Inhabitants - Smoke (TIP)

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The most common creatures in the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke are, obviously, the natives. However, an unusually large number of aerial creatures have made their way here and have adapted to life among the toxic clouds of haze.
==Paraelementals==
Smoke mephits are probably the most numerous creatures in the paraplane, though the paraelementals come close to matching their number. The mephits generally obey a being called Ehkahk, who claims to be an Elemental Prince even though he could not possibly hold his own against a real archomental such as Yan-C-Bin or Chan (or, of course, our own great and wondrous Caliph Husam al-Balil ben Nafhat al-Yugayyim, Master of the Clouds and Son of the Breezes, As for sootbeasts, the best advice-in my humble opinion-is simply to stay out of their way. Everything else in the paraplane does. $+HER RACES who is greater than any Elemental Prince).
Smoke paraelementals, on the other hand, ignore the self-proclaimed lord of the mephits. Instead, they form their own kingdoms and follow their own nobility-the Smoke Dukes. In many cases, paraelemental rulers and mephit leaders claim the same or overlapping regions. This does not cause too much trouble, however, for these races seem to coexist with peace and respect. Both carry great enmity for the evil efreet and even for our own djinn forces that come to the paraplane. We can find no allies among them. 
==Animals==
A number of birds and other natural flying creatures live in Smoke. Somehow, either through magic or evolution, the beasts have adapted to the toxic fumes of the paraplane. These animals tend to be very large (or even giant) examples of their species.
A djinni might also encounter a great many animentals and fundamentals of smoke. For the most part, these creatures are content to be left to themselves as they drift through the roiling blackness.
==Monsters==
The most dangerous monsters native to Smoke are the belkers, vapor rats, and sootbeasts (which some claim to be merely animals).
Belkers hate mephits, paraelementals, and just about everything else in existence. They are dangerous predators and a wise traveler keeps well away from them.
The more powerful and important denizens of the paraplane often keep vapor rats as pets. This is particularly true of the smoke mephits, who prize the creatures the way that some other races treasure cats.
As for sootbeasts, the best advice-in my humble opinion-is simply to stay out of their way. Everything else in the paraplane does
==Other Races==
Renegade groups of efreet and djinn have chosen to establish small kingdoms in the paraplane of Smoke. Although they no longer serve the masters of their respective races (cursed be the djinni who fails to honor the Great Caliph!), they still make war on each other. Both sides spend a great deal of time trying to convince the other inhabitants of Smoke to ally with them, but their efforts tend to be ineffective at best. While we cannot count on these traitors and outcasts for help, neither need we worry about the renegade efreet-at least not until the Sultan's forces are driven from the paraplane of Smoke forever. 
Rumors abound that a race of drow lurks amid the endless clouds of smoke. It is said that these creatures are winged, like the avariel, and that their hearts are as black as the tanar'ri or baatezu of the Lower Planes. 
==Major Players==
Few denizens of the Paraelemental Plane of Smoke can be classed as individuals of real power. To be sure, no actual powers dwell here, though at least one proxy keeps his eye trained upon the plane.
EHKAHK. The creature known as Ehkahk, the Smoldering Duke, is a smoke mephit of considerable intelligence and charisma. Although not markedly more powerful than his peers, his keen mind has enabled him to persuade a great many others-including paraelementals and even a few efreet and djinn-to take up his banner. 
Ehkahk's ultimate goals, if any, are unknown. He seems to be interested in expanding his influence in the paraplane, but he doesn't appear to be in any real hurry to do so. Further, he shows no apparent interest in events that do not take place in Smoke.
JAY BURNING-HAND. This fire genasi is a proxy of the fire god Hastsezini. He sports the head of a hawk and skin as black as coal. His eyes bum with a white-hot glow, and it is said that his gaze can cause any object to burst into flames.
Hastsezini seems to have sent Burning-Hand to this realm to observe the inhabitants of Smoke. It is not known whether the deity has far-reaching plans that involve the paraplane of Smoke. My own ears have heard, however, that Burning-Hand actually operates on his own.