Teeth of Soraak

This hellish landscape seems to be drawn from the stuff of nightmares, and many travelers to the plane doubt whether it would really be worse to spend an eternity being punished on the planes of Hell or the Abyss than it would to be forced to live in this region until the end of time. Blackened volcanic rock spires straight out of the vast Sea of Lava, like a twisted dark spine on a burning red body. Towering and broken peaks littered with caves dominate this continent-sized mountain range, and very little survives long here. Often, the peaks of the volcanoes stretch up and out of sight, shrouded in smoky clouds that hang low in the sky. Still, when a volcano erupts, one can make out the burning red glow that marks the height of the peak, even through the dense, ashy clouds. The ground is continuously split by geysers of fire or lava, and rivulets of molten rock crisscross the shattered obsidian landscape. Unsurprisingly, nothing grows in this blasted land. An oppressive air hangs over the whole region, and it is not solely due to the formidable scenery.

Named for the salamander deity Soraak, this volcanic range was once the mighty center of a salamander empire; however, the land was conquered by the efreet centuries ago, and has been under their tyrannical rule ever since. Still, centuries of dominance by the efreet have done little to quiet things down, and the salamanders are constantly rebelling and quarrelling with their masters. So far, the efreet have managed to retain control, but it is not easy, and the next great salamander rebellion always seems to be brewing. This region is far from the center of efreet power, in the City of Brass, and it is only through strong shows of military might and martial law that they have managed to keep the area from slipping out of their hands. It does not help matters much that the salamanders are a fierce and warlike race, and who chafe at the yoke of efreeti rule, and are unlikely to accept their rulership any time soon. Luckily for the efreet, the salamanders are unorganized and hampered by infighting, which has continually proven the weakness in each of their previous rebellions. Now the heart of the salamander resistance lives deep in mountain caves, where the salamander way of life is still strong, and the outlaw salamanders plot how they will free their people from efreeti rule.

Although this region is almost entirely devoid of plant life, it is still one of the most important sources of natural resources for two reasons: precious metals, and precious gems. A wide variety of metals and gems can be mined here in the volcanoes, and the salamanders and efreet fight for control of the largest mines. Another important commodity found in abundance in this region is salamander slaves. The efreet, of course, have no qualms about enslaving unruly rebels, but neither do the clannish salamanders hesitate to capture and enslave those of their brethren who hail from a different mountain or fight under a different flag. In addition to the salamander slaves, there are also more exotic slaves found here, often of a monstrous nature, which are bought and sold for high prices.

Even amid constant war and harshness, some life still flourishes in this region. Many cities of a grand and military nature exist and even thrive here. That said, few visitors are welcomed, and travelers coming to this region should be prepared to fight the elements, the salamanders, the efreet, and possibly all three at once. Those that are able to protect themselves from the region’s warring factions will find that some of the more notable sites in the region include the Cave of Embers, the Frozen Flows, and Ivarshot, the last free salamander city.

--A Tourist’s Guide to: The Elemental Plane of Fire, Copyright 2013; Authors: Alex Riggs, Joshua Zaback, Rosa Gibbons