Your Island

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

If you were to create your own island...

What would it look like?
What kind of plants and animals are natives there?
What kind of people habitate it?
What is the weather like?
Does it have a history?

You must answer all these questions in 1-5 short paragraphs. As much as it takes for you to accurately describe it. You may add more information besides these questions.
You may also submit a picture of your island if you want either drawn by yourself or a neat graphic you made. If the picture isn't your own though don't forget to give credit. Thanks.

Hopefully we can judge this by Feb 4.

[Abaratian]

Do we post it here, or send it to you? Also, how will the judging work?

[Kez Fizzygig]

A pristine forest, of forever autumn, where fireflys light your way. Twilight kissed and a hint of winter makes this place as magical as the the place the Old Ones call Summerland.

Tree's with bark that smell of musk and spice, flowers whose beauty can never be truly captured in words, animals whose mystery can be found, if only one is patient enough to seek them out.

This place is a refuge for those who have been forgotten, those who once filled the books of lore that have long since been lost. here they live, in peace, quietly waiting for the day when they will be remembered again.

The weather is but a state of mind, or minds in this case, for as they need it, so then it is.

The Izabella called to them, she told them they were welcomed, and so they came, and Danu's Run was created just so they would have a place to go, a place where they would always be believed in, a place they could stay, until the time was right for them to return.

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

Hey Kez! Do you think you could register as a member before you island is considered? Thanks so much for entering though.

Post your work in this thread.
On Feb 4 if we have enough Enteries I will judge them based on
1. If you answered all the questions
2. Originality/Creativity

Then I'll choose a winner and I was thinking of making a thread that will show all the winners and such for all the contests I'll be having. You don't really win anything but maybe I'll make a little winner banner thing. Its just for fun. Does that answer your questions?

I was thinking about judging by poll system but I'm not sure if that'd work out right.

[Abaratian]

Okay sounds good. I didn't think having everyone vote would be a good idea because then everyone would just vote for their own. So it's good that it's just you. Here's my island. I've called it Pied Isle.

Pied Isle


My island would be in the middle of Night and Day. The line would be drawn through the center of the island, where a canyon runs. The canyon is vast, carved by a river, and separates two tribes of people that have been at war for decades. Their loathing for each other has created turmoil, racism, and is slowly destroying the island. The strange thing is that the people look remarkably similar, and one would not be able to tell by appearance which side of the island an individual is from without learning of their culture beforehand. Other notable features are the frequent storms; the weather is tropical it rains quite a great deal. There are often typhoons and small hurricanes, so most of the cities are more inland. This creates more tension between the people, because they are unable to live on the complete opposite sides of the island.

The right side of the island falls in darkness. Little vegetation grows here due to the lack of sun, and the soil has become impossible to plant and harvest. The native animals are predators and it is perilous to venture outside of the cities and towns. Because of this, the people have been forced to civilize themselves and use technology to their advantage. They have indoor farms, where they can cultivate foods for themselves and raise fat, healthy animals for consumption. Aside from that, the people value intelligence, because it has led to their wellbeing. The children are well educated. They value all of the arts, from literature to cooking. If it wasn't for their appreciation of knowledge, the whole civilization would be struggling because of the rocky, dangerous landscape and vicious wild animals.

The left side of the island is a vast, lush jungle. There are thousands of species of animals, from fish to birds and everything in between. It's bathed beautifully in dawn pink sunshine, and there's a content, warm glow to the natives. The people live in small villages. They live completely off the land and the little technology they embrace is not very advance. The believe vehemently that technology and knowledge leads to corruption, and the worst crime that can be committed on their side of the island is possessing any item that Rojo Pixler has had a hand in creating. They believe he is the ultimate evil. The children are taught only resourceful, practical knowledge about hunting, gathering, and the world around them. They are simple people, but not ignorant in the least bit. They have their scholars just as every society does. They just believe that you cannot trust artificial intelligence and machines to do work for you.

Before technologies, the two tribes lived together harmoniously. The Day people shared their resources with the Night people, and in exchange the Night people mined their lands and brought them precious metals and stones. But then suddenly the Night people discovered the technology and started building on it. Soon, they had an advantage over the Day people and they weren't about to stop anytime soon. That's when the wars started. The Night people weren't allowed any of the resources, they started dying, and decided to fight back. The Night people use powerful, terrifying weapons and the natives on the Day side live in constant fear. But the Day people know the land better, they're more stealthy, and their physical strength gives them a greater advantage in hand-to-hand combat. Plus, they have tamed animals on their side. Needless to say, many lives are lost with every battle.

If you were to visit the Pied Isle, you would be safer going to the Night side. Most people would see the lush forests and think it's an excellent place to explore and play tourist. But if the Day people saw your cameras, your fancy belongings, they would probably get offended and kick you out. However, there are people who, for a hefty price, will give you a guided tour of both sides of the island in safety.

[Deleted]

The Isle of Seasons
This is a huge island divided into four counties after the four seasons.

Spring County is full of life, blustering and enthusiastic. The trees and bushes are blooming and the smell of thousands of flowers are thick in the air. It’s a place of infatuation, of love and fertility.
Summer County is hot and loving. The flowers have wilted slightly and only the most resilient are still left. But the grass is thick and green and the beaches in Summer County are white and glorious. On the border between Summer County and Fall County lies a vast forest where the tree branches are forever heavy with the sweetest of fruits. It is a place of abundance and passion.
Fall County begins at the edge of Summer County, where the abundance of harvest still makes for fantastic meals. In most of Fall County, though, the leaves of the trees and bushes are radiant in red and yellow. The weather varies from brisk, cold winds to a soothing, almost warm, caress. It is a thoughtful place, a place of contemplation and nostalgia.
Winter County is covered in a thick layer of snow where only the sun adds a playful glitter to the vast whiteness. The weather has an icy touch, a warning. This is the season of sleep, after all, a place of rest and stillness. The snow covers more than the ground, for every animal or person on the Island who has felt that their time had run out came there for their final rest. Far from being a sad place, the eerie beauty holds a love of its own.

The Isle of Seasons have a rich animal life which migrate every once in awhile. They go to Spring County to mate, continue onward to Summer County, Fall County and end their life in Winter County. The Capybee, a rodent the size of a small pony, is known for its intelligence on other Isles, for example. In fact, there are even rumors of a tribe of them deep inside Fall Country, walking on their hind legs using… thumbs. Another creature worth mentioning is the Lemminin, a small and utterly pathetic creature which resembles a skinny mix of rabbit and dog. It is known for being very nervous and there’s been more than one incident of a lemminin catching sight of it’s own shadow and taking off in panic, never to be seen again. The plantlife varies greatly between the four counties, but quite a few flesh-eating plants have been discovered there. Among other things a big bush in Winter County have flowers that resemble icecream cones while the thin branches are covered with sharp spikes hidden in the snow. There is also the matter of Shyness, the only talking plant in the Isle of Seasons. Shyness is small and according to itself insignificant. It lives in Fall County, where it clings to tree branches, hiding shyly behind more colorful leaves. If you walk past a shyness, changes are you’ll hear a soft whisper and turn around. Shrugging it off and walking away, perhaps thinking it was the wind… when it was really a shyness reaching out to you in a moment of bravery.

The Isle of Seasons has ever been a place of relaxation and adventure. People in Abarat travel there to experience the seasons. Every County has it’s representative, a creature embodying the spirit of that particular season. Other than these representatives and the creatures which live there, there are no permanent inhabitants. Occasionally one would try but for some reason they would all choose Winter County within a year. Nobody knows why, it’s just the way it is.

The latest threat to the Isle is a man named Rojo Pixler who wants to build hotels and charge people money for coming there, something which has been free so far. And so far the four representatives has resisted this, but who knows how long they will manage that…

And also, I have this for you:
It is a painting an artist from Hereafter made of the Isle of Seasons after a vacation there. The artist's name is Silveryn1.

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

awesome 3 enteries so far... ::Pokes everyone else:: I hope ya'll are thinking of something good ^-^

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

::BUMPS::

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

I'm going to postpone this a bit longer to see if I get a few more enteries.

[bleu]

Wow, this is some stiff competition. You all are so creative! I don't know how I could come up with anything half as good. Yikes.

Well, here goes nothing...

Jan 28, 2009 20:26:38 GMT -5 THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT said:

What would it look like?

Gesangregen is a lush, coniferous island that pops up now and again randomly throughout the Abarat. It is also known as the singing island because of the constant rainfall which sounds out a musical note with each drop that hits. People have been either driven to madness by the perpetual sound of nature's symphony, or inspired to create great masterpieces of art. The island has borne many a madman and artist alike. When the lucky occasion occurs where Gesangregen is in a sunlit hour, it is said the rainbows are beyond description.

What kind of plants and animals are natives there?

Only hearty plants can grow on Gesangregen. Tall trees and thick ferns grow in abundance thanks to the rain. Few flowers can take root, the earth putting forth creepers and briers in their place. Aside from the overly large and gloomy owls on the island there are no birds to be found. It is said they cannot stand the singing. Instead a peculiar species of flying fish have taken up residence in the forests of Gesangregen. The flit through the branches and rain, scales of all colors twinkling above your head.

What kind of people habitate it?

The island is currently inhabited by the Vissenmen, a race of amphibious people who are said to have emerged from the depths of the Izabella decades before. They live in stone houses on the pebble strewn beach of Baaistille, the island's only bay.

What is the weather like?

Temperate, with a 100% chance of rain.

Does it have a history?

Stories hold that Gesangregen was once a desert island and was inhabited by a feathery group of nomadic astrologers who lived in yurts across the isle and foretold of events yet to come. Kings and Queens often sent ships forth in search of the disappearing island in hopes of finding it and answers to their future. "How long will I rule", "how do I die," etc. This all changed when a desperate noble woman sought out Gesangregen to ask the sages advice on a matter of love. No one knows what the question was, nor what answer she received but whatever it was it left a grief strong enough to break the once strong woman.

She went out into the desert and cried there, singing a lament. Her tears, once unleashed, could not be stopped. This lady who in all her life never let a single tear escape in sadness or anger, happiness or fear, could now not stop the flow of tears unspent. They washed away the sand, the people, the stars. Nothing was safe, her song of heartbreak growing all the while. It is said the sky itself was moved to such sorrow at the woman's cause that it began to cry with her, it's drops joining in song. It made a boon with the girl. It couldn't fix what had happened, no. All it could do was promise to continue her song; her story; her sorrow and shame. So no one would forget.

The woman is now long gone, her mortal body spent in grief and misery, but the sky remembers. That is why it always rains on Gesangregen. And so it shall continue, until we can learn to forgive or we can teach the sky to smile again.

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

THE WINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok I had a really hard time choosing. I love them all!!!! You are all soo creative. I love it. Keep up the good work everyone!

These awards I made are kinda crappy- Im not good with graphics hehe.. and they are kinda big I'm thinking I should have resized them. Oh well. Tell me you got them and then I'll soon delete them from my photobucket. It gets full fast. Thanks everyone for entering. I'll be putting up the next contest shortly.








Just remember you're all winners! Woohoo!!!

[Abaratian]

congrats, Bleu! Your island was really impressive!

[Deleted]

Congratulations everyone!!! I was very impressed with all the Islands!

[bleu]

Oh my goodness!!! I placed first?! I've never "won" anything before! This is... agh, I can't even think of anything to say. Thank you so much. ;D

And those awards are wonderful, Lady of Midnight. Fantastic. I've saved mine, so delete it as you choose. Thank you.

Feb 16, 2009 19:33:17 GMT -5 THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT said:

Just remember you're all winners! Woohoo!!!

That we are! Congratulations to us all, not to mention our lovely Lady who made this all possible.

Feb 16, 2009 20:33:20 GMT -5 Abaratian said:

congrats, Bleu! Your island was really impressive!

Right back at you, Abaratian. Pied Isle was an engrossing and well thought out entry. It evoked very powerful imagery; the dark and the light split down the island by a ravine. Like, as I was reading it was as if I could SEE the painting Barker would have done for it, and it was amazing.

You too, Munanna! The Isle of Seasons reads to me like a book in itself. Forget Abarat--that island is a series of books on its own. It reminded me of Baum's OZ books in the overall feeling of creation and fecundity, but it reminded me even more of the TV mini-series The Snow Queen. You might want to check that out sometime. I think you'd like it.

Really, yours were both magnificent. I loved how you both incorporated Rojo Pixler into your entries. It made them feel more connected to the actual work. Nice.

[Deleted]

Aw, thank you, Bleu! What I enjoyed most about your amazing Island was the myth behind it. This part is my absolute favorite:


The woman is now long gone, her mortal body spent in grief and misery, but the sky remembers. That is why it always rains on Gesangregen. And so it shall continue, until we can learn to forgive or we can teach the sky to smile again.

Congratulations again! ;D

[Deleted]

Oh, and Lady of Midnight: I adore these graphics!!! I saved mine to my own photobucket account and couldn't help posting my shiny on my LJ account... (we're allowed a little bit pride, amirite? )!

Much love for the shinies!

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

Awww I'm so glad ya''ll are so happy! ::hugs all around::
I'll keep them up I think for a bit longer if anyone else on the forum wants to look at them.
Then I'll probably delete them.

If you guys want to... if you have is uploaded on photobucket or something on your own account.. you could give me the image thing and I can post your award by your name on the Winners thread I made. Its up to you though whether you want that or not.

[Deleted]

I'm in! Here's the link:

[IMG*]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/Raisin_Girl/superlatives/abaratcreatislandwinner2.jpg[*/IMG]

Just delete the stars.

[THE LADY OF MIDNIGHT]

Ok thanks Munanna. IF you ever decide you don't want it up anymore its A-O-K too. It'll be fun to see it up there though.