The tallest peak in the Caucasus Mountains?—in fact, the tallest known mountain in Midgard, towering thousands of feet above such mighty peaks as Mount Olympus and the Mountain of Ultimate Winter?—Elbrus figures in the myths and legends of the Cherkess and other peoples of the Caucasus, and to this day evokes awe in all who look upon it. Elbrus is a volcanic mountain, long dormant, though it is said of it that the first forge-fire was built within its heart. It is said that Tlepsh?, the Cherkess god of the forge, summoned Hasan the Great? to the mountain’s summit to gift the sorcerer-king with a pair of mighty swords, which the god had crafted in reward for Hasan’s service to his people.
Mzistvala’s Lair
For centuries, Cherkess legend spoke of a great dragon who dwelled high in the mountains, even the rare sighting of which was taken as a good omen; four decades ago, the legends proved true, as the brass dragon Mzistvala? revealed herself to the Cherkess people. Though Mzistvala would later perish while defending the Ivory Citadel from the Mongols?, holding off the invaders long enough for Hasan and his court to escape, her lair—within the peak of Elbrus, atop the active magma flows deep within the mountain’s heart—remained. Very few people know that Mzistvala’s lair was within Elbrus; fewer still know its exact location. To the Cherkess public, it is a mystery.
The children of Mzistvala, two young dragons (half-brass, half-gold), lived in this lair—until they were kidnapped by the player characters, to be used in the deciphering of Zmei Gromovoi’s Journal. The dragons' lair now stands empty, to the PCs' knowledge. Though it has been looted of easily portable treasure, the lair is a place of vast, magnificent halls, beautiful murals, frescoes, and statuary (depicting people and events from Cherkess history), sculptures and other artwork, done in alabaster and precious metals, and stonework that would impress any dwarven artisan.
Spell Weaver Base
A dungeon inside the mountain, not connected to any passages that lead to other parts of the mountain or to the outside, accessible only by teleportation. A place of strange geometry and bizarre devices, built out of an unknown stony material that’s flecked with magic-conducting blended quartz. Though the player characters have visited this place several times, they have never seen any actual spell weavers? here except in waking visions; but they've encountered many other unusual and alien creatures and constructs, some as guardians of the place, others as prisoners and, apparently, experimental subjects. On their last visit, the PCs removed the “power source” of most of the magical effects in the dungeon—a bound paeliryon? devil named Malagarde?. As a result, the strange creatures held in the dungeon’s cells escaped, fleeing the mountain. These monsters then rampaged across the Cherkess countryside, causing no end of trouble.
Lair of the Immoth
In a cavern near the peak of Elbrus dwells an immoth?—one of the most ancient beings known to exist, far older than even the gods. Immortal, living only to collect knowledge, immoths are said to have the knowledge of fate and the path of events to come. It is said that it was immoths who wrote all the ancient prophecies that have come to pass. The immoth of Elbrus is one of two such beings known (to the PCs) to exist; another dwells beneath the Mountain of Ultimate Winter?.
Fire Caves
In the heart of Mount Elbrus, directly below Mzistvala’s lair (and accessible from it), is a series of volcanic caverns, through which magma still flows. A fire weird lived here once, but she has gone away, retreating to the Realm of Fire? which was her home. Various fire and magma elementals, and no doubt other creatures of lava and flame, can be found here still.
Creatures and Monsters of Mount Elbrus
Many unusual and magical creatures live within the great mountain, on its slopes, and even in the skies around it.
Trolls
Forest trolls? inhabit the wooded lower reaches of Elbrus, while crystal trolls? live on the upper slopes and in caverns. Cave trolls? can be found within the mountain.
Elementals
Air and storm elementals live in storm clouds and air currents near the mountain’s peak; fire and magma elementals dwell within its volcanic heart. Elemental spirits of earth and stone, such as the reclusive galeb duhr?, can be found on the rocky slopes, if one looks hard enough.
Birds of prey
Everything from normal eagles and hawks, to dire and legendary versions thereof, to the titanic chaos rocs?, which legends hold to be supernatural incarnations of wind and air, can be found soaring on the winds around Mount Elbrus.