Johann von Maulheld
Seeing as the journal front seems a little empty at the moment on this wiki, I thought I'd try and get the ball rolling.
Contents
15th November
I, Johann von Maulheld, am writing this in the hope that somebody may find it floating out somewhere to sea. I am trapped on this God-forsaken island, with even escape through death rendered impossible. I am not alone - all around me are folk abandoned or willingly here, and they too cannot escape. We urgently require a seaworthy ship to get us off. We are willing to pay whatever it requires: rest assured, it will be worth your while.
In the world outside this enclosed hell, I was a professor of history in one of the Prussian universities. I made a living - enough to survive in relative comfort, but I was not considered to be immensely wealthy. Such was my choice to head for the new world promised in the west. Not a grand story to tell, but had I been content to live out my days in my homeland, I should not be here now pleading for aid.
As unoriginal as it may seem, the ship upon which I was travelling was caught in a most unnatural storm, and we were flung upon this wretched place. This island, though, was not deserted. In fact Derby, the settlement upon which I chanced, was flourishing, with an academy, a police force, a library, a hospital, an armoury and a trader´s hut. Everyone seems to have found their way here in some form or another, but almost as if from different time periods. It seems as if nobody has made the slightest bit of effort to constructing a vessel to escape, despite the constant threat of the island´s native savages and pirates from the northwest.
This place is not natural. While I feel the need to sleep, hunger and thirst do not seem to plague humans here; I can go for days without consuming anything to nourish me. The supernatural thrives here. People disappear forever into the jungle and nobody lifts a finger to stop them. There seems nothing for it but to start gathering like-minded individuals and construct a ship. I cannot stay in this place.
17th November
This abominable island seems to exert some strange evil. There is nobody in Derby, for that is the name of this settlement, who will join my efforts to escape. Alas, I lack the knowledge of physics needed to build a sturdy vessel. I have no desire to remain upon this isle, but it appears I have no choice in the matter. I fear I must venture into the jungle myself - there are tales from those who do return that there are other settlements like this. One can only hope that the island has not destroyed the minds of those who dwell elsewhere. However, before I embark on such a dangerous voyage (I realise death is but a hindrance on this accurséd place, but I have little desire for unnecessary pain), I must ready myself. I do fancy my fencing ability, but I fear that it will help me little in the confines of the trees. I must practice in the academy that exists in Derby, and stock up supplies to ensure my continued health. I must confess there are advantages to this lack of hunger; there is no need to burden myself with food.
20th November
I feel I am now ready to embrace the might of the jungle. I have been training with two members of the Eastern Federation, the accepted governing body of Derby, in the Federation-run fencing academy. I have indeed learnt to throw much of my finesse out of the window when it comes to jungle fighting, but I am not as rusty as I had expected myself to be after teaching for so long. The island gives no thought to age, as everyone I have seen, whether they look old or young, acts with the same energy of youth. I suspect this is one of the chief reasons for the reluctance of many of the island's inhabitants to leave.
23rd November
I have delayed my departure from Derby for the time being. I noticed a suspicious looking individual by the name of Ben Harker enter the fencing academy with a purpose in his step. I entered and found Norris R. Laos, one of my trainers, dead at his feet. Whilst I feel such men of the Eastern Federation, who have chosen to remain on this isle, have made the wrong decision, I admire their commitment to maintaining law and order in Derby. As such I could not let such a deed go unavenged, and I attacked this swine. Despite his being younger and more experienced in combat, I was able to use my heavier blade to unbalance and dispose of him. Then the aforementioned Norris' body vanished and he walked into the room, as alive as I am now as I write this! It's not natural, that is for certain.
25th November
Having spent the past few days stocking up on medical supplies, I feel that I am ready to head off into the wilderness. I certainly have no compulsion to remain in Derby any longer. The medical supplies hut is swarming with the the supernatural spirits of the isle, and I for one am not comfortable with the only means of ridding the hut of them: a savage chanting in his strange tongue. When he is slain by one of the settlers, there is an outburst of indignation amongst his compatriots. This place is not good for the sanity levels, that is for sure. Any normal man would be driven mad within weeks; I must leave as soon as possible.
28th November
I have set off into the wilderness. The going so far has been easier than expected. The path which seemed to vanish into the wilderness near Derby has been cleared again further on. I followed the river up to its source, and from there followed the road northwest. I confess that I have no idea where I am currently headed, but it is remarkably refreshing to be away from that madhouse and out in the open air. Although there have been more clumps of path grown over by the jungle, the path continues in pretty much a straight line. The land around is teeming with wildlife; I passed numerous different species of deer, and there was the great lumbering form of an elephant in the distance at one point. At one point I saw a man being mercilessly attacked by a savage tiger. I could not permit myself to run past, so I set upon the beast with my sword. It was already bleeding from the man's attempts to defend itself with his machete, so it was much slower than it would normally have been, but all the same it managed to rake its claws along my left arm, leaving my shirt sleeve in tatters and blood dripping from the wounds.
I quickly patched myself up with one of the medical kits I scavenged from the medical hut in Derby and tended to the wounds of the man, whose name turned out to be thethunderthief. I cannot say much for the parents of some of the unfortunates on this island - the names are absurd! However, the sun was setting and so we made camp on the road. I hunted down a large stag and dispatched it. The hunters of Europe would have a field day here - the animals do not flee but instead attack back instantly! Fortunately an early blow to its head prevented it from harming me, and I dragged the carcass back to the camp. Whilst thethunderthief started roasting the meat over a fire I slew a thieving monkey as it tried going through our satchels. Wishing to be away early tomorrow, I settled down under a large tree and threw my rug around my shoulders. Huddled there I listened to a nearby parrot sqwarking away nearby, but after a long day's trekking, I soon fell fast asleep.
