CLASH OF THE ELEMENTS PLOT
Hesh
Cloaked in majestic red and gold robes, and with a head full of tattoos, Hesh still looks the part of a fearsome Red Wizard. However, Hesh has long since abandoned the troublesome politics of Thay, and Toril in general, instead turning his sights on the realms. A planeswalker of incredible magical power, but with not a shred of sociability in his body, Hesh has only one friend (Carmil) and countless enemies. Though self described as a pragmatic and logical sort who has no time for emotions, the truth is Hesh has made his life a lot harder by refusing to get along with others, scheming and keeping things close to his chest, alienating potential allies and infuriating those who seek to end him through "harsh honesty" that is in actuality just Hesh's bitter ramblings. Hesh for some reason has fought very hard to keep the adventurers away from the Elemental Incident, but even Dust does not seem to know what Hesh's agenda is.
Shazen
The cowardly fire elemental who dwelt in the furnace of the local smiths of Peltarch. Shazen's glory days have long since turned to ash, now forced to constantly flee the elemental forces that hunt him over a petty squabble that Shazen has quite soundly lost. Shazen is selfish and short sighted, as hot headed as any fire elemental could be, and tends to run away from any trouble that follows him, leaving others to clean up his mess. Of the Elemental Union, he was allegedly intimately close with Lady Vaxis, and was responsible for the Elemental Incident along side Zephyr, who he was also once close to. Now Shazen wants to put as much distance between him and the group as possible, And in true fire elemental fashion, he'll burn every bridge he needs to to get away.
Vaxis
A water elemental known as "Lady Vaxis" by loyal followers. First impressions can usually be quite unfortunate, as Vaxis has become rather cold in recent years after numerous defeats and setbacks. Vaxis enjoys treasure, and likes to collect things to add to her growing hoard, but it has made her somewhat greedy, and also vulnerable, as she spends much of her time worrying about her things. Vaxis has been stuck in a rivalry with Zephyr after the Elemental Incident, a one sided affair, as Vaxis merely views Zephyr as a failure, while Zephyr seems intent on ensuring Vaxis loses her followers for as of yet unknown reasons.
"Rocky"
A name gifted to him by the humans he has befriended, the earth elemental with the very difficult to pronounce name is a very unusual earth elemental indeed. Forsaking the slow, unchanging and often static nature of earth elementals, Rocky has always sought change, and was instrumental in keeping the Elemental Union together through his rationality and kind thoughtfulness. Rocky has kept in contact with Vaxis, often residing in her "court" wherever it may set up. He longs for the old days. Rocky is the only known survivor of the Elemental Incident, Zephyr and Shazen's attempt to harness raw energy of the Elemental Chaos, which went poorly, and annihilated not only Rocky's home, but the earth elementals who followed Rocky. He has never blamed his former friends, but does have a wound that has never truly healed.
Zephyr
Prince of Pleasure, Windy Warrior, Annoyance. All titles that Zephyr has held across his many years. Owner of the so called Zephyr Pleasure Palace, a constantly falling rock in the Plane of Air, Zephyr is a mischievous fair weather friend who hides his true thoughts under a thick layer of general tomfoolery. Having seemingly sided with Dust, Zephyr has found himself in an awkward position, put under the cruel thumb of the Fire Barons, and processed along side his people after going against Dust's wishes and trying to harness the raw power Dust seeks to wield. What Zephyr has hoped to gain from Dust is unclear, as is why he undermines Dust to help the adventurers. While a chaotic windy mess at the best of times... does Zephyr have a plan? A goal? If so, what? And will he survive to see it through?
Baron Cindergrin and Baron Azar
A duo of fire elementals who now rule over the Charred Fortress, once the home of Shazen and his followers. Cindergrin and Azar are known as the Fire Barons by Dust's forces, and work to oversee the cruel Process which sees elementals undergo a forcible change, becoming mish mashes of elements in an unnatural manner. The duo constantly hound Shazen, who they once fought against for control of the Fortress, and who they wish to see finally destroyed for good. Cindergrin is the more spiteful and malicious of the two, being a smug and cruel villain, who often runs his mouth when he shouldn't. One such inability to close his gob led to Cindergrin mouthing off to a fey, who lopped off Cindergrins head, and stuck it to the brass cane he carries with him, fusing the two and forcing Cindergrin to now carry around his own head. He has mixed feelings about this.
Azar meanwhile is a surprisingly stoic creature and the one who handles the process itself, ensuring it is carried out with ruthless and planned efficiency. Those under him live in constant fear, as Azar does not tolerate failure, and lives by the creed that the squeaky wheel is to be absolutely obliterated.
Tidegasp
A nefarious water elemental... also goes by Gasptide, it tends to switch depending on who is referring to the elemental in question. With a reputation for harassing sailors and unfortunate sea creatures, Tidegasp holds grudges like no one else, said to contain a thick (water proof one would hope) book in her lair that contains every slight against her. She works with Dust as a sort of assassin, and in return it seems the so called Emperor tracks down those who have wronged her, or at least, that she believes have wronged her.
Dust
Emperor to his people. A mysterious entity forged in Elemental Chaos, who claims that there is no other like him, "rebirthed" into something free and powerful. Capable of shifting his form, from the uncanny and pure white creature that seems to be his real form, to an equally uncanny humanoid, with numerous flaws that point out just how unreal he really is, from not blinking and breathing to the fact his skin is flawless... to an unnatural and eerie degree, like a blank canvas. Despite all of these weird appearance factors, Dust is incredibly charismatic, with a smooth and casual attitude that has won him over numerous followers. Dust speaks with such conviction that it is impossible to decipher the lies from the truth, the manipulation from the honesty. According to the Emperor himself, Dust seeks to usher in an age of freedom, with even his Emperor title being a cheeky little nod cooked up by his allies, In this age of freedom, all can be as they wish to be. Of course, to get there, he'll have to forcibly perfect his "process" ritual, and change numerous entities against their will.
And of course... that brand he carries. The one that can rob you of your free will and force you to serve his every command. Which he claims he only uses if he really has to... how much of Dust's benevolence is a mere façade, does he truly believe he is fighting for a better future? For now Dust tries to curry favor with the adventurers who have turned their gaze to his forces. An uneasy attempt at an alliance or a truce, that cannot hide Dust's work.
