Salamanders

• Humanoid with two arms, two legs, and a long, powerful tail that aids in balance and can be used as a weapon.
• Skin is thick, slightly scaled or pebbled, resistant to intense heat.
• Internal organs adapted to high temperatures — breathe comfortably even in toxic volcanic fumes.

• Salamanders run hot to the touch, radiating warmth in cold environments.
• Males often have more prominent cranial spurs or crests.
• Females are typically stockier and more resistant to deep earth pressures

• Ovoviviparous: eggs hatch internally, then the mother births live young.
• Typically 1–3 offspring after a 5-month gestation, with young born already glowing faintly.

• Prefer volcanic slopes, lava tubes, and magma lakes, building dwellings in cavernous networks.
• Their mere presence helps maintain safe magma pressures, preventing catastrophic eruptions.

• Carnivorous with mineral supplements. Hunt lava lizards, fire drakes, and sear tough meats on obsidian slabs.
• Consume volcanic salts and minerals which strengthen their scales and ignite inner heat.

• Metabolic cycles intensify in high summer, often entering mating rituals during peak volcanic activity.
• In colder seasons, they gather near lava vents for communal warmth.

• Proud, ritual-driven, quick to anger but equally quick to laughter.
• See conflict as a form of art — duels are common, but grudges rarely last beyond the next lava feast.

• Organized into clans tied to specific volcanic forges or magma flows. Each clan reveres a unique forge-god or magma spirit.
• Elders form councils that decide on major movements like migrations to new volcanic belts.

• Elongated snouts with toothy grins, bright ember eyes (orange, red, or molten gold).
• Some grow small crystalline tusks or obsidian beards.

Almost exclusively found in Embergarde’s volcanic ranges, with rare enclaves in the deep underlands.

Equal to or slightly above humans, especially gifted in geology, forging, and heat manipulation.

• Excellent darkvision, even seeing heat signatures through rock.
• Can “taste” trace ley lines through their tongue, guiding them to mineral-rich seams.

Names are often harsh, crackling, or grinding in sound, echoing stone on stone. Examples:

• M: Rhaggor, Surnek, Bolvath
• F: Tazari, Kyvessa, Molkri
• Clans use compound names tied to forges: e.g. Rhaggor of Ashflow Hearth

Partnerships forged in literal fire — couples often craft a shared molten pendant that only cools properly if their bond is true.

Master obsidian-forging, lava channeling, and rune-etching into molten steel. Less interested in gunpowder or mechanical contraptions.

Speak Pyrodraconic, a dialect of Draconic heavy with rumbling consonants and crackling aspirates.

• Greeting is a firm forearm clasp, often with a test spark between scales.
• Heated debates sometimes resolved by gripping each other’s shoulders and seeing whose scales crack first.

Minimal in day-to-day — adorned with glowing jewelry, molten sashes, and armored plates for ceremony or war.

• Every major volcanic eruption is commemorated with stories of ancestors reforging themselves in fire.
• Their songs often mimic the rhythm of bubbling magma.

• Molten Feasts: communally cook entire beasts on lava pits.
• Crackling Oaths: lifelong promises inscribed on hot obsidian which scars into their scales.

• Dragonborn: Viewed as kindred, albeit more volatile. Many forge mutual defense pacts.
• Humans & dwarves: Trade eagerly for forged goods but tread carefully around their temper.
• Elves: Respect their crafts but wary of their environmental impact.
• True dragons: Some see salamanders as valuable allies, others dismiss them as lesser flame-kin.