Geography: The lava caves shown on the map are just a small
portion of a huge underground expanse that runs for many miles
to the north and east of the map. The cavern displayed is situated
much like a balcony overlooking a vast amphitheatre of fire and
molten rock.

The tunnel leading to this area is very hot, and has the same
potential for causing damage as the tunnel leading to Area 19.
Likewise, characters in Area 20 stand about the same chance of
sustaining damage as do characters in Area 19. Here, however,
the eruptions of smoke, fire, and poison gas are much less
common-perhaps one eruption per week.

The cavern itself is a portion of a natural cave that has been
split by cataclysmic geological forces. Fully half of the original
cave has fallen away because of the encroaching lava. What
remains has been baked for centuries by intense heat, so that
cave formations are dried and brittle, and all surfaces are coated
with a layer of smoky residue. The cavern is still huge, but is
dwarfed by the panorama visible to the northeast.

In that direction, the floor of the cave drops off in a 400-foot cliff,
with enough cracks and ledges to make climbing possible. This
cliff drops away to a sea of lava. A dull red glow illuminates the
area with a hellish light, and characters on the cliff can see for
many miles over the molten rock. Occasionally, a stony crag juts
from the lava like a forlorn island, and in the far distance several
tunnels branch off, carrying the lava to even more remote depths
of the earth.

Occasional columns of stone rise from the lava sea all the way
to the ceiling, serving to support the massive weight of stone
above. In most cases, this stony ceiling is at least 1,000 feet
above the surface of the sea, and every day a few chunks of stone
and earth break free and tumble into the inferno below. The ceiling
is split by a number of fissures that allow heat and smoke to
vent upward toward the the mountain range on the surface.
The sea-like aspect of the lava is enhanced by the fact that the
surface is tossed by a series of swells, much like an ocean’s surface.
These swells are caused by internal convulsions in the
earth, far underneath the surface of the lava. The lava splashes
against the rocky cliffs that contain it like an angry sea might lash
at its shore.

Denizens: The cavern overlooking the lava sea is guarded by
ajarge outpost of fire giants. As one of the few avenues through
which creatures from the outside world can reach the fiery lands
of Deepearth, the denizens of the region wish to carefully control
who is allowed to travel here.

The fire giant outpost usually holds about 20 individuals
accompanied by a dozen hell hounds. At least one giant and one
hell hound guard the access tunnel at all times. If any intruders
are discovered. the entire force of giants and hounds act to repel
them.

Fire-resistant characters bold enough to venture into the lava
sea area may encounter many other denizens. Rock islands scattered
among the liquid rock serve as lairs for many additional
bands of fire giants, as well as numerous groups of lava children.
Each island contains only one of these types of denizens, however,
with a 50% chance of either race. Although the fire giants
and lava children do not usually fight, they prefer to maintain separate
lairs.

Great numbers of magmen live in the lava sea. Characters
looking down from the balcony cave may see creatures splashing
through the molten rock much like porpoises in the ocean. These
are the magmen. Occasionally a few of the magmen climb to the
balcony cave so that they can dive back down into the lava. The
fire giants view this activity with amused tolerance.
Many fire bats dwell in the vast cavern, clinging to the lofty ceiling
or soaring through the scorching air as they travel across
Deepearth. Para-elementals of magma dwell within the molten
rock of the lava sea, and although they are not nearly as common
as the magmen, they are much more dangerous. Even the fire
giants in their lava boats are not immune to attack from these savage
creatures, who form in the hottest areas of the sea and reach
upward to attack anyone within reach.

Other creatures encountered here are most likely not denizens
so much as would-be conquerors. The elemental vortex
described in Area 21 is the source of many creatures from the
Elemental Plane of Fire. For obvious reasons, these creatures
find the lava sea a pleasant location to visit, and have long
attempted to wrest control of the area from the fire giants. Fire
elementals, efreeti, salamanders, and allies from the lower
planes make occasional forays into the lava sea to wage war
against the natural denizens of the area. In these circumstances,
the lava children and fire giants join forces against the common
enemy. These battles are spectacular affairs, with fleets of lava
boats maneuvering across the molten rock, boulders flying
through the air, and thousands of creatures locked into mortal
conflict. Thus far, the denizens of the lava sea have always been
successful in driving off invaders, but each foray has been made
with more force than the one before. These invasions occur
about once every decade.

Resources: The only real resource of this area is heat, which
is difficult to transport to any area where it might be needed.
Water is nonexistent; when it leaks into the area, it turns instantly
to steam. The air is usually breathable, and fresh air is sucked in
through the entrance tunnel with a force capable of blowing out
candles and unsheltered lanterns and 50% likely to extinguish a
torch.

Unique Features: The fire giants have devised an unusual
means of transporting themselves from one island to another:
they have sculpted massive granite boats that they row or sail
across the surface of the fiery liquid. The boats are often propelled
by wide stone paddles, used much like the oars on a galley.
Occasionally, however, gusts of air, steam, or other gases
sweep across the sea, and then the giants hoist sails to propel
their boats. The sails are made of a mysterious cloth, perhaps
magically treated, which resists the intense heat. When a forceful
gust occurs, it can push the massive boats along at a clip that
would do justice to any surface sailing ship.

The lava boats range in length from 80 to 240 feet, with a width
of about 20% of the length. Boats longer than 160 feet are
equipped with a pair of masts, while the shorter boats have only
single masts. In appearance they resemble a clumsy version of a
Viking longship. Each boat has one pair of oars for every 40 feet
of length. A stone tiller in the stern aids in steering.

On a large island several miles from the balcony cave, the fire
giant king resides. The entire island has been tunneled and
carved so that it resembles a massive castle. Tall towers rise from
many points along its rocky surface, and a high wall meets the
lava on all sides of the island except one. Here, a breach opens
into a lava-filled harbor where the fire giants moor their boats
against stone docks and gain entrance to the towering castle.
The harbor entrance is only 120 feet wide, and is protected on
each flank by a high tower manned by a dozen fire giants with a
large supply of boulders to hurl at unwelcome intruders