Sometimes it can be seen rising from the sea, while at other times it disappears completely beneath mist and magic. Not everyone can find its shores. The island reveals itself only to those it chooses, or perhaps to those who need it most.

At its heart stands an ancient oak tree, forever green beside the ocean. Its enormous roots reach deep into the earth, while its branches stretch toward the heavens. Many believe it holds secrets long forgotten by the rest of the world.

Buyan is far from uninhabited. Ancient creatures lurk within its forests, watching from between the trees. Leshy roam beneath the shadowed canopy, protecting the island and misleading anyone who does not belong. Some appear almost human, while others wear antlers, bark, vines, or the features of wild animals. The deeper one travels into the forest, the stranger its inhabitants become.

In Koschei, Buyan is a place of powerful magic, forgotten truths, and dangerous creatures. Time moves differently upon its shores, and those who manage to find the island may never return unchanged.