Gaelstrum // The Storm Archipelago
Shards of the Catalysm
"All the world is an ocean, and we are but islands buffeted by her will."
The Storm Achipelago, known as Gaelstrum in the Giant tongue, is a collection of floating islands off the eastern shores of Endrun. After the Moonfall Cataclysm broke apart the world and split the supercontinent into pieces, several landmasses were sent scattering across the planet, with most sinking to the bottom of the ocean but many remaining as floating islands atop the water. Gaeldor, the home of the Storm Giants, sat atop one of these far-flung islands, and they prayed to the Divines for aid. Seeing that her servants had survived the Cataclysm and were scattered far from the rest of their people, the Tempestuous Mother conjured a magical storm and anchored it to the mountain they called home. The storm, of which their island stays protected from, churned the waters and blew a mighty wind, and slowly began to move the island back to their homeland. Along the way, other islands were drawn into Gaelstrum's current, pulled along like buoys until all arrived at the shores of Endrun. The storm still rages to this day, and although it does not stray from the continent, the floating islands within continue to move and shift with the winds and waves, preventing any attempt at mapping the archipelago. Gaeldor remains protected, a lone break within the storm around them, but even the Storm Giant's home moves at the whims of the storm. Sometimes, the storm causes two islands to crash into one another; a dangerous event that continues to alter the landscape of the region, meaning even previously mapped islands might change over time. It is said that Gaelstrum will continue to rage until all the land of Enturon is brought back together, drawn in by the strength of the Mother's storm. While it is difficult to track each island within the archipelago, there are reports that it appears to be growing over time, potentially drawing more of these scattered landmasses into the storm. The truth of these reports is difficult to ascertain, but the topic has been debated about for years among the church of the Learning and of the Tempestuous Mother within E'mlion.
Geography
What once might have been recognizable as a tropical paradise has been forced to adapt to the years of being subjected to a constant storm. Mountains and cliffsides have been smoothed down by harsh winds and unrelenting rain, and jungles have grown closer to form windwalls and protect the creatures living within them.
Localized Phenomena
Landcrash
At times, the winds and waves of Gaelstrum will set two (or more) islands on a collision course. When such a collision happens, the result can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the landmasses involved, wind speed, and the surrounding environment. Most often, the two islands crash violently into each other and the landscape of each is altered; mountains crack and trees fall, and entire chunks of land can break off from the larger islands, sinking into the ocean or forming into their own floating islands. On rare occasions, the natural phenomenon has been observed to clash in such a way that the two islands are combined, leading to a larger landmass than had existed before.Gaeldor, the Storm's Eye
The lone solace within the storm, the home of the Storm Giants suffers no terrible winds, no crashing rain or thundering storms. Their fortress is built within the mountain, reaching up to the peak where one of their nature can manage to see above the permanent storm to an almost idyllic scenery of sunlight shining down across the darkened clouds.Fauna & Flora
A lack of sunlight but an overabundance of fresh water has affected the types of plants that grow within the archipelago, and the majority of animals living on the islands have adapted to semi- or subterranean lifestyles where they can be sheltered from the storm.
Storm Raiders
Aside from Gaeldor and its unique peace amidst the storm, the archipelago is considered far too harsh to be settled... Save for the population of ogre marauders that call the archipelago home. Realizing that most would be too cautious to follow them inside, a group of ogres began to use the perpetual storm as cover when fleeing after raiding coastal settlements. How or why the ogres survive in such an inhospitable climate has confounded scholars for years, but despite the dangers they remain a reoccurring threat of the region.Daring the Mother
"Do you know that there are those who look at that storm and, instead of having a respectful fear of nature's fury, see a challenge instead? They see the crazed Storm Raiders emerge from her dark curtain, or hear of the giant's hidden fortress, and all sense leaves their heads. They call it "Daring the Mother" as if it is a game, to gamble with their lives against a Divine's power. 'Surely it can't be that bad,' they think, and they build their little ships and set sail with their other foolish friends. Most of them flee before getting too far, some before they even enter the storm proper, but then there are those too clouded by pride or glory that push deeper in. Most of those don't return, but all that do emerge changed by their journey. Whether they come home a gibbering mess, driven mad by what they went through, or with a new-found respect for nature and what it can do, nobody survives the Dare unscathed. And nobody ever takes the Dare twice."Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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