Episode 34 - Cinderbeard

When we last left our heroes, the party began their time in Hammerhand by taking up Thrain Greybeard’s most urgent problem: Cinderbeard, the young red dragon whose fire powers the city’s nine great forges, had slipped his bonds and vanished into the catacombs. Their task was clear—track him down, subdue him without killing him, and force the Embersteel Collar back around his neck. Hammerhand’s survival depends on it.

Descending into the catacombs, the party discovered Cinderbeard’s hoard: stacks of gold and platinum bars piled among the roaring furnaces that heat the city above. Ary followed the dragon’s trail flawlessly, leading the group straight to a vast lava pool.

When Ahl d'Kukyz called out, Cinderbeard rose from the molten depths, grinning with smug delight.

“You’ve come to chain me again, haven’t you?” he taunted. “Clan Greybeard sends Upperworlders to do what dwarves feared. Brave… or foolish. I haven’t met any brave ones, but I’ve met many foolish ones.”

He circled, swimming in the lava with growing amusement.

“You won’t kill me—you can’t. Hammerhand still needs my fire. That puts you at quite a disadvantage. I have my freedom, my gold, and my flame. And now… I have playthings. So, tell me, flesh-slugs—what will you do?