Back to Index Minecraft: The Islands

Washed ashore in a strange new land. Spotted some islands in the distance and started swimming.

There are plants and animals here. With a little luck, I might survive this. First things first, I need a shelter for the night.

I've dug myself into the hillside. There are strange noises in the night. I've fashioned makeshift tools and weaponry.

Several days have passed. I've expanded my base of operations and discovered a fuel source for torches. The strange noises continue, and I've seen glimpses of strange figures moving in the dark.

Swam to a nearby island to investigate some plant life. A variety of bamboo, trees, and flowers grow here. At night, I'm investigating the properties of the local rocks. With the availability of fire, I can extract ore to create better tools.

What is that? How did it get in my mine? I've sealed off the entrance to prevent further intrusion.

Since I seem to be in for the long haul, I'm making myself at home. A front door removes the need for digging myself out every morning.

The beach has provided ample glassmaking material for my furnace.

Broke through into a new cavern while mining.

The local wildlife seem curious about my presence. I've begun tunneling to the nearest island to provide a safe path during the night.

Nearly drowned today. It took hours to clear out the tunnel again. I'll have to be more careful.

I've constructed a small hut on the second island to protect the tunnel entrance.

I've started spreading the bamboo. I have yet to find a use for it, but I may need it soon.

Started spreading torches on the second island to deter the monsters.

Why are you out in the daytime? The sun seems to deter the other monsters, but this fellow is persistent.

Added a skylight to my original base to allow grass to grow inside. I've started construction on a bridge to span the channel to my second island. The tunnels are a cumbersome method of travel.

The bridge is nearly complete. Narrowly avoided dying to one of the green monsters today. A curious creature; it explodes on contact. I had to reconstruct one wall of my base. My wounds are still healing; I may not go out tomorrow.

I have visitors. The sun burned away the majority, but left the green fellow as usual. Started construction on a watchtower.

My island is looking more civilized by the day.

The bridge is completed. I've added a waystation on the center span in case I get caught out after dark.

I got caught out after dark.

I'll wait it out from here.

The view is spectacular. The monsters seem less threatening with these stony constructions on my side.

Must remember to harvest from my tree farm in the morning.

My bridge could use a little decoration.

Perhaps a waste of effort and resources, but a series of pumps created a manmade waterfall.

Started constructing a lava cooler.

Flowing water cools the lava, hardening it into cobblestone. The mined cobblestone is carried to my feet by the water.

Broke through into a massive system of caverns.

Quite the dramatic environment. Must be cautious. On the surface, I've begun strip-mining a third island to clear space for a proper tree and animal farm.

The third island, mostly cleared.

I'm running low on materials for tools, so progress has slowed. Valuable minerals are less numerous on the surface.

Strip mining has completed. I've expanded the storage facility and begun work seeding grass across the island.

Grass seeding is complete. With this project more or less complete, I've decide to take stock. Things I know how to build, refine, or cook: sticks, torches, crafting tables, chests, furnaces, iron ore, gold ore, pickaxes, shovels, swords, hoes, arrows, stairs, axes, glass, buckets, boats, mine tracks, mine carts, bacon, and (as of today) ladders. Things I would like to know how to build, refine, or cook: a bow, food that isn't meat, anything using my massive supply of bamboo, and some kind of explosive.

I've begun work on an underwater tunnel connecting the farm to the second base. A set of retaining walls will allow me to drain the water for easier construction.

I've been experimenting with the strange red substance I've found underground. Under certain stimulus it glows, and seems to be a conduit for energy of some kind. I've attached it to a switch which allows me to open or shut a door remotely. Doubtless there are many more interesting uses to which it can be put. Further experimentation is necessary.

The farm is proving invaluable. I've already harvested and replanted once. I'm leaving a clearing for any crops I may wish to plant later.

Work on the tunnel is steady but tedious. Several minor accidents have led me to create flood-prevention channels as I go. It seems to be helping.

The tunnel is complete!

Installed some recessed lighting in the floor.

Added some decoration to the center bridge span.

Getting grass to grow up here was no easy feat.

It got chilly last nice. Today I've been working on a fireplace. The climate seems quite moderate here, but I don't want to get caught off-guard by the winter season.

I forget to leave the front door locked ONE TIME...

I've constructed a coal-powered mine cart. The first experiment is working beautifully, but the farm may not have been the best place for my testing.

While mining, I encountered a seemingly impenetrable substance in the depths. This far down, even lava has become scarce. Perhaps the elements themselves know something I don't?

I've developed a rudimentary compass. Curiously, it doesn't point north. Rather, it directs me to the place where I first gained consciousness in this strange land.

I've been investigating the strange residue left by the exploding monsters. Early tests showed it to be highly volatile and dangerous. With the addition of a stabilizing agent to prevent untimely detonation, I've acquired a valuable mining aid.

At last the source of the strange noises in the dark reveals itself. This devilish construction gives rise to the undead. Burying it in water proved ineffective in stopping its function. A pair of chests, not of my creation, sat nearby, their origin (if not their nature) as mysterious as this infernal brazier.

The zombies can be trapped and drowned as they materialize, providing ample feathers for my arrowmaking. Still, questions remain. Where are these creatures coming from? Who constructed this device, and why? Why feathers?

I've added a boathouse to the farm. To date I have visited only the local islands, but in the future my boat may provide a safe means of traversing the greater wilderness around me, even in the pitch of night.

I found a skeleton portal. Burying it in rock seems to stem the flow. The crates provided some exploder goo, as well as a saddle!

The skeleton portal room has been fully excavated in preparation for trap construction. Sadly I found no clues as to its origin.

While exploring a nearby cavern, I encountered another gelatinous cube, much larger than the previous one. It seems relatively harmless compared to the other dangers in the deep. This exploration proved nearly fatal due to a cave-in that dropped me into a crowd of exploding monsters and zombies. Bleeding profusely and on the verge of unconsciousness, I narrowly escaped death by hurling myself across a lava-filled chasm and cautiously working my way back up to the surface.

One of the pigs on my farm was gracious enough to let me saddle him up. It's the least he can do after bumping into me constantly during my red stone experiments.

I've reinforced the entrance to the skeleton portal cavern. Later I'll try to connect it to my home through a tunnel to allow for nighttime access.

I've started exploring the interior of the island, and chanced upon a curious sight. Some unseen force holds dirt and stone aloft. If I could harness this power it would be most useful.

I lost track of time while scaling a nearby peak. I'll have to place torches and make camp for the night.

A few of the nighttime beasts have noticed my presence.

Dangerous foes dispatched, I settle in.

My dreams are troubled of late. Visions too horrible to recount, some too horrible to even fully recall. Still, just dreams...

Onward.