Ancestor Isle

Ancestor Isle is a location only recently explored by the Expedition Division, it is distinct for the ancient creatures living there bearing resemblance to many familiar monsters but seemingly older and more primitive, Its temperate climate seems welcoming but it can all change in an instant with ferocious storms fresh from the sea battering the coastline in the summer.

## Layout

The Layout of the map changes depending on the tide, during the day its high tide and some areas are much smaller with area 12 completely unreachable, during the night however the tide recedes allowing better access to the coastline.

* Camp: The Base Camp is located on a smaller separate island in a small cove to protect it from rough weather, the edges of the area are all thick with foliage with a sandy shoreline on the north side where a large boat is located, stepping onto this boat will take you to area 1. Through a small path to the side there is another clearing with a small canoe and a fishing spot, this canoe will take you to area 6 instead.
* Area 1: A slender shoreline area with paths leading high into the forest, a rock arch at the eastern edge marks the way to area 2 with vines at the opposite end allowing hunters to climb to area 4.
* Area 2: A second shoreline area similar to area 1 but with a cliff face behind it, a cave in this cliff leads to area 5 while some dangling vines provide access to area 3, a small raised rocky section allows access to a fishing spot further out in the sea.
* Area 3: A large forested clearing with paths leading around the forest, An outcrop of rocks at the centre allows for some aerial combat.
	+ Area 3 Secret Area: On a tree to the west side of the area there is a sizeable platform where rare materials can be found, this can only be accessed using the felyne explorer skill.
* Area 4: The south end of the area is a small clearing with a large amount of gathering spots, this leads into a narrow path with a cliff edge on one side providing an excellent view of the sea and surrounding islets and a thick wall of foliage on the other side, at the other end of this path is a much larger area with lots of fruit trees, One of these is exceptionally large and dripping with poison.
* Area 5: A small narrow crevice leading from a cave into the main forest slowly rising in height, this area is rich in mineral nodes and also has an ancient stone gateway leading into the temple, however as it is very damaged hunters must crawl in order to get through.
* Area 6: The eastern edge of the coastline is similar to the others but has the front of a large stone temple standing tall overlooking the sea, its architecture resembles Angkor Wat with three towers, there is a large door under the largest of these towers which leads deep into the ruins.
* Area 7: This area is a relatively small and calm inlet with a sandy floor and view out to sea, this is the location of a leviathan nest and aquatic monsters are able to swim from any shoreline in the map directly to this region.
* Area 8: A large clifftop area overlooking the sea to the north side, towards the south side is a large shrine like structure similar in design to the temple in area 6.
* Area 9: The deepest part of the forest is in this area with trees hanging far over the whole area and a number of poisonous trees, bones also litter the area in amongst huge tree roots. The east side is blocked by the base of a large tower at the rear end of the temple, there are no entrances still intact but climbing the rocks at the northern end allows you to climb up to the top.
* Area 10: The main chamber of the temple is large and spacious with thick stone pillars on all the edges with raised (but unreachable) platforms on both sides and an open roof allowing light to filter down, its heavily damage with the sea able to enter and cover a significant amount of the floor.
* Area 11: The top of the largest tower is partially collapsed allowing wyverns to fly in and nest up here, if the floor takes enough damage it will collapse causing anything standing there to fall into a lower level of the tower, the only part that doesnt fall is a raised platform where the nest is located.

### Low Tide

* Areas 1,2 and 6: During low tide these areas are significantly larger allowing for more hunting space and in some parts more ledges are revealed, this is also a chance to gather materials from below the tide line such as shells and seaweed.
* Area 7: Like the other shoreline areas, this area is larger however it also allows access to a rock face which can be climbed to access a secret shrine area where a Lynian village can be found as well as some additional mining spots.
* Area 10: At low tide the seawater drains from the area allowing access to area 12 as well as slightly increasing the size of the area.
* Area 12: Area 12 can only be entered at low tide as it is usually filled with water, it is a small area filled with strange objects and artefacts, it has a high vaulted ceiling and strange glowing algae covers most of the upper part, bathing the room in an eerie glow.

## Environmental Hazards

### Poisonous Trees

Scattered around the map are large poisonous trees, their branches have numerous large fruits which ooze a toxin, this can be disturbed by a large monster or bombs to drop the poison all at once and cause it to pool on the ground.

### Songshells

Songshells are the discarded homes of Songsnails, these can be picked up and used like a horn so loud it can act like a sonic bomb.

### Toxinflies

A rare and dangerous insect, at night these insects emerge freely and swarm the area, they emit a poisonous gas which can be very dangerous to hunters and monsters alike, however there is a monster that seems to have developed a form of symbiosis with the creatures.

During a Toxinfly Outbreak their nests can be found constructed out in the open, if a monster breaks one of these nests the toxinfly will attack it aggressively, however its important to be cautious as if a hunter is too close the toxinfly will target them too.

## Weather

### Light Mist

The standard weather for the area is calm with a light mist emanating from the sea.

### Heavy Rain

Sometimes the weather becomes quite rough, creating large waves and heavy rain across the area.

### Storm

During the summer, there will frequently be large and dangerous storms that batter the island, during these the sea and wind become very strong and will disturb many creatures into behaving unusually, however this will also result in unusual and rare objects being washed up onto the shore making it potentially beneficial to visit despite the hostile weather.

## Seasonal Changes

### Hot Season

During the hot season the weather can become very violent and is the only time the storm weather condition can occur however when it isnt stormy the area becomes much lighter and warmer and some summer visitors such as Ibsulek and Akura Terns arrive.

Hornetaur and Toxinfly Outbreaks are much more frequent during the hot season and some monsters like Seltas and Daimyo Hermitaur are more common.

### Cold Season

During the cold season the light in the area is much lower and heavy mist pours off the sea at night, Hornetaur become scarce, only being found within area 10.

### Minor Events

* Hornetaur Outbreak: Hornetaur become significantly more common and can be found in nearly every area of the map. During this event killing a number of Hornetaur will cause a larger stronger Hornetaur with a bigger horn to appear, a unique item (Hornetaur Kinghorn) can be carved from it which can be used to make a few unique weapons (This Hornetaur is more similar to a large monster in terms of combat).
* Toxinfly Outbreak: Toxinflies become significantly more widespread and larger nests can be found build in the centre of areas instead of just in trees.
* Kaigara Breeding: Kaigara become more numerous and will venture into the forested areas (Areas 3 and 4), This is the only time when Kaigara will be instantly aggressive towards all hunters.
* Hermitaur Breeding: Daimyo Hermitaur will appear more frequently and the smaller Hermitaur can be found in a lot more areas.
* Herbivore Breeding: Giant Kelbi can be found which will drop Blue Kelbi Horns.
* Flora/Fungal/Mineral/Insect Bloom: Certain Gathering spots will produce more items during these events, the affected points depending on the event.
* Debris Spotted: A large amount of debris can be found on the shores, gathering it can give account items and tools such as pickaxes or rations.

## Endemic Life

* Vigorwasp
* Songsnail
* Toxinfly
* Spiny Helmcrab
* Mosscloak Snail
* Azure Calappa
* Scalebat
* Akura Tern (Hot Season)
* Baitshrimp
* Speargull

## Notes

* The first few quests in this area have a more limited map (seen above) as storm damage has made some areas inaccessible, once completed the full area will open up.
* Hornetaur found within Ancestor Isle are larger with a more bluish shell.