“Alarra,” Traveller! Alarra means welcome. It also means large, angry, mother-of-all-lava bombs— something to keep in mind when an islander is shouting it at you. Context matters.
At the heart of each island in this paradise archipelago stands a large volcano. More than just mountains with temper issues; they are the lifeblood of Alarra.
The locals harness the lava to power their ships, using techno-magics that would make even the most seasoned steampunks swoon. But the real kicker? The main volcano houses an interplanetary portal.
A few lucky parents are allowed into the vents each year to join the Lava Breeding program and produce super-powered offspring. These children can fly, read minds, or even toast bread with a single glance.
Keep an eye out for the Guild of Lava Regulation, an organization tasked with the completely rational job of telling lava where it can and cannot flow. Guild members are notorious hoarders of magic, for good reason. The volcanoes are dying—a fact that has sent the Guild into a frenzy of magic accumulation, as one does when one’s primary source of mystical energy is going on sabbatical.
The plant life in the bays around Alarra has become sentient, developing a legion-style hive mind. Conversations with them can be overwhelmingly thorough, as every blade of seaweed and algal bloom weighs in on topics ranging from existential philosophy to the best tidal ph balance.
Algae farmers on Alarra are changed by their diet, harmonizing so deeply with the flora that they can't help but photosynthesize a little themselves. Eating the sentient algae also allows one sky swimming capabilities (because who wouldn’t want to backstroke through the clouds?) and a curious immunity to volcano diving.
<aside> 🌋 Put these sights on your list!
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