Elementals: Fire

There are two main areas Elemental and Prime creatures of fire may be found. With rare exception, it seems that these types of creatures are the most comfortable in an enclosed, lava-filled area. Both the Magma Fissure in Valorn and the Volcanic Maze on Kilican are host to these creatures. For now, this is a loose taxonomical group. Indicators appear to be habitat and skeletal leavings. Further study is needed to determine if indeed these creatures all fit this labeling.

The magma fissure deep below the sewers of Dundee is a fascinating place – it is full of a variety of fauna found nowhere else in Valorn. Partially this is due to the great heat – few if any creatures can survive down here. All of the living beings discovered so far in these caverns appear to be elemental in nature – most specifically fire – or shifting towards that as they adapt. This is similar to the Volcanic Maze where at least one invertebrate, the Blistering Fire Worm, appears to be more of an Elemental creature than any other sort.

At the deepest point of the cavern is a shrine, apparently to the ruler of the depths. While it cannot be proven conclusively, the Magma Lord seen there at times may be either the ruler or a ceremonial stand in.

At least some of the creatures down here exhibit enough intelligence to design the shrine as it depicts a battle between what seem to be surface dwelling humans and the elementals that dwell here. There are carved stairs as well, which may also support the intelligence idea. While humans could have made them, the heat might well preclude serious exertion. The lava flow that forms the walls also appears to have been coaxed into specific shapes once again indicating some form of artistic choice.

The Volcanic Maze is similar in that whatever first brought them there, there appears to be a breeding population of all the beings that live there. Odd, heat-loving plants have been found down there as well. They may be the subject of a future study.

Blistering Fireworm

At first, this creature may appear to be misplaced in the Elemental and Prime creature area. In appearance, it seems to be a giant invertebrate, even occasionally sloughing off a thick skin which can be used as a cloak. However, it also leaves behind what seems to be a somewhat standard Flame Elemental concentration of hardened, glowing lava. Its sinuous form allows it to hide in crevasses in the maze and attack the unwary. What in it specifically eats is not yet known. It preys upon unwary members of Adventurous, and may eat some of the plants that grow down there as well. This may be enough to sustain it, or like the others of this taxonomy it may gain its nourishment from the heat.

Cinder Cyclops

Large in form and occasionally bearing a shield apparently made from somehow solidified fire, the Cyclops is a formidable foe. It moves easily in the extreme heat of the fissure’s depths. It appears to move about individually and no reports state they are encountered in groups. Like the other Elemental creatures, any breeding or dominance pattern it may have are not known.

Fire Elemental

The only flame creature found in somewhat normal surroundings, this creature appears summoned and partially controlled by an enchanter. Clever enough to escape with a high degree of frequency, this ‘pet’ is often found fleeing towards cave-like structures. Only one has been seen at a time so how it reactions in a ‘normal’ situation is unknown.

Fire Imp

Humanoid in appearance with toast-hued flesh, they can occasionally be found in small groups. It is not known what they eat, but while they like heat they appear to stay away from the more lava-filled areas to the west of the fissure. This could be due to the fact that greater predators live there or perhaps they are in the range most comfortable to them.

Fire Spirit

Appearance-wise, these elementals may appear the most beautiful of the flame Elementals. Living in the tube leading down to the fissure, and partially in the fissure itself, these delicate-seeming, winged creatures of flame are striking. Like many of the Flame-based Elementals, they leave behind a hardened lava stone. Like so many of the Elemental creatures, what they eat (and even if they need food per say) is unknown.

They give off a great deal of heat, and like pieces from a campfire they often appear to float above the ground.

Flame Serpent

The lack of apparent prey for this snake-appearing creature may be the first clue that it draws its nourishment from something other than normal means. It also appears quite at home in the heated depths of the fissure. Longer than the length of most humans, it attacks with a quick strike and tries to envelop its prey.

Greater Lava Titan

A large lumbering figure, the Lava Titan should not be taken lightly as it can move quickly when attacked. Although there is no proof of its intelligence, its hands appear quite capable of manipulative tasks if needed. The Volcanic Maze is their only known population center.

Magma Demon (greater and lesser)

In appearance these are great blobs of fire. There is a solid form underneath; however, upon death the subsequent flare of flame appears to destroy the form making it impossible to study. These creatures bear the name demon, and when dissected their innards seem to reveal a demonic nature as well. (Most specifically the heart appears indistinguishable from those of known demons.)

Parallel evolution is possible, but it may well be that these are indeed demons that have established themselves down here. If so, they have enough numbers to have a breeding population, and it doesn’t seem they will go away anytime soon. One has to wonder if they are still demons in the formal sense of having to heed Balthazar’s call. They are indeed well established species on the face (or in this case depths) of Valorn.

Even the items that they occasionally carry seem mostly free of the taint of Balthazar (the same is true with the Ice Demons). They do not sap the will or wit of the wearer. It could be that the category of Demon includes creatures that do not fall under the Dark Lord’s sway. This will not be an easy hypothesis to study further or even prove.

Smoldering Ember

It is unknown whether the Smoldering Ember prefers the cooler (in comparison) habitat of the Lava Flow or the Volcanic Maze. It appears capable of thriving in both areas. Large and blocky in appearance, it roams the Lava Flow as well as the Volcanic Maze. It does not appear to operate under any particular day or night hunting pattern nor have any distinct feeding patterns been found. It may indeed survive on the heat, ash and sulfurous stench alone. At the present time, the Flow and Maze groups appear the same; whether or not these groups will diverge in the future is not yet known.

Spirit of Eternal Flame

Fire given physical form, the creatures bearing the name Spirit of Eternal Flame freely flit about the western side of the magma fissure. When killed, or perhaps dispersed is the better word, they leave behind either the typical hardened glowing lava or light given form in an amulet.