Jungle Island, sometimes referred to as Village Island, was an island on Riven.
Here is the only surviving village, where the vast majority of the surviving Rivenese population is concentrated. Access to all other islands (with the exception of Temple Island, for ceremonial purposes) was forbidden to the Rivenese by Gehn. This particular island is also called "Riven" proper, after the breaking of the land.[1]
Geography[]
The island's most prominent feature is a crater, the Village Lake, surrounded by cliffs; the Rivenese village composed of simple mud dwellings is built along a southeast ridge overlooking the crater. There is an underground railway, a school, as well as the Wahrk gallows where Gehn punished disloyal Rivenese by feeding them to the Wahrks of the lake. The village has been changed dramatically since the time Catherine left, with Gehn's influence visible everywhere.[1]
Near the village there is a prison cell; however it leads to a network of caves which the Moiety used as their hideout, and later was the hiding place for the Linking Book to Tay.[1] A watery force field guards the stone vault with the Book and needs a combination to dissipate to allow access.
A path from the village leads to a lagoon to the NE of the island where Sunners can be found resting under the sunlight. Another path from the village leads to an eerie blue-lit cave which leads to the jungle.
The jungle occupies much of the western part of the island with massive aged trees like terpahrah[2] and phosphorescent blue wild fungus and flowers; a giant dagger juts out from the ground there. Stairs span a thundering volcanic fissure and lead to the village. Many trees to the north have been cut down to be converted into paper for Gehn's books.
At the southwest end of the jungle there is a Wahrk idol which leads to Gehn's private elevator; it gives access to a series of metallic catwalks above the jungle and leads to the Fire Marble Dome (marked with the red D'ni color symbols), and also a grove with Gehn's Watchtower, surrounded by monoliths, which overlooks the lake and the Wahrk Gallows. The elevator also gives access to an underground tram station leading to Survey Island.
Transportation[]
To the north is a Mag-Lev station leading to and from the Temple Island; apparently it was open for use by the locals. The Wahrk idol leads to an underground tram station leading to the Survey Island, apparently used only by Gehn and his minions.
The cut-down portion of the jungle had a logging car for fell wood which leads directly to Book Assembly Island, although this was not intended for people.
Wooden Eyes[]
The Moiety have put several wooden eyes corresponding Rivenese animals to numbers. Each wooden eye has a D'ni number and emits an animal sound when rotated. Each eye is located near a natural feature that resembles the corresponding animal through a perspective effect. Gehn considered sending the Guild of Surveyors to catalogue them.[3]
- Fish, floating in the village lake near a cave opening; the opening, with its reflection, form the shape of a fish, and is visible only with the periscope of the Survey Island. Gehn's men have found one but it has been replaced.
- Ytram, behind the tram station of the Temple Island; the cave opening forms the shape of the frog.
- Beetle, in a basin near the village; the shape of a beetle is formed by the water when the handle is turned.
- Sunner, in the jungle, when steps descent into a hole below the dagger. However, no formation nearby resembles a Sunner.
- Wahrk, at the Sunner Lagoon; a rock formation has the shape of a wahrk.
Gallery[]
Notes & trivia[]
- Jungle Island, along with Temple Island, are the biggest islands of Riven; its single model, which was to be seen from distance, included only shaded surfaces and the major artifical landmarks, and could be rendered in low resolution form.[4] Geographically, the Island is divided in the jungle, the clearcut forest, the village, the lagoon, the east path, south path, beetle pool, school-room and Gehn's area.[5] For their construction they had to be "broken" to several areas so that artists could design them individually.[6] The gameplay around Gehn's Throne however had wide viewpoints and included sights of several models (jungle model, clearcut forest, pit, throne model) that had to be combined together for the final render.[7]
- The Island's soundscape is divided in three areas: the warm and inviting beach (sound of waves and gentle tufts of wind), the luxuriant jungle, home of a vibrant complex ecosystem (lively sound of insects and birds, warm lush breezes) as opposed to the dry and harsh clearcut clearing (thin breeze and brittle sound of insects). The background sounds are a combination of several layers of repeating loops; the variant durations and combination of the loops minimize the feeling of repetition.[8]