HOW I MADE IT

SOME PHOTOS OF ME MAKING THE BOOK. 

DONE FINISHED HERE IT IS

FINISHING OFF THE STORY

after my development of Quilla. i moved onto working finishing off the story. I decided to cut the story off pretty suddenly this was mainly due to me running low on time with a two weeks left to finish the project.
 for the swift ending i felt it would fit best if tit was forced like my situation thus allowing it to see abrupt and would leave the story with an ending that could be continued.
I also wrote a letter explaining the journal and adding a bit more context to the story.

after this i got a trusted friend to go over and spell and grammar check the story.

The NOTE:

To Whom It May Concern,

My Name is Harold Langdon I am researcher for the London Royal institute of science.

If you are reading this letter you are in the possession of my journal, at least what remains of it. Please treat it with care.

Within the pages of my journal are my personal notes of how a group of explorers and myself found the Vulpua people, strange and exotic creatures bearing resemblance to both man and beast.

My hope is that this journal is enough to encourage you to come see for yourself these amazing people and the beautiful yet dangerous world they live in.

Sincerely.

H. Langdon.

THE FULL STORY:

Mr First Great adveture

by H. LanGdon

Day 1

Capetown

Arrival

I arrived in the city of Cape Town two days ago from London after a long and torturous 6 Month at sea. My Time aboard the Mariana was spent researching the claims I have been sent to investigate. Her Majesty’s Royal institute on Science and Discovery has sent me to investigate claims of a mysterious island, sailors have spotted along the Clippers route on their journey to New Zealand. A few Captains have tried marking the location of the island, yet the maps and information the Institute has received places this island in a huge area of rough water between Cape Town and Australia. My exploration team’s mission is to find this island. To map it and note any significant discovery we find on the island. Tomorrow we leave for Port Elizabeth. From there we will make preparations for our journey.

 I, Dr. Harold Langdon, shall find this island and be the first to claim it in the name of her Majesty.

Day 4

Port elizabeth

 We have arrived in Port Elizabeth, a quaint colony that is home to a fair few Lords and wealthy businessmen here on safari. Lord Arlington a fellow member from the institute has invited me for a drink at the Hunting club. I asked if they had heard rumour of the island, many though it was a myth made up by the sailors who had spent far too many days at sea. Yet a Mr. Cecil John Rhodes, a local business in the diamond trade has been kind enough to indulge my queries with the information he himself has collected on the island. Mr. Rhodes has given us access to all his company’s trade route maps and where his ships have spotted the island over the last five years. His company’s maps are remarkable with this information. I believe I have a much more accurate idea of where the island is. This could significantly cut our travel time at sea searching for the island.

Day 6

plotting a course

My team and I have spent the past two days charting our course for the island. It will takes us about two month to reach the area the island has been spotted, from there it is a guess as to how long it will take to find the island. According to Mr. Rhode’s captains the sea around the island is exceptionally rough and filled with jagged rocks that makes traversing the waters far too dangerous. These claims have lead me to believe the island to be an extinct volcano. This would explain Mr. Rhode’s interest in the island. As an extinct volcano it is an easy place to find diamonds and other valuable ores and stones. No matter his reasoning his help still holds value.

Day 9

final prepArations

We have spent the past three day waiting for our excursion ship to be loaded and stocked for the journey. I have moved my quarters aboard the ship and begun to settle in for the long journey ahead. Captain Mc Donald and I decided on the best possible route to the island. He is still worried that the rough water around the island will be exceptionally dangerous to traverse. I have assured him any damages to his ship will be covered by the Institute.

Day 10

Setting sail

We set sail at first light, I have this strange amalgamation of excitement and fear as I watch the port fade into the horizon and all I can do now is look forward at the journey I have begun.

Day 17

Ocean magnificence

A few days have passed uneventfully. The crew is largely accommodating and polite aside from one of the deck hands who keeps making passes at me. One of the other crewmen has told me he's harmless but he’ll keep a watch nonetheless which I appreciate.

Day 20

crew

The crew seem to share my fascination in the island and what we might find, most dinners I have spent with the crew listing to their story of faraway lands and the people and creature they have seen, many have pondered what we will find in this new land. Their inquisitive attitude has helped me to feel more at home among the crew.

Day 32

Stowaway

Last night the ship’s crew found a stowaway hiding in the lower decks. The crew wanted to throw him overboard but Captain Mc Donald has decided to throw the boy in the brig and interrogate him in the morning. I wonder if the boy knew where we were heading.

Day 33

interrogation

The Captain has asked me to sit in on the interrogation. He believes there might be a chance the boy is an escaping prisoner or worse a spy for a foreign country.

The captain was a truly menacing force standing over the boy. The captain’s interrogation was a lot more forceful than anything I’ve ever seen. After beating the boy for a few minutes he begun to ask the boy questions. The boy broke immediately and spilled is confession through blood soaked teeth. His name is James, a sailor’s son abandoned at the colony after his father’s ship sunk and his mother died of illness. All he wants is to follow in his father’s footsteps and make a life of his own. I have asked the captain to give James the benefit of the doubt and hire him aboard the ship.

Day 47

James

It has been two weeks since James has joined the crew. The captain has him working in the kitchen. The crew seem to like him and a few have even been able to vouch for James as they had sailed with his father years ago. Truly this is a boy born for a life at sea.

Day 59

arrival

Lady luck must truly be watching over us. Three days ago we entered the region where the island had been seen. After three more days sailing to the centre of the region we spotted land. It is our destination, the Captain has confirmed it. We sailed as close to the island as we could before we got too close to the jagged rocks that brake through the waves like monuments warding off all visitors. The captain has decided to sail around the island in search of a safe place to anchor.

Day 64

safe passage

The Capitan has spent the past five days sailing around the island in search of a secure place to make anchor.  I have dedicated this time to mapping as much of the islands key features as possible. My initial hunch that the island is an extinct volcano proved to be correct. The island is covered in dense vegetation and the sounds of animals can be heard from the ship. We finally found a safe place to anchor and approach the island. We will spend the night aboard the ship and set off on the rowboats for the island tomorrow.

Day 65

camp

We arrived on the beach of the island and begun to set up a camp from which we will start our exploration of the island. It seems we will have to make our way up the edge of the crater that stands as tall as a mountain. This volcano must have been gigantic while it was still whole. A few men were able to kill a bore in the jungle.  Although the crew is excited for the fresh meat I am more enthralled by the fact that there are animals like bores living on this remote island. My body fills with anticipation wondering what we will find in the crater.

Day 66

Night of Unrest

Our first night on the island was spent celebrating our arrival on the island. As festivities carried on I kept one ear to the jungle listening to the all the different birds and trying my best to name the most I was able. There were many I had never heard before. I will need to document them all before we leave.

Day 67

Exploration begins

We have begun our exploration of the island. I decided it would be wise to map the jungle at the base of the crater and find a safe way to travel to the centre if the island. We discovered our first danger lurking in the jungle, a species of flightless birds native to this island that chased our exploration party back to camp only to be scared off by a hail of musket fire. Standing taller than a horse with a razor sharp beak and a lethal set of claws the crew have taken to calling them Razor beaks. Although not overly creative I can’t deny it is an apt description.

Day 68

on guard

Due to the discovery of the Razor beaks, we have had to increase the amount of torches and guards around the camp. The crew has become very uneasy about what lies beyond the shadowy edge of the jungle. I fear the crew have become more reluctant to explore further into the island and this journey might be forced to a quick end.

Day 69

Exploration party

Our exploration party has grown in size after the Razor Beak incident yesterday. The Captain has assigned us a group of armed guards, the men seem less than eager about their new promotion.

Day 73

route to the center

After four days of carefully searching the base of the crater we have found a safe route into the crater. We have begun to make preparations for an excursion into the Heart of the island.

Day 76

expedition Party

We have organized a small party to travel to the centre of the island. Captain Mc Donald and James will be accompanying the research team and I along with a few heavily armed members of his crew.

Day 77

expedition

We left at first light this morning for the centre of the island. It took us till mid-day to make it over the crater rim, Captain Mc Donald has decided that we will make camp in a clearing at the base of the crater. From the peak of the rim I was able to get a good idea of the terrain.  I have mapped a few key locations to help keep us on course to centre of the island.

Day 78

River

After breaking down camp this morning we set out for the first location on route to the centre, a river that flows into a lake closer to the heart of the island. As we pushed along the river we discovered a very unique species of plant. The plant grows a strange flower that has a small barb that shoots out when it is touched. As a member of our crew learnt the hard way luckily they aren’t poisonous. We made it to the lake as the sun began to set, we will set camp here for the night and rotate around the lake tomorrow then from there we will head to the mountain in the centre of the island.

Day 79

Lake

Last night we heard many strange noises coming from the jungle. The captain has begun to believe there is something. I suggested it might be a Razor beak but he is convinced there is something else in the trees.

We spent the day walking around the edge of the lake, my team and I have manages to document a few sighting of other birds on the island. Most were tropical birds native to a lot of the pacific islands. Yet one specimen that stood out was an exceptionally large species of Parrot with a wing span we estimate around five meters. The bird shares a similar size to a Macaw yet it lacks the vibrant colours, having a very tan brown coat of feathers with a maroon underbelly of feathers.

Day 80

alone

We have decided to keep camp at the lake edge till tomorrow as the research team and I document the local vegetation and fauna in the area.

Day 81

lost

I am lost.

Yesterday as my team was documenting the local wildlife I foolishly followed a small flightless bird into the forest hoping to sketch it. After losing the bird I tried to make my way back to camp only to run into a Razor beak. The vile creature chased me deep into the jungle away from camp. I managed to avoid it by climbing into the tree canopy. Yet as sun begins to set, I am stuck sitting here waiting for the razor beak to lose interest and leave.

It seems I am spending the night here__________   

Day 82

quila

After waking up in the tree I decided to climb down and head back to camp as it seemed the Razor beak had moved on. Only to discover that the creature had been sitting in wait nearby. As the beast pounced on me a shadowy figure shot down from the trees knocking the giant bird to the ground. Before I could even comprehend what had occurred the figure grabbed me and pulled me above the tree canopy. In shock of the events that had transpired I fainted.

Day 82

quilLa

When I came to I was lying in a hollowed out log under an animal hide. I was in a strange structure that appeared to be made of woven vines and flax with floorboards of thick bark. There was whispering coming from the floor beneath me. As I tried to stand I realized the razor beaks claw was able to cut a sizeable gash into my arm as I cried out in pain. A beautiful woman came up to check on me. It took me a second glance to realize had she had the ears, leg and tails of a fox. As I lay startled by her appearance she knelt down and presented me with bowl filled with a green liquid I believed she wanted me to drink it. I was hesitant at first but her smile washed away any scepticism I had. The drink had a very herbal taste with sweet undertones. She began to dress my wound using a huge leaf coated with a herbal paste. I thanked her and she replied in English. Surprised that she spoke my language I began bombarding her with questions. She silenced me by placing her hand on my mouth. She replied “rest, we speak later”. After my wound was treated I started to feel groggy. Soon after that I passed out.

Day 85

quilLa

I awoke this morning in the log bed checking my wound, I was amazed to see it had already begun to heal quite rapidly. The gash had closed up and left a nice scar. I decided to explore the area to hopefully find that woman and get some answers. As I was searching around the hut looking for a way out I found a door on the lower level. Opening the door led onto a small platform that revealed the hut was actually built around the top of a tree that stands around 50 feet tall. I started looking for a way down when the woman returned. She greeted me with a smile and asked how my wound was. I told her it was healing nicely and thanked her for the help. She offered me some fruit to eat. It was becoming unbearably clear she was far more comfortable in the current situation than I was. I decided to ask her a few questions which she seemed more than happy to answer. From that conversation I have gathered the following:

Her name is Quilla and she is from a race of creatures called the Vulpua. The Vulpua are a race of sub humans that have evolved features that resemble that of a Fox. This amazing adaptation seems to have formed from the dangerous environment they live in. Quilla continued to explain how her people lived in tribes scattered amongst the tree tops and hunted and gathered from the tree canopy far above the dangers that lurked below. She explained to me how she came to learn English. When she was a child a strange man washed ashore and her tribe took him in. He taught a few of the village members English to help communicate. The man went on to teach the tribe many things and even took the chief’s daughter as his wife. The offspring of that union is the current chief of the tribe. Quilla has decided to take me to the village tomorrow and introduce me to the tribe. I have tried to explain to her that I am not alone here and my crew will be looking for me. She said the chief will decide what happens from here.

Day 86

The Tribe

We left early this morning for the tribe. Quilla explained that this hut was merely a hunter’s cabin. It would take us most of the day before we reached the village.

Quilla moved quickly across the trees traversing from one to the next. I was not so elegant, taking my time slowly and carefully moving from branch to branch. Quilla kept pushing me to catch up and telling me to act on instinct instead of fear. After about an hour I started to overcome my fear of falling and started trusting in the branches to hold me. Soon traversing the tree line started to become second nature and I must say it was truly invigorating.

By sunset we had travelled deep into the heart of the jungle and Quilla had begun to move far more slowly. I thought this was due to exhaustion but Quilla explained that the deeper into the jungle we went the more danger there was. She spoke of a creature called the ligoni that hunted and devoured anything in their path. Petrified by the thought of something fiercer than the Razor beaks I decided it best to quietly follow her lead. As night fell we reached a dense cluster of trees that had become overly tangled together, the vines forming a barrier we could not pass through. Quilla called me over to a huge tree that had a hole carved through it. This was the entrance to her village. Inside the village were a group of much older and larger trees that held together the village buildings and huts. As I looked down I saw the village sat over a swamp. We made our way to the main hall where we greeted the chief, a sizable young man who was excited to meet me. He invited us to feast and I spent the night listing to stories of the chief’s father and telling tales of the England.

Day 86

The Tribe

This Morning I met with the chief to ask if I could return and fetch my crew or at the very least tell them I was still alive. The chief has agreed to send an envoy to go collect my team, I have sent along a note explaining the situation to the captain. Hopefully he will come. In the meantime the chief has assigned Quilla to show me around the village and I’m hoping to gain a better understanding of how these people live. Quilla seemed happy about this arrangement. I feel that she has become very protective although it appears to be less of an attraction to me and more that I’m the new toy she doesn’t want to share. The rest of the afternoon was spent introducing me to the village settling their curiosity. From there she took me to the village’s medicine man who check up on my arm and rewrapped it in a new bandage. The Shaman told me that if it had not been for Quilla I would have lost the arm.

Day 88

The Tribe

Quilla decided to start with clothing. She believes my clothes only attract attention so she has taken me to the tailors who made me swap out my ripped pants for a pair of Deerskin leather trousers with a leather pouch, a loose fitting shirt made of some kind of woven plant fibre and a pair bird feather armbands. After my wardrobe adjustment Quilla showed me around the part of the village where they make their apparel and how they are able to turn a type of bamboo into string that they weave into cloth. I was fascinated by their method for tanning leather.

Day 87

The Tribe

Today Quilla is going to teach me how to fish. Since their village is built over the trees of a swampy area of the jungle the land below is submerged beneath a couple feet of water.  We made our way down the village to the lower levels where the villagers fish. There method entails swinging down with spears and piercing the fish before climbing back up the vine with their haul. This method seems to be quite effective as the fish is completely unsuspecting of the spear until it is too late. Quilla showed me how it was done a few times before handing me a vine and spear. Unfortunately I do not have the same incredible eye sight as the Vulpua and this task seemed impossible to land. I even slipped on the vine and plummeted into the water only to learn that the other reason for them fishing this way was to avoid the crocodiles lurking in the water below. After a hasty swim for the dock at the base of the tree I was able to avoid becoming lunch for the prehistoric beast. Tomorrow I will try my hand at actual hunting.

Day 90

The Tribe

Quilla woke me up this morning at first light to go hunting. We gathered some supplies and joined up with the rest of the hunting party which seemed to consist of the biggest and strongest men in the tribe. I felt very much out of place but was determined to redeem myself for yesterday’s fishing incident. One of the men handed me over a pair of gauntlets which had sharp claws made of obsidian and a pair of knifes for my belt. I was given a quick description on how their tribe hunts before we departed. Their tactic is for the hunting party to track down an animal then a few members of the party surround the target whilst two hunters position above to pounce down on the creature, digging in the gauntlet claws before using knives to kill the creature. This method does seem overly complicated to me but I can see how it would play to the strengths of the Vulpua.

We waited for a few of the younger men to join us before setting off on the hunt. I managed to keep up with the hunters as we traversed through the jungle until one of the men spotted a boar. We moved into position around the animal before the pack leader appointed me and Falgoa, one of the young boys bought along for his first hunt, to move into position to pounce. We arranged ourselves above the animal then, on the command of the pack leader, we pounced. I managed to land on the boar’s back digging my claws into his hide while Falgoa landed in front of the beast. He ended it by driving his dagger deep into the boar’s heart.

A successful kill. As we returned to camp Falgoa and I were celebrated for completing our first hunt.

Day 8

Crews arrival

The Crew arrived at the tribe today. What I thought would be a joyful reunion turned into one of the worst moments in my life. As the crew wandered into the village amazed by what they were seeing I could tell something was amiss. Captain Mc Donald was not amongst the crew. I saw James being carried in by one of the Valpua guards gravely injured. I helped escort him to the Shaman who tended to his wounds. I asked James what had happened. He told me that after my disappearance the crew searched for me through the night. When they couldn’t find me they decided to wait at camp for two more days before they would give up and head back to the ship, this being the allotted time frame for our expedition. Unfortunately on the second night the camp was attacked by a creature unlike any they had seen before. James explained the creature thusly:

“It was like a moving shadow with glowing yellow eyes. The creature stood on all fours and moved quickly through camp ripping any crew members apart in its path. Before long the creature had killed most of the captain’s crew. Captain Mc Donald and a few men started trying to hunt the beast or at least scare it off. But it did not fear our guns like the razor beaks. It just moved through the night just out of sight of our torched light. Man after man disappeared into the darkness. Captain Mc Donald decided to light the tents on fire to reveal the creature. As we lit the tents ablaze Captain saw the creature and charged at it. It was too quick. The creature turned to us and I tried to fight it off but…..”

James struggled to carry on after that.

One of the other members of my research team would tell me later that James fended of the beast for a while trying to protect them. He sustained the injuries in that fight and if it wasn’t for the arrival of the guards sent to fetch them they would all have surely perished.

Day 8

Crews arrival

I spent most of the day at James’ side. I can’t help but feel responsible for this. Quilla has been very supportive and has been tending to the rest of the crew’s wounds. Luckily most of these are minor. I asked the chief what kind of creature could have done this. According to his guards it was a ligoni. These creature have set territories and don’t take kindly to trespassers. The animal’s appearance is big in stature and resembles something like a giant Black Panther with sabretooth tusks from the chief’s description.

Day 8 +2 from last

Crews arrival

The team’s wounds have healed and many wish to return home. The remaining members of my research team and crew have informed me they wish to return home to see their families. It is clear to see the toll this island has had on them. Unfortunately James is nowhere near ready to move as he has just regained consciousness. I spoke to James about the crew’s plight and he has decided he will stay on the island as he can’t ask the crew to wait for him.

Day 8

Crews arrival

I have come to a decision. James and I will remain on the island. We are going to send the crew back to the ship with enough supplies to get them back home. 

There is still so much I want to learn from the Vulpua I can’t leave yet. I also feel Quilla would never forgive me if I did. So I have spoken to the chief and he is more than happy for James and I to stay. I have informed the crew of this. They are relieved to be heading home but think my decision to stay is a reckless one.

Day 8

Crews arrival

We are seeing the crew off today. We arrived at the base camp on the beach yesterday. Final arrangements for the trip back have been made and the crew is ready to depart.

It seems time for me to say goodbye. I am entrusting this journal to one of my research assistants to take back to England for me and deliver it to the heads of the institute.

My hope is that this tale of wonder and adventure along with all the research documentation my team has gathered will help entice further exploration of the island. James and I will be waiting for your return.

QUILLA / DRAWING WHAT THE RACE LOOKS LIKE form the tasty challenge

AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION I HAVE DECIDED  TO TAKE A  DIFFERENT ROUTE WITH THE RACES LOOK.  INSTEAD OF BIRD LIKE FEATURES I CHOSE FOX.IN THE STORY SO FAR THIS IS CLEAR AS I EXPLAINED THEM AS A FOX LIKE RACE.
 I THOUGH THIS WAS A BETTER FIT. 

I actually got the first idea of how i wanted Quilla to tool from another drawing i did just for fun with some friends of what a "tasty woman would look like". after adding the fox like features to the drawing i saw something i could work with as a base reference and created Quilla's portrait. 

THE DEVELOPMENT:

Also i sketch the chief went for a viking look form him might tidy this up but like the rough line work also i did this in peters draw class and he was happy with the line work said it showed character. 

DRAWING AGAIN.

AFTER MY GIANT WORK SPEW LAST WEEK I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO DRAWING  AS OTHER CLASSES HAVE BEEN TAXING NEEDED A BREAK AND DRAWIG FOR THIS BODY OF WORK HELPS.

WORKED ON MORE CREATURE STUFF DRAWINGS AND JUNGLE ILLUSTRATIONS:

AFTER WRITERS BLOCK

WHAT I MANAGED TO COMPLETE AFTER MY WRITERS BLOCK.: 

Day 79

Lake

Last night we heard many strange noises coming from the jungle. The captain has begun to believe there is something. I suggested it might be a Razor beak but he is convinced there is something else in the trees.

We spent the day walking around the edge of the lake, my team and I have manages to document a few sighting of other birds on the island. Most were tropical birds native to a lot of the pacific islands. Yet one specimen that stood out was an exceptionally large species of Parrot with a wing span we estimate around five meters. The bird shares a similar size to a Macaw yet it lacks the vibrant colours, having a very tan brown coat of feathers with a maroon underbelly of feathers.

Day 80

alone

We have decided to keep camp at the lake edge till tomorrow as the research team and I document the local vegetation and fauna in the area.

Day 81

lost

I am lost.

Yesterday as my team was documenting the local wildlife I foolishly followed a small flightless bird into the forest hoping to sketch it. After losing the bird I tried to make my way back to camp only to run into a Razor beak. The vile creature chased me deep into the jungle away from camp. I managed to avoid it by climbing into the tree canopy. Yet as sun begins to set, I am stuck sitting here waiting for the razor beak to lose interest and leave.

It seems I am spending the night here__________   

Day 82

quila

After waking up in the tree I decided to climb down and head back to camp as it seemed the Razor beak had moved on. Only to discover that the creature had been sitting in wait nearby. As the beast pounced on me a shadowy figure shot down from the trees knocking the giant bird to the ground. Before I could even comprehend what had occurred the figure grabbed me and pulled me above the tree canopy. In shock of the events that had transpired I fainted.

Day 82

quilLa

When I came to I was lying in a hollowed out log under an animal hide. I was in a strange structure that appeared to be made of woven vines and flax with floorboards of thick bark. There was whispering coming from the floor beneath me. As I tried to stand I realized the razor beaks claw was able to cut a sizeable gash into my arm as I cried out in pain. A beautiful women came up to check on me. It took me a second glance to realize had she had the ears, leg and tails of a fox. Startled by her appearance she knelt down and presented me with bowl filled with a green liquid I believed she wanted me to drink it. I was hesitant at first but her smile washed away any scepticism I had. The drink had a very herbal taste with sweet undertones. She began to dress my wound using a huge leaf coated with an herbal paste. I thanked her and she replied in English, Surprised that she spoke my language I began bombarding her with question. She silenced me by placing her hand on my mouth. she replied “rest, we speak later”. After she finished treating my wound. I started to feel groggy soon after that I passed out.

Day 85

quilLa

I awoke this morning in the log bed checking my wound, I was amazed to see it had already begun to heal quite rapidly. The gash had closed up and left a nice scar. I decided to explore the area to hopefully find that woman and get some answers. As I was searching around the hut looking for a way out I found a door on the lower level of the hut. Opening the door onto a small platform revealed that the hut was actually built around the top of a tree that stands around 50 feet tall. I started looking for a way down when the woman returned. She greeted me with a smile and asked how my wound was. I told her it was healing nicely and thanked her for the help. She offered me some fruit to eat. It was becoming unbearably clear she was far more comfortable in the current situation than I was. I decided to ask her a few questions which she seemed more than happy to answer. From that conversation I have gathered the following:

Her name is Quilla and she is from a race of creatures called the Vulpua. The Vulpua are a race of sub humans that have evolved features that resemble that of a Fox. This amazing adaptation seems to have formed from the dangerous environment they live in. Quilla continued to explain how her people lived in tribes scattered amongst the tree tops and hunted and gathered from the tree canopy far above the dangers that lurked below. She explained to me how she came to learn English. When she was a child a strange man washed on shore and her tribe took him in he taught a few of the village members English to help communicate. The Man went on to teach the tribe many things and even took the chiefs daughter as his wife. The off spring of this union. Quilla has decided to take me to the chief of the village tomorrow and introduce me to the tribe. I have tried to explain to her that I am not alone here and my crew will be looking for me. She said the chief will decide what happens from here.

Day 86

The Tribe

We left early this morning for the tribe, Quilla explained that this was a hut was merely a hunters cabin set up as a place to rest for hunters and it would take us most of the day before we reached the village.

Quilla moved quickly across the trees traversing from one to the next.  I was not so elegant taking my time slowly and carefully moving from branch to branch. Quilla kept pushing me to catch up and telling me to act on instinct instead of fear. After a about an hour I started to lose my fear in falling and started trusting in the branches to hold and traversing the tree line started to become second nature and I must say it was truly invigorating.

By sunset we had travelled deep into the heart of the jungle and Quilla had begun to move far more slowly. I thought this was due to exhaustion but Quilla explained that the deeper into the jungle we went the more danger there was. She spoke of a creature called the ligoni that hunted and devoured anything in their path. Petrified by the thought of something fiercer than the Razor beaks I decided it best to quietly follow her lead. As night fell we reached a huge cluster of trees that had grown very close together and had become further tangled together with vines making a barrier we could not pass through. Quilla began called me over to a huge tree that had a hole carved through it this was the entrance to her village. Inside the village were a group of much older and larger trees that held together the village building and huts as I looked down I saw the village sat over a swamp. We made our way to the main hall where we greeted the chief a sizable young man who was excited to meet me a man like his father. He invited us to feast and I spent the night listing to stories of the chief’s father and telling tales of the England.

Day 86

The Tribe

This Morning I met with the chief to ask if I could return and fetch my crew or at the very least tell them I was still alive. The chief has agreed to send an envoy to go collect my team, I have sent along a note explaining the situation to the captain hopefully he will come. In the meantime the chief has assigned Quilla to show me around the village and I’m hoping to gain a better understanding on how these people live. Quilla seemed happy about this arrangement. I feel she has become very protective of me less of an attraction and more of a toy she doesn’t want to share. Quilla spent the rest of the day introducing me to the village settling their curiosity. From there she took me to the village’s medicine man who check up on my arm and rewrapped it in a new bandage. The Medicine man told me if it wasn’t for Quilla I would have lost the arm.

Yet another reason I owe Quilla so much.

Day 86

The Tribe

Quilla decided to start with clothing. She believes my clothes only attract attention so she has taken me to the cloth makers who have made me swap out my ripped pants for a pair of Deerskin leather pants with a leather pouch a, A loose fitting shirt made of some kind of woven plant fibre and a pair snake skin armbands. From my wardrobe adjustment Quilla showed me around the village where they make their clothing and other apparel and how they are able to turn a type of bamboo into string that they weave and how thy tan there leather.

Day 87

The Tribe

Today Quilla is going to teach me how to fish. Since there village is built over the trees of a swampy area of the jungle the land below is submerged beneath a couple feet of water so we made our way down the village to the lower levels where the villages swing down with spears and pierce the before climbing back up the vine with their haul. This method seems to be quite effective as the fish is completely unsuspecting of the spear till it is too late. Quilla showed me how it was done a few times before handing me a vine and spear. Unfortunately I do not have the same incredible eye sight as the Vulpua and this task seemed impossible to land. I even slipped on the vine and plummeted into the water. Only to learn that the other reason for them fishing this was to avoid the crocodiles that lurked in the water. After a hasty swim for the dock at the base of the tree I was able to avoid becoming lunch for the prehistoric beast. Tomorrow I will try my hand at actual hunting.

Day 87

The Tribe

Quilla woke me up this morning at first light to go hunting we gathered some supplies and joined up with the rest of the hunting party which seemed to consist of the biggest and strongest men in the tribe. I felt very much out of place but I was determined to redeem myself for yesterday’s fishing incident. One of the men handed me over a pair of gauntlets which had sharp claws made of obsidian and a pair of obsidian knifes for my belt. I was given a quick description on how there tribe hunts before we departed. It seem that the hunting party tracks down an animal then after finding the animal a few members of the party scale back up into the trees as the rest surround the animal then the members in the trees will swing or pounce down on the creature digging in the gauntlets claws before using the knives to kill the creature. This method does seem overly complicated to me but I can see how it would play to the strengths of the Vulpua.

Body section of work

After my animal experimentation i have found i am struggling to get back into writing my story as i have hit a wall as to how the main character would  find this new race or how they would find him.

SO I STOLE THE IDEA FROM AVATAR. 

i decided to use the same story trope as found in James Cameron's Avatar. My main character while wondering in the Jungle is ambushed by a creature and separated from the group and the Race of sub humans would find him.  this actually helped me steam roll and i finished this whole body over the space of a week after a few weeks of being stuck and avoiding it.  

BODY SECTION OF THE STORY:  THIS IS HOW FAR I GOT BEFORE GETTING STUCK:

Mr First Great adveture

by H. LanGdon

Day 1

Capetown

Arrival

I arrived in the city of Cape Town two days ago from London after a long and torturous 6 Month at sea. My Time aboard the Mariana was spent researching the claims I have been sent to investigate. Her Majesty’s Royal institute on Science and Discovery has sent me to investigate claims of a mysterious island, sailors have spotted along the Clippers route on their journey to New Zealand. A few Captains have tried marking the location of the island, yet the maps and information the Institute has received places this island in a huge area of rough water between Cape Town and Australia. My exploration team’s mission is to find this island. To map it and note any significant discovery we find on the island. Tomorrow I leave for Port Elizabeth. From there we will make preparations for our journey.

 I, Dr. Harold Langdon, shall find this island and be the first to claim it in the name of her Majesty.

Day 4

Port elizabeth

 I have arrived in Port Elizabeth, a quaint colony that is home to a fair few Lords and wealthy businessmen here on safari. Lord Arlington a fellow member from the institute has invited me for a drink at the Hunting club. I asked if they had heard rumor of the island, many though it was a myth made up by the sailors who had spent far too many days at sea. Yet a Mr. Cecil John Rhodes, a local business in the diamond trade has been kind enough to indulge my queries with the information he himself has collected on the island. Mr. Rhodes has given us access to all his company’s trade route maps and where his ships have spotted the island over the last five years. His company’s maps are remarkable with this information. I believe I have a much more accurate idea of where the island is. This could significantly cut our travel time at sea searching for the island.

Day 6

plotting a course

I have spent the past two days charting our course for the island. It will takes us about two month to reach the area the island has been spotted, from there it is a guess as to how long it will take to find the island. According to Mr. Rhode’s captains the sea around the island is exceptionally rough and filled with jagged rocks that makes traversing the waters far too dangerous. These claims have lead me to believe the island to be an extinct volcano. This would explain Mr. Rhode’s interest in the island. As an extinct volcano it is an easy place to find diamonds and other valuable ores and stones. No matter his reasoning his help still holds value.

Day 9

final prepArations

We have spent the past three day waiting for our excursion ship to be loaded and stocked for the journey. I have moved my quarters aboard the ship and begun to settle in for the long journey ahead. Captain Mc Donald and I decided on the best possible route to the island. He is still worried that the rough water around the island will be exceptionally dangerous to traverse. I have assured him any damages to his ship will be covered by the Institute.

Day 10

Setting sail

We set sail at first light, I have this strange amalgamation of excitement and fear as I watch the port fade into the horizon and all I can do now is look forward at the journey I have begun.

Day 17

Ocean magnificence

A few days have passed uneventfully. The crew is largely accommodating and polite aside from one of the deck hands who keeps making passes at me. One of the other crewmen has told me he's harmless but he’ll keep a watch nonetheless which I appreciate.

Day 120

crew

The crew seem to share my fascination in the island and what we might find, most dinners I have spent with the crew listing to their story of faraway lands and the people and creature they have seen, many have pondered what we will find in this new land. Their inquisitive attitude has helped me to feel more at home among the crew.

Day 32

Stowaway

Last night the ships crew found a stowaway hiding in the lower decks. The crew wanted to throw him overboard but Captain Mc Donald has decided to throw the boy in the brig and interrogate him in the morning. I wonder if the boy knew where we were heading?

Day 33

interrogation

The Captain has asked me to sit in on the interrogation. He believes there might be a chance the boy is an escaping prisoner or worse a spy for a foreign country.

The captain was a truly menacing force standing over the boy. The captain’s interrogation was a lot more forceful than anything I’ve ever seen. After beating the boy for a few minutes he begun to ask the boy questions. The boy broke immediately and spilled is confession through blood soaked teeth. His name is James, a sailor’s son abandoned at the colony after his father’s ship sunk and his mother died of illness. All he wants is to follow in his father’s footsteps and make a life of his own. I have asked the captain to give James the benefit of the doubt and hire him aboard the ship.

Day 47

James

It has been two weeks since James has joined the crew. The captain has him working in the kitchen. The crew seem to like him and a few have even been able to vouch for James as they had sailed with his father years ago. Truly this is a boy born for a life at sea.

Day 59

arrival

Lady luck must truly be watching over us. Three days ago we entered the region where the island had been seen. After three more days sailing to the center of the region we spotted land. It is our destination, the Captain has confirmed it. We sailed as close to the island as we could before we got too close to the jagged rocks that brake through the waves like monuments warding off all visitors. The captain has decided to sail around the island in search of a safe place to anchor.

Day 64

safe passage

The Capitan has spent the past five days sailing around the island in search of a secure place to make anchor.  I have dedicated this time to mapping as much of the islands key features as possible. My initial hunch that the island is an extinct volcano proved to be correct. The island is covered in dense vegetation and the sounds of animals can be heard from the ship. We finally found a safe place to anchor and approach the island. We will spend the night aboard the ship and set off on the rowboats for the island tomorrow.

Day 65

camp

We arrived on the beach of the island and begun to set up a camp from which we will start our exploration of the island. It seems we will have to make our way up the edge of the crater that stands as tall as a mountain. This volcano must have been gigantic while it was still whole. A few men were able to kill a bore in the jungle.  Although the crew is excited for the fresh meat I am more enthralled by the fact that there are animals like bores living on this remote island. My body fills with anticipation wondering what we will find in the crater.

Day 66

Night of Unrest

Our first night on the island was spent celebrating our arrival on the island. As festivities carried on I kept one ear to the jungle listening to the all the different birds and trying my best to name the most I was able. There were many I had never heard before. I will need to document them all before we leave.

Day 67

Exploration begins

We have begun our exploration of the island. I decided it would be wise to map the jungle at the base of the crater and find a safe way to travel to the center if the island. We discovered our first danger lurking in the jungle, a species of flightless birds native to this island that chased our exploration party back to camp only to be scared off by a hail of musket fire. Standing taller than a horse with a razor sharp beak and a lethal set of claws the crew have taken to calling them Razor beaks. Although not overly creative I can’t deny it is an apt description.

Day 68

on guard

Due to the discovery of the Razor beaks, we have had to increase the amount of torches and guards around the camp. The crew has become very uneasy about what lies beyond the shadowy edge of the jungle. I fear the crew have become more reluctant to explore further into the island and this journey might be forced to a quick end.

Day 69

Exploration party

Our exploration party has grown in size after the Razor Beak incident yesterday. The Captain has assigned us a group of armed guards, the men seem less than eager about their new promotion.

Day 73

route to the center

After four days of carefully searching the base of the crater we have found a safe route into the crater. We have begun to make preparations for an excursion into the center of the island.

Day 76

expedition Party

We have organized a small party to travel to the center of the island. Captain Mc Donald will be accompanying my research team and I along with a few heavily armed members of his crew. We will leave at first light tomorrow.

Day 77

expedition

We left at first light this morning for the center of the island. It took us till mid-day to make it over the craters rim, Captain Mc Donald has decided for us to make camp in a clearance at the base of the crater. From the top of the craters rim I was able to get a good idea of the terrain.  I have mapped a few key location in the crater to help keep us on course to center.

Day 78

lake

After breaking down camp this morning we set out for the first location on route to the center, a river that flows into a lake closer to the heart of the island.