The Ashwalkers

An Asheni splinter band who followed the Emberthrone generations ago and now read its cycles as prophecy — the only ones who know the safe paths through the fumarole fields.

They split from the main Vale camp because the Vale forgot to listen. They do not worship the mountain; they attend it. Their knowledge of the fumarole paths makes them indispensable and makes everyone else's access to the waste conditional on their goodwill.