A shroud of darkness hung over the bustling port city. Waves crashed within its heavily reinforced harbor, tall, powerful stone walls lining it on either side while even its docks were made of dark stone. On the streets, tall, dark stone buildings loomed all around, the people meandering about the streets hardly phased by the darkness. Most of the windows were shut, and while the atmosphere seemed like it would be chilly, that was hardly the case. A hot, stinging wind blew down the long, open roads, an old friend the locals were quite used to, but always caught travelers off guard!

                “When we reached Garodar at last, we received quite the warm welcome… literally.” Tearna flinched as a blast of heat rocketed around them. The ghollon let out loud, braying calls as they stamped their feet in protest, resisting the tug of their reins before begrudgingly trudging along. Frowning at the large animals sympathetically, Tearna looked ahead as she walked, “For an island covered in volcanoes, I’m honestly not sure what I was expecting.”

                The caravan slowly made its way through the streets, “After a day of sailing, we arrived in the port city of Baranga, the largest northern port on the island.” Tearna looked up at one of the buildings curiously, “In a weird way, Baranga reminded me of a fortress. Every building was made of stone along with most of the decorations. In fact, pretty much everything was made from black stone! I’m pretty sure even the bakery could have withstood a few shots from a cannon.”

                Frowning in thought, she followed the caravan up a set of steps as they approached the outer wall, “While such brutalist architecture could seem a little out of place, it made complete sense for an environment like this. Because of the sweltering temperatures, building anything out of timber was a recipe for disaster, and the tumultuous nature of the land meant the locals always needed to be prepared for an eruption.” Tapping her pen against her nose, she looked at her journal, “I have to hand it to the locals. You have to either be the toughest of the tough or completely insane to survive in a landscape like this.”

                “Ahh, this is soooooooooooo much better than Falador,” Bren exclaimed, raising her arms happily as Tearna raised her brow at her.

                Watching her, Tearna carefully wrote a note, “And I quickly learned that at least one of my colleagues was insane…” A few minutes later, a shadow rolled over the caravan as they moved towards the gates. Tearna stared up at the massive fortifications lining the top of the stone wall, “After only a few minutes, we reached the village’s perimeter. I was stunned by the sheer immensity of the walls, but leaving the village quickly made me remember where we were.” Wincing as a wall of heat rushed past her, Tearna looked off into the horizon as blackened rock crunched beneath her now armored boot, “This island is definitely not for the faint of heart.”

                Dark clouds rolled through the sky as fire poured from numerous volcanic mountains. An ominous rumble shook the land as brighter flashes erupted from a volcano in the distance, fiery mortars raining down across its slope. Garodar was largely dominated by charred and blackened rock, not too different from obsidian. Rivers of lava crossed the terrain, and in certain locations, one could even find large lakes of molten lava. This was one of the most inhospitable locations on the planet, and unlike Falador, every step was potentially lethal.

                “Gazing upon Garodar for the first time was truly an awe-inspiring moment,” Tearna wrote, swallowing hard as she stared off at the terrain. Several of the other expedition members were talking in worried tones as they eyed the erupting mountains, a few nervously looking back at the village, “Stretched out before us was an obsidian wasteland. There wasn’t a single tree or shrub to be seen, just endless black rock.”

                Tearna jumped as another rumble shook the sky. Gulping nervously as she watched the clouds illuminate briefly, she wrote with a slight tremor in her hand, “The thunder that I had been hearing as we neared the island turned out to not be thunder, but the near constant eruptions of the island’s volcanoes.” Taking a shaky breath, she jumped slightly as the captain called out, everyone beginning to reluctantly trudge across the dark field, “Despite our apprehension, exploring the island was our responsibility, and so we set out to document all we could find on our way to the western port.”

                Fire flashed underneath the dark clouds as the caravan slowly picked its way through the blackened landscape. “Because of the constant eruptions, the locals have long since given up their ambition of colonizing this wasteland,” Tearna wrote as she walked carefully. She glanced over with wide eyes as she watched a rock burn, “Between the tectonic movements and shifting lava rivers, Garodar was an ever-shifting landscape, so such pleasantries as signs or roads were only a dream. The best we could do was pick our way across the safest looking collection of black rocks and hope that we didn’t stumble into a lava filled chasm…”

                Bits of fire rained down across the slopes of a volcano to their east as they moved through a collection of taller, jagged rocks. Tearna looked around with a slight frown as they walked, “The landscape itself was a curious study. Sometimes it was flat and desolate, and other times we found ourselves lost in a maze of jagged rock. As we walked, I was quick to note the almost complete lack of vegetation, but right as I began to question the presence of life at all, we stumbled across a very peculiar insect!”

                Pebbles rolled off to her right, prompting her to stop and look over curiously. Tiny, grey legs plinked against the rock one as a small beetle marched, Tearna pulling out her journal as she began to make a note, “Adamant follier beetles are an insect native to extreme heat environments. Like other beetles, they have six legs, hard shells, and a simple head, but what sets them apart are their rocky shells!” Black rock glinted as the beetle wiggled its rear in tune with its steps, “Adamant follier beetles have evolved to have a carapace very similar to their surroundings. When presented with danger, they curl into balls and roll away, making them quite adept at surviving in an environment like this.” Squinting curiously, Tearna tapped its shell and barked a laugh as it instantly rolled up.

                Firey mortars sailed through the sky as the landscape rumbled. At the base of a volcano, a loud clang rang out. Bits of rock shot up as two creatures slammed their heads together, growling as they dug their claws into the ground to try and get leverage. With a tremendous snarl, the smaller one was flung backwards, but it quickly charged back forward as their duel continued. A short distance away, Tearna watched them intently from behind a rock, “In the shadow of a volcano, I managed to catch sight of a territorial dispute between two shalehorns!”

                More rock exploded as they collided again with a loud clang, “In terms of size, shalehorns are about as large as a ghollon, but are noticeably thinner. They are reptilian in nature, have four legs, and long tails, but their heads are what make them stand out. Similar to a tremir, their heads are more like a pillar, hence their name ‘shalehorn.’ Their wide, hammer-shaped heads are heavily reinforced with a bony carapace similar to the rock around them which they then use to fight off predators or, in this case, a potential rival.”

                Tearna grit her teeth as the loud clang of their collision rocked her bones, “Shalehorns are an incredibly aggressive species and are notably not a fan of us. Should a traveler encounter one in the wild, your best option is to slowly back away without breaking eye contact, but there is one silver lining! They are so territorial that if you run far enough away, they will forget all about you!” Another loud clang rang out as the shalehorns collided one last time.

                Exhausted groans filtered through the air as the tired expedition members reclined atop jagged, uncomfortable stones. Droplets of water fell from a near-empty canteen, the sheek that had been drinking peering into it sadly. Nearby, the ghollon snorted tiredly as they lay on their sides, several wind wielders doing their best to help them cool down. Tall, rocky walls flanked the small clearing they had stumbled upon, and although it wasn’t quite night yet, the captain had decided it wasn’t worth the risk of going any further for the day.

                Tearna frowned at her journal as she worked on her sketch of the shalehorns, biting her tongue as she twisted her hand with the curve of their oddly shaped heads. “Ok, can we agree that Bren is out of her mind?” Kai asked as he sat down beside her. Frowning, Tearna followed his gaze and watched as the free-spirited shasheek lay sprawled out on the black rock, seemingly basking in the heat. “I’m half expecting her to throw herself in a volcano at this point.”

                “If she could do it without burning, I think she would have,” Tearna echoed with a snort of amusement.

                Kai frowned at his canteen, “I’m getting a little worried about our supplies. Our water is evaporating faster than we can drink, and with so much of the island left to explore…”

                “We’ll be fine.” Kai looked at her uncertainly, “Farin has already made a plan for conserving our water supply. As long as we stick to the plan, we should be able to make it to the other port.”

                “That sounds like a disturbingly fine line for us to be treading,” Kai noted with a worried frown. “One unexpected accident, and we’re going to be in serious trouble.”

                “Which is why we need to be extra careful with our water!” Tearna laughed and held her water up for emphasis, “I’ve only had a few sips so far, and I’ve got plenty left, so… if you start getting low, just let me know.”

                “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Kai said with a start. “If I run out, it’s my fault, so I should be the one to pay for it.”

                “I’m not going to let that happen,” Tearna said firmly. “After all, who am I going to rely on for assistance if I let you pass out?!”

                “Heh, of course that’s what you need me for,” Kai said as he grinned in amusement.

                “Eh, for the most part,” she said with a shrug as she returned to her drawing. “Your pretty good company too though.” Blinking once, he watched with a small smile as she sketched.

                The next day, waves of heat rolled around the caravan as they made their way through an obsidian field. Tearna kept her arm raised as she winced, booms resonating in her ears as the mountain to their east continued to erupt, “Making our way into the continent was like walking into a warzone! We had the awful luck of finding ourselves in the shadow of a rather angry volcano, leading us to get assaulted with falling fire!”

                “Incoming!” Tearna quickly threw her hands up in panic as she summoned a massive shield of granite. Other powers manifested across the caravan as screaming, fiery mortars fell towards them. Fire exploded around them as the mortars landed, sending lava splashing across the blackened rock.

                “Captain, we need to get out of here!” someone called, flinching as a mortar landed a little too close.

                “Stay calm and keep our shields up!” Farin called from the front of the caravan. He bared his teeth as he kept a firm grip on their lead ghollon, “If we rush in a panic, we’re going to end up in a river of lava! Stay focused, and keep moving!”

                Tearna flinched as a larger mortar struck her shield, her eyes widening as lava dripped off its sides, “While I understood the value of remaining calm, this was one scenario where staying calm was a little tough. While were able to avoid serious injury, several of us were still burned by shrapnel.”

                One of the expedition members hissed as the medic carefully applied a bandage to their leg, their fur mostly burned away from a lava splash. Tearna walked through their makeshift camp with a small frown, listening to the groans and agonized wails before moving towards the perimeter, “We did finally find a spot of safety amongst the volcanic landscape, though, it certainly didn’t make me feel any safer.”

                Waves of heat distorted the air as searing lava slowly dripped across the landscape. Tearna frowned as blazing orange rivers reflected in her eyes, “From our encampment, we could see that the land was ensnared in lava streams, and the number of safe paths that were visible were… imaginary.” Shivering at the thought of what awaited them, Tearna looked over her shoulder as she noticed the others beginning to pack up, “Despite the danger, we were obligated to press ahead, but I wasn’t quite expecting some of the wonders I was about to uncover!”

                Dark splotches floated across the surface of the lava river as it slowly drifted down the path. Suddenly, crimson scales breached the surface, a thorny back appearing and disappearing slowly. “While it seems ludicrous, there are a couple of extremophile organisms that can survive in such a harsh environment,” Tearna wrote from the nearby embankment. Intense heat wove around her, but her eyes were fixated on the creatures swimming through the molten fire, “The first that we encountered was the unusual magmatreaders!”

                A far more armored head suddenly surfaced, a sharp jaw opening briefly before the creature plunged back into the fire. “Magmatreaders are a type of serpent that thrive in environments like this,” Tearna wrote, watching the pod continue down the river. “They are about three ghollon in length and fairly narrow. They are covered in blazing scales and have numerous spines across their backs. While most of the other creatures here can be identified by their hardened carapaces, the only part of the magmatreader that is hardened is its rugged face!”

                “These serpents have a much rockier head, and their jaws are strong enough to break through sheer rock. Their cyclopean red eyes can withstand searing heat, though it remains to be discovered exactly how such an environment affects their vision.” Writing down a few more notes, Tearna looked up with a start as she noticed a surge moving through the river, “Much to my shock, however, it turns out that these serpents do in fact have a natural predator!”

                Lava suddenly sprayed the air as a giant, rocky maw erupted from the lava with a roar. One of the magmatreaders shrieked in terror and pain as the armored jaw lifted it out of the lava, sending the others scattering for cover as sheets of lava rained down. Tearna’s jaw dropped in terror, “As it happens, Raijin are not the only terrifying creature that inhabit volcanic biomes. Though I didn’t expect to encounter one, I was able to bear witness to the hunt of a mighty therazor!”

                Lava waterfalled off the back of the immense creature as it held the serpent in its jaws, turning its head to look after the fleeing pod, “Therazor’s are theorized to be distant cousins of the Raijin, but lack its power nullifying scales as well as its signature four arms. Like most other creatures in this environment, therazors are covered in jagged, black rock and have large spines highlighting both their shoulders and parts of their backs. Most therazors have different patterns of spines, so no two creatures look identical, but they are all equally terrifying!”

                Lava splashed as the massive creature slowly began to slip back into the lava, Tearna writing frantically, “Their heads are also noticeably draconic compared to that of a Raijin! They have six glowing red eyes, a thick, rocky ridge across the tops of their head, large rocky protrusions on the outside of their arms like fins, and- DAMNIT!” Tearna stamped her foot with aggravation as the creature disappeared. Grinding her teeth, she groaned and looked back down at her journal, “I guess I’ll have to end my description there. I really wish I could have seen its tail.” Frowning at her journal sourly, she suddenly screeched as the corner of the page caught fire.

                Rumbles shook the ground as the caravan made its way through a lava field. Tearna breathed heavily as sweat dripped down her body, “We eventually reached a part of the island that I have dubbed ‘the cauldron.’ The Cauldron was a vast field with numerous intersecting rivers of lava as well as lava lakes.” Waves of heat distorted the land around them as the rock beneath their feet quite literally sizzled, “The heat was unbearable. The temperature was so high that our supplies were cooking in their containers, and we were forced to insulate the ghollons’ hooves to protect them.” Pausing as she hung her head, Tearna scowled at Bren as the shasheek walked with a spring in her step, “I was also beginning to suspect that Bren was a different creature altogether…”

                A little later, the caravan had once again stopped. Many of the explorers were laid out atop large slabs as they tried to cool off. Several wind wielders were working overtime alongside the few aqua wielders they had to try and ward off the heat, but it was a losing battle. Whatever thought anyone had to put up tents had been quickly dashed as many of their supplies ignited, only the bedding made of leather actually withstanding the superheated ground. Despite the oppressive heat, at least one explorer was still managing to do her job.

                “Why… in the First Archon’s name… are we out here?” Kai breathed heavily, struggling to keep up with Tearna as she hopped across the rocks towards the nearby lava lake.

                “Oh, quit whining, you big baby,” Bren cackled, slapping him on the back before bounding ahead. “I haven’t felt this wonderful since the Karasi! I wonder if I could move here…”

                Staring after her with disbelief, Kai grumbled under his breath and followed, Tearna already perched atop a rock ahead of them. Her eyes were narrowed as she looked over the volcanic lake ahead of them. Faint movement suddenly caught her eye as her gaze drifted to an unexpected place. The sky. “Above the lake, I encountered our first example of a volcanic flying creature,” Tearna wrote, squinting up at the creatures circling overhead as Bren crouched beside her. “Flying over the lake was a small flock of vagrabats.”

                Crimson wings moved up and down every so often, the large creatures mostly gliding on the rising heat as they scanned the ground with glowing red eyes. “Despite their names, vagrabats are not a type of bat species. In fact, they are more closely related to lizards. Appearance wise, they are crimson in color, covered in thin scales along their back legs and backside, have thin, whip-like tails, small spines along their backs, and a noticeably dragon-like head. Additionally, they have thick, leathery wings, giving them an appearance that most likely helped perpetuate the rumors of dragons.”

                “Vagrabats are a scavenger species that will feed opportunistically on both leftover corpses as well as any berries they can find. Typically, they can be found roosting inside of volcanic caverns or along the rims of active volcanoes. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are, thankfully, docile, so seeing one shouldn’t be cause for alarm.”

                Finishing her notes, Tearna glanced over at Bren as she suddenly pointed down, drawing Tearna’s gaze to the shore as she started writing again, “At the same time we saw the vagrabats, Bren noticed another set of creatures basking on the shore of the lack, garalisks!” Loud snoring resonated as the massive lizards snoozed, some of them curled into balls while others were stretched out with their front legs crossed under their wedge-like chins, “Garalists are a creature entirely unique to the volcanic island and have long been a source of intrigue! Though it is hard to believe, there is actually a group attempting to domesticate them.”

                Yawning loudly, one of the lizards shook its head roughly, blinking its tired, dark eyes before looking up at where Bren and Tearna were studying it, “Though these lizards appear ferocious, they are surprisingly docile. They are about the size of a ghollon, though sit lower to the ground, and are covered in a mix of scales and rocky armor! Garalisks have incredibly sharp claws and armored forearms that help them traverse the uneven landscape, and their heads are mostly armored, most notably around their jaws, giving them the ability to shatter rocks.”

                Standing and stretching, the garalisk looked towards the lake as a few others began to stir, “These lizards are mostly crimson in color and have noticeable dark red markings across their backs and chests. Thanks to their scales, they are experts at swimming through lava, making them incredibly effective at surviving terrain like this.” Lowering her journal, Tearna watched the small pack with a thoughtful smile as they began to slink towards the lake, “I must admit, I am quite fond of the idea of someone domesticating these proud creatures. With their aid, the lives our people would be far, far easier!”

                A wistful smile touched her face as she lost herself in her fantasy. She suddenly jumped as Kai practically threw himself down beside them, “Why are we out here again?!”

                Rocks tumbled down the slopes of a volcano as the ground heaved, a distant mountain exploding in fire as fresh smoke plumed into the sky. Tearna watched with a frown before continued across the slope before them, “Though the volcanic island was not nearly as large as Falador, getting across it was proving to be an extremely time-consuming endeavor. Between the lava rivers, instability, and hostile creatures, it was starting to feel like we would be trapped on the island forever!”

                Shielding her face as a brighter flash of lava erupted, Tearna frowned at the sky before hurrying forward, “However, a bit of a reprieve was nearly in sight!” Rocks shifted beneath her feet as she clambered up the slope, several other expedition members gathering atop a rocky outcropping. Taking one of their hands and pulling herself up, she peered out and quickly gasped, “After traveling for several days, the port city of garaleth was finally, FINALLY, in sight!”

                Far off in the distance, merely a speck, was the faintest hint of a blue ocean and a small port. Grass surrounded the city, much to her shock, a small oasis amidst an obsidian sea. Tearna breathed a sigh of relief, “To say we were relieved was a massive understatement, but we weren’t quite free from the island’s clutches yet.” Frowning, Tearna turned her gaze down to study the terrain between them and the city, “Before us was a massive obsidian field marked by numerous rivers of lava, and the terrain looked far less friendly than anything we had seen.”

                Someone cried in surprise as the rock beneath them suddenly shifted, sending them falling onto their rears with a cry of pain. Tenderly massaging their hips, they bared their teeth as someone helped them onto their feet, the caravan carefully, and slowly, making its way down the side of the volcano they had finally managed to surmount. “Thankfully, we were able to traverse the volcano without incident,” Tearna wrote, taking a small break atop an obsidian rock. Glancing back at the ghollon, she looked at her slightly singed journal, “While it had proven to be a rather uneventful experience, I was able to encounter the only plant we were able to find!”

                Dry branches rattled as a hot breeze blew across the slope. Brown, slightly curled leaves rustled, but they didn’t ignite. Pebbles crunched as Tearna knelt next to the small bush with eyes of wonder, “At the base of the volcano, we finally found one of the native plant species called a smolderberry!” Tearna gently reached down and plucked one of the berries growing from the underside of the many leaves, “Smolderberries are extremely heat resistant and are one of the only sources of nutrition for the few herbivores on this island.”

                Looking the crimson berry over, Tearna plopped it into her mouth and absently chewed, “Smolderberries got their names because of how their berries always look like they have caught fire, but that is never the case! These small plants are almost completely fireproof thanks to their bony carapace and insulating gel-like layer underneath, allowing them to find an existence in this harsh landscape.” Twisting her mouth sourly, she shook her head, “Their berries are a touch on the sour side though, so travelers beware…”

                Geysers of lava shot into the air as the ground rumbled beneath the caravan. They trudged through the dark, obsidian landscape with tired expressions, shoulders sagging and feet dragging. Tearna studied her journal intently, her ears twitching as she listened to the lava erupting not too far away, “With our sights set on the city of Garaleth, we ventured into the obsidian wasteland, and even though civilization was a stone’s throw away, I found the environment to be even more hostile than the one we had left behind.” Tearna winced as a taller geyser erupted with a searing scream, “The field was very active, and with so many rivers of lava, it was a miracle we made it across.”

                Rocks crumbled and broke as a shout of surprise rang out. One of the expedition members breathed a huge sigh of relief as she was drug back up to safety away from the river of lava she had almost fallen into, the entire column stopping briefly as they took the chance to catch their breath. “Because of the harsh cragginess of the terrain, we were forced to follow a lava chasm,” Tearna wrote, taking the chance to make some notes. “While the chasm wasn’t exactly safe, it was at least traversable, but we had numerous mishaps that almost cost us dearly. That being said, our surroundings were certainly unique!”

                Tearna looked around with a thoughtful smile as they began to walk once again, “The chasm was more like a canyon with black rock towering on both sides of us almost twenty feet above our heads! The ledge we were following was quite narrow, and, just to our left, there was an entire river of lava! It was not exactly what I would call a friendly situation, but it did present us with a few opportunities to meet more of the local denizens!”

                Large, orange eyes blinked slowly. Several, large salamander-like creatures were reclining on the shore, staring out at the world silently as the lava illuminated them. “Magma manders are a unique variety of mander that can only be found on this island,” Tearna wrote, kneeling as she studied the lazy looking creatures. Kai had his arms on her shoulders, staring worriedly as she continued to write without a single care for the danger of her current situation, “Like other manders, they can be identified by their thick tails, relatively flat heads, and gigantic eyes, but these manders are, of course, a bit different!”

                Gnarled, tan scales covered most of their heads and backs, and the ends of their arms were noticeably club-like, making them look partially armored. “Magma manders do not possess the soft skin of their cousins. Instead, they are covered in thick scales with parts of their bodies being heavily armored! While they aren’t exactly completely resistant to lava, they can withstand the heat with minimal issues!” Smiling happily as she watched one of the creatures slink into the lava, she pushed herself up and stepped back, smiling gratefully at Kai before finishing her notes, “Seeing them was certainly a treat, and they weren’t the only creature we met!”

                An intense rumbling shook the cliff just above their heads. Rock suddenly exploded with a fierce cry as a tube-like worm punched its way out from the cliff. Massive, pincer-like jaws clanged together in a ring around the front of its face, numerous spines wriggling along its sides as it turned one way and then the other. “The molten calypse worm is potentially the worst nightmare of more than a few people,” Tearna wrote, staring up at the worm grimly. Nearby, several expedition members readied their powers, heading the warning she had given them earlier as the worm peered around, “Not only are they terrifying to look at, but they are just as terrifying when it comes to their personality.”

                With an echoing screech, the massive worm turned around and slammed its face back into the rock, stone grinding and crumbling as it dug back into the cliff, “Calypse worms are known for digging miles and miles of endless tunnels. In this environment, they have been known to cause the collapse of entire fields and flood underground pathways. As if that wasn’t enough, they are quite fierce. Between their thorn covered heads, powerful jaws, and muscular bodies, they can be an incredible threat, so extreme caution must be taken around them.” With a puff of black dust, the worm disappeared into the rock, the expedition members waiting a moment before releasing their powers.

                “After a few hours, we escaped the confines of the chasm and the end of our journey was finally within reach!” Tearna breathed heavily as she surmounted a small, black hill, pausing to catch her breath before looking ahead. Just a short distance away, grass began to replace the black, molten rock while hints of a cool breeze rolled towards them. “Though we were tired, wounded, and all around exhausted, we fully completed out task on Garodar, and while we had more than enough data to please the academy, there was one last creature I had the honor of witnessing!”

                Blinking with a start as she heard a distant cry, Tearna whipped her gaze south as her heart skipped a beat. Long, white manes flowed in the breeze as large creatures charged. Clods of rock and dirt sprung into the air as their hooves dug into the ground again and again, their fluffy white tails following behind them as muscles rippled beneath their sleek, crimson and gold bodies. Dropping her jaw in shock, Tearna quickly fumbled around for her journal, “Just like the rooks of the Faladorrian mountains, the fabled whitemanes of Garodar are another mythical sight few get the pleasure to witness!”

                The ground thundered beneath the herd of tall, hooved creatures as they galloped onto the obsidian field, “Before the Crisis, whitemanes used to be a far more common sight. These beautiful equestrian creatures are known for their crimson and gold fur patterns, and their names come from their fluffy white manes and tails! Additionally, they have twin horns curling off their heads, and one will notice that their back hooves are actually curved like claws, letting them better grip the uneven terrain.” Tearna’s smile brightened as her eyes widened, “But that’s not what makes them truly special!”

                Fire kicked up around the heels of one of the whitemanes. With a roar, the flames surged around its hooves, making it look as if the creature had become the very embodiment of fire. “Whitemanes have developed the unique ability to summon and interact with flame!” Tearna wrote, her smile shining bright as she watched. “As they run through a superheated environment, parts of their bodies will ignite! Experts believe that this reaction happens due to a chemical compound found on parts of their bodies, but many people like to pretend they have their own powers! Regardless, these are easily one of the most magical creatures on our planet, and it is beyond a shame that they are such a rare sight.”

                Frowning sadly, Tearna lowered her journal as she watched the herd race off into the obsidian fields. “Are you ok?” Tearna blinked once and looked over as Kai tilted his head worriedly, “You look upset.”

                “Oh, it’s… nothing,” she managed to say. Sighing, she looked back towards the herd, “It’s just… whitemanes used to be a lot more common, but their numbers were reduced to a fraction during the Crisis. It makes me sad to think about how much those poor creatures must have suffered…”

                Frowning at her sadly, he looked out at the animals, “At least they managed to survive though, right? Just like our people, they made it, and now they have the chance to recover what was lost!” Blinking in thought, she looked back at Kai as he nodded for emphasis, “It’ll take time, but they might come back eventually! That’s what you would say about us at least, right?”

                Processing what he meant, she finally nodded, “I guess you’re right. It’s even more fitting that their colors match the colors of the empire as well.” She barked a laugh and grinned, “Look at you getting all philosophical on me.”

                “Ehh, I don’t know about that,” he said with a sheepish grin as he turned away. “You just bring out the best in me.”

                “Hmm?” Tearna cocked her head in confusion. Shaking her head, she hurried after him, “Wait! I don’t understand. What does that mean?! KAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!”

                A much gentler, cooler breeze whispered through the air as it blew around the green grass covering the short field. In this field, life was abundant, creating a welcome reprieve from the hostility of Garodar. “After so many days of traveling through one of the harshest environments in the world, we finally arrived at the city of Garaleth!”

                Chatter and activity buzzed through the air as the caravan made its way through the gates of the city, Tearna looking around as she began to take notes, “After so many days away from civilization, it was almost shocking to be back in an environment that wasn’t trying to kill me, but it was truly a welcome relief. That feeling when we walked through the gates made many of us collapse, and there were more than a few locals that couldn’t believe what we had done, much to our pride!”

                Footsteps echoed as the expedition made its way down the road, “Garaleth was similar to the other port city in many ways. It was surrounded by tall, reinforced walls, its buildings were designed like small fortresses, and the city was designed around its port. We saw many shops, landscaping that was clearly imported, and even some decorations made of paper! Thanks to its more moderate climate, we were able to relax for the first time in what felt like forever.” Pausing, Tearna looked up with a confused start as the captain suddenly called something out, “Much to my shock, Farin actually decided to treat us for surviving such a rough ordeal, and none of us were inclined to say no!”

                “Cheers!” a cacophony rang out as numerous pint glasses slammed into each other. The expedition members around the large table went silent as they drank before slamming their drinks down with uproarious laughter. For the first time that trip, they had managed to pack themselves in to a quant tavern. The atmosphere was dim, and the ceiling wasn’t too far over their heads. The rest of the tavern was more rustic, exactly the type of place they had wanted to find after surviving such a hostile journey.

                “I never, ever, EVER want to do that again!” someone shouted, slamming their face onto the table as several others laughed.

                “That was the worst experience of my life,” someone else echoed with a nod. “Seriously! Why in the name of the First Archon did we have to come here?!”

                “I thought it was nice,” Bren said with a shrug as she took a sip of her mug.

                “Shut up, Bren!” nearly everyone said in unison, making her jump.

                “It was definitely a rough excursion, but we did it for a good reason,” Farin said with a firm nod. He looked at Tearna, “She can probably say it best though.”

                “It was absolutely worth it.” She looked down at her glass with a thoughtful smile, “There are so many creatures on this island that can’t be found anywhere else, and we saw so many of them! By coming here and exploring, I was able to make recordings for all of them, and that means that our people will have that much more of an understanding of the world we share!” Smiling, she looked around brightly, “That has to make it worth it, right?”

                “I… guess,” someone said begrudgingly. “I still think there was probably a better way to do it!”

                “Until someone domesticates a garalisk, that was about as good as it was going to get,” Tearna said with a laugh. “At least it was worth it! I got to record a therazor, some vagrabats, and even a herd of whitemanes!” She looked down at her journal with shining eyes, “Our people will be able to learn so much, so… even though we got singed, it was an experience I would absolutely repeat!”

                “My burned tails disagree with that sentiment,” someone muttered, earning a laugh or two.

                “We took a beating, I’ll give everyone that,” Farin spoke up. He looked around the table with a proud smile, “But you each showed me why you were picked for this expedition. When things got tough, you were able to buckle down, make the right decisions, and get us through one of the most hostile places on this planet. You were all able to put your best foot forward when it mattered most, and that is something I think we can all be proud of!” Laughing warmly, he raised his mug, “To the expedition and its proud crew!”

                “To the expedition!” they echoed, clinking their mug together.

                “And there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel,” he continued with a knowing grin. “It’s only fitting that after visiting the most hostile place on the planet, we make our way to the most exotic and welcoming of them all!”

                “Oh, is that next?!” someone exclaimed with a gasp.

                “It is indeed,” the captain nodded with a wide grin, Tearna beaming ecstatically. For the last few days, all she had been able to think about was survival, but Farin was right. With Garodar behind them, they were now able to look ahead, and the next location they were poised to visit was perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world! Laughing happily, she tilted her mug back and drank happily as visions danced through her head of the emerald isles.

                A day later, waves crashed against the side of a galleon as Tearna leaned against the railing. A happy smile rested on her face as she stared out at the blue horizon. “Surviving Garodar was certainly a challenge, but after many days, the volcanic island was finally behind us,” she wrote, looking at her journal thoughtfully. “Though it was challenging, it was enlightening, and I will never forget all of the incredible creatures we found. More than anything, Garodar proves that our people are capable of surmounting any hardship!”

                Smiling happily at the thought, she lifted her gaze and looked ahead, “With Garodar behind us, however, a large chapter was finally closed. We were done with the eastern continents, and it was time for us to return to familiar shores. Our next destination was a location that several of our expedition members were from, and it was supposed to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet and possibly my second most anticipated destination on our trip.” Smiling brightly, she wrote down the beginning of her next journal entry, “At long last, we were on our way to the tropical, warm, and salty Southern Isles!” Far off in the distance, so far that they couldn’t yet be seen, a massive cluster of numerous, verdant isles poked up amidst the endless blue ocean…