Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Salamander

[@padalan2504]

shouldn't the fire plane be white or blue at these temperatures?

[@draxthemsklonst]

Yes! But also kinda no... Light filtered through stone (lava) and soot in the air tends to make it appear more redish. Lava is red, yet it's ~1200° Celsius. Tool steel, for example, goes from straw color, to brown, to purplish, then BLUE, even hotter its gray all over again, then hotter it's red, then orange and even hotter than all of that tool steel will be bright yellow @ over 1000° Celsius. Looking at superhot things from a distance (filtered though air particles) makes the color SEEM more red, though. Hence why lava looks red/orange, the heat is filtered through the liquid-stone.

[@angrygardengnome8383]

@@draxthemsklonst high quality post

[@AJPickett]

@@draxthemsklonst great post!

[@draxthemsklonst]

@@AJPickett Thanks!

[@brandondabbs2593]

Colors in fire occur because of impurities in what is providing fuel. not because of temperature. Some substances burn hotter yes but pressure can also achieve those temperatures.

[@nullvoid4063]

Hey AJ, guess what? I took your advice, found a local game store 15 minutes walk from campus, asked if they had a D&D group that meet at the store, went down to the basement ( because yes, that IS where they meet) introduced myself, bribed the players and DM with chips and soda, learned their names, and next Saturday I'm going to my fourth session! Thanks AJ! Turns out that all I needed was a little confidence boost and a nudge in the right direction. Also, turns out none of them have heard of your channel. So, with any luck, you might have a few more subscribers soon. Here's to many more videos to come!

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Null Void I love that story. Any time a bribe is payed in chips, I’m down.

[@AJPickett]

Excellent! So glad you took the leap and landing on your feet (in the basement, lol). I just saw my local library is hosting gaming groups playing D&D and the sign was amended with "Groups full" so they have multiple games going on there every week now, and it is just a tiny town really!

[@nullvoid4063]

@@AJPickett Nerds of the world unite!

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Welcome to the world of D&D man....have a blast!

[@tomsawyerpiper9412]

Interesting tidbit: Salamanders’ connection to fire is tied to the superstitions of early Europeans. Salamanders, looking for cool, moist places to hide when not swimming around in streams or ponds, would hole up in fallen logs. Said logs were then collected, and when it came time to feed the fire, the salamanders would scurry out of the flames, seemingly unharmed.

[@MrJimmyWalsh]

Neat! I've wondered about that. Seen salamanders connected with fire in lots of different media

[@alexanderofrhodes9622]

Every major threat in D&D world: "It could go off like a chain of nukes at any moment, not worth worrying about though"

[@thedarkmaster4747]

XD

[@matthewhartshorn5204]

I get so pumped every time I see you upload a monster ecology. Please keep doing them!

[@lesyeuxduciel]

I remember these bastards from the Eye of the Beholder II back when I was a kid. Thanks for a walk of nostalgia!

[@seamusfish7009]

Here wuz Seamus! Seamus is finally starting to not be sick!

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Whats up Seamus? Hope your feeling better man....it sucks to get sick eh?

[@seamusfish7009]

@@michaelkelligan7931 finally on the mend. This past week has been brutal, but i'm not coughing as much, I can kinda talk again, and the fever went away a day or two ago. Hopefully I'll be right as rain come Saturday. Thanks for asking. How have you been friend?

[@michaelkelligan7931]

@@seamusfish7009 not bad,not bad at all!

[@tatsusama3192]

19:42 He looks so happy😂 "I don't know what a hoo-mun is but do you play lava ball?!"

[@doobiesmoke15]

I suddenly had visions of a natural werebear ranger who has dedicated his life to stopping the forest burning activities of salamanders after nearly perishing in one such conflagration when he was a small cub. He was rescued and raised by an order of druids who named him "Smokey"

[@AJPickett]

Heh!

[@rejvaik00]

Smokey is through dealing with y'alls shit now he wants blood!

[@jaredjohnson8200]

Archomentals sound like the types of beings you dont want to piss off.

[@padenstewart781]

I once ran a Primordial that had a pet salamander Bard rolled a natural 20 to seduce the salamander. He went out in a blaze of glory.

[@thedarkmaster4747]

*evil laugh* >XD

[@Bway9125]

There is a special layer of the abyss reserved for GM's who destroy wizard spellbooks.

[@jacobwilson8579]

When I saw this I thought for a moment AJ was doing space marine chapters. Still a fiery idea non the less.

[@MRDicristofaro]

id watch that for sure lol

[@AmigoRoberto]

Salamanders are going to love my players fire genasi when she comes "home" Ooooaaagh! The fire! It is in your blood!

[@joshuabulb]

Consistently accurate, interesting and useful information, thanks so much for your quality content and please keep up the good work!

[@AJPickett]

Thank you, will do!

[@tonlito22]

Example Military ranks for Salamanders in Efretii service: ghulams, askaris, mamlukes, and jannisseries. Ghulams are the lowest level, their uniforms humble and their weapons simple. Askaris have a more embellished version of the Ghulam uniforms. Mamlukes wear damacened robes and fine armour and detest the privileges of the Jannisseries, who guard the Efretii. Jannisseries have big hats.

[@AJPickett]

He who has the largest and most outlandish hat, calls the shots.

[@virtualhimeji462]

Fire snake forge. Makes for a good quest for PC's when it turns into a full salamander. Blacksmith: "it seemed like a good idea at the time"

[@AJPickett]

Primordials.

[@Greenscyth22]

Salamanders are the true pyromantics of the plane of fire and it's true champions. I'd love to see a noble salamander wizard with a spell book of metal as I'm sure one salamander has yearned to stockpile magical power to rival their former Efreeti masters at some point in history. A noble salamander Elemental Savant(Tome and Blood pg. 57) with near complete mastery over fire as well as other forms of magic would be a terror to fight on any plane.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

O/10 do not recommend to hug a salamander.... and yet the bard rolled a nat 20.

[@aaroncox3153]

Thank you. These monster ecology videos are great, especially now since my campaign has turned into a plane jump campaign

[@bumblingbureaucrat6110]

AJ you must have just listened to my mixtape cause your videos are ON FIRE!

[@MRDicristofaro]

Great video AJ , not only idid you provide good info on the salamander race but the added info on the fire plane was great as well

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Great Vid AJ,If you like Rings of Fire Resistance,then use the spears of a Salamander to make them....they work VERY well! 🐲🐲🐲

[@project4061]

This will be helpful with adapting a board game campaign into a basic one. (Temple of Elemental Evil if you were wondering.)

[@mattnerdy7236]

Hey AJ, great video! My momma always said, if you can't stand the heat than stay out of the kitchen. Thats one kitchen that is definitely to hot for me. That salamander with the horns @14 minutes in. Awesome pick, he looks like Japanese or Chinese legend or lore, (the art work). Thanks AJ & have a great day.

[@zeedevil4409]

Such an awesome monster and fire is absolutely one of my favorite settings

[@wraithreaper22]

Thanks so much for this! This will really help me paint a picture for my campaign, you are a lifesaver and a bastion of selfless knowledge AJ 😁😁😁

[@ironreed2654]

Its 4am here! keep it down!

[@johngleeman8347]

Salamanders are such a cool looking species. Thanks to Baldur's Gate 2 for introducing them to me. And by the gods, the City of Brass has to be in the top 5 of the best extraplanar places to set an adventure for higher level parties. :3

[@AJPickett]

I love the city of brass, I have a condo there.

[@johngleeman8347]

@@AJPickett Beach weather all year round.

[@SadFemboy]

Dang man, your videos were already amazing but with that new mic it just made it 1000% better. Can't wait for future videos

[@AJPickett]

Loving this new microphone!

[@thejamaicanempire3561]

2:13 Man must have killed him a dozen times over my days playing WoW, somehow still always there when we come back.

[@TraciPeteyforlife]

. Fire Sharks, Red Dragons, yep this place is has tons of ways to kill you. the fact the Red Dragons aren't at the top of the pecking order. Is all anyone really needs to know. Things a Red Dragon has to stay out of the way of. Yep.

[@reubenholcomb8568]

Sounds like working on the railroad in the summer time.

[@skylermaves7272]

Ooh my favorite fire based race. Second favorite are the azers

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

*Relevant and Supportive Comment*

[@rickeymariu1]

"Staboty staboty stabity" A.J. 2019

[@thedarkmaster4747]

20:24 *wizard screams in agony only to be slapped across the room by a large horned salamander with a sterner look on an even more tendril bearded face* "my knowleehhhdge!?!?!?" ans "That which cannot withstand the fire of thy hand, is unworthy of the mind." reply "I don't want to "learn again"." ans ""All" is tested through the fire..." *Salamander starts slowly burning the entire spellbook into the wizards skin... the hard way* 🧙‍♂️😞🔥📖😠🔥📚😡🔥🔥🔥

[@Daves_Not_Here_Man_76]

Plot hook: Two idiot nobles want to capture a salamander. Lord Behviz of Curnhoolia and Lord Butheid of Cauchlandia are obsessed with fire. Have fun!

[@raptorokc]

Brings back memories of Breath of the Wild. Running around on fire hoping not to get vaporized on death mountain

[@destonlee2838]

Three years ago, from the vault, what a deep and clear well you've built AJ! This installation gave me much, maybe even circumvented a writers block... What will king Klemm fire the dwarf forge with when theremeaux the Red goes feral and falls subject to the whims of an aboleth? Salamander up! That'll make it easy to build in several curious and epic side quest adventures to our campaign! Cheers m8!

[@AJPickett]

You are most welcome.

[@TheVexinator]

"Those who travel the planes call it 'The Crematorium'. The locals don't - they find it kind of insulting."

[@victorvaldez8869]

I had an idea for a destructive monster from the plane of fire: Brass Monkeys. They are kept as pets by some of the Efreeti and are basically a simple animal but relatively intelligent as such. What the Efreeti find funny is occasionally unleashing them on prime material worlds, as being natives of the plane of fire they have sort have become blind to it in a way. Picture a fish only knowing water it's entire life, simply just accepts it the same way you & I accept the ocean of gasses we are at the bottom of, they just don't think about it ... until it's gone. When on the prime material world most of them will be seeing things being destroyed by fire for the first time, this sends them into a panicked state as walls & trees don't normally start to disappear when you touch them etc. This causes them to panic & hyperventilate, unfortunately they breath fire as a default, so more catches on fire & they flee setting more things on fire. Efreeti keep them for this reason as sometimes they can send them instead of having to be summoned themselves by a wizard attempting to summon an elemental. Most have them outfitted with some kind of enchanted item to let them see what the Brass Monkey sees, as the sight of a wizard who thought they were going to get a fire spirit slave, screaming as his library is destroyed by a panicked elemental monkey is great comedy. Use the stats for a monkey from the D&D wiki homebrew page, give them immunity to fire, the elemental subtype and fire breathing.

[@adamholcomb1906]

This is a awesome video...I have a Adventures League Yuan-ti Pureblood that is a Wizard Enchanter that has a personal interests in primordial magic and summonses fire snakes and salamanders to aid him and his party members in combat🔥🔥🐍🐍💯

[@michaelkelligan7931]

I play my NPC Efreeti Lords in the city of Brass as slave owners and treat the salmanders like vermin. Very powerful! "a very caliphate based race" augmented heavily with magics from the highest levels of power you'd call "epic"magic making nearly indestructable pawns to give even veteran Lords and Wizards of name level and beyond a great challange 😂😂😂 i love the access to 3 wishes per day by all Effreeti Lords at will 😁 Thats a lot of wishes each day in the City of Brass! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@furkanzomer3982]

Just wanted to say that you are the reason i picked up on playing DnD, was bored and looking for inspiration to write my book, got my inspiration and so much more from your channel. Great video as always AJ and thank you

[@AJPickett]

I look forward to researching your work one day.

[@darthchocolate7911]

@Furkan Zomer -Best of luck to you with your writing!

[@Z0nK89]

Hay AJ is it just me or is the sound of your voice in this video better? Anyway wonderful video and thank you

[@AJPickett]

New audio equipment :)

[@DG-qq6gz]

What a way to start a barbecue campaign with all these fiery personalities. Let's get cooking. (As long as it is not in Hell's Kitchen)🔥😓

[@mattchu2310]

These guys are great to summon

[@kevinchristiansen4348]

I love salamander, I always seen this as a man's desire to do something in life

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

At some point you should give your wizard an indestructible spell book, just as a promise of “I won’t destroy this” Your spell book is your class progression if you destroy it and they can’t get it back they’ll likely need to make a new character if you don’t get really generous with them really fast

[@dragonlord498]

ITS FIERY AND HAS REPTILE LIKE TRAITS BUT ITS NOT A DRAGON!!

[@thedarkmaster4747]

An important distinction. 🤓😉👌

[@shortcaveman1583]

I wonder if a tarrasque Can service in the planes of the elements?

[@AJPickett]

In the border zones.

[@JeriDro]

would a ring of %100 fire protection work here?

[@AJPickett]

You'd also need protection from the toxic atmosphere and some source of water and food.

[@That80sGuy1972]

I love throwing in a Salamander group encounter... always underestimated... and my veteran players know to never adventure with their main spellbook on their person. I allow gunpowder based items in my campaigns... and being near Salamanders with them makes things... interesting. Muahahahahaha!

[@chriscalvin5083]

Good video AJ

[@thedarkmaster4747]

14:41 If their horns are cut, do they slowly grow back - like hellboy's do? Also is it possible to have a salamander who doesn't believe in the divine right of slavery through hallowed conquest? A heretic who denies the purification of inferior flesh? One who denies the eternal constant? (So they can be tormented as an NPC infront of a party as fellow elemental natives that they encounter slowly return them to the fold with arguments despite their mushy prime material sentiments and attachments) 🔥🦎⚔🌋😵

[@jameswhite-pv3sq]

its funny becuese this is my fav non aquatic charecter to use as dminforcer . its great 10/10

[@seekeroftruth7696]

You should do a video on the flying elven kind

[@thedarkmaster4747]

I second this.

[@purplehaze2358]

I always imagined a being that imbodies fire itself to be chaotic neutral, since that's kinda how non-sentient fire is.

[@jameswhite-pv3sq]

so man u wanna hear the story's of the travaling salamander chef and his travaling compodraes

[@shakescan]

This is great!

[@jacoblane5606]

You should make a video about Imex I'd love to see his lore with your style

[@AJPickett]

Well, it is Fire Month, so, makes sense.

[@gargoyles9999]

VULKIN LIVES!!! *Stomp Stomp*

[@vinx.9099]

side note: i would STRONGLY advice against harming a players spellbook. maybe take it away, let it be stolen but where it will be retreated. don't harm it, that a good part of the levelling up bonuses they get. it's easily comparable to taking away a lv11 fighters extra attacks or the eldritch invocations of a warlock. just don't do it.

[@kajjak7001]

Hey AJ, great video. I'm curios do you think books from 3 and 3.5 like: Heroes of Horror and Book of vile Darkness ect. should be updated for 5e?

[@AJPickett]

Yes.

[@brucetravers8959]

Can you do a video on half-elves and half-orcs, unless you have already and I just can't find them.

[@briancorvello3620]

Well, he's done a video on orcs, I know that much. It might have mentioned half-orcs.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

I want to see a large scale battle between Salamander and Hobgoblin Armies.

[@That80sGuy1972]

The Hobgoblins would win... at a great loss... and would really brag about the win because of the sacrifice. Hobgoblins are akin to Salamanders in their points of view, but Hobgoblins have the advantage of greater numbers and (battlefield Prime Material) knowledge (obsession over) how to kill fire beings in their world. Hobgoblins have killed intruding SUPERIOR beings like White Dragons. They have repelled and earned the respect of Red Dragons. They have formed alliances with Green Dragons. They brokered alliances with Dwarves against Dark Elves despite being enemies. Hobgoblin top-tier guys would have at least one genie as a contact, most likely an Efreet. That would also be a big issue. Salamanders may be superior, physically, but Hobgoblins have the win on this. After the win, they would rebuild from their mostly ashen group by aggressive military spoils of war claiming.

[@chrishamby1614]

Hmmmm rude snake hot boys.....

[@thelastmavrick]

Could a fire immune dragonborn go there ok or would something else kill them

[@AJPickett]

They would be OK, its a difficult environment to get used to.

[@AKNeal81]

With their proficiency in metalworking, do Salamander have any higher respect for dwarves?

[@AJPickett]

No, they resent the freedom of the Azer and Dwarves are lesser versions that are disgustingly flammable. They have enmity toward Dwarves.

[@DkKombo]

1:50 "Go to hell!" I'll do you one better! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@tristanswan1067]

Is there another video where you talk about the other elemental planes like this?

[@brosephnoonan223]

spicy snek

[@brightglory5734]

Vulkan Lives!

[@Anceleron]

I wonder if there are places in the plane of fire that are at or close to Planck temperature.

[@AJPickett]

Just a guess, but I think probably not... moreso when you consider that if you put something into the game world, players will find a way to exploit it, and that sort of temperature will wipe out 10000 miles of a planet surface if even a pinprick-sized portal is opened to that region.

[@Anceleron]

@@AJPickett lol yea it probably would, I just find the idea of the inhabitants not wanting to go to a specific area cause it's to hot kinda funny, love your videos btw.

[@AJPickett]

@@Anceleron Thanks! Good question, I actually researched temperatures a fair bit while making this video, it is fascinating stuff.

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

There’s probably a shit ton of artifacts there that someone thought the 7th level spell plane shift was “good enough” to destroy, from so many material planes. In 6 years of D&D I have sent 3 artifacts there just knowing the BBEG probably can’t get it even if they go full Lich.

[@dylanlinehan606]

Yo do fire beeltes have a queen and do the offspring have to stay in fire like the fire snakes ?

[@AJPickett]

Those native to the elemental plane of fire do, those native to the material plane do not.

[@dylanlinehan606]

@@AJPickett thanks for that

[@DkKombo]

Can you just have an item that acts as a portal that connects to elemental planes to use those elements and further channel and bend them to recreate certain spells or bend them like in avatar for both artistic and martial prowess? Is that how portals work? Can there be a portalmancer?

[@AJPickett]

Yes.

[@robertcorley5225]

Pretty sure there's only one and her name is Pain

[@DkKombo]

...my drow would have no defense against this... Lets hope he doesnt habe to deal with it...

[@kishinyami1417]

Aj, What are these things even Red Dragons have to stay away from?

[@AJPickett]

There are primordials here with the power to consume worlds.

[@kishinyami1417]

@@AJPickett Jesus, do i Imagine Galactus sized beings or..!

[@thezestypumpkin3202]

AJ Pickett a bard would try and seduce one.

[@thezestypumpkin3202]

Are the elemental planes infinite

[@AJPickett]

They are always being created, so, technically yes, though not infinite in any uniform way, there are massive zones with gradually altering states of the balance between positive, negative and other elemental energies.

[@thezestypumpkin3202]

AJ Pickett one more question, sorry if it’s annoying, but how large are the outer planes.

[@AJPickett]

@@thezestypumpkin3202 Answering questions is what I am here for :) Depends on the plane, Bitopia for instance, is infinite (it is a flat earthers dream come true), while the layers of the Nine Hells are essentially pocket dimensions contained inside the world of Baator and Celestia is literally mountain ranges of vast size, stacked via dimensional borders, one on top of the other, some are larger than others, for instance, the first layer, Lunia, is infinite, places like Acheron have huge metal geometric shapes that drift around like small moons, they are limited in size, but the space of the plane is infinite.

[@thezestypumpkin3202]

AJ Pickett so basically they each are partially infinite or truly infinite

[@purplehaze2358]

Far more interesting than their real-life counterparts, lol

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

cool

[@corneredbadger]

We were fighting a sorcerer who had invaded the library of a wizard we were friends with intending to destroy it and she summoned one of these, and its radiant heat immediately started setting surrounding books, scrolls, shelves even the floor aflame. It was concerning until I cast haboob on the salamander, while it couldnt do anything about the salamander's fire it snuffed out the secondary fires too. DM wasnt expecting it and we all had a good laugh. Then we realized that my sandstorm also threw about all the scrolls and books and made quite a mess of the library anyway, but at least they werent burned!

[@joshuastamos2213]

Isn’t a salamander army fighting with fire bombs sort of like a human army fight with water balloons?

[@AJPickett]

yep

[@bahamutkaiser]

Salamander? Or plain of fire?

[@Reddotzebra]

Fire Mephits: "Cook and book?!?" "Cook and BOOOOOK!"

[@anathema1828]

omegaSPICY

[@chrishardy559]

Could a mortal that is immune to fire through race/class/magic survive there?

[@AJPickett]

Theoretically Yes, but they will run out of food and water.

[@robertherek4020]

So say a genasi monk of high enough level where they no longer need food or water, of of the right elemental heritage should theoretically be able to survive?

[@KuvaDrinker]

Banananers

[@mckingcrush1015]

great stuff

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Imagine being in a pan of Potatoes O’Brien, perched on a cube of potato while the oil beneath bubbles and pops....welcome to the Plane of Fryer. Edit: Where it borders the Plane of Cheese is known as the Sea of Fondue.

[@AJPickett]

The smell alone would cause paralysis and eventual dehydration due to excessive drooling.

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

AJ Pickett I feel like the Nourishmental Planes needs to be a thing now. I’m gunna have to find a way to work it into some home brew stuff.

[@draxthemsklonst]

It's been over a year since I heard it, yet one line from "Death Shall Have No Dominion" by Dylan Thomas came to me while watching this video (read below). "And death shall have no dominion. Dead men naked they shall be one With the man in the wind and the west moon; When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone, They shall have stars at elbow and foot; Though they go mad they shall be sane, Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion. And death shall have no dominion. Under the windings of the sea They lying long shall not die windily; Twisting on racks when sinews give way, Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break; Faith in their hands shall snap in two, And the unicorn evils run them through; Split all ends up they shan't crack; And death shall have no dominion. And death shall have no dominion. No more may gulls cry at their ears Or waves break loud on the seashores; Where blew a flower may a flower no more Lift its head to the blows of the rain; Though they be mad and dead as nails, Heads of the characters hammer through daisies; BREAK IN THE SUN 'TIL THE SUN BREAKS DOWN, And death shall have no dominion." A preferred version of this poem, if anyone is interested (no, it's not mine and no, I do not know the people running the channel): kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3SpfJWqm8mdldU I'd like to hear what y'all think (including you AJ). Thanks for the salamander/fire plane video, AJ.

[@purplehaze2358]

Any hellfire-elemental creatures that anyone is aware of?

[@Sara-nn8cg]

Bright WHAT are you DOING Here!!

[@AJPickett]

@@Sara-nn8cg getting his nerd on :)

[@purplehaze2358]

@@Sara-nn8cg What can I say, I'm a man of *BRIGHT* ideas.

[@J0K3R_the_Nerd]

Kinda off topic but im hunting lore cuz id like to run a really fun faerun game and i came across stuff.. i assume it has to do with drizzt novels but it said there were drow in gauntlgrym but they were run out. But them says "its assumed they returned to rebuild a settlement" so are drow occupying gauntlgrym until further notice?

[@AJPickett]

I'm not entirely sure, there is a bit of a time gap from there to the current year on Toril. Gauntlgrym is a hotbed of activity.

[@J0K3R_the_Nerd]

@@AJPickett yeah the date was set at 1480 dr and think current canon its like 1491 or 2 dr

[@JesperAndersen]

It is nice info, but really, dude: 10:18 minutes to get to the actual topic the video is supposedly about is WAY too long :-(

[@onlycorndog6322]

Rename your channel to Mighty Gluestick, already.

[@AJPickett]

No.

[@onlycorndog6322]

@@AJPickett lol fair enough.

[@mckingcrush1015]

why not get some people together and make a dnd staduim

[@xXTheBl4ckC4tXx]

When you take 7 minutes to get to the video at hand, you took too long

[@AJPickett]

working on it

[@kazwhymark3165]

Gutted because I thought 💭 this was a 📖

[@AJPickett]

Am I interpreting this correctly? You are gutted because you thought this was a story, but it was like a textbook instead?