Zaaman Rul
The Resilient Ember, the Flame of Purity. NG archomental of the creative power of fire (He/Him)
Pantheon: Elemental
Symbol:Â An orange Z and a flaming longsword
Realm: Fire / Plain of Burnt Dreams / The Hidden Heart
Known Proxies:Â None (yet to be replaced since the Battle of the Plain of Burnt Dreams)
Zaaman Rul, now there’s a berk who deserves a break. He’s an archomental sure, but unlike most of his elemental kin, he actually gives a damn about mortals. See, this blood embodies the nurturing and transformative aspect of fire—the flame as a benevolent tool. Unlike most elementals who get angry when mortals tame a fire into a hearth, or put it to work in a campfire, Zaaman Rul celebrates this. He doesn’t see snuffing out a candle as a kind of murder, nor containing a blaze in a firepit as a form of slavery. No, he champions the life-enhancing potential of fire to warm homes, cook food, forge weapons, brew potions, and bake bricks. Through each of these acts, the superiority of fire is being proved, for it can boil water, drive away cold, melt metal, fire clay. Rul is held in high regard by smiths, potters, alchemists, and cooks. He’s viewed with disdain by most fire elementals though, and seen as being too fond of mortals. The more destructive factions of Fire despise him, especially Imix—who also resoundingly defeated Rul in battle only recently—although in my opinion he did bring it upon himself, for it was Rul who foolishly attacked Imix’s Temple of Ultimate Consumption in the first place.
Zaaman Rul stands ten feet tall, and has crimson skin that pulsed like smouldering coals. Despite his imposing size though, he radiates more warmth than menace. He’s thoughtful and diplomatic, although when it comes to standing up against evil, he can evidently be rash and hot-headed. His long black hair flows like molten obsidian, and his coal-black eyes have a kindly glint. When he desires he can manifest an enormous flaming two-handed sword, which also serves as his symbol. While he’s a mighty foe in combat, that is not his primary goal, Rul wishes to spread inspiration and burn away dishonesty.
Zaaman Rul finds natural allies in powers of divine crafts like Hephaestus and Agni. He views flames as a force for civilisation—providing warm places that nurture communities, forges that shape progress, and purifying blazes that cleanse disease. Chant goes he was the one who gave Prometheus the fire that was shared with humans which got the titan into such trouble, and it might have also been this that sealed Rul’s fate with the other fire archomentals too. He’s therefore had to look further and wider for allies than denizens of Fire. Hiatea, the giantish power of protection and Darahl Firecloak, the elven power of flame and earth, have both helped Rul out in the past. The brass dragon Ronothere has introduced Rul to sympathetic celestials from across the Upper Planes, from archon lord Raziel to firre eladrin, but the Upper Planes are a long way from Elemental Fire.
But his closest allies are the vulpinal Lady Taramyth and the phoenix Emberlight Reborn. At his darkest hour, Zaaman Rul had been driven to the brink of being extinguished by Imix’s overwhelming forces on the Plain of Burnt Dreams. The phoenix appeared in a blaze of glory, and its song washing over Zaaman Rul, not only restoring his strength but also filling him with a renewed sense of purpose to fight for freedom and justice. It turns out Lady Taramyth had played a role in orchestrating this divine intervention. Sensing Zaaman Rul’s plight, she sought out Emberlight in its volcanic sanctuary, imploring the phoenix to intervene. Taramyth used her River of Nine Fires to guide the phoenix to reach Rul at his moment of greatest need. The three have been steadfast friends ever since.
Persistent whispers from azers claim that Rul’s greatest foe, Imix, is actually his father. Chant about his mother is equally hard to come by, but the name Bristia Pel is mentioned by salamanders—she was the archomental of fire before Rul, but was betrayed and killed by Chilimba and Ehkakh, the archomentals of Magma and Smoke respectively. Seems the berk’s whole family tree is messy and cursed. Asgeroth, the pit fiend proxy of Imix, has been specifically charged with the elimination of Zaaman Rul, after Imix learned that his crushing defeat on the battlefield had in fact not led to Rul’s demise. Zaaman Rul is now holed up in a new fortress, the Hidden Heart, nursing his battered ego and rebuilding his shattered army, while no doubt he plots a strategic resurgence. His newfound caution has tempered his trademark enthusiasm, although with his underdog narrative, Zaaman Rul remains a beacon of hope for oppressed fire creatures.
— Tadj-al-Saltaneh Tiznaa bint-Saatadeh al-Mamaalek
Canonical Sources: Dragon Magazine #347 p34; #353 p50; Inner Planes [2e] p46; Planescape Monstrous Compendium Vol. 3 [2e] p21; Manual of the Planes [5e] p161
Other Sources: Jon Winter-Holt; 1d6chan. Canonwatch: To better distinguish Zaaman Rul from the Pathfinder archomental Atreia, I’ve emphasised how how portfolio is one of using the benevolent properties of fire as tools, rather than its use for purification. The links to Prometheus and Taramyth are my own additions, I think the rest is drawn from canon.