A World Of Grandiose Creature:Part Two

     As someone who has spent his life discovering and investigating the wild inhabitants of Neopia, I, Randall, have had to risk my life many times. Last week I detailed out my time exploring Terror Mountain and how I got attacked by a family of irritated Snow Beasts. That was only one of many times I have had to go deep into a land of danger to try to obtain new information. Not all of my missions are successful, sometimes places are far too dangerous or far too shrouded in mystery. I've made countless attempts to visit Lutari Island, a place that was open only briefly for a very select number of visitors, a place that has since closed off and exists in only memories. My dream is to get there someday and play Coco Roller, a game famed on the island, one of the few things we know the inhabitants do for enjoyment. Until then, there are many more islands available for exploration, and not even far from home.

     ---

     I'm from Mystery Island originally, yes I know, so original for me to be an Island Kougra and be from Mystery Island. But I think it is important to get to know your homeland, as important as knowing the world around you. I spent a lot of time researching the "Coconut People" that live on the interior of the island and wanted to present to you my findings on them.

     First things first I will tell you all that is known about them before I go into my journey to try to meet them.

     Around Techno Mountain there is a group of island natives that are generally known as the "Coconut People". They strongly resemble coconuts, possibly using the coconuts as armor for whatever reasons. If you need a similar image, think of the Coconut Jubjub. They are an aggressive group of people, frequently attacking anyone that comes near. They like to live in their isolation and don't leave their areas, they aren't fans of exploration. There is a type of Tiki Tour you can take where you get to meet the "Coconut People", but it is widely believed you are actually meeting actors dressed as the tribe. They aren't fond of visitors, or researchers, or anyone for that matter. There are many rumors that they are cannibalistic and will eat each other when the need arises.

     Mystery Island's history revolves heavily around the volcano in the center which we called Techo Mountain, but the Coconut People seem to know it as Piku Paku Volcano. The volcano houses a fire based petpet called Moltenus, if he is ever awakened then the volcano will erupt and destroy the whole island, and maybe even all of Neopia. The Coconut People worship this Moltenus and offer sacrifices to keep the volcano dormant and satisfied. They heavily believe in keeping the Island spirits happy.

     Armed with this knowledge I went out to find out anything additional I could from them. I packed up a bag with gear suitable for the conditions: a tent to keep out the mosquitos, lots of water to fight of dehydration in the hot, humid conditions, and a special armored chest plate that was lightweight enough to carry but heavy enough to hopefully block my vital organs from spear or arrow attacks. I was also going to be accompanied by a friend and colleague, Dr. Zardulu, another Island Kougra. I believed that having two Island Kougras would keep the Coconut People from being too shocked, if I showed up with a Faerie Vandagyre, something completely foreign to them, they might be more brutal and less willing to let us observe.

     "Okay, you have your bag all packed and everything? I've got my supplies, a bunch of medication in case we come down with something from bug bites or bad water, and I have plenty of first aid things in case of injury," Dr. Zardulu was prepared for the adventurer. She was trained in both physical medicine as well as a talented researcher, capable of deciphering languages as her specialty. I thought she would be a great person to come, on top of what I said before about her being an Island Kougra, but also with all her expertise. I nodded to her and we set off into the jungle. Mystery Island is large, but not so large like Terror Mountain, it wouldn't take days for us to get to our subjects. The Tiki Tour only takes an hour to arrive at their fraudulent site, it would take us around nine hours of hiking tonight.

     After a long day, we set up camp. We were maybe two to three hours from the area the Coconut People are known to inhabit. We figured that we could rest up tonight and get an early start, try to find them while they are foraging for breakfast. The only reports we had heard about what they eat is that they eat each other, but even cannibals tend to have a somewhat varied diet. Plus, how would they sustain a population if all they did was devour each other?

     The morning sun started to peak over the jungle canopies.

     "Let's get started," I said to Dr. Zardulu as we packed the last of our things into our bags. We left our big bags with the tents behind and only brought the essentials. Keeping down the weight was important, we wanted to be able to move quickly if we had to.

     After about two hours we heard a chanting in the distance.

     "This must be it," I said. The chanting was haunting, it was deep and I could feel it resonating in my chest. I look over and Dr. Zardulu has a tape recorder out and is jotting down notes at lightning pace. She is recording the chants in order to work at translating them later, trying to make sense of it and figure out what they are chanting. We creep closer, quietly pushing back leaves as not to draw attention to ourselves. That's when we see them!

     Twenty five Coconut People, some holding spears, surrounding a stone head three times the size of them. They are moving in a circle, doing a carefully choreographed dance while chanting. This must be some type of morning ritual, calling upon the powers of the island to help them find food or something. Maybe they are consulting the powers for an answer to some sort of problem? I see just past them that there is some type of food display, leaves carefully woven into a large mat on the ground that is filled with all the delicious tropical fruits that Mystery Island is known for.

     Once their chanting ritual was over they went over to the table and sat down for a feast. I had to wonder if this was a daily event for them or if today was some type of special celebration that called for all this. They all seemed friendly with each other, no threat of them brutally killing and murdering just for a bite of another's head. We watched them eat all kinds of fruit and once we thought the feast was over, we saw a group emerge from the woods. Above their heads they carried a massive tray holding at least a dozen Coconut People on top!! The moment this tray was set down the people attending the feast swarmed and began devouring their tribesmates!! Dr. Zardulu and I watched in horror as we saw coconut flesh flying in the air, but we didn't hear any screaming from the victims.

     "I don't know if I can watch this," Dr. Zardulu said, looking away. Me, on the other hand, I could! I pulled out my binoculars to get a closer look and was shocked at what I saw.

     "Doctor, look," I handed the binoculars to Dr. Zardulu. She grabbed them and looked through and her jaw dropped.

     "They..."

     "They are just eating coconuts," I responded joyfully!! "They must not be cannibals at all, someone just saw them eating coconuts and thought they were eating each other!!"

     Of course this was a one time event, and maybe in desperate situations they do eat each other's coco-nutty flesh in a brutal, cannibalistic fashion. Our relief wasn't long lasted though, as our joyful exclamations that we weren't witnessing a brutal killing were heard by the tribe. Their whole bodies spun around and suddenly we had 50 coconut eyes staring straight at us.

     "RUN!!!" I screamed and took off running with Dr. Zardulu. Behind us we heard heavy chanting beginning again, this time sounding much more brutal. I saw Dr. Zardulu pull out her recorder to try to get that on tape but in the hustle she dropped it and had to keep running. They were catching up with their little legs, holding pointy spears. I felt a spear go whizzing past my head, narrowly missing my skull.

     Fortunately our four legs were faster than their pairs of two and we were able to make it back to our camp, safely outside the border in which the Coconut People live. It was a terrifying day and we learned a bit more about their dining habits. We have plans to return one day to see if we witnessed (and interrupted) a special ceremony, or if their days are really just filled with fruit festivals and choreographed chants!

     As someone who has spent his life discovering and investigating the wild inhabitants of Neopia, I, Randall, have had to risk my life many times. Last week I detailed out my time exploring Terror Mountain and how I got attacked by a family of irritated Snow Beasts. That was only one of many times I have had to go deep into a land of danger to try to obtain new information. Not all of my missions are successful, sometimes places are far too dangerous or far too shrouded in mystery. I've made countless attempts to visit Lutari Island, a place that was open only briefly for a very select number of visitors, a place that has since closed off and exists in only memories. My dream is to get there someday and play Coco Roller, a game famed on the island, one of the few things we know the inhabitants do for enjoyment. Until then, there are many more islands available for exploration, and not even far from home.

     ---

     I'm from Mystery Island originally, yes I know, so original for me to be an Island Kougra and be from Mystery Island. But I think it is important to get to know your homeland, as important as knowing the world around you. I spent a lot of time researching the "Coconut People" that live on the interior of the island and wanted to present to you my findings on them.

     First things first I will tell you all that is known about them before I go into my journey to try to meet them.

     Around Techno Mountain there is a group of island natives that are generally known as the "Coconut People". They strongly resemble coconuts, possibly using the coconuts as armor for whatever reasons. If you need a similar image, think of the Coconut Jubjub. They are an aggressive group of people, frequently attacking anyone that comes near. They like to live in their isolation and don't leave their areas, they aren't fans of exploration. There is a type of Tiki Tour you can take where you get to meet the "Coconut People", but it is widely believed you are actually meeting actors dressed as the tribe. They aren't fond of visitors, or researchers, or anyone for that matter. There are many rumors that they are cannibalistic and will eat each other when the need arises.

     Mystery Island's history revolves heavily around the volcano in the center which we called Techo Mountain, but the Coconut People seem to know it as Piku Paku Volcano. The volcano houses a fire based petpet called Moltenus, if he is ever awakened then the volcano will erupt and destroy the whole island, and maybe even all of Neopia. The Coconut People worship this Moltenus and offer sacrifices to keep the volcano dormant and satisfied. They heavily believe in keeping the Island spirits happy.

     Armed with this knowledge I went out to find out anything additional I could from them. I packed up a bag with gear suitable for the conditions: a tent to keep out the mosquitos, lots of water to fight of dehydration in the hot, humid conditions, and a special armored chest plate that was lightweight enough to carry but heavy enough to hopefully block my vital organs from spear or arrow attacks. I was also going to be accompanied by a friend and colleague, Dr. Zardulu, another Island Kougra. I believed that having two Island Kougras would keep the Coconut People from being too shocked, if I showed up with a Faerie Vandagyre, something completely foreign to them, they might be more brutal and less willing to let us observe.

     "Okay, you have your bag all packed and everything? I've got my supplies, a bunch of medication in case we come down with something from bug bites or bad water, and I have plenty of first aid things in case of injury," Dr. Zardulu was prepared for the adventurer. She was trained in both physical medicine as well as a talented researcher, capable of deciphering languages as her specialty. I thought she would be a great person to come, on top of what I said before about her being an Island Kougra, but also with all her expertise. I nodded to her and we set off into the jungle. Mystery Island is large, but not so large like Terror Mountain, it wouldn't take days for us to get to our subjects. The Tiki Tour only takes an hour to arrive at their fraudulent site, it would take us around nine hours of hiking tonight.

     After a long day, we set up camp. We were maybe two to three hours from the area the Coconut People are known to inhabit. We figured that we could rest up tonight and get an early start, try to find them while they are foraging for breakfast. The only reports we had heard about what they eat is that they eat each other, but even cannibals tend to have a somewhat varied diet. Plus, how would they sustain a population if all they did was devour each other?

     The morning sun started to peak over the jungle canopies.

     "Let's get started," I said to Dr. Zardulu as we packed the last of our things into our bags. We left our big bags with the tents behind and only brought the essentials. Keeping down the weight was important, we wanted to be able to move quickly if we had to.

     After about two hours we heard a chanting in the distance.

     "This must be it," I said. The chanting was haunting, it was deep and I could feel it resonating in my chest. I look over and Dr. Zardulu has a tape recorder out and is jotting down notes at lightning pace. She is recording the chants in order to work at translating them later, trying to make sense of it and figure out what they are chanting. We creep closer, quietly pushing back leaves as not to draw attention to ourselves. That's when we see them!

     Twenty five Coconut People, some holding spears, surrounding a stone head three times the size of them. They are moving in a circle, doing a carefully choreographed dance while chanting. This must be some type of morning ritual, calling upon the powers of the island to help them find food or something. Maybe they are consulting the powers for an answer to some sort of problem? I see just past them that there is some type of food display, leaves carefully woven into a large mat on the ground that is filled with all the delicious tropical fruits that Mystery Island is known for.

     Once their chanting ritual was over they went over to the table and sat down for a feast. I had to wonder if this was a daily event for them or if today was some type of special celebration that called for all this. They all seemed friendly with each other, no threat of them brutally killing and murdering just for a bite of another's head. We watched them eat all kinds of fruit and once we thought the feast was over, we saw a group emerge from the woods. Above their heads they carried a massive tray holding at least a dozen Coconut People on top!! The moment this tray was set down the people attending the feast swarmed and began devouring their tribesmates!! Dr. Zardulu and I watched in horror as we saw coconut flesh flying in the air, but we didn't hear any screaming from the victims.

     "I don't know if I can watch this," Dr. Zardulu said, looking away. Me, on the other hand, I could! I pulled out my binoculars to get a closer look and was shocked at what I saw.

     "Doctor, look," I handed the binoculars to Dr. Zardulu. She grabbed them and looked through and her jaw dropped.

     "They..."

     "They are just eating coconuts," I responded joyfully!! "They must not be cannibals at all, someone just saw them eating coconuts and thought they were eating each other!!"

     Of course this was a one time event, and maybe in desperate situations they do eat each other's coco-nutty flesh in a brutal, cannibalistic fashion. Our relief wasn't long lasted though, as our joyful exclamations that we weren't witnessing a brutal killing were heard by the tribe. Their whole bodies spun around and suddenly we had 50 coconut eyes staring straight at us.

     "RUN!!!" I screamed and took off running with Dr. Zardulu. Behind us we heard heavy chanting beginning again, this time sounding much more brutal. I saw Dr. Zardulu pull out her recorder to try to get that on tape but in the hustle she dropped it and had to keep running. They were catching up with their little legs, holding pointy spears. I felt a spear go whizzing past my head, narrowly missing my skull.

     Fortunately our four legs were faster than their pairs of two and we were able to make it back to our camp, safely outside the border in which the Coconut People live. It was a terrifying day and we learned a bit more about their dining habits. We have plans to return one day to see if we witnessed (and interrupted) a special ceremony, or if their days are really just filled with fruit festivals and choreographed chants!

To be continued…