Azers of Brhan Kell

Though azers are native to the Elemental Chaos, some small groups of them have taken up permanent residence in the Prime Material plane. One such group is found on the volcanic island known as Brhan Kell. Though some of the azers live on the surface with the neighboring Druids of the Flame, most of them live in the caverns below the island's surface or within the mountain itself.

Brhan Kell Caverns
The caverns below the island are a vast warren of chambers and passageways, some occurring naturally and others excavated by the azers over time. Some of the caverns go so deep that they are below even the neighboring sea floor, allowing the azers to (cautiously) expand their tunnels outward.

While the network of tunnels is vast, individual caverns are too small for large community centers. Permanent communities are usually no more than a few families. The most densely populated caverns are those near the volcano itself, where azer smiths use the mountain's fires to heat their forges. The outlying caverns are mostly used to grow the mushrooms and raise the domesticated fire beetles that form the staples of the azer diet.

It is rumored that deep within the caverns lies a portal to the Elemental Chaos, and it is through this portal that the first azers emerged and settled under Brhan Kell. However, recent expeditions to find this portal have been unsuccessful and many azers believe the portal is no longer open, if indeed it ever existed at all.

Lava Smithing
Like their dwarven cousins, the azers of Brhan Kell are masters of working with stone and metal. In their lava forges the azers craft all manner of metalwork from weapons and armor to tools to artistic sculptures.

Mushroom Farming
The primary food source for the azers, mushrooms are grown everywhere there is available space in the caverns. Though the azers insist that they grow many varieties with unique flavors, outsiders who sample the mushrooms are unable to discern any differences.

Fire Beetle Husbandry
Whether the fire beetles are indigenous to Brhan Kell or were introduced there by the first azer settlers is unknown, but the current azers have domesticated the beasts and use them for a variety of purposes. Over time the azers have selectively bred the beetles to create several distinct breeds that fill different roles. Families who practice beetle farming typically specialize in one breed and trade their livestock with other families.

Miog Fire Beetles
The smallest and fastest of the Brhan Kell breeds, these beetles are used as pest control by the azers. Small groups of them are released on the mushroom farms where they eagerly hunt and devour creatures that might eat the mushroom crop. Though quite different in appearance, the Miog beetles are not unlike barn cats, similar in size, purpose, and temperament.

Taror Fire Beetles
If mushrooms are the wheat and potatoes of the azers, Taror Fire Beetles are the beef and pork. Surface dwellers who have sampled dishes made from these beetles have likened it to eating burnt leather, but the azers consider the flesh of the Taror Fire Beetles to be a delicious part of their diet.

Derfruli Fire Beetles
The largest and strongest of the Brhan Kell fire beetles, Derfruli are used as beasts of burden, often tasked with hauling mine carts or pulling the plow-like mushroom harvesters. The most spirited are sometimes used as mounts in battle when the azers must defend their island.

Trade
Most other races find the mushrooms and fire beetles eaten by the azers to be unpalatable, so their primary export is their lava forged metalwork. In exchange, the azers purchase what items they can't produce themselves, as well as raw materials for their crafting that aren't available on their island.

Most azers prefer to remain within their caves, so a few enterprising families have established themselves as intermediaries, purchasing items from the lava smiths (or being given them on credit if they have an established reputation) and bringing them to the surface where they are stored in trading posts to await the arrival of traders. When a merchant ship arrives these azers will trade their stored goods for items they believe their kin will be interested in, then transport those back below ground to trade for more goods to export.

Relationship with Other Fire Factions
The azers often trade with the neighboring Druids of the Flame, and some azers even move to the surface to join the Druids. In addition the mutual enemy presented by the Undertow Knights has led to the two factions often working together.

Despite their rivalry with the azers' druid allies, when emissaries from the Adherents of the Sacred Flame visited the caverns they received a warm welcome. Though many azers believe they should remain neutral in the conflict between the druids and adherents, increasingly some azers are declaring their support for one faction or the other, threatening to create a schism in the azer community.