Ember Swallower

Since before the time of the archons, the volcanic mountains that dot Theros have been the sole territory of fiery monsters whose flesh sizzles like lava rock and whose blood glows like magma. These mountains were seen as off-limits to the rest of the world, unconquerable peaks whose rewards were not worth the risk. When the archon empire fell, and the human polies rose to replace them, they were transformed into the forges of Purphoros, exclusively for his use.   But while Purphoros might be the undisputed ruler of Theros' volcanoes, he is not their only inhabitant. Even still, beasts like the ember swallower stalk the mountainsides, sometimes venturing down from their rocky lairs to the towns and cities that rely on the fertile volcanic soil for their farms, ready to seize what prey they can find and burn the rest.   Fires of Rage The ember swallower is a massive monster, with a head as large as a full-grown man, and blackened skin as tough as rock. Its blood is thick and viscous like magma, and it glows with an inner heat, one that frames and illuminates a maw of gnashing teeth and a curved tail tipped with a razor-pointed stinger. Even still, the most terrifying thing about the ember swallower is its legendary temper. Engaging an ember swallower in combat is a mostly futile effort, and even a group of soldiers well-armed and well trained enough to take down an ember swallower often prefer to avoid its wrath. Once an ember swallower has been made angry, the fire in its body grows to an unbearable heat, so strong that it can melt arms and armor, ignite wooden structures, and crack the foundation stones of buildings.   The Mountain Gorger One of the most famous anecdotes about Purphoros, and a favorite of priests trying to extoll his strength, speaks of the god's battle with an ember swallower called the Mountain Gorger. The beast was said to have been so massive, that even next to the divine form of a god it appeared large. When Purphoros first set out to tame the volcanoes of Theros, it was the Mountain Gorger that he had to fight and subdue to claim than as his own. When Purphoros defeated the beast, rather than kill it, the god of the forge sealed it beneath in the base of Theros' largest mountain, changing it to act as the flame for his first forge.