Lost Worlds of Neopia - Episode I: Roo Island by evianevian |  |
So, you thought that the world of Neopia was confined to the "Explore" map?
You thought all the traveling articles in The Neopian Times would be related
to one of these worlds and would thus contain the same information? Well, you're
mistaken, for I have put two and two together and realised that a certain island
has been highly documented, yet is not a basic part of Neopia. Roo
Island is the name of this mysterious land, and King Roo is its lord.
And, this is not ordinary travel article. Recently, my Pteri, Blue Raspberry,
flew over and checked out this amazing land. Here is her eyewitness account
of the goings-on on ROO ISLAND!
"I was on my daily fly-round (need to keep my wings in tiptop shape, you know)
when I realised I had flown a tad off of my normal course. When I used my innate
Pteri navigation sense, I realised I was 30 miles east of Central Neopia, over
an island that was 5,000 square miles. Check out the snapshot I took before
landing!"
"I dove down to the island to investigate, speaking with the locals. There
were thousands of inhabitants, most of them Blumaroo. It turns out that several
years back Roo Island was the happening tourist spot for Neopian yuppies, with
a ferry service between it and Neopia Central. However, as more and more worlds
were discovered, Roo Island turned into yesterday's news and disappeared from
Neopian maps. This is quite a shame, for Roo Island has much to offer, besides
Dice-A-Roo. Oh, by the way, the Dice-A-Roo tourney used to be held in Tournament
Hall of Roo Island until this game got incredibly popular. The Roos had the
tournament moved as their beautiful island was being spoiled by the surprisingly
unclean and rude hard-core dice players. Tournament Hall, a huge marble building
with statuary of famous Blumaroos throughout the ages (including such mythical
Roos as Roodysseus and King Bluthur, and of course the current King Roo), is
an amazing sight to behold. Many Blumaroo arts and crafts vendors also hang
around here, although, after the tourist industry's downfall on Roo Island,
they haven't had much business. I picked up a really cute fake Blumaroo nose,
and a springy Rogo stick, a Pogo stick shaped like a Blumaroo tail for us pets
with less bounce. Of course, I was directed to Grandma Roo's Cafe near the north
of the island. This cafe is a favoured brunch spot, and Grandma Roo has many
devotees, who flock from far and wide for her pancakes, which are made exactly
to order, with almost any ingredients."
"After a refreshing Larvae Pancake (Well, I am a Pteri), I moved on to
the famed Spring Shop. This has by far the best selection of Rogo Sticks on
Roo Island, along with a wide selection of other 'Bounce Enhancers' as the salesclerk
referred to them. I picked up an electric blue trampoline for my already bouncy
Meerca sister, and a 'Super Spring' for my Chomby sister, who could do with
a little more activity. After this I was summoned to the Royal Palace as an
honoured guest (I told you they don't have many visitors). Even though King
Roo was out gambling on Dice-A-Roo, his wife Queen Blum entertained me with
her tales of life on the Island. She sighed as she remembered Roo Island's slightly
more glorious past, but I think everyone is happy that Roo Island is less crowded.
After all, this island is beautiful as it is, and I think we can all agree that
natural splendor should not be compromised for economic power."
Join us next time, when we'll be discussing another "lost world", Lilac Island. |
