Jack's story lecture:
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*Mystery...*

Have you heard about the legends of the Lotus Island?
The island that floats in the sky? The island who's history is as obscure as its origin?
Well, y'all are heading up there anyways. So may as well buckle up and listen. It's a long flight.

It all starts back in the ancient times, before proper technology like cameras ever existed. Year 10XX A.D. Lotus Island was still a part of the surface, connected to what was the Northeast Peninsula continent. Inhabited by a small group of odd creatures you know as the mimiga, along with the droll and gaudi. All having propagated out of nowhere, teeming with life at the surface. Another potential civilization, a region to map, they thought.

Not much is known how the Lotus Island came to be, just that it came out of nowhere. There's no history that explains the origin of the island or its people. You can expect that surface populations all over wanted to find out what Lotus Island was.

Swathes of white, long fluffy folks. Humanoids born from the earth with innate knowledge of martial prowess. Resilient beetle-like denizens of the dark. Ubiquitous, eye-catching fauna. We could go on, but what it's best known for was the "red flower" you people hear of. Though it's proper name was the *Red Lotus.* Hence the island name.

Alchemists, amateurs, ancient scholars, all were taking a look at what the Lotus Island had to offer. While most documented what they could, people were most fascinated by the flora. The Red Lotus having a multitude of effects when mixed with different native and foreign tonics. Medicine, cures, "potions," tradtional treatements... They all had one effect in common, *it made the user stronger.*

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*War...*

Peace and exploration were facets of the beginning years of Lotus Island. The world knew how poweful the Lotus was to a civilization. Wouldn't take long before those kingdoms would try taking the island for themselves.
The natives accepted it as first, being invited into this new world. Adjusting to customs. Cultures of the foreign worlds that came to settle it. After decades, it became unruly and overcrowded. The beauty of the island started to die.

The natives, now getting fed up, asked the kingdoms to leave. Inevitably, consider the time period, war broke out. And *now* the world witnessed the true power of the Red Lotus.

*"Is it true, do mimigas turn into giant monsters when they're angry?!"*

Not exactly. That's where the red flower comes in. It unlocked the powers hidden within our kind. The beasts the kingdoms fought were nothing like they witnessed before. Almost on the league of giant dragons.

Red eyes, jagged mouths, beasts growing from 6ft to 8ft. Utilizing mysterious elemental powers better than what some kingdoms had at the time. It was like the entire population was able to become monstrous, experienced soldiers at the nip of the flower.
Drolls, in-born instincts to use many weapons. Towering humans in bulk and skillsets.
Gaudi, flying insects that fired razor knives at enemies far above. Honestly, I'm certain gaudi gave knights more terror than any mimiga. Air superiority goes far in the Middle Ages.

Eventually everyone learned to steer clear and not mess with the mimiga or the others. A 2nd era of peace befalls Lotus Island.

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*The Red Lotus, unleashed onto the world...*

The outside world would not give up on its quest to seize the power of the Lotus. Armies over many generations attempt to penetrate the island to claim it. Skirmishes here, some wars there, moments of outside silence, a cycle that continued for ages.

That cycle would be interrupted, almost broken by a new outside party.
The year is the mid 1600s. Eventually, a mysterious group of humans successfully were able to get into Lotus Island. It was at that point, the world changed...

This human group being the closest they got to mainstay rulers. Finally perfecting a way to combine the right amout of red flower into human products. The people created from it, they turned the island to the nicknamed, *Captial of Conquerors.*
Peace seemed to be a far gone memory by that point. Whoever had full control of the island, *could control the fate of the world!*

Magic harvested from the flower by master craftsmen, all eventually created a way to centralized all its power effectively. The red crown, they call it, the Demon Crown.

Armies fell, nations conquered. The native races, used as tools and instruments for war. They must be kept around to maintain the power of the red flower alive. Admittedly the Red Lotus can keep one empowered for a time, except for the catch...

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*The Cost...*

Those who used the flower eventually became enslaved to it. Individuals from many nations that used it, became dependent on it. No longer serving their own countries, but strictly spreading the use of the flower. Cults forming to convert others into using the Red Lotus.

Tyrannical, buffed up super humans were the norm. Almost indistinguishable by the turned ravils that used to be mimiga. Unlocking more ways to "invoke the Lotus curse," a way to spread the powerful effects on more populations. The flowers themsleves grew to unbelievable proportions, spreading their corrupting pollen across the continent.

An abstract cost followed. Nobody seemed to remember who the mimiga truly were. Most people only saw the ravils sent to battle. You can blame those for why everyone associates rabbits with demons and destruction.

*"I kept one as a pet, yeah they tend to chew up and destroy anything they can reach."*

Um, interesting input.

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*The obstacles, and change...*

Eventually someone decided enough was enough. A quest was set to end the influence of the Lotus once and for all. Heroes all over the world, natives included to crush the rulers of the island. The darkest time in the island's history. Hundreds of warriors died in attempt to stop the cults, the last Lotus kingdom.

Defeating the ruling cults was just 1 of 3 hurdles. Second was burning down all the gardens of the red flowers. That task took them so long. Cause the Lotus had a way of dispersing its seeds using strong winds... and the rumor the giant red flowers themselves would become hostile, almost to the point of a sentient monster. Many regions were growing flowers of their own. The last one may have been the hardest... Defeating the guardian of the island.

The guardian of the island, was said to be a legendary beast equal to that of the Red Lotus. Invoking and channeling its power into an almost spiritual giant. Humans called it a shinigami, a spirit inviting of pure death! We called it, the *Mimigami.*
The biggest, meanest mimiga you'll ever encounter. Had almost all red fur, could be seen in pitch black night. Any weapon it wielded matched its own towering size. Its roar, a mix of a hiss and a tiger growl. People died from the lack of willpower, or defected out of fear. Many, strange powers.

Rumors have it previous Lotus kingdoms fell when they used Mimigami as a last resort. Destroying their leaders when enraged or by collateral damage. A gamble that the problem would take itself out.

The tides turned to humanity's favor. Despite the sheer volume of adversaries, they succeeded. All the cults surrounding the Lotus were destroyed, along with most red flower seeds.

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*The separation, and isolation.*

It became a widely accepted opinion by the world, the power of the Red Lotus was too much. A mysterious group then placed a mark upon Lotus Island. Making it detach from the surface world. Banished to the high skies for an eternity. Everyone, the mimiga, the gaudi, and the drolls, stuck on the island. Never to bother hunanity again.

The island remained sealed in time, not changing much, even past centuries. Life would return normal for the natives. The world either forgot the island existed, or had their memories altered to forget the madness.

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*Modern day.*

Jack: ".... Which brings us to modern day. Still, plenty of unseen treasures and history on the island. Surely you'll enjoy the tour of Lotus Island. And oh would you look at that, we're here at the airport."
*Seeing someone back there, who he notices was writing most of the time. Leaning hs head back.*
"What'cha writing back there?"

Journalist: *Commenting to himself *
*"Odd... a few new details not found in research books on the surface..."*
"Oh! Nothing, just recording your story for reference. Heh."

*The plane has all their passengers disembark. Luggage moved. Jack sitting to the far side of the airport bay, watching them leave their 1 and only runway. The mildly small group heading towards the large, golden rocky castle. Hearing those travelers muttering curious statements in the far distance, "is that real gold?!" The pilot sits against a large crate, sipping his water bottle arms crossed. Nobody around to hear him speak.*

Jack: "... There's a reason they omitted certain information from that mythology report. I gave you all a bit more... It's not even the full story, but, they'll find out the truth enough."
*"Poor suckers.* I shouldn't be revealing so much. Yet, best they stay happy til the end. I best get back to work... Don't want any outsiders sneaking into the island while I'm not on watch."

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(Comments and criticism welcomed.)
(Jack © Cave Story