Mottled shades of green mark the “Through The Ages” hall, where the initial focus is prehistoric beasts from land and sky; giant mammals and birds and horrifyingly large invertebrates.

The fossilised remains of an ancient fencath, a 19 foot tall herbivore, with its large, domed head, and stocky, armoured body. The smaller, carnivorous ostreus, with its low, wide gait, and massive crushing mandibles. A slab of rock housing the bones of a fish that once lived in an ancient inland sea, long gone. Creatures, now extinct, and others, whose ancient bones are no different to the bones of their living descendants.

The exhibit features flora and fauna found all over Andis as well as a few specimens originating from Gantansu, far to the south beyond the Ishkar mountains. There is a distinct lack of prehistoric creatures reported to have come from Junderell to the east, but what it lacks in prehistoric presence, it more than makes up for with more modern creatures; to this day, the variety of new species discovered there, particularly in its hills and sprawling rainforests, grows by the day.
Stepping into the “Tripartite Terrain” exhibit in layered shades of yellow, the theme shifts to the land itself. The tall, vast Ishkar range splits the land, and leaves in its wake connected, yet distinct environments; the lush, wet lands and deep canyons in the east, and the plains to the north and south; temperate grasslands in the north, and hot steppe to the south, both edged by rain shadow deserts to the east on the leeward side of the mountains. The climate and ecology differ so starkly that exiting a mountain pass between one region and another is like stepping into a new world.

There are dioramas present showing typical terrain and creatures from the three regions as well as the mountains themselves. The peaks tell their own stories, with their treacherous terrain closely guarding most of them. The focus shifts to the mountains, their formation, ancient history and modern presence. The volcanoes scattered across its length, with Mount Pendaria being the most significant, and the deep canyons in northern Junderell, that add another near-impenetrable barrier to the already formidable obstacle, have provided geologists with plenty to busy themselves with over the years.

Samples and images of rocks line the displays, with numerous slabs featuring distinctive layered bands of different rock type. Some are straight and flat, while others form intriguing wave or zig-zag patterns, as if someone had set a flat piece in a vice and crushed it.

As advancements in technology enable greater insight, and expeditions become slightly less deadly, more is slowly being understood about the nature of the world. Previously described as simply being ‘old’, it’s now possible to estimate the age of the rocks themselves. There is some opposition, but it is commonly believed that most are more than a million years old.

The standard displays shift into a frame of polished rock and gemstones, showing large array of pieces that come in every colour imaginable. The display is set against a white backdrop, and lit so as to make the stones truly shine. You marvel at the collection, casually on display here, and wonder at the value. The case is locked, but it’s only behind glass, and while you’ve never heard of most of the stone types you see; “espis”, “flore”, “stalcom” and “torkenite”, there are some you do recognise; emerald, jade, ruby, and diamond; most showing up a few times in different colours. You wonder if anyone has ever tried to rob this place, but, thinking about it, you suppose that most people who would pay to get in here probably already have enough money to have their own collections of precious stones casually lying about their mansions. Besides, you’ve passed several silent guards who watched you and the other guests with acra eyes; they all clearly carry swords. Probably not worth it…

You stare at the diamonds, featured here in clear, pink and brown varieties, and discretely compare them to the black pendant. The diamonds glisten a lot more in the light, but maybe that’s because they’re not black. You make a note of the other black stones in the display; a few of them do look like they could be the same material. But then, how tough are those ones? Could they be scratched?

The receptionist said that the geology department is around here somewhere, so you wander around until you find a small staff desk where a clerk is busy filing paperwork. He greets you politely and asks how he can help, and when you explain what you’re trying to do, he thinks for a moment.

“Dr. Zenkolia is giving a lecture right now. I think Professor Morandu is around here somewhere, but he might have left the building… You best bet would be to make an appointment to see one of them, but I’d be happy to take a look myself if you like. I’m not quite a professor yet, but I do know a thing or two, if I may say so myself…”

You show him the pendant and tell him about the conclusion the jeweller came to. The clerk, who introduces himself as Junior Specialist Ray Ascorn, contemplates the stone. He suggests that the jeweller is most likely right; it doesn’t appear to be diamond, but if it’s not, there’s only a handful of other things it could be, all of them very rare; dandene, shazurite or lentrill.

He starts enthusiastically telling you about some of the properties of those materials; how dandene is actually a metal with an exceptionally high melting point and is often referred to as ‘starite”, how shazurite seems to have formed under extreme circumstances, and how lentrill Is so rare, a country would need to empty its entire treasury to buy a single ounce of it. What he says is so fantastical, but he speaks so confidently that you’re sure it must be true.

As he continues his in-depth breakdown, he pauses when he notices a particular individual walking across the edge of the room towards a discreet staff door, a small folder tucked under one arm.

“Oh! Professor! A moment of your time, please?”

The man pauses and looks over at you both, though does not seem as though he intends to remain for longer than the requested moment.

“Yes, master Ascorn, what is it?”

He approaches the desk, his long robe Creating the illusion that he’s floating towards you. He is tall, and somewhat lanky, based on the way his immaculate, blue-trimmed robes obscure him. His shoulder-length brown hair is neatly pulled back and braided, reealing his perfectly trimmed sideburns. His face is lean, his lips are thin, and his light-brown eyes are narrow, though whether naturally, or due to his current expression, is a little hard to tell; is his resting face normally a slightly disdainful look?

Ray introduces the man as professor Morandu and fills him in on what the two of you had been talking about, though with noticeably less zeal than when he had been speaking to you. He asks the professor for his opinion on the matter, and hands the pendant to the professor. You notice that, right before he takes it, Morandu suppresses a slight sigh. He holds the pendant up, rotating it between his forefinger and thumb, and looks at it impassively, as If he’s just been handed a pebble off the floor.

“Diamond,“ he says simply, placing it down on the counter. You and Ray exchange a glance, and you beg his pardon, but the jeweller tested the stone and said it was too tough to be diamond. Morandu does not attempt to suppress his eye roll.

“A jeweller’s shop… in Lanor, was it? And I suppose this jeweller had access to an industrial grinding wheel, or Proe blade in his little shop?” He regards you as if he knows the answer.

No..? The jeweller had a clamp and some scalpels, and he-…

“One cannot hope to scratch a diamond by hand with a common scalpel; it’s far too hard for that. His failure to do so is indicative of his inappropriate method, not of the stone being something other than what it is. He was mistaken and his testing method was, quite frankly, foolish. This is a cut, polished diamond, with the gold channels carved by a fine rotary drill in an industrial setting. It is a fine product for sure, but nothing more.”

He looks between the two of you, expecting you both to be satisfied with his decree. Ray looks slightly downcast.

But, the shine; it doesn’t look like the ones in the display; aren’t diamonds supposed to be especially illustrious?

Morandu frowns at you now, drumming his fingers against his folder. He exhales, and speaks slowly.

“There are many different methods of polishing gemstones. Some aim to create the brightest shine. Others go for a more muted, matt look.”

He stares at you, almost challenging you to protest further. You remain silent. He holds your gaze for a few more moments, before shaking his head and turning back to Ray.

“And now, if there are no further interruptions, I shall return to my business.”

Ray quietly confirms that is all and thanks the professor for his time. He has barely finished speaking before the professor wheels around and marches off, striding over to the staff door he was originally aiming for, and disappearing into some hidden wing of the facility.

You watch him go, a pool of frustration mixed with disappointment welling up inside. Fine. Fair enough if it happens to be just diamond, but, did he have to be so..?

You stare at the pendant, wandering what to make of it. Soza’s appraiser said it was diamond. Your jeweller said that it is not. Morandu insists it’s diamond, while Ray shares the same opinion as your jeweller. But, how much of his opinion is built off the jeweller’s possibly incorrect conclusion? What are you supposed to conclude now?

As you stare at the pendant, Ray quietly calls for your attention. He seems a bit… defiant, and he draws you in closer, speaking quietly.

“You should make an appointment. See if you can speak to Dr. Zenkolia. I’m sure she’d be able to offer a more… thorough assessment.”