# The Burning Cauldron > [!info] Quick Facts > | | | > |---|---| > | **Type** | Volcanic basin / Region | > | **Continent** | [[Continent - Iros\|Iros]] | > | **Location** | Within the [[Region - Djiris\|Drymountains]], bordering Greater Syrena | > | **Capital** | Bounty (magically warded outlaw city) | > | **Climate** | Extreme volcanic heat (48°C–70°C) | > | **Government** | None — lawless territory | > | **Known For** | The Fury volcano, Pyrat Arena, dark magic harvesting | > [!map] View on Map > [Open Interactive Map →](https://hawksrepos.github.io/elvensong-map/?location=The%20Burning%20Cauldron) ## Overview The Burning Cauldron is a gargantuan mountain basin nestled within the [[Region - Djiris|Drymountains]] of [[Continent - Iros|Iros]], bordering the infinite golden expanse of Greater Syrena. As an ancient volcanic caldera, it represents one of the most hostile environments in Gryth, defined by relentless volcanic activity and heat so profound it distorts the very air. At the heart of the basin stands **The Fury**, a violent and temperamental volcano that belches seemingly endless torrents of magical lava, smoke, and ash into the sky. Near the base of the peak, temperatures can soar to nearly 70°C — fundamentally unsurvivable for most biological life. The inner reaches are populated exclusively by specially adapted species such as fire wyrms and drakes, alongside dense infestations of flame, magma, and steam elementals. ## Dark Magic Harvesting The lava fields surrounding The Fury have become a site of immense industrial and religious significance. Specialist arcane siphon contraptions, developed by renegade warlocks working within the **Umbrath Magocracy**, are frequently deployed here to harvest the volcanic flow. These machines siphon and condense the intense dark magics found within the magma, storing them in heavy canisters that are shipped illegally across the world. This volatile essence is a prized black market commodity, used to fuel the most profane rituals and dark magical rites. The site has also become a place of worship for radical sects of evil light clerics — zealots bent on worshipping **Valludin, the Lord of the Fire Plane**, who offer their own flesh as payment for a shard of his destructive power. ## Bounty Moving outward from the central inferno, temperatures settle into a range of 48°C to 60°C. Within this ring sits **Bounty**, the capital city, which utilises powerful magical wards to lower the ambient temperature to a habitable level. The extreme heat of the surrounding environment acts as an impenetrable natural defence against any invading force. Life within Bounty and the wider Cauldron is a true outlaw's paradise — no kings, no guards, no formal laws. It is a land of absolute freedom and lethal consequence, serving as the ultimate hiding place for Gryth's most hardened criminals and those seeking to disappear from the reach of northern justice. ## The Pyrat Arena The most famous landmark within the basin is the **Pyrat Arena**, renowned across the world as one of the **Four Grand Arenas of Gryth**. Alongside its counterparts — the arenas of the [[Region - The Bleeding Isles|Bleeding Isles]], Bonedagger, and [[City - Shugwood|Shugwood]] — it forms the quartet colloquially known as the **Arenas of Fire, Blood, Rain, and Gold**. The Pyrat Arena is widely considered the most brutal of the four, attracting thousands of spectators for its monthly contests of martial prowess and arcane slaughter. A network of portals connects the arena to various criminal hideouts across [[Continent - Iros|Iros]], allowing visitors to bypass the perils of mountain travel. ### Xunnut the Red Dragon The pinnacle event is the annual appearance of **Xunnut**, an ancient red dragon who takes to the sands to face any six challengers simultaneously. Despite over three decades of attempts by elite adventuring parties and ambitious gladiators, Xunnut stands unbeaten after thirty-four years — cementing the Pyrat Arena as a site of both immense profit and certain death. ## Connections - [[Continent - Iros]] — Parent continent - [[Region - Djiris]] — The Burning Cauldron lies within the Drymountains - [[City - Solari Oasis]] — Nearby oasis city; hot winds blow from the Cauldron basin - **Umbrath Magocracy** — Renegade warlocks harvest dark magic from the lava fields - [[Region - The Bleeding Isles]] / **Bonedagger** / [[City - Shugwood]] — Counterpart Grand Arena locations --- ## Gallery ![[Pasted image 20260214155145.png]] ![[Pasted image 20260214155151.png]] ![[Pasted image 20260214155156.png]] ![[Pasted image 20260214155203.png]] --- *See also: [[Regions]]*