Ember Gate

The only active volcano of the The Serpent's Scales mountains, located at the north end of the range, abutting the Cinder Steppes. While active, centuries have passed since the last recorded eruption. Many volcanologists worry that a catastrophic eruption is due, and have warned the residents of the nearby settlement countless times of the dangers the volcano poses to their homes and lives. Like counsel for smoking cessation, advising to eat healthy and get frequent exercise, their cautionary advice has fallen on deaf ears.    
Investigating the volcano is made difficult, as since the locales revere it, they make every attempt to limit access to it by outsiders. All known paths are usually guarded and patrolled, and a guide is assigned to accompany any non-resident ascending its crags. The guide is as much to limit and control exposure as they are for safety. It is unknown to the rest of the region why the secrecy, as none of the investigations conducted have ever hinted at it being anything more than a slumbering volcano. There have been theories posited that it is somehow connected directly to the plane of fire, but there has never been any evidence to support this suggestion.