On your way to Xander, the King of Ashes, you get blocked by the two guardians Blyze and Boyle, a sword wielding fire elemental and a fire giant dreadnaught. They do not permit you to cross the bridge across the lava filled room under Mount Ashcloud, so you attempt to sneak by invisibly. But as some of you unfortunately fall, concentration on the spell fades and you are seen by the two guards. They quickly announce their aggressive actions against this intrusion. Happy is able to make Boyle drop her giant shields that block the exit, but she is able to pick them up again before everyone can dash through the opening.
Egbert tells Boyle a joke, which enchants the giant to drop on the floor, rolling around uncontrolled for several rounds of combat. Meanwhile, Blyze attacks various group members while getting hit back by you. In the end, you all decide to use the moment to slip through the exit and destroy the communication device of Blyze that was just about to call for help.
You step through the doorway, walk down a corridor bathed in flames - that strangely do not hurt - and end up in the elemental plane of fire, still inside the now active Mount Ashcloud. After having failed to sneak forward, you open the door ahead and look into the faces of two Efreeti soldiers. They believe that you are guests and summon a small fire elemental escort to bring you to the treasure chamber where Queen Pyria of Ashes, eleventh daughter of the King of Ashes awaits your tribute.
Walking through the corridors of this very hot lair, you cross paths with various others: red dragonborn, elementals, pyromancers, genasi and all kinds of dragonoid creatures. They seem to be part of the cult here as all of them wear some kind of uniform. Drem takes a moment to look out of the volcano through an entrance corridor to see over the lands of fire, detecting a glittering city on the horizon: the City of Brass.
Arriving in the treasure chamber, filled with kingdoms worth of gold, gemstones and other valuables, your eyes meet those of a big woman, sitting in a gem encrusted throne. She addresses you and friendly demands an offering for the King of Ashes. You present a few diamonds and enchanted items and Egbert plays a wonderful music while the rest of you fail to perform with it. The Queen of Ashes seems pleased and allows you to stay, should you do her a favour. She asks you to get back something that belonged to her, from her "deranged brother Othimarun", who stole it some time ago. She promises to arrange an audience with the King of Ashes as reward, he who is very busy with other important work.
You agree to the quest and are given guest quarters for a rest where you shall await an escort to cross the Hellwasp Desert in order to get to Othimarun's lair. There, you discuss a few things and eventually find your sleep. On the next day, Qizenya stands in front of your door, greeting you as your personal escort through a desert (again). Once outside, he tells you that he was hired by Bruri Ironbeard to help him investigate the disappearance of Amón. Bruri went to the City of Brass to find a way to exit the plane of fire, while Qizenya remains in the volcano to maintain his guise. He also tells you that he had dreams of the King of Ashes that called upon him to join his ranks, promising - and then delivering - incredible power. Happy feels weird about this, but believes that Qizenya tells the truth as far as he can tell. And so you walk down the long stairwell that leads you to the path to the Ruins of Embrassil, 3-4 days of travel towards the lair of Othimarun.