REFUGEVILLE

... Oh, okaaayy. That map put thins in perspective a bit. When you said plant didn't grow, I didn't think yu ere beng /that literal. I though thing were mostly like a prairie or a clear savana where tree and bushes are uncommon but at least grass can grow, not a completly desert wasteland around an out of place perfect square of vegetation...
No wonder even wood is at a premium

Well if the wood box absorbed a forest not too far, it means that deseert doesn't go on forever, tho. (would explain how a dear and rabits manage to get to our square, because those are not desert dwelling species)

Also kind of worried that the reason this bit where the house is was spared by the signet on purpose as a trap. ... In fact they do send scout regularly,... did they set an intentional 'human preserve' as part of one of their (previous ? let's hope so) experiment ? ...

... Welp. Guess that's a worry for another day, still beats starvation for our people for now.

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Anyhow the abandoned city and the god box

First observation; Despite plants not growing around, the city is full of vines, no way to know if it is a good or bad sign but better to be on the look out.

Second: We need all the food, books, crumbits and tools we can get our hands on. Even metalic or hard stone things cold be grreat as they can be used as tools. Since it's only two explorators and they are in wolf form they won't be able to bring much (unless they brough some kinda bag) but at leas anything they can spot for future slavaging helps.

For now go look for any of those tings and bring them all in a plce you'll be able to find thm later if another trip is necessary.

3) The god box, the rusty grate noise and the oil smell aren't going anywhere so they can wait a bit.
.... And if they do GO somewhere somehow then I'd say even more extreme cautionis requredbefoe checking them out.