But what is it here? The volcano itself? If that's the case, why would the Huntress also come to it, and not just the Beastmaster?

... Unless those two are related in ways we don't know yet. I haven't heard anyone mention her here, just him.

[He tries to think, but it all feels like there's a thread missing somewhere.]

This land should be prosperous and fertile, but is suffering a drought. This weird black substance seems to have properties that change according to... what, exactly? In some cases, it heals and invigorates, in others it mutates and poisons?

I've never met anything like this. Or like the forces that seem to be at play in this world.