The PC's decide to visit Hayak Gandun. While there, the Emerald Sage will tell Ryan that there is a thing she wants, "Lightning in a Jar". Once possessed by one of her many debtors, it was lost on the island and now she is uncertain where it is. It is still on the island, though, in the possession of one of the Fire Giants. Vabrog the Thunderer.
Fire Giant Kings: Muvag, Dretheus, Clasor, Dlewbrog, Vabrog
Through the Gate - The gate is known to the locals, who aren't entirely sure what it is, but who have noticed that interesting things stumble out of it. As a result, the nearest fire giant king has a small detail of hill giants whose job it is to keep the thing cleared of ash and to capture whatever wanders out of the gate. They have a small lair cut out of the pumice and ashy stone, with a small cage. They have ample rocks and clubs, but there are also iron shovels for each (as great axe).
Once the PC's are detected, a Hill Giant will blow a horn down the valley, alerting their master to arriving guests. They will first throw large pumice rocks to stun the targets (3d6 bludgeoning, plus ash cloud causes Blindness - DC 14 CON save to avoid). After most of the party is incapacitated, the giants will move in with ropes and bind them up thoroughly, taking them to the Fire Giant's lair.
If the PC's manage to escape, their tracks in the ashfall will be quickly noticed, and a party will pursue them. Either way, they will either wind up in the jungle or in the mountains. The Fire Giant will order the gate reburied so they cannot get away, and a bounty will be placed upon them. Hill giants will keep looking for them until frequent attacks by ogres and hikopari drive them away from the jungles.
If captured, they will be taken to the fortress of Muvag the Dreadful, a fire giant king. He will interrogate them as to their purpose on the island, and barring other events, they will be tossed in a cell and forgotten. Periodically, they will be taken out and made to fight captured prisoners; ogres, hobgoblins, and such.
If they escape, they will then have to decide what to do.
OUTCOME: The PC's caught the Hill Giants unawares, and slaughtered them with various distinctive spells. This will be reported within a few hours, and a vigorous response will happen.
1) King Muvag will order the Gate reburied under ash, then the rocks that make up the guard post will be piled atop the ashes. This will prevent further incursions or escape. Finding the PC's will be made into a big priority, and search parties will be out within a day.
2) A fire giant with three hill giant goons will go out into the jungle to a small promontory and bellow in Giantish, calling for the Gandun ogres to attend him. He will explain that small things came out of the hole, and King Muvag offers a bounty of iron to the tribe which brings the small things to him. As for the orcs, King Muvag gifts those as a delicious meal to whichever tribe can find them.
If the PC's opt to flee, the most sensible option is simply to head to the coast. They will pass by the Hikopari aeries, and risk encounters there.
Montoc Community - stone and wood palisade fort, occasionally trades with outlanders
Hobgoblin Fort - exiles from Dim Akeron.