Well of Aedaeriue
Brink of Oblivion
The Elemental Plane is a land of pure energy. It was created by the Baelonmori Pantheon as a palette for the first Giants to use in order to build the material plane. However, when they had completed this task, the Elemental Plane was quickly forgotten. It was in this absence that life began here. Wayward spirits wandered into its vigorous currents and were awoken by its magic. They created countless great monuments, but these have all now fallen into ruin. The divine force that provides life to the natives is dwindling, and the Gods are unwilling to impart more. Now, scattered warbands battle over the last remaining scraps of life-sustaining energy.
Despite the downfall of the ancient elemental cities, some buildings remain. Whilst some are maintained to satisfy the desires of cruel warlords, the Well of Aedaeriue is preserved for a much more important purpose. If it were destroyed, the aftermath would be cataclysmic. It perpetually orbits around the Vortex of Calamity, the mighty gyre at the centre of the realm where all energy coalesces into a violent, destructive storm. In days gone by, the Well of Aedaeriue was the largest of many similar stations, all of which were dedicated to collecting and harnessing this volatile energy. Whoever controlled these outposts had access to incredible power, both to destroy and create.
During one of the many wars that the realm has seen, the Well of Aedaeriue was struck by an errant attack and was knocked from its traditional trajectory. It now orbited far closer to the Vortex of Calamity. Caught off-guard by the assault, the Elementals tasked with maintaining the station had little time to avoid disaster. Suddenly, the Well began to absorb far more energy than it could hold, causing Aedaeriue to become unstable. The most pressing crisis, however, was the damage sustained by the exhaust ports. The careful engineering that enabled them to safely eject raw energy had been mangled. Whilst the crew on board have managed to alleviate the pressure, it constantly climbs back towards dangerous levels. To further worsen the situation, they cannot leave near orbit without the exhausts functioning properly, and they cannot fix the damage entirely without risking a complete meltdown.
Endless Reconstruction
The Well of Aedaeriue is constantly being ripped apart and rebuilt. As the structure hurtles through the air around the Vortex, chunks of it are torn away and dragged into the tempest's embrace. At the same time, the crew on board recovers scattered fragments by intercepting chunks of matter before they are pulled into the gyre. These assorted pieces of stone, metal, and ice are then used to repair the Well. Because of this desperate practice, the station often resembles a bizarre cluster of elemental scraps clumped into one misshapen boulder. Following centuries of this destructive routine, it is believed that the only part of Aedaeriue that has not been replaced is the energy vault, which is provided tireless protection - if it were pierced, the whole station would be destroyed in an instant.
It is not just the building itself that is being constantly replaced. The Well of Aedaeriue exists in perpetual peril, and so it is no surprise that sometimes the crew members themselves are the parts that are lost. Some perish during risky missions to rectify a critical error somewhere on the station, but others are simply snatched into the Vortex by poor fortune. It is not uncommon for whole sections of the Well to be destroyed in an instant. Thankfully, they frequently receive replacements for missing staff. The warlords of the Elemental Plane make many enemies, and so runaways often need a place to hide. Nobody would dare to intrude on Aedaeriue, and risk causing a catastrophe, so the outcasts often seek refuge there.
Final Vestige of Co-operation
Before the Divine Energy on the Elemental Plane began to fade, the different Elementals coexisted. However, when resources became scarce, these bonds were severed. The Well of Aedaeriue is the one exception. Whilst troubling times often divide people, many find strengthened unity when they all share the same crisis. As such, there was no schism between the different Elementals on board the station. If the crew were to succumb to the Vortex's pull, the last chapter of a civilised era would be brought to a tumultuous end. Alternatively, an optimistic outlook would suggest that the staff's ongoing co-operation is a sign that those ancient times of peace might one day be resurrected.
Extent of Destruction
There are two very good reasons for why the many petty tyrants of the Elemental Plane do not interfere with the Well of Aedaeriue. The first being that it is incredibly difficult to leave the station once one has boarded it - the gravity of the Vortex of Calamity is reluctant to let anything escape. The second reason is far more prominent. If the station were to fall into serious disrepair, it would enter into a disastrous meltdown. Without careful supervision, the energy vault would suffer severe damage. The slightest tear in its walls would lead to an eruption of devastating proportions.
As the raw magic energy is unleashed, the entire realm would likely be obliterated, with not even the mightiest beings surviving the blast. Even more alarming is the fact that the explosion would not be limited to the Elemental Plane. Such an influx of concentrated primordial power could tear myriad holes in the fabric of reality. Countless new portals would appear, instantly subverting borders that are sorely needed.
Very interesting place and a great twist for the prompt :) I liked the background story about the Well and the reason for it being constantly reconstructed. The fact that staff is missing the way they do is so grim, but you have balanced that in a very smart way by having outcasts seeking refuge joining. Good job with this one!