There are rumours of an artefact known as the Box of Tom'Bakr that has exactly this effect...
Funny, I was toying with the idea of a mysterious wooden log cabin appearing in the ruins, someting inbetween Baba Yaga and a Tardis...
As for scenery, I'm reconsidering everything and will probably paint most buildings white stone, while using a grey-green felt mat I have as a generic (maybe melting-) permafrost sludge.
