Lava Channels

In order to settle the isle of Mount Ki'Inoro permanently and take full advantage of the rich, fertile soils there, the Ki'Inori had to learn to live with the constant eruptions and lava flowing in seemingly arbitrary directions from the myriad vents and the caldera itself. Simply blocking the flows completely, while solving the problem of having to constantly rebuild destroyed buildings and fields, also deprives those fields of the very nutrients contained in the lava that makes them so worthy of such protection. After much experimentation by the engineers, and praying by the priests, inspiration struck: the Iron Snail's tough shell appeared to be resistant to the lava - they seemed utterly unperturbed by any splashes on their shell, and carried on grazing on the rocks.
It was decided, then, that channels would be gouged out of the rock, and lined with Iron Snail Steel to aid the lava to flow more easily; at strategic points along each channel, would be a 'pool' into which the lava would collect. It could then either be released onto a field where, once cooled, it would be tilled into the soil, or it would be left to solidify in the pool, upon which several Iron Snails would be released to feed on the fresh rocks. 


Of course, as with most volcanoes, earthquakes and tremors were not uncommon, and often these seismic shakes would result in great rifts tearing open the land and fracturing the channels; little could be done in such circumstances until the cluster had passed, but often repairs would be as simple as either restoring the channel, or changing its course to accommodate the new terrain.