Shrine Isle/Pre-SGW

Shrine Isle, also known as Shrine Island (formerly located in the interior of Angel Island and known as the Chaos Chamber) is a small island that floats off the "coast" of Angel Island, to which it is connected by a wooden bridge. As its name suggests, it is the site of the Master Emerald shrine, and thus a typical gathering place of Knuckles the Echidna and the Chaotix.

Shrine Isle
Shrine Isle was created when Super Sonic battled the fourth Enerjak, who was in fact a brainwashed Knuckles the Echidna. Their battle caused an explosion that ripped the Master Emerald Shrine and the floor of the Chaos Chamber from beneath Angel Island's surface, resulting in the creation of a small island that was held aloft by the Emerald just like Angel Island, which continued to float despite Shrine Island's separation from it. Shrine Island was also the site of a brief skirmish between Dr. Finitevus and Knuckles' allies, who were attempting to free Knuckles from Dr. Finitevus's hex. Guardian Locke sacrificed his life to accomplish the task, and Finitevus escaped Shrine Island after Knuckles attacked him seeking to punish him for his crimes. The Chaotix later built a bridge between it and the mainland of Angel Island, allowing them to pass between the two. Shrine Island would serve as the site of a brief battle between Knuckles and Espio the Chameleon, who had been ordered to seize the Master Emerald for the Iron Dominion. However, Espio broke off the battle, and gave Knuckles some intelligence on the state of affairs involving the Dominion and the Clans that paid allegiance to it before departing. (StH: #184, #186, #203, #204)

Further battles soon took place on Shrine Isle, as the Downunda Dark Egg Legion sent Wing Dingoes to seize the Master Emerald. Fortunately, Vector the Crocodile and Ray the Flying Squirrel were able to stop them, partly due to Ray's using his small ability to summon energy from the Master Emerald to create the illusion of a Super transformation. Shortly thereafter, Knuckles and Dr. Finitevus would do battle for the Master Emerald, only for Finitevus' near victory to be thwarted by Julie-Su, who injured him. He was then thrown from the island by Knuckles, though he managed to survive. Following Espio's return to the group, Shrine Isle would be the site of several confessions on his part regarding information he had collected on his teammates. Sonic the Hedgehog later came to Shrine Island to request the use of a Warp Ring so he could rescue Sally Acorn, but was refused based on the danger involved.(StH: #212, #232, SU: #9, #10, #12)

Later, Thrash the Devil came to Shrine Island after stealing notes from Dr. Finitevus' laboratory and supercharged his Warp Ring using the Master Emerald, subsequently imprisoning Julie-Su and Saffron. The pair had been left to guard the Emerald by Knuckles while he traveled to Albion, which was under attack by the New Megaopolis Dark Egg Legion. Thrash, using this supercharged Warp Ring, imprisoned all of the Echidnas in Albion, citizens and Legionnaires alike. Knuckles returned to Shrine Island after claiming Thrash's Warp Ring, but was unable to use it; he also met the other members of the Chaotix returning from the Great Desert. (StH: #244, #245, #246, SU: #49)

Background Information

 * In the games, namely Sonic Adventure, the Master Emerald is located on a small island of land connected to Angel Island by a bridge, upon which are the ruins of the former Emerald shrine. The destruction of the Chaos Chamber and its subsequent replacement with Shrine Isle were likely due to writer Ian Flynn desiring to make comic locales fit in more with their game counterparts.