City of Brass

[War Golem]

Lawful Neutral or Neutral Evil?

Not sure; I hadn't really made up my mind yet. I don't tend to place too much emphasis on alignment in my campaign, other than with fairly broad brushstrokes. Exceptions being creatures that are Always a specific alignment. The main point in this case is that this archmage is no longer a completely evil bastard.

As for the City of Brass, the 2nd Edition Planescape accessory The Inner Planes says that the City is ruled by efreet. The Grand Sultan lies in the Palace of Charcoal. Perhaps the mage has to go deal with the Grand Sultan or some of his retainers to get the rare spell component. Might be a good chance for some courtly intrigue as efreet are known to be overly competitive and even back-stabbing at times, just like their friends the baatezu/devils. Perhaps the mage seeks some of the rare fire fruit, seen as delicacies by natives but deadly to normal people.

Thanks for the info, and the ideas. I'm thinking I want whatever he seeks to be something that will automatically metamagic his spells. Like a certain type of gem used in a magic item, as described in Magic of Faerun (I think that's where I saw that; too many supplements....), but more powerful than that, and not something quite as mundane as an ordinary ruby.

Maybe a gemstone with the soul of a fiend trapped inside of it, which can be crafted into a rod and used to power certain spells?

 

[D'karr]

Make it UP

How about the Emerald Eye of Kerthulnak the Efreet.

You see Kerthulnak lost his right eye Eons ago. Then a dwarven artificer was forced to make him a replacement eye from the largest emerald ever found. The eye has whatever specific powers you want but to get the eye you have to get past Kerthulnak, who has grown fond of his sight.