Chapter 16: The journey – part 1
“You know; traveling is absolute, mind-numbingly, ‘Boring!’”. This is what I mumble to myself as I overlook the vast ocean for the 25th time today.
The view is beautiful, especially during dusk and dawn, but the slow crawl of it all could kill a professional grass grower; and they watch grass grow.
It has been several days now, I have been going through my supply of bread and potatoes well, I even planted my essence bushes on the deck to do something productive.
Even with that, I find myself gazing into the blue abyss as I watch the waves pass me by.
Nothing much really changes; occasionally, a cyan hue overtakes the ocean as a shallow area comes into view, but no land so far. When I go to sleep I ascend the ship to an altitude where it would not hit a mountain, if I hit one on land I missed it, unlikely but also not impossible.
Nothing to be done, to find a good place to make a home, I must do this. I play spot the aquatic animal for a while, once I think a dolphin surfaced but I am not sure. Otherwise the occasional fish; fat enough to be seen from high up swims to the surface. Don’t know why they do this, but it is interesting to watch.
Clicking my fingers on the fence as I gaze, humming a familiar tune; badly as I am tone deaf. Cracking my neck pleasantly I realize I need to do, something.
Having a crafting table on the ship - I am just being lazy, I have an excess of balloons so flying is no concern. Although I still take the time and some dirt to plant cotton to expand my balloons. Better safe than sorry.
I use my watering can, producing vast amounts of string making more ballons. After having crafted about another stack I realize, I bit slower than I should have, how am I getting on top of the balloons mid-flight. I can't land I am in the middle of the ocean.
A quick search reveals grapple hooks are a thing, I need to start getting creative. Having played Minecraft I treat it like the previous restrictions are still in place, they are not.
With string-bound into rope, I crafted 3 together, I produce 2 rope and then use 4 iron to make a hook before combining them. I now have a wonderful new toy, throwing it upon the frame of my ship. Trying to climb up it, I realize it is very hard; Not impossible but I now have a further appreciation for the army it’s a tough job.
Managing to climb onto my balloons I tie the hook and rope around my waist – never know. I place about half the ballons before falling “Arrrr, crap! Scared the life out of me” as the rope pulls taught choking my waste. At least I am safe but it sucks. Climbing up just to rest my back against the soft balloons; gasping for air as I rest. Nearly died of a heart attack. Managing to get my bearings I continue placing balloons, as I look over the fluffy hill I see something, “am I seeing things?” is that “Land” il be damned.
Setting a direct course to the land, which as I happen upon it I find it’s a small island, still land, I am so grateful. Planting my foot as if it was a flag I sit on the fresh grass, a sweet breeze drifting in through the sparse trees. I needed this. My ship is great, but the land is so much easier to feel safe on.
After resting peacefully I begin exploring this great little bit of land, not silly small like some islands can be, but not super larger either; wandering through the denser parts of the sparse trees.
I happen upon a sight I did not expect, carrots! Purple, very wild but carrots all the same. What a lovely find, variety in food is priceless here, and the zombie jerky I still don’t dare to eat. None the less even as a carrot dislike I immediately gather all but a few of the carrots.
Planting some to grow repeatedly, producing a sizable amount. While I am here I gear up, basic diamond tools, pickaxe, sword, and my enchanted spirit armour. Before, when I had iron armour dragging me down, it felt heavy and cumbersome. This armour is not only lighter but is skin tight; “it is! A second skin”. They cannot be compared, not to mention such useful enchants. Night vision, or at least night vision 1 which is what the helmet gives me is not perfect as it's shorter ranged and not clear, yet it still means I can cave dive without cumbersome lights.
Although to see through the ocean I will need strong potions! They are temporary after all. I have carrots now After all, plus an effective food source, golden carrots are great to live on. With my gear equipped I start digging a staircase down, using my 2 divining rods, copper, and all vanilla ore rod. Utilizing both I find a large quantity of all materials excluding emeralds. I didn’t gather many diamonds but a few.
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As I surface I find night has already fallen, no monsters though? I still don’t know how monsters work. It is fine though as I have a mobile home which is pretty good security.
Reaching the deck I am greeted by an excited spider and a hungry slime, both being treated to some carrots. The slime seems to enjoy it but the spider looked unhappy, none the less it still ate the carrot. I need names for these two soon. The slime is getting rather large now, the size of a medium-sized slime.
I don’t feel like sleeping yet so I start work on expanding my ship, increasing deck size, increasing rim edge. I would use ship terms if they were within my vocabulary. With a sizable deck and a roomy under the area, I divide the underside into a few rooms. More specifically a slime and spider room.
They now have a specific place to stay. The spider taking a liking to its room within record time; spinning webs and covering it completely, how it knew it was its room? No idea, shrugging mentally I leave it to do its thing.
The slime doesn’t seem to care too much but did like the carpet I placed, specifically sitting on top of it, not completely mindless are you hu? Cute! Anyway with that done I head above deck. With some free time, free(er) as I literally only have free time at the moment, I browse my NEI, specific terms I thought not to look into. If I just look at it without searching it gives me such a dizzying array of items I pass out. That was a fun way to fall asleep.
After looking through for a while I set my mind upon an item that I think is cool, with a selection of all common dyes from gathering flowers, I take string, cotton, and iron? To produce a suit, a smart-looking black suit with a red tie. Preparing 2 I wear the first, realizing the water is a bad reflection I use my sword; whatever works.
It is so much better, wearing clothes, it covers my rather pale complexion well. For the best as I definitely look like an anomaly if not reminiscent of humans. I will find a spell eventually to disguise myself – one day.
With that finished, I settle in for bed, pulling the covers over me, I fall asleep soothed by the gentle breeze across the deck.
Waking up to the rays of sunlight beaming through my ship, I get up. Stretching to push the tiredness out my muscles I settle into a comfortable position. Not having an alarm clock is wonderful. With a bright start to my day, I walk out of my small master room, right under the helm, before slipping over “ouch” damned slime was in front of the door.
“Hungry are you?” I swear the slime nodded, but that would be crazy. Giving it a potato to satisfy it, for now, I go back inside. Grabbing my fishing rod I sit on the edge of my ship, right over the ocean. Legs dangling I whistle softly as I start to fish.
I did try to fish while flying but its, difficult. I did manage to get a fish once but it escaped at the last minute when it was heaved into the sky towards me.
Continuing my peaceful fishing; getting a bite “sweet”. Adrenaline kicking in, standing up, laser focus. “Tough bugger hu?” “Get your ass here,” I say in a jokingly aggressive tone.
Must have; moments later I have a dangling fish, silver, smooth, and cool looking. Glossy scales, I didn’t think ahead so what do I do now “crap”. Quickly tossing the fish into the deck I gather water and build a small pool as fast as I can, dead. A shame I wanted to look at it longer, closer up. Nothing to be done, I now have a fish pool though for the next one.
Exiting the ship with the prize in hand, I build a campfire. As the fire builds I place, a polished smooth stone, courtesy of the crafting table. I then craft a chef's knife, 1 iron 1 stick in a funny crafting angle.
Stroking against my skin, razor-sharp, nice. Taking the fish I slit its belly down the middle. Removing its guts quickly. A little rough I have never gutted a fish before.
Nicking the tail and head I place my knife along the top half of the spine sliding down the rib cage, creating smooth cuts, leaving a beautiful fish fillet. Repeating on the other side of the fish I now have 2 massive fillets.
Finding the pin bones I slice along the bones in a V cutting them out. I don’t have tweezers sadly. Heading back up to the ship I give the carcass to the slime who upon absorbing it starts, vibrating? As long as your happy buddy.
Taking the fillets I evenly coat them in salt before placing them on a debarked, sharpened stick, which stops it from curling and keeps it easy to handle. Placing them over the campfire they slowly cook, positively dripping with juice as the fat renders down the fish, my mouth is watering in hunger. It smells so good!
Carefully prying the flesh apart I check to see if it is cooked, finding it lovely and perfectly cooked, I couldn’t stop myself from moaning as I bite the succulent flesh “I've missed meat so much”. Fish one of my favorite foods.
As I cry in ecstasy I nearly missed the giant spider sneaking up on the other positively gigantic fillet. Feeling nice I give the big fillet to the spider, removing the stick first. I don’t think I have ever seen the spider move so fast, eating it as if it’s at risk of disappearing. Then the spider does something very funny, it splayed out its legs and fell asleep, stuffed from the food fit for gods.
With such a wonderful meal my mood is beyond great. I don’t know what to do with all this energy. Let's build something; you know marking I was here. And with that I get to work, gathering stone. It will last the test of time longer.
I start by creating a building similar to the stone henge, placing a chest under a center pillar I store some cool stuff. A few emeralds, some diamonds, and some iron, along with 2 spirit sapling, which apparently doesn’t degrade.
Using some wood I carve instruction on how spirit iron is made, for whoever finds this little prize. At the bottom, I write ‘from Aeternum good luck’.
Finishing the structure by increasing its height and creating a path to the shore where my vessel is so a clear route to the shrine is. I guess people need to build for adventures to be a thing, I may as well help this along. I also place Glowstone on stone pillars throughout the island.
I like it my own little mark. I call this a win. Who knows someone who finds this may become very famous for finding something special.