The Conan Exiles Lore & Cut Content Iceberg

[@Eradicati0nn]

A tonne of research went into this video, and yet I still probably missed tonnes of things. What stuff would you have put on the iceberg? Get my first book FREE!: drive.google.com/file/d/15nNTyVCWPkfB6x1xIr88Qv_JBTgCDgku Twitter: twitter.com/eradicati0nn Patreon: www.patreon.com/eradicati0n Yours (Self Care App) Discount: yoursapp.com/Eradicati0n NordVPN Discount: nordvpn.org/eradyt NordPass Discount: nordpass.com/eradyt

[@UchihaKuyoko]

I’ve actually been to the Northern grassy plains it’s no mod, or miss remembering. If you go into creative mode then use the admin panel to use the ghost function you can go through the map and fly towards the grassy plains or just use admin teleport to teleport there. I e done it and I’m on PlayStation 5

[@ericcooke2661]

The person that is sending the Purge and Exiles into the land is Thoth Amon. This is confirmed by four things. Mekmosses talks of how Amon, a powerful sorcerer of the Black Hand, is sending his enemies into the Lands. The Warmaker mentions how he no longer trusts men because of the visitor that pretended to be a friend but stole one the sacred relics, after being told how the bracelets worked. The Archivist mentions the seventh relic, the Serpent Ring of Set, is missing. Finally, if you now actual Conan book lore, Thoth Amon is one of Conan's most powerful recurring enemies. A powerful sorcerer who controls the land of Stygia with his Black Hand magicians, ruling over them with the power of his Serpent Ring of Set. He is not only the single person with the knowledge of how to use the bracelets but he also knows of the power of the relics of the Exile Lands from his talks with the Warmaker.

[@DynoSkrimisher]

That's actually pretty cool how the most powerful, recurring enemies is one that Conan knows as well. The only question is why does our character end up on Thoth's bad side? What did we do to him that got us framed and thrown into the Exiled Lands?

[@Kaminkaese]

​@@DynoSkrimisherthats on your sign when you create your charakter. Like "killing a Priest" :D

[@Runningtail]

the frost giant outcast is the only one who knows he is just a character in a video game (or dream)

[@Eradicati0nn]

Yeah he's definitely a meta joke character. From the context of the lore though, he's incredibly creepy

[@rootslav120]

8:15 When we speak to Rasma, she mentions that she and Conan are going to trip north - to Shem. So I would say the Exiled Lands lays on one of the Southern Islands (Black Coast), not far from the Isle of Siptah.

[@Eradicati0nn]

It's possible, though I think it's deliberately left vague for the reason of lore flexbility

[@tavastian3288]

I wish we had the black and gold building pieces used in the Witch Queen Palace, Its such beautiful theme

[@Eradicati0nn]

There are some good Lemurian building piece mods, but I reckon it's only a matter of time until they add the Lemurian set into the game, given how they're quite important in the lore

[@ericcooke2661]

The Yeti in the Warmaker dungeon might be a reference to the second Conan film, when Conan has to fight this demon yeti creature, summoned by Thoth Amon, in an ice tower that is using ice mirrors to hide his maker. lol

[@robincaldwell1074]

The ape in the film is a throw back to one of R.E. howards conan books. its a crystal tower in the movie also not ice, just saying. Also in the book it hints at the creature being a decendant of man, not just an ape like creature.

[@CriminalFriday]

Howard and Lovecraft were actually friends and referenced each other's work frequently, so that reference would only make sense

[@SomeOne-ex7hk]

The Exiled Land is a physical place. Its not some metaphysical location. Its explained in game, that the Exiled Lands are just the name for the last kingdom of the Giant Kings. The bracelets and the wall are just elder magic. Its not a plane of existence. Its on the planet. Its just ancient magic. There's maps online of where the Exiled Lands would be on the Conan world map.

[@mausolus8466]

You mentioned it briefly, but there is mystery of basical immortality of those trapped in Exiled Lands and on Isle of Siptah. I know it's primaly meant as gameplay respawn mechanics, but still, the hint that all those trapped here come back to life at the place they last slept/arrived into place is very interesting (could also explain reason for respawning of named NPC's after their death, including thralls and monsters). It would also fit into Purgatory theory of sorts, not in full metephysical sence, but as a place where you can't die and therefore can't escape it via death.

[@Eradicati0nn]

Yeah I suspect there is a reason behind it, similar to how you can't die in a game like Dark Souls. I haven't delved into it too deeply, but it could maybe go some way towards explaining all the ghosts on TEL

[@Devin_Stromgren]

Perhaps the spell on the bracelets is so powerful it won't even let you escape via death.

[@Toxichobbit.]

@@Devin_Stromgren Taking the bracelet off kills you (though of course, you respawn with it back on). The opposite of that would be keeping the bracelet on keeps you alive. So maybe there's something to your theory.

[@joelkp1185]

According to a video I saw from grim dark, the exiled lands is part of continental hyboria, west of hyperborea (modern day Russia) and north of Turan (which would later develop into Persia and today’s Middle East). With a little bit of extrapolation and Geography knowledge, we can estimate that the exiled lands are around modern day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, etc, or, it could even maybe further east in modern day Asia.

[@DracoSafarius]

Could work since that region isn't naturally sub desert and the sandstorm/desert is artificial in there. Only thing is I think it's a bit too far from Stygia which I swear I remember someone bringing up how Stygia routinely sends in mounted raiders (wouldn't be going across several countries to do this reasonably)

[@The-Black-Death]

At 8:20, you mention the location of the Exiled Lands and how it's not canon or not supposed to be anywhere, but originally it wasn't always that way, as we can see from the North Africa environments/biomes and the Giant Kings former kingdom residing here, so it was technically supposed to be placed directly in Stygia. As not only did the Giant-Kings rule over proto-Stygia in lore before they were defeated by the fleeing Khari/Naacal from proto-Khitai, but we have references to this place being Stygia through certain dialogue clues within texts of some of the notebook journals you can find out in the Exiled Lands. However, they forgot all about this later on when they brought in more people into developing the game(around when they included the northern region of the map) who didn't understood the lore properly and they ended up adding a lot of contradicting story/lore elements that contradicts the original lore of the series heavily and erases their original intentions with the Exiled Lands sadly...

[@adamallen7070]

I think the presence of a massive sea in the exile lands kinda voids it being in Stygia. I personally think its west of the Vivilet Sea

[@The-Black-Death]

@@adamallen7070 You didn't read my comment fully.

[@thorsforge2905]

There is a book outside the door to the Barrow King. That is probably left by the man Braga talks about. It is also where you get the hint to bring Demon Blood for entry.

[@Eradicati0nn]

It sounds possible, maybe it was intended to be a ghost and they just ran out of time

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@Eradicati0nn I would swear there used to be a human corpse next to that book.

[@liviuursegr]

@@Devin_Stromgren I also remember there used to be a decorative skeleton on the ground some years back, like the bones found in different dungeons. No idea why they removed it. I'm not sure about a ghost though, I really don't remember, but I tend to think there wasn't any.

[@thenovicecraftsman712]

I could swear there was a ghost that did the wave animation at the door.

[@thefaithslayer2553]

The region on the NW coast of the Vilayet Sea matches the biome structure of the Exile Lands.

[@sesimie]

This is an amazing video! Imi''s cradle has Sesimie intrigued! 🤔 the amount of hidden lore i learnt in this game is deep!!

[@Eradicati0nn]

Imi's Cradle has intrigued me for a while, I hope we get some more lore or answers about it eventually. There's probably even more lore I missed, so you may end up seeing a part 2 to this video!

[@Senbei01]

Back when I first played Exiles, I settled in the Jungle, near the Witch Queen mini-dungeon. Whenever someone fought her, the sounds of the lasers in that dungeon used to echo through the area. This no longer happens, but I still don't know whether it was intentional or not. :P

[@durtydan420]

Yes it was in a patch years ago, I remember funny context of it being fixed

[@SQmaniac01]

16:27 You can teleport to the northeastern area in admin mode. You die if you try to cross back into the Exiled Lands though.

[@baddudecornpop7328]

8:11 “nothing to be gained here”.. Me looking at two chests behind the yeti..🧐

[@davemechanic1]

Much love from New Jersey buddy. Keep up the awesome content

[@Eradicati0nn]

Thanks Dave, glad you enjoyed! Plenty more to come!

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

With better console, specifically PS5 support, and some slight tweaks, this game could be so goddamn incredible. It's already great.

[@31devious]

you know it's on pc...and looks better at ultra and cinematic settings than anything a ps5 could do yeh?

[@mrgig00]

The grassy plains in the NE corner changed when they introduced dungeons - dungeon doors now send you to places carved out of those plains. Back in the day, you could clip the ghost fence in the south to go to the CCC - character creation crucifix. My headcanon is that the Exiled lands is the plane that shows up above an activated shrine on Siptah, and that the Mercenary's Diary Page explains where the purge comes from.

[@Eradicati0nn]

You can still get out of the cursed wall to the south and find that CCC area, though I'm not surprised to hear the plains in the NE were changed when they started putting other resources out there, I know the Well of Skelos is far out in the NE. I actually wasn't aware of the Mercenary's Diary Page, seems pretty accurate to the lore of the purge that I'm aware of so far

[@MadPirateShin]

Yep, I remember seeing videos of those plains. They were boring, and I just figured it was an area that was not finished yet.

[@Eradicati0nn]

@@MadPirateShin I'm actually surprised that so many people have confirmed the plains rumor, I thought it was maybe just word of mouth

[@mausolus8466]

"My headcanon is that the Exiled lands is the plane that shows up above an activated shrine on Siptah..." I like that headcanon, it would explain a lot of similarities in both EL and IoS, and also vision of desert in EL during Surge activation

[@OneJadePrincess]

There is a drowned ghost in the water next to Telith's Isle that leads you to a treasure chest. Definitely doesn't seem like it's Telith, but just a ghost, like the ones that lead across the Eyelet Lake to another chest.

[@grimedontplay]

From what I remember about pontoon, it was an idea floated around about an update to have floatable foundations to be able to build on water without having to have foundations or pillars holding it up but due to limitations in the engine or in the team they had at the time it never came to fruition, and was forgotten I believe sometime before the derketo and arena DLCs. Also I do seem to remember a ghost being at Telith’s Island playing in my first server and having any reason to go there. No proof of it tho, and I don’t remember hearing singing.

[@michaelhogan3529]

The ghost at Telith island would randomly show up. IIRC it would jump off the tall skinny island east of Telith committing suicide. If you saw the ghost jump you could follow to the bottom of the lake and a chest would rise from the basin... I haven't seen the ghost for more than year now.

[@Eradicati0nn]

That's interesting, probably the most detail I've heard about Telith's Ghost outside of a comment I found on some random forum that I couldn't find again. There is a ghost that swims into the water off the coast of Telith's island that leads to a chest, though it's male. How strange

[@michaelhogan3529]

@@Eradicati0nn Also, in regards to the Exiled lands location. The only place I've been able to find is on the NW coast of the Vilayet Sea. Mountain range is cut off by the steppes from Hyperborea continuing to a small length of green land running the west coast line of the Vilayet Sea... Not a fact obviously but it certainly looks like it would fit...

[@Biggarou]

From what I remmeber about that ghost of teleth it was definately there and the lore stone said somtyhing completely different from what it says now. There was supposed to be another piece of that stone in the water behind it as well but by the time I first got into the game (back when it was still alpha) I think they removed it already ( never found the second part of it). mostly a shame too because I remember Teleth's story was as sad as her husbands and she wept every day he was gone intil she died of a broken heart. Emi Was supposed to be the second child of her and Tyros as well but was born half demon or something like that, the spot dedicated to her was where her and telith both died and the voice I think was telith singing to her in weird tongue. It's been a long lomg time but that's what I remember about that bueatiful island in the middle of nowhere. I do know they had more audio files of that part but they were lost somehow (currupted files) so they just cut the content. I will always say this about this game, the lore and how it was laid out wa the most facinating thing about it by far. You had to really dig to find it all. and explore everywhere to get it all too. I never did sipta but the exiled lands had a flare that I haven't seen anyone try to copy and probably why I was never interested in Sipta. It was very much not a dumbed down linear way of story telling like fpor example how you find Razma's story scattered all over creation. You could litterally play that game for years and still not know it all.

[@adamhomer6534]

I would love to see the comparison between the exiled lands before mounts. and after . They really are 2 different maps.

[@Jus_Joj]

Honestly I think the funniest thing about this iceberg is that knowing the game it is based off of you could literally just take the game map and flip it either 90° to the left or 180° and you would have the format of the iceberg thing- most people build their base in the lower quadrants of the map and rarely will venture out to the top or the far eastern parts of the map.

[@thenovicecraftsman712]

Does nobody remember that there used to be a ghost at the Barrow King's door? I thought it was wierd that it was gone. I thought it was just bugged. Way back when it first came out on Xbox and they added the frozen north in there was a ghost there. And when they added the barrow in with the king inside the ghost would wipe something on the door with the wave animation. I thought everyone knew that...

[@SirBrucie]

Need more cut content videos. They removed critical from the doom hammer and axe of violence.

[@nowherefool5869]

perhaps the exiled lands is in a different dimension above the isle of siptah? coz there's an event where a portal opens with a stormcaller and stormsick soldiers drop in. (sepemaru and summoning place). the portal shows the inverted isle of siptah.. but what if it was the exiled lands that is actually inverted?

[@thelampgaming9717]

11:25 well there is a dead man at the door the, a pile of bones with a book but I would love to see in the talking skeleton there

[@jensmarkgraf]

have none of this heard ever before. Even with 2k ingame hours. :D thankyou

[@cthulhucultist8872]

I wouldn't say the exile lands is somewhere distant from the hyborian age continent I'd have to say it lies somewhere on the East Coast about mid center, but also it's not illustrated on a map because it might have been forbidden to do so at the risk of being subjected to exile, because throughout the comic books in books themselves I read mentions of the exiled lands, so my theory wouldn't be too far-fetched if you really think about it

[@RookDarkstalker]

Just means you have more content!

[@Eradicati0nn]

Too right I do!

[@henrik2518]

Great video

[@MercuryKnight5]

There is a place the Exiled Lands fit into Howard's map; the northwest Shore of the Vilayet Sea, North of Turan and east of Brythunia.

[@arrghhscott]

This was exactly what I've been looking for. Great job and thank you for the work. Do you know if there was/is a written copy of the lore for CE?

[@adamallen7070]

The conan exiles wiki is massive I’m sure you can fund something lorewise

[@scardecorps1708]

Hey, i'm finishing your videos by this one, since i thaught it would be the most niche of them. About Tier 5 story about the barrow king, i think i kinda remember a written document about how blood is needed to open the vault but human blood don't work because it's too diffrent from giant king blood, and maybe something more demonic need to be used. It's a clue to tell us to have demon blood to open the door, but last time i played this part, wich it's last week, i could not find this document. so maybe it's cut content, or maybe i'm just bad at it. But i think this is what braga is talking about.

[@VanillaFace413]

The northeastern area of the map can be explored, and you can build there too. I think you have to admin teleport, but it's pretty nice. Nothing out there though.

[@Mister_Peppers]

This is now a 7 month old video, but I wanted to say that I saw the video with the out of bounds grass plains when I first started playing, it may have been Wak, firespark, or kiah but they had a video on it.

[@xavierdoesntmatter]

There are theories and characters and lore to support that you're a prisoner... Umm... It tells you that at the very beginning of the game. It freaken tells you flat out what crimes you're charged with.

[@yautja2232]

Way late to the video, but Arthos (might be a different npc) still mentions men on the other side of the northern wall with "Bracelets of amber."

[@Eradicati0nn]

I do remember that line of dialogue, might be something worth looking into for a second video on Conan's mysteries

[@Charon510]

I played back in 2018 and I’m pretty sure I remember there being a ghost on Telith’s island. I’m not sure she sang though.

[@ForYou-hq5uu]

Thank you bro

[@VeridianHerald]

The religions practiced in the Exiled Lands are at least partially false. Mitra forbids human sacrifice and also forbids that his followers use gold in items devoted to him. Conan clarifies a little of this at the bar, and a lorestone near the Disjunction leans into this as well. In all possibility the Disjunction is the opening through which whatever answers all the prayers (most likely Yog) reaches. If God's could actually manifest avatars in the Exiled Lands, why not pluck their followers out? Why do all gods hunger for the fruit of murder? Yog and Set, yes, but Jhebbal Sag prefers a different type of hunt, and Ymir does not want slivers of ice, he wants hearts (not unlike Set). It's all blood sorcery with religious trappings. The Disjunction is a grand bit of unfinished content that is another source of mild puzzlement. As for the Exiled Lands themselves... They are, if not floating in the outer dark, a mystically maintained snow globe. Simply put, the full spectrum of biomes present in such tight quarters isn't naturally occurring. Also, the shard of the Scourgestone are another bit of diminished content. There's enough material for an entire arctic circle of ice bergs.

[@Eradicati0nn]

There's definitely something interesting there with the malpractice of the various religions. I think it could definitely be the makings of a certain antagonist, seems a little too convoluted to be a plan of the Serpentmen. I'll do some digging. I also wasn't aware of The Disjunction, that alone is just a lore video waiting to happen. Glad you enjoyed the video Veridian, thanks for the info!

[@Ksennie]

Something that is worth mentioning though is that how many real world religions are able to actually enforce austerity rules on practitioners? The way I see it, the Mitra worship we know the most about is the mainstream Aquilonian version of the religion. It's probably the different nations of Hyboria (and even just different region of Aquilonia itself) probably have very different takes on Mitra, and what worship of him would/wouldn't permit. Just like real world religions.

[@VeridianHerald]

In cannon, Mitra exists. Mitra directly communicates with his priesthood. It's not a matter of opinion or interpretation, it is explicit mandate. It's not his church that forbids human sacrifice. It is he who refuses it. Drawing comparisons between a world where "gods" literally eat people sometimes and our own world is a touch disingenuous. The gods of our world most often act thru intermediaries and natural phenomena, when/if they bother to act at all. The gods of Hyboria are both more tangible and more proactive.

[@Ksennie]

@@VeridianHerald IDK, seems pretty clear that Derketo's worship has fragmented into at least two different religions, and potentially three depending on how exactly you interpret Ishtar, the same as Set also being Yig. I don't see why Mitra is a special case.

[@VeridianHerald]

I disagree. This apparent splinter is more a result of later authors merging Derketa and Derketo. Funny thing when two things that are separate get shoved together, if it doesn't fit, it generally wants to fray apart. But that is of even less relevance than the evidence internally to the Exiled Lands that it's all sham. Disregarding what Conan says at the bar, we still find the lorestone left near the Disjunction clarifying where certain influences are leaking in from.

[@delawee55]

Part 2?

[@Eradicati0nn]

If I can find stuff even more obscure than the last tier, I'd definitely do a Part 2

[@AdamKing-k5z]

There is also that cave that holds all the Alligator's. There's a door behind him the 3 skulled that will not open. Its in Age of War?

[@JohnSmith-lo8rr]

the Kinscourge explosion wasnt THAT long ago actually. Im certain it was there in 2020

[@whilelmschuyler2043]

Telith and Tyros the deathscourge had two childrens, the son is Xaltar, the progenitor for the Acheronian empire and their daughter, Imi, she is death young and burried in that flower place on the Telith's island.

[@livanbard]

The desert in the exiled lands is artificial right? So we just need to look to a place with jungle greenery but also in the foot of a mountain range.

[@Eradicati0nn]

Prior to the Lemurian war, it would have been grassland I believe. It very much depends what map you'd look at

[@jamesdekock8729]

Would definitely be interesting if the devs were to expand the exiled lands and move the ghost wall further, highly unlikely since all of the dungeons are probably around there and if I'm honest with you I'm not sure if there's anything to add there, like lore or important items so why have a more bigger map? Oh actually they could add that mummy thing or whatever there so that you can actually complete the journey step. In the end, we all know nothing will be added there for a while.

[@Eradicati0nn]

This was actually mentioned in the last dev stream. Dennis mentioned there aren't actually that many dungeons out there and a map expansion could be possible. If it's ever done, I imagine it'll come with a story event that shatters part of the curse wall to keep it lore-friendly

[@jamesdekock8729]

@@Eradicati0nn Oh ok that's pretty cool. Guess I'll wait until that day comes

[@MaverickX36]

I think (and I remark this as a big maybe), I think to have heard of the exiled lands and the invisible wall in a Conan's story. Long time ago. Don't remember which one, if it was one of the original Howards stories, or Marvel's or Dark Horse'. But I'm pretty sure it wasn't made up by Funcon devs.

[@Eradicati0nn]

Interesting, I've never heard of anything like that, and all comments I've seen on the various forums, both for the game and the source material, refer to The Exiled Lands as somewhere the devs just made up so they weren't heavily locked into lore stuff. If you manage to find a source on it, that'd be very intriguing to look into

[@MaverickX36]

@@Eradicati0nn well, I'm on it. But it's a bit difficult since the word 'exile' became strongly associated with the game. I said it by emphasizing a big 'I think', you know. Because Siptah's lore is taken from the story 'The Gem In the Tower' for example. The 'KingScourge' for instance, is clearly copied from 'Death Dealer'. The crucified character is taken from 'A Witch Will Be Born'. And so on. I think I once read a line from a Conan story that said something like 'beyond the invisible wall where exiles are sent'. But I'm not sure. In any case, it was just a line. I guess it was enough for Funcom to enlarge it and turn it into a lore. 😉

[@Carrot-Man1876]

*sips tea* interesting

[@freedomnews7922]

Crossbows are back in Age of War. Use an improved Carpenter Bench to access them.

[@Eradicati0nn]

How strange, they do indeed seem to be back. They're not in the admin panel, nor are the bolts. I'm guessing it was accidental, but it could be interesting if they're being rebalanced and readded

[@freedomnews7922]

@@Eradicati0nn I have yet to use one, I suppose the use arrows. I will take the time to find out and let you know.

[@Eradicati0nn]

@@freedomnews7922 I managed to find the bolts in the improved carp bench, seems like it functions basically as you'd expect

[@freedomnews7922]

@@Eradicati0nn cool, are xbows agil or str

[@MsMoonDragoon]

16:27 its there. the mod "the forgotten lands" makes it traversable and fleshes out the area.

[@AnonymousXlive]

Teliths island is made in the shape of a heart

[@nunyabusiness7942]

Pretty sure Imi might be another of Tyros and Telith’s children

[@Drescher1984]

I hope they'll add more gods and more culture/race specific armor and weapons.

[@shadexdemarr]

As I understood it, Conan, who is not wearing a bracelet, comes and goes as he pleases. So it would really need to be a real place. It also begs the question that if Razma and he had plans to go north to Shem, Conan, again who had been outside the wall, would have corrected her and told her Shem was not to the north. Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of contradictions, nonsense, and just odd content I have always just chalked all of this up to Funcom's sloppy design practices and inability to keep anything straight.

[@Mimo_Shikufu]

The "North East" area for 1 is not North East. It's East. Everyone has gotten this wrong and i can prove it. Also on PS i have a teleporter up there so players can build in the plains. Or anywhere else outside the wall

[@durtydan420]

Northeast is northeast, period. That's how a compass works

[@DracoSafarius]

@@durtydan420 Yeah but IIRC there's stuff in game hinting the map isn't oriented right

[@vitcher3507]

Sad is, that Lemurians and Giant's war was caused by serpent men...

[@Silath01]

I miss crossbows

[@steverice4334]

Grassy field is true

[@redmage777]

The Player doesn't truly die, nor does anything else really... Everything respawns the Exile Lands are truly a prison not even death allows you to escape.

[@ded2thaworld963]

I have tried so many times to get in to this game over the years, but the jank of it ruins it everytime

[@gringadoor5385]

Your vocal fry makes this impossible to listen to beyond 60 seconds.

[@Eradicati0nn]

I'll have a stern word with my vocal chords 😂

[@fistovuzi]

now that we KNOW the exile lands is a prison for the enemies of the Stygian king we can safely assume it is near, or more likely, within Stygia. the idea that a King would imprison his enemies OUTSIDE his domain of power is, frankly, absurd. Chinese re-education facilities are located deep in the Chinese mainland for a reason.

[@Eradicati0nn]

I can see why you'd think that, but King Csetphon isn't the only monarch that uses the prison. Thoth Amon has offered that service to kings and queens all across Hyboria. The geography and climate of TEL also doesn't match up with any place of Stygia, which is fairly well documented. It's easier to believe that Cstephon and the other monarchs would send their prisoners away if they were under the believe that escape was impossible, which helps lend credence to the idea of TEL being outside of Stygia

[@fistovuzi]

@@Eradicati0nn i forgot that TA offered the service to other monarchs. for the record, i never place TEL in Stygia myself and i will give my reasoning: people assume the HOT desert and jungle are are natural. BUT, the sandstorm is magical. so perhaps the HEAT is also magical (not subject to local climate) the hot sandstorm rolls across the land until it gets to Petruso then the sandstorm dies but the hot air keeps going condensing in the natural COLD of the region and falling as warm rain creating a tropical swamp. the only TRUE indicator of local climate of TEL is north of the desert. this is my theory, it is sound and i'm sticking to it. EDIT, well, it was sound before the AOS update anyway. some new story/lore probably pokes holes in it.