About Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island holds a mysterious ‘riddle’ lake, the Bearlago prison, and lots of unanswered questions.

Magnetic island is both magnetic and magic. It holds special ‘magic’ elements, with the centerpiece being the special Q-shaped lake named ‘Lake Riddle’ where you ask a question to the lake and different images and words appear in the lake as riddle or anagram you must figure out. This is different from ‘The Eye Of Truth’ on Eyeland that presents your actual truths. Lake Riddle’s magic qualities make it more of a wishing-well tourist attraction, and you can go out onto the lake and try to ‘catch a riddle’ with a magic net (magnetic) that attracts miraged words and images to it when placed in the water. If you say certain tongue twisters or get the proposed riddle correct then you are presented a piece of magic material from the lake that they can take away (but only with a Bearmit).

Another part of the magic on Magnetic island is the ‘Mirage Maker’ which makes things appear like they are in one place but are actually in another (was Meeso a mirage or really here?). There are many trap doors, objects that change when you tap them, and magic pool/lake entrances, but you need to crack codes in order to find these hidden elements and messages inside them. 

The island is as much magnetic as it is magic. It attracts magnetic messages that are sent via tins and cans. Some of these materials and messages are sent on purpose by the special messaging system run by Bubs and her accomplice Bobby (who mostly stays on Magnetic Island), and others such as Bubblepops and tin bottles, wash-up by accident. Bearlonteers (volunteer to) help keep the coastline litter-free, and washed-up resources are then either taken to processing plants to be turned into building resources for around the Bearlagos (such as using tins and wood for building and maintaining the Fort and other structures), or are grinded into dust and added to the magic of Riddle Lake.

Despite the efforts of volunteers and workers to keep the island clean from washed-up debris, there are often opportunistic bears who come here to try and find a bit of valuable treasure, as it’s been known for lost treasure and hidden secret messages in tin bottles to wash up on the shore too. Bears must be careful though, as it’s forbidden to take treasure off Magnetic Island unless proven that it was yours or you have a Visarium granted Bearmit (permit). In fact, this led to The Bearlagos first prison to be made on Magnetic Island which started out as small treasure-hunting petty Beariminals, but has over time led into the now infamous MIP (Magnetic Island Prison). It was thought that many of ‘The Event’ culprits ended up here, yet it’s still not clear as to whether Dr. Grizz was ever an inmate here or managed to get away.

One thing is for sure, with all the unsolved codes, hidden treasures, and tales of mystery on Magnetic island, it could be useful for the bears to find clues as to where Meeso is. It sounds like the perfect place for Doomy to explore, but Dusty was originally from here too so maybe she can help too (although she might not want to go back there).

Magnetic Island Backstory:

Not much was known about Magnetic island in the past. It appeared to be a wasteland that looked inhabitable from afar at first, so most bears didn’t really bother to go there. It was also very hard to get to with often rocky waves in the way, which we later learned was because it had such a strong magnetic force around it that it created large waves along its coast.

However, following ‘The Event’ more bears ventured here in search of lost Bubblepops after the Forts captain Mr Dooman witnessed (via binoculars) a pile up of material gathering on its beaches. Fort went to investigate (as this was before Fort realised Darkwood was a danger for Bearington and became more stationed in between Darkwood and Bearington).

Fort found it hard to get to the shore and the rocks damaged large parts of the Fort in the process but it was able to dock for a while and look around. They found to their amazement that Magnetic Island had some seemingly magical mirages and a mysterious lake, and after they cleaned up the south side of the island (where the waves we less rocky) they opened it for other bears to go to there to work, as it seemed like an ideal place for industry to blossom with all the materials there.

The island started to flourish and the south side created a docking platform and a Visarium freezeporter to allow bears to visit the Riddle Lake, one of The Bearlagos most interesting attractions. The lake was meant to be an interactive experience for visitors but also over time the magnetic and magic qualities of the lake (made by all the mixed elements dropped in there from different places) led towards more revelations happening in the lake with riddles and prophets being shown in the lake. It led to many thinking of the lake as a spiritual haven that gave bears hope.

Further north on the island was the settlements and industry, as well as the MIP (Magnetic Island Prison), and underwater there was a unique undercurrent reacting with hunney from Bearington’s Hunney River creating an underground communication funnel run by Bubs and Bobby, from the Scratch Post. It became a perfect way to send important mail and communicate across the islands. Even if it’s a little primitive now many bears still like to send mail this way.

All seemed to be improving on Magnetic Island but Forts captain, Mr. Dooman, mysterious disappeared when wandering around and inspecting the north side of the island one day, after hearing about some criminal activity. Some say he was sent to MIP himself for trespassing without a warrant, but no evidence was ever found.

Darkwood is fairly close to Magnetic island but the waters between Magnetic island and Darkwood are very rocky and dangerous, so they are inaccessible. Yet, we learn that Darkwood and Magnetic island do have a connection somehow, and this might just be the clue the bears need to work out to help find their missing friend.

Bassventures – Magic Riddle Lake:

Magnetic island is home to Riddle Lake which seems to have magic properties, and visual riddles that emerge with the music.

Bassventures – Magnetical:

Magnetic Island is a dark place that is difficult to navigate and has many trap doors where you need to be careful.