I was beginning to think no one would respond.

I'm cutting the salamanders. Instead, there will be two dragons - an old red the mountain used to belong to, and Abazighal's blue dragon mother.

Belt of battle is great, but there have already been two in the campaign and the party has one. same for greater boots of the mountain king which might give him DR through stoneskin. I still might do it if there are no better ideas, but I don't want to repeat myself too much.

If I go for the husk thing, it frees the bracers slot that would have been bracers of armor. What do you suggest to fill it with?

combat teleportation is a trap - Airie casts greater anticipate teleport each morning, so all it would do is get him stuck in transit while the party handles his retinue.