The many volcanic and geothermal areas of the Under-Empire are inhabited by a variety of strange and marvellous creatures. One such beast is the pack-hunting geckamand, a dog-sized fire lizard that changes the colour of its scales to blend in with its surroundings. Geckamands are warm-blooded reptiles that thrive in extreme heat. They leave their dens when hunting, but cannot survive for more than a day or two in the relative cold of the Under-Empire.[1a]