You find yourself short of breath and stagger in the general direction of the clan of fire. You see the massive wall off in the distance, the fumes and toxins in the air make oxygen hard to come by. Your perception is altered by the shortage of breathable air, giving the illusion of that the massive wall closing in or distancing it self from you. A lone horseman dismounts and holds out a small mask, it barely covers your mouth and nose, you breath in deep finally catching your breath.
Suddenly the ground begins to shakes as a volcano erupts.You are in no way prepared for an encounter with Molten lava; fear grips you as you run for the ancient city built amidst the black mountains. You run breathing heavily. The sky darkens as you get closer to the city, you see several demon made rivers and streams flowing with lava at various depths. Thankfully it funnels the unforgiving substance away from the population.
You enter the massive gate and, breathing a sigh of relief, finally you've made it to safety. You look around as you walk holding the mask firm to your face. Due to the mask you are quickly identified as one of the many tourists seeking gems and other expensive decorations. Shopkeepers and traders approach you one after another trying to convince you to buy jewels and artifacts etched out of gold, silver and encrusted with diamonds. Everyone you come across has adapted to the smoggy atmosphere breathing freely even the miners caked with dirt and dust shuffle about unhindered by the physical demand of their job showing, well etched muscles underneath the blanket of dirt.
Isolated a half mile are so from the small city you see a large castle. You approach the clan leader's dwelling place in a respectful calm pace. The sound of children playing grows steadily as you grow closer. You watch the little ones run about playing tag and other youth full games. There is much cheer and glee on the children's faces but you can almost feel a deep sadness blowing against the wind. Perhaps there is more then meets they eye.
The old city Has been all but abandoned, those who stay behind are there to work the mines and use the machinery. The city lays still untouched for a few months. The air still thick with the smell of soot and sulfur.Some how one finds them self drawn to mines and realize that one one of the mines seems to have been recently used as a path.Going through the mines and out the other end, the air is lighter cleaner and instead of the desert environment. The other end i green and full of forest life. there are rivers and hot springs at a glance at the distance. Going north for a half a day’s walk hidden deep in the forest lays the new home of the fire clan
The Temples:
Within the Shrine compound there are 3 main large temples a few small shrines that double as tea ceremony rooms and just rooms for weary travelers passing by. In the very back next to mountain, there is a large 3 story pagoda. As you walk into the pagoda in the very back there is a large red wooden door and beyond that door is a cave that will lead you out the new town of the fire clan. The temples compound is used by the fire sages, and is also used as the training facilities be it for fighting skills or skill in improving ones elemental powers.
The town:
When you come out of the cave one is confronted by a completely different environment. In this lush valley there are many waterfalls that seep out of the mountains that surround it. Crossing the bridge to the Plateau you enter the town which has only a few main buildings. The “Inn”, the hospital and bath house. There are also small houses for those who wish to have a house and not live at the Inn.
The “Inn” is where most everyone is housed, fortified and built for defense. Everyone is welcomed at the inn. Which is always has a full stocked kitchen and living area, along with many spare rooms.
The hospital is where people train to be healers and obviously, the sick people go to.
The bath house ...that’s pretty self explanatory.
