For instance, except for a darkening of ambient light and a slight cooling of the air, the torrential daily rainfall in jun gle areas is little noticed since most of the rain is caught by the canopy; and the water which gradually trickles through re-evaporates in the warmth of the under-canopy, forming wispy hazes of enervating humidity. These eventually con dense on the mid level vegetation and drip slowly down to the jungle floor which is often boggy. Despite rainfall dying away in the dry season, the jungles trap enough moisture to retain their sultry climate, although the levels and violence of the streams lessen noticeably. Cloud forests on the other hand lack much direct rainfall, instead being constantly shrouded in thick grey mists during the wet season, limiting vision and making everything sodden. The trees literally absorb the moisture directly from the clouds and trap it in the innumerable bro meliads and mosses which festoon their branches. Their nature changes considerably in the dry season, the mists growing lighter as the land slowly drains till they become temperate vistas bathed in warm sunlight towards the end of the dry period. Above the cloud forest little ambient moisture exists, turning the landscape into an increasingly arid terrain. Whilst the plateau area seems pleasantly warm in the perpetual but harsh sunlight, it is illusionary; for the air temperature is actually quite chill and night-time can be dangerously cold. Although some light rains occasionally reach the heights, most weather variation is limited to the s trength and direction of the wind. This becomes increas ingly true for the higher mountain slopes, the air growing colder and drier till the snowline is reached. A noticeable oddity occurs in the formation of micro climates around the few high altitude hot springs. These are often shrouded in thick clouds of steam which often condense as snow or ice depending on the elevation.
Ecology
The ecology of Monster Island is a strange blend of weird creatures and vegetation, a large proportion of which are unique, even foreign, to the rest of the world. This is because many of these species are in fact alien, drawn to the island by magical gates from alternate dimensions. T hese ancient portals are remnants of a sorcerous civilisa tion which has long since collapsed, but their power still continues. Although some of the transposed creatures find their new habitat unable to sustain them for long, a number manage to wander quite some distance from their point of arrival. Some possess quite unusual, even horrific physi cal forms, displaying multiple limbs or made from incom prehensible substances. These creatures are considered demons by the natives and the most dangerous given a wide berth until they die from incompatible conditions or are killed by other predators. Generations of experience however has taught the natives that some of the monsters possess useful body parts, either as decoration, material for tools or gastronomic delicacies. Those few creatures able to adapt to the climate and chemistry of the island have carved out small niches in its ecology. Even for these adaptable species, survival is still tenuous. Whilst the rich volcanic soils promote the rapid growth of the island’s lush jungle, its total surface area – even accounting for slopes – is not enough to sustain the number of herbivores required to feed the unusually large number of predatory species. The sheer density of beasts is sustained only by the constant influx of new specimens through the gates. Thus the ecosystem of Monster Island is skewed towards a carnivorous ecology of mutually antagonistic predators and scavengers.
The Coastline
The majority of the coast is comprised of steep cliffs which plunge into the ocean. On the eastern coast of the island the lowest ten metres above sea level are scrubbed clean of any vegetation, the cliff face often undercut by the battering of waves. Higher up the slopes, increasing numbers of small thorny shrubs and trees adapted to the drier climate sprout precariously from cracks, where their roots can work their way deeper into the basalt. Such plants are both tough and tenacious, having to survive the violent typhoons of the dry season. The western side of the island possesses sheer cliffs, remnants of the inner caldera walls sheltered from the worst weather. Despite their vertiginous nature, the cliffs support more verdant growth, vines and tendrils hanging from the top edge and spreading down natural ledges in the rock strata. Their lushness is supported by the frequent waterfalls which plunge over the cliff tops, fresh water s pray constantly irrigating the climbing plants and ferns. Many of these particular plants are valued for their medici nal properties, but scaling the crags is excessively danger ous due to the slick rocks long smoothed by falling water. A few sand beaches cling here and there to the bottom of the precipitous coast. Being but narrow ribbons they lack much in the way of vegetation. Not all the beaches are bar ren however. Around the prominences of the submerged Hina caldera have formed sandy atolls, populated with palm trees and similar growths able to survive the saline conditions. The peninsula of Skull Point is a spur which leads gently up to the original caldera floor, high above the sea. Jungle descends from the cliff top down to the copious beaches, but it is heavily thinned out in places due to native clearances. Small crustaceans, reptiles and mammals thrive in the cliffside environment, yet due to the limited surface area, all the larger creatures living along the coastline live in the sea. Save for the relatively shallow Hina caldera, the s teep bluffs continue to plunge below the waterline, drop ping down into the ocean with little or no shelving save for s plinters of collapsed cliff face. Several species of giant crabs, eels and octopi occasion ally rise up from the depths, but seldom remain for long. However the deep water supports a wide range of fish which draws other oceanic predators.
The Jungle
The thick, dense jungle of Monster Island has three distinct levels, the canopy, the understory and the jungle floor. Each is in effect its own ecosystem possessing specific types of vegetation. The biggest plants are obviously the trees which, like the island’s creatures, can reach monstrous sizes. Most of the big trees grow to between 30-50m tall, towering high above the ground and forming a green roof which traps the heat and humidity below. The canopy generally begins 20m above ground, providing homes for most of the island’s insects, birds, bats and those animals able to scale the immense trunks such as sloths, small cats, monkeys, snakes and lizards. It is here that fruits and flowers proliferate, providing the nutrition for their inhabitants. Reaching these heights is extremely difficult for those unable to fly or which lack claws able to penetrate tough bark. The scale of the trees is such that the biggest send out huge buttressing flanges at their base to improve support, often extending many metres away from the trunk. In turn the trees provide support or growing areas for other plants such as orchids or bromeliads which, rather than being parasites, instead simply use branches as convenient resting places to grow, taking all their nutrients from the air or decomposing insect or vegetable litter. Likewise lianas and other creepers use the canopy as a sprouting s pot, but send down their roots to seek additional nutri tion from the soil. Eventually this can strangle and kill the original tree which then rots, leaving strange looking root complexes which weave their way up into the sky. Beneath the canopy is usually a region of bare trunks lacking any sort of foliage. For flying creatures this is rea sonably open, permitting rapid if not completely safe travel. Nearer the jungle floor is the understory level which extends between 3-6 metres above ground. Due to the lack of direct sunlight only plants which thrive in the shade live at this level, typically ferns or palms spreading very large fronds and leaves to capture the ambient illumination. Few animals save small reptiles and amphibians reside at this level. The jungle floor is comparatively drab, lacking flowers or colour in the semi-darkness. Most of the plants at this level are parasitical or carnivorous, defending themselves against grazing by growing stinging prickles, sharp thorns, or by being inherently poisonous. In the moist conditions fallen vegetation rots quickly and sprouts large fungi, some of which grow to a monstrous size. Ground level is where all the large non-arboreal creatures roam, the native species comprising of ground sloths, big cats, large reptiles and giant frogs. Other, stranger, beasts also haunt the thick undergrowth, either cropping the fast growing plants or stalking each other. The thick layer of leaf mould also provides nutrition for countless insects, most of which are minor annoyances save for some which grow to frightening sizes, such as deadly scorpions or colossal centipedes. Insect swarms are also a menace whether in the canopy or on the jungle floor, but particularly feared are roving armies of carnivorous ants. The verdant vegetation of the jungle provides an abundant source of natural resources, many of which could be valuable to those seeking trade with the island’s natives. Amongst these products can be counted the following:
Hardwoods
The jungle is a source of dense, strong hardwoods akin to mahogany or teak which are highly resistant to rot, and also those that possess an intrinsic natural perfume.
Spices
Many of the jungle’s flowers, leaves, roots and seeds are sources of exotic flavours worth their weight in gold.