- The outermost islands have been evacuated after they were lost to a chaos storm. The factions formerly stationed there send in expeditions weekly to determine whether it is safe to reclaim their bases.
- The chaos storm appears to be altering the very fabric of reality. The party (side story characters) have witnessed strange anomalies which they determined to be glimpses into another time.
The Barrier Islands are a chain of islands so called because they are the landmasses closest to the Scorched Lands. Many of Aghera's major factions and nations have a presence on the islands, usually in the form of patrols ready to sound the alarm should anything emerge from the twisted lands beyond.