![[Ehkahk.png|400]] **Paraelemental Lord, Prince of Smoke Creatures** **Alignment:** Unaligned, though frequently regarded as malevolent **Home Plane:** Paraelemental Plane of Smoke **Realm:** The Choking Palace, Fume **Also Known As:** The Smoldering Duke, Prince of Smoke, Lord of Smoke ### Overview Ehkahk, the Smoldering Duke, is a powerful and enigmatic elemental ruler who claims dominion over the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke. Traditionally numbered among the lesser archomentals, he bears the title Prince of Smoke Creatures, although the legitimacy of his claim remains disputed. Unlike the great elemental princes whose extraordinary strength establishes their authority, Ehkahk has secured his position principally through intelligence, diplomacy, manipulation, and an exceptional talent for persuading other creatures to recognise his rule. Ehkahk possesses the appearance of a small, gaunt humanoid, standing approximately as tall as a human child. His skin is ash-grey, and thick smoke continually escapes from his eyes and mouth, leaving trails of dark vapour wherever he moves. Additional streams of smoke pour from his back, spreading into formations resembling a pair of flexible wings. His diminutive stature conceals considerable supernatural power, and those who underestimate him because of his appearance frequently discover their mistake too late. The true nature of Ehkahk remains uncertain. Some ancient accounts identify him as a genuine archomental, while others maintain that he is merely an unusually intelligent and charismatic smoke mephit. Other traditions suggest that he is an elemental who acquired extraordinary intelligence, the offspring of a djinn and an efreet, or even a surviving fragment of a destroyed primordial. None of these explanations has been conclusively established, and Ehkahk has shown little inclination to resolve the mystery. Although his claim to the title of Prince of Smoke Creatures is questioned, Ehkahk has accumulated considerable authority. His intelligence and persuasive abilities have enabled him to attract smoke mephits, certain smoke paraelementals, renegade djinn, efreet, and other creatures willing to acknowledge his position. His following is not universally accepted throughout the plane, however, and independent smoke paraelementals maintain their own rulers and territories. Ehkahk is an exceptionally vain and status-conscious individual who places great importance upon his titles, possessions, and the respect shown to him by others. He delights in elaborate ceremonies of courtly recognition and expects visitors to acknowledge his supposed greatness. Despite his arrogance, he possesses considerable diplomatic ability and understands that persuasion and rewards can secure obedience more effectively than violence alone. The Smoldering Duke also possesses an extraordinary appetite for knowledge. He collects books, ancient records, magical writings, and information concerning the planes, maintaining an extensive library within his fortress. Much of his time is spent studying these materials or composing lengthy personal journals, although rumours among his servants suggest that he has developed a tendency to fall asleep during his studies. While Ehkahk is capable of cruelty and frequently treats his subjects harshly, he is also fiercely protective of the territory under his authority. His ambitions remain difficult to determine. He appears interested in expanding his influence within the Plane of Smoke, but seldom displays any urgency in pursuing conquest and has shown little interest in events beyond his immediate dominion. ### Domain and Influence Ehkahk resides within the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke, a vast and inhospitable realm formed where the Elemental Planes of Air and Fire converge. The plane consists of enormous expanses of dark, choking smoke, poisonous vapours, drifting ash, and clouds of heated fumes. Unlike the Elemental Plane of Air, whose atmosphere can sustain ordinary living creatures, the Plane of Smoke is almost entirely unsuitable for unprotected breathing. The realm possesses few conventional landmarks or solid surfaces. Immense clouds of smoke stretch in every direction, while occasional floating cinders provide places upon which creatures may rest or construct settlements. These fragments of ash and partially burned matter drift through the smoky expanse, sometimes colliding with one another and breaking apart. Movement through the plane resembles travel within the Elemental Plane of Air, requiring flight or other supernatural means of propulsion. The absence of consistent landmarks makes navigation exceptionally difficult, while the surrounding fumes prevent ordinary sight from reaching any considerable distance. Ehkahk's principal residence is the Choking Palace, an imposing fortress floating within an especially toxic region of the plane. Its blackened towers and uneven walls rise above enormous banks of suffocating smoke. Some accounts describe the fortress as being constructed from grey-black iron, while others maintain that its walls consist of solidified smoke possessing the hardness of metal. The palace stands within Fume, a relatively small dominion whose inhabitants acknowledge the authority of the Smoldering Duke. Although his rule is frequently oppressive, Ehkahk protects the territory against external threats and permits numerous kinds of creatures to settle there, provided they swear lifelong allegiance to him. His subjects include elemental beings, smoke mephits, renegade genies, and a substantial population of creatures not native to the elemental realms. Their continued residence depends upon obedience to the duke, whose authority is exercised through his court and the formidable servants who enforce his decisions. Within the Choking Palace, enormous braziers continually release enchanted smoke. These magical fumes possess unusual properties: to those who sincerely serve Ehkahk, the smoke appears transparent, while creatures who do not acknowledge him find their vision severely obscured. The duke himself possesses an even greater advantage. Through the enchanted fumes, he can observe creatures throughout the palace, allowing him to monitor servants and visitors without appearing before them. This surveillance provides considerable protection against deception and intrusion. At the centre of the fortress stands an immense library containing books and records gathered from throughout the multiverse. Ehkahk places great importance upon this collection and continually seeks additional knowledge, employing scribes to preserve information obtained from travellers, emissaries, and other sources. His court is maintained within a central chamber containing the Shrouded Throne, a seat formed from supernatural smoke and surrounded by dark, swirling vapours. When Ehkahk receives visitors, much of his body is concealed, leaving his eyes visible within the fumes. From this throne, he can extend his perception throughout the palace and transport himself to other locations within Fume. Another important part of his residence is the Sooty Garden, a courtyard containing numerous plants cultivated for smoking herbs and incense. The garden is tended by druids and trained elementals, who maintain its unusual vegetation within soil brought from the Feywild. Although the plants are coated in ash and soot, they remain healthy despite the oppressive atmosphere surrounding them. Beneath the palace lies the Dungeon of Ash, where poisonous vapours inflict extraordinary suffering upon prisoners. These fumes are sufficiently dangerous to overwhelm living creatures that remain exposed, making the dungeon one of the most feared locations within the fortress. Ehkahk's influence extends beyond his palace through diplomatic relations with other elemental powers. He maintains contact with the City of Brass and regularly dispatches ambassadors to the Charcoal Palace. He has also visited the city personally, demonstrating that his court maintains connections with the powerful efreet despite the duke's preference for remaining within his own stronghold. Nevertheless, his authority does not encompass the entire Paraelemental Plane of Smoke. The smoke paraelementals maintain independent noble rulers known as the Smoke Dukes, and many refuse to acknowledge the claims of the self-proclaimed prince. The Hidden City, an isolated settlement concealed within the plane's endless fumes, has also resisted his attempts to locate and control it. Its inhabitants employ powerful enchantments to conceal their city, preventing unwanted visitors from discovering its location. Ehkahk's inability to bring such communities under his authority demonstrates that his dominion, though considerable, remains incomplete. ### Symbols and Icons No established personal symbol has been reliably identified for Ehkahk. His most recognisable signs of authority are his titles, the Choking Palace, and the black fumes associated with his presence. Within his court, his position is reinforced through elaborate displays of rank and the expectation that visitors acknowledge him as the Smoldering Duke. Although smoke, braziers, and burning incense are strongly associated with Ehkahk, no particular arrangement of these objects has been conclusively established as his official emblem. ### Followers and Servants Ehkahk's principal followers are smoke mephits, whose numerous populations provide much of the foundation for his authority. Although smoke mephits are generally regarded as lesser elemental creatures, Ehkahk has demonstrated that their numbers and collective influence can support a ruler possessing sufficient intelligence and diplomatic ability. His position among the smoke mephits is strengthened by his unusual charisma and considerable knowledge. He has persuaded many creatures to accept his leadership despite lacking the overwhelming elemental might possessed by the greatest archomentals. Other inhabitants of the plane have also entered his service, including certain smoke paraelementals and renegade djinn and efreet. These beings possess abilities that make them useful as guardians, emissaries, and members of his court. Not every smoke paraelemental acknowledges Ehkahk's rule. Many follow their own nobles, known as the Smoke Dukes, whose authority exists independently of the Smoldering Duke. Their refusal to submit remains one of the clearest limitations upon his claim to supremacy. Ehkahk's following includes: - **Smoke Mephits:** These creatures form the most recognisable population associated with Ehkahk. Their numbers and willingness to accept his leadership provide much of the strength underlying his authority. - **Smoke Paraelementals:** Certain smoke paraelementals have joined Ehkahk's following, although many others remain independent and acknowledge the authority of their own nobles. - **Renegade Djinn:** A number of djinn who no longer serve the established authorities of the Elemental Plane of Air have entered Ehkahk's service or established themselves within his territory. - **Renegade Efreet:** Some efreet have acknowledged Ehkahk's authority, while others maintain independent interests within the Plane of Smoke. Their allegiance provides his court with connections to the Elemental Plane of Fire. - **Smoke Hounds:** Ehkahk maintains a large kennel of supernatural hounds composed of living smoke. These creatures possess a roughly canine shape and hunt in packs, using their powerful jaws and smoky bodies to seize and restrain enemies. - **Elemental Guardians:** The Choking Palace is protected by numerous elemental servants capable of fighting within the toxic conditions surrounding the fortress. Their familiarity with the environment provides a considerable advantage against intruders. - **Courtly Retainers:** Ehkahk surrounds himself with guards, attendants, and powerful representatives of different elemental peoples. His retinue includes djinn, efreet, and other formidable beings whose presence reinforces the importance he attaches to his personal status. The inhabitants of Fume are not necessarily united by devotion to Ehkahk as a divine patron. Many have simply accepted his authority in exchange for the right to reside within his territory and receive protection from external threats. His relationship with his subjects is therefore primarily one of political allegiance and personal obligation rather than an established system of religious worship. ### Court and Tributes Ehkahk maintains an elaborate court within the Choking Palace, where visitors are expected to acknowledge his titles and show appropriate respect. His vanity is well known, and those seeking his favour frequently employ compliments, ceremonial gifts, and other demonstrations of deference. Although Ehkahk possesses considerable intelligence, he is susceptible to flattery. Visitors who praise his accomplishments or present objects that appeal to his interests may receive a more favourable reception than those who approach him without proper preparation. Among the gifts particularly valued by Ehkahk are: - **Eversmoking Bottles:** These magical vessels continually produce smoke and are among the duke's preferred possessions. Their unusual properties make them especially valuable within a court devoted to collecting rare objects associated with fumes and vapours. - **Braziers of Sleep Smoke:** Ehkahk values magical braziers capable of producing sleep-inducing smoke. Such objects complement his fascination with enchanted fumes and the unusual magical properties of smoke. - **Rare Incense:** Unusual incense and aromatic substances are welcomed as gifts. Ehkahk maintains extensive collections of materials intended to be burned or inhaled, and rare varieties are particularly likely to attract his interest. - **Pipeweed and Smoking Implements:** The Smoldering Duke possesses an extraordinary collection of pipeweed and smoking equipment. His holdings are reputed to be among the greatest such collections in the multiverse. - **Books and Ancient Records:** Ehkahk continually seeks additional knowledge. Books, obscure historical accounts, and information concerning little-known locations or magical practices are valuable additions to his library. - **Flattery and Recognition:** Those who openly acknowledge Ehkahk's supposed greatness may gain his favour. His attachment to titles and ceremonial importance makes careful diplomacy a useful means of dealing with him. Ehkahk and many of his servants continually partake of smoke, incense, snuff, or other inhaled substances. The practice is common enough within his court to have become one of its most distinctive characteristics. Despite his fondness for gifts and praise, Ehkahk is not easily manipulated in matters that threaten his authority. His considerable intelligence allows him to recognise many forms of deception, particularly when they concern the security of his palace or the loyalty of his subjects. His court is therefore a place where careful negotiation may prove beneficial, but disrespect or obvious dishonesty can provoke dangerous consequences. ### Powers and Abilities Ehkahk possesses supernatural abilities associated with smoke, poisonous vapours, elemental fire, and the manipulation of his surroundings. Although his true nature remains uncertain, his demonstrated powers establish him as considerably more dangerous than an ordinary smoke mephit. His small stature provides little indication of his strength. He is an accomplished magical combatant who employs the properties of smoke to conceal his movements, incapacitate opponents, and control the battlefield. - **Aura of Suffocating Fumes:** Ehkahk continually emits supernatural smoke capable of inducing violent coughing in nearby living creatures. Those exposed to this aura become distracted and vulnerable, while the choking fumes interfere with their ability to recover from injuries during combat. - **Poisonous Smoke:** Ehkahk can release clouds of toxic smoke that injure creatures through a combination of heat and poison. His control over these vapours allows him to affect several enemies at once and impair their ability to see. - **Blinding Vapours:** The duke can project concentrated plumes of smoke capable of temporarily blinding creatures. These attacks are particularly dangerous because the vapours also inflict injuries through supernatural heat and poison. - **Consuming Smoke:** Ehkahk can envelop an enemy within a powerful cloud of smoke, causing the creature to disappear momentarily. He can then cause the victim to reappear elsewhere, surrounded by a violent eruption of poisonous fumes. - **Smoke Transportation:** Ehkahk can create a dense bank of smoke and move himself and nearby allies instantaneously between locations within it. This ability allows him to escape dangerous positions, reposition his guards, and conceal his movements from enemies. - **The Ashen Rapier:** Ehkahk wields a weapon known as the Ashen Rapier. His skill with the blade allows him to injure opponents while forcing them to change position, enabling him to maintain control of the immediate battlefield. - **Summoning Smoke Hounds:** Ehkahk can call smoke hounds to his assistance. These supernatural predators appear close to their master and attack his enemies, using their jaws to seize and restrain creatures attempting to approach him. - **Flight:** Ehkahk can fly and remain suspended in the air without requiring wings of solid substance. His control over his smoky form allows him to manoeuvre freely above the battlefield. - **Immunity to Fire:** Ehkahk's elemental nature protects him completely against fire. Flames and supernatural heat do not injure him, allowing him to move through burning environments without suffering harm. - **Protection Against Disease:** Ehkahk is immune to disease, an advantage that complements his ability to inhabit the poisonous and unhealthy atmosphere of his native realm. - **Magical Surveillance:** Within the Choking Palace, Ehkahk can observe creatures through the enchanted smoke filling its chambers. This ability allows him to monitor events occurring throughout the fortress while remaining concealed in his private quarters, library, or throne room. - **Teleportation Within Fume:** From the Shrouded Throne, Ehkahk can transport himself to other locations within his dominion. His ability to move throughout Fume strengthens his authority and allows him to respond quickly when important matters require his attention. - **Mastery of Obscuring Smoke:** Ehkahk can produce dense clouds that severely restrict the vision of his enemies. His servants are frequently able to exploit these conditions more effectively than intruders, particularly within the Choking Palace. - **Elemental Languages:** Ehkahk understands Common, Giant, and Primordial. His knowledge of these languages allows him to communicate with many of the creatures inhabiting his domain and conduct negotiations with visitors from other planes. Ehkahk prefers to remain airborne and avoid unnecessary close combat. When threatened, he frequently employs poisonous vapours to weaken enemies before using his ability to manipulate smoke and summon hounds against opponents who remain dangerous. Although he claims to disdain violence, Ehkahk takes considerable pleasure in exercising his supernatural powers against creatures he considers disrespectful. His fighting methods therefore reflect a combination of intelligence, magical skill, and personal vanity rather than a reliance upon overwhelming physical strength. ### Treatment of Followers and Visitors Ehkahk's treatment of his subjects is inconsistent, combining harsh demands for obedience with a genuine willingness to defend his territory against outside threats. Those who dwell within Fume must acknowledge his authority and swear lifelong allegiance. In return, they are permitted to reside within his dominion and benefit from the protection offered by his servants and the defences of the Choking Palace. The duke does not always treat his subjects kindly. His attachment to personal status and unquestioned obedience can make him demanding and oppressive, particularly toward creatures who challenge his authority or fail to observe the customs of his court. Nevertheless, he is fiercely protective of Fume. He has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to defend the duchy against intruders and other powers seeking to interfere with its affairs. His concern appears to arise partly from the importance he attaches to maintaining his authority. Threats against Fume are also threats against his reputation and the legitimacy of his rule. Visitors to the Choking Palace are expected to approach with suitable respect. Ehkahk's pride makes him receptive to flattery, and carefully chosen gifts can improve the reception given to strangers. However, the enchanted fumes filling the palace provide him with considerable opportunities to observe visitors without their knowledge. Those who attempt deception or betrayal risk discovery before they can carry out their plans. Ehkahk's fondness for knowledge also influences his treatment of outsiders. Travellers possessing unusual information may attract his attention, particularly if they can provide records or knowledge absent from his existing collections. His willingness to negotiate should not be confused with benevolence. He is capable of extreme cruelty when offended and may employ poisonous magic or his servants against creatures who fail to satisfy his expectations. ### Myths and Legends Ehkahk's history is surrounded by uncertainty concerning his origins, his extraordinary longevity, and the extent of his elemental power. Several accounts connect him to ancient conflicts and powerful beings, while others concern the unusual circumstances surrounding his apparent deaths and subsequent returns. - **The Origins of the Smoldering Duke:** No definitive account establishes Ehkahk's ancestry. Some traditions identify him as a true archomental, while others describe him as an exceptionally intelligent smoke mephit who acquired authority through persuasion. Additional accounts claim that he was born from the union of a djinn and an efreet, or that he is the surviving offspring or fragment of an ancient primordial. The truth remains unknown. - **The Rise to Power:** Ehkahk's influence appears to have developed through his intelligence and charisma rather than overwhelming elemental strength. He persuaded smoke mephits, certain paraelementals, and renegade genies to recognise his authority, eventually establishing himself as the Smoldering Duke. - **The War Between Law and Chaos:** During the ancient war between the Wind Dukes of Aaqa and the Queen of Chaos, Ehkahk supported the forces of Law. His allegiance placed him alongside several benevolent elemental princes who had joined the Wind Dukes in opposition to Chaos. - **The Betrayal of Bristia Pel:** Ehkahk and Chlimbia, the Prince of Magma Creatures, betrayed the Princes of Elemental Good during the ancient war. Together, they ambushed and killed Bristia Pel, the Princess of Good Fire Creatures. Her destruction was a devastating blow to the benevolent archomentals and contributed to the disintegration of their alliance with the forces of Law. - **The Defection of Ben-Hadar:** Following the death of Bristia Pel, Ben-Hadar became outraged by the treachery committed by elemental beings who had supposedly fought alongside the forces of Law. He abandoned the Wind Dukes and joined the forces of Chaos for the remainder of the conflict. Ehkahk's betrayal was therefore among the events responsible for dividing the good archomentals during the war. - **The Mystery of His Deaths:** Ehkahk has reportedly been slain on several occasions, sometimes in full view of witnesses. Nevertheless, he subsequently reappeared within his court as though nothing had occurred. This extraordinary history has led some sages to speculate that he cannot be permanently destroyed. Others believe that the name Ehkahk has been adopted by several different individuals, each succeeding the previous ruler. Neither explanation has been confirmed. - **The Ancient Choking Palace:** The origins of Ehkahk's fortress are uncertain. Some traditions claim that the structure was once a djinn stronghold whose substance was transformed into smoke. Other accounts attribute its construction to a renegade efreet, an ancient primordial, or devils seeking a secure outpost during the Blood War. Efreet and devils are known to have occupied the palace at different times, but Ehkahk eventually established his authority over it. - **The Hidden City:** Within the Plane of Smoke lies a concealed settlement constructed by mortals seeking isolation from the affairs of other planes. Its inhabitants possess magical defences that prevent unwanted creatures from locating the city. Ehkahk has sought to discover and control the settlement, but its rulers have successfully concealed it from his forces. The city therefore remains one of the independent communities resisting his authority. - **The Library of the Smoldering Duke:** Ehkahk maintains an immense collection of ancient lore within the central keep of the Choking Palace. His determination to acquire additional knowledge has become one of his most recognisable characteristics. He spends considerable time reading and writing within the library, although rumours among his servants suggest that he sometimes falls asleep while supposedly engaged in study. - **The Shrouded Throne:** Ehkahk receives visitors from a throne formed of supernatural smoke. Its surrounding vapours conceal most of his body, leaving his eyes visible to those seeking an audience. The throne also serves as a centre of his magical authority, allowing him to observe distant chambers and transport himself throughout Fume. - **The Relations with the City of Brass:** Ehkahk maintains diplomatic connections with the efreet of the City of Brass. He sends ambassadors to the Charcoal Palace and has occasionally visited the city himself. These dealings demonstrate that his political influence extends beyond the limited borders of Fume, even though he shows relatively little interest in conquering other planes. - **The Friendship of Chan:** Chan, the Princess of Good Air Creatures, has occasionally obtained information from Ehkahk concerning the struggles of Zaaman Rul within the Elemental Plane of Fire. Their cooperation is limited and uncertain, for Ehkahk places his own safety above the interests of other powers. He is unwilling to expose himself to unnecessary danger merely to assist a benevolent archomental. - **The Secret Ambitions of Ehkahk:** Although Ehkahk maintains extensive diplomatic contacts and gathers extraordinary quantities of knowledge, his ultimate objectives remain unknown. He appears interested in strengthening his position within the Plane of Smoke, but his lack of urgency has frustrated attempts to determine whether he possesses ambitions extending beyond the preservation of his existing authority. ### Encounters with Ehkahk's Influence Ehkahk's influence is most clearly encountered within the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke, particularly among the inhabitants of Fume and the creatures serving within the Choking Palace. His diplomatic connections, unusual collections, and disputes with independent communities also extend his activities beyond his immediate stronghold. - **The Choking Palace:** Ehkahk's floating fortress is surrounded by toxic clouds and guarded by numerous elemental servants. Its enchanted smoke allows loyal followers to perceive their surroundings clearly while intruders struggle to see. The duke himself can observe much of the palace through the fumes, making infiltration exceptionally dangerous. - **The Shrouded Throne:** Visitors granted an audience with Ehkahk encounter him seated within a cloud of dark smoke. His body is largely concealed, and his eyes remain visible through the vapours. Those who approach with valuable gifts or information may receive a favourable reception, while disrespectful visitors risk provoking his wrath. - **The Library of Ehkahk:** The central keep contains an enormous collection of books and ancient records. Travellers seeking obscure knowledge may attempt to gain access to this library, although Ehkahk is unlikely to grant such access without receiving something he considers equally valuable. - **The Sooty Garden:** Within the palace stands an unusual garden containing plants cultivated for smoking herbs and incense. Druids and trained elementals tend the vegetation, which grows in imported Feywild soil despite the surrounding smoke and ash. - **The Dungeon of Ash:** Beneath the fortress lies a prison filled with exceptionally poisonous vapours. Captives confined within its chambers are exposed to fumes capable of causing prolonged suffering and threatening their survival. - **The Smoke Hounds:** Ehkahk maintains a large kennel of predatory creatures composed of living smoke. These hounds can pursue enemies, seize them with their jaws, and restrain them while other servants attack. Their presence provides an important element of the palace's defences. - **The Smoke Mephits:** Smoke mephits are among the most common creatures associated with Ehkahk's authority. Their numbers provide a substantial following, although individual mephits possess limited strength compared with the great elemental beings of the planes. - **The Smoke Dukes:** Independent smoke paraelementals maintain their own nobility and kingdoms. Their refusal to acknowledge Ehkahk's universal authority creates a division between his claimed dominion and the territories actually controlled by his followers. - **The Hidden City:** The concealed settlement within the Plane of Smoke has successfully resisted Ehkahk's attempts to bring it under his rule. Its inhabitants employ magical concealment to determine who may discover their city, preventing his forces from locating it through ordinary means. - **The Court of Fume:** Ehkahk's duchy contains elemental and non-elemental inhabitants who have sworn allegiance to him. His court attracts numerous kinds of creatures, including renegade genies and other beings seeking refuge or opportunity within the Plane of Smoke. - **The Emissaries to the City of Brass:** Ehkahk's diplomatic representatives travel between his realm and the City of Brass. Their activities provide a means of maintaining relationships with powerful efreet and demonstrate the duke's considerable interest in diplomacy. - **The Returning Duke:** Accounts of Ehkahk's apparent deaths have made his continued existence a matter of speculation. Those who believe him immortal regard his survival as evidence of extraordinary supernatural power, while others suspect that several different rulers have assumed the same title. ### Conclusion Ehkahk is one of the most unusual rulers associated with the Inner Planes. Although he claims the title Prince of Smoke Creatures and is traditionally numbered among the lesser archomentals, his true nature and the extent of his elemental power remain uncertain. His authority has been established principally through intelligence, diplomacy, and his ability to persuade powerful creatures to acknowledge his rule. From the Choking Palace, the Smoldering Duke governs Fume, maintaining a court populated by smoke mephits, elemental servants, renegade genies, and other beings who have sworn allegiance to him. His fortress is protected by enchanted smoke, powerful guardians, and magical abilities that allow him to observe much of his domain without leaving his throne. His involvement in the ancient betrayal and death of Bristia Pel demonstrates that his history extends into the great conflicts of the elemental powers. His uncertain ancestry, repeated appearances following supposed death, and unexplained ambitions continue to distinguish him from more readily understood elemental rulers. Despite his vanity and cruelty, Ehkahk remains an intelligent and capable ruler whose diplomatic relationships and extensive knowledge provide him with considerable influence. His dominion is limited, and numerous inhabitants of the Plane of Smoke refuse to acknowledge his claims, yet he has maintained his position through circumstances that might have destroyed a less resourceful being. The Smoldering Duke continues to rule from his smoke-shrouded fortress, collecting knowledge, rewarding useful servants, and protecting the authority he has accumulated within the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke. Whether he is a true archomental, an extraordinarily gifted smoke mephit, or something far stranger remains one of the enduring mysteries of the Inner Planes.