“To those calling our diet barbaric: In our defense, we find that a well-fed army is a happy army, and we’re quite resourceful when it comes to provisioning.”
– Flamespeaker Sköll

Deep within the fiery heart of Mount Khulan dwell the six-fingered FLAMEBORN of Infernath, colossal devils of brutality and cruelty. With forked tails, smoldering hues of fire and ash and lava coursing through their veins, these towering giants embody malice and malevolence, their unquenchable hunger for destruction rivaled only by their passion for karaoke.

From their fiery beginnings, young Flameborn are enrolled in the exciting “Cadets of Atrocity & Lethality” (CoAL) program, cleverly tuned to forge future military officers; or at least a halfway competent torturer. Through rigorous training, they earn coveted merit and brutality badges, mastering the balance between battle cries and classic karaoke numbers like “Smokehouse Rock.”

For the Flameborn, conquest is to be savored, quite literally. Captives serve as both the evening’s entertainment and the pièce de résistance as pit masters expertly baste them with their signature, finger-licking spicy barbecue sauce. It’s a secret recipe fiercely guarded for generations. 

“Terror is the ultimate marinade… Nothing keeps meat juicy and tender like a quickened pulse.”
– Geitir, the Grillmaster

Flameborn society revolves around domination, abundant camaraderie and strictly carnivorous culinary exploits, as vegetarian and vegan diets are punishable by death.

Military victories lead to extravagant feasting, with majestic banquets rivaling the battlefield’s splendor. Flameborn menus promise a buffet of Magonian meats and treats, often featuring deep-fried Sunborn starters, spicy Gladeborn sides, a selection of raw Seaborn delicacies, with low and slow BBQ Bloatborn brisket as the centerpiece.

The annual Forge Festival celebrates this balance between martial and cultural endeavors. Bursting with pyrotechnics, exhilarating fire-eating acts, and exuberant dancing, the festival elevates conquests with vibrant tradition. Revelers covet the chance to kiss the forge’s grand anvil, an act of pledging loyalty to their kin… sometimes followed by the occasional outbreak of oral viruses.

Beyond brutality and barbecue, the Flameborn entertainment scene sizzles through flames and flashing lights; a spectacle of drag shows, avant-garde performances, and powerful Molten Metal concerts, complete with a heart-melting power ballad.

Though suspicion marks their paths beyond their volcanic cradle, some Flameborn pursue opportunities elsewhere. Among the Magonians, they find careers in organized crime, mercenary ventures, cockfighting or as shopping plaza security guards and grillmasters in Bloatborn chophouses.

Under Flamespeaker Skål’s ironclad rule, Flameborn society revels in a boiling cauldron of destruction and devotion, where their legend smolders eternally with each resounding note and every pitmaster’s perfect barbecue; a truly magnificent celebration of life, provided you’re not on the menu.

Also known as: Devils, flame giants, jötunn

Patron god: Hunka, the Phoenix Moth Monkey

Banner: The Eternal Flame

Magonia region: Molek

Capital: Infernath, Mount Khulan

Legendary astra: Ignasar, the Twintongue; Norogröht Hamar, the Heart of Stone; Nunaan, the Eternal Flame

Notable figures: General Bodigan, Flamespeaker Skål, Geitir the Grillmaster, Roople Charred, Galyut

Points of interest: The Great Forge of Infernath, Inferno Nightclub, Blaze Theatre, Geitir’s Grille Buffet

Favored steed: Behemoths

Whomp’Em team: The Infernath Pitlords

Inspiration and author’s notes

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