Xepherypha - The Coming Storm (Ze-fear-i-pha)

Though Xepherypha is perceived as a nearly unbroken swirling storm, sharp onlookers will notice that there are two distinct sections within the roiling hurricane. Consisting of a series of outer layers captured around an inner eye that swirls in the opposite direction, Xepherypha is a wind and rain-borne land where only flying creatures can hope to travel consistently between the captured island trophies within. Each ruined land mass and structure the only areas to provide solid ground for those hoping to survive within the otherwise indistinct horizon of black clouds.   However, the section in the middle is where the king's true realm resides. Consisting of a city crafted by his subjects and captured within a sunny day, the Storm Cloaked King's throne of black clouds resides at the very center of this city where Caldros watches all with a stern and unblinking gaze.   It is stated that every structure within this still city has a multitude of wind chimes decorating their outskirts. Never ringing, they sit in silent observance of the god's temperamental nature. However, it is stated that if they should ever ring, then the god's true wrath will be felt throughout every universe in existence.

Throughout the trophy realms, there will eventually exist a wide manner of creatures drawn from Xepherypha's nature. Considered Caldros' divine subjects created from the souls of those who venerated him in life, these creatures provide support for the storm king's army, familiars for those he favors, and lessons for those trapped within his realm. Considered hierarchical in nature, it is commonly understood that creatures with more wings are closer to the god's favor than others with Cinderwyrms and their six pairs of wings being considered his most favored heralds.

As the storm is eternal and neverending, most feral creatures, mortal residents, or outsider visitors within Xepherypha, work on a cycle of lesser and greater storm flows. Depending on the ire of Caldros, these storm flows gain strength and power or become more predictable and relaxed as he focuses on targets or is left wandering the multiverse without aim. As such, most things within his divine realm will fall into this pattern as well, traveling and engaging socially with each other during lesser currents and hunkering down when the storms begin to become rough. As the various trophy islands and structures that cycle throughout Caldros' divine realm come near into contact with one another, it is not unusual for brief bouts of trade between mortals or animal migration to occur which only ends once both islands separate.   As island trophies garner favor within Caldros' realm or they last sufficiently against his storm, it is not uncommon for them to experience expansion in the form of chaining other floating islands, experiencing natural growth, or fashioning extensions from the debris that have also been cast within Xepherypha's storm. As stabilization occurs, they are able to grow more food, sustain more population, and build more structures. However, should they grow too large for Caldros' liking or raise his ire, it is not uncommon for these expansions to be torn away and cast back into the storm's ether.

Captured within the many currents of the maelstrom that is Xepherypha are various islands consisting of a multitude of ruined fortresses, cities, and towns that have previously drawn the ire of Caldros. Flung into the ether they maintain populations of captured mortals who do their best to suffice among the wind and rain of Caldros' divine realm.   Three notable examples include:   The World Tree Evensa - A previous elvish beacon of power, the World Tree Evensa oversaw a vast kingdom of nature-minded elves who, over time, became greedy and complacent as they steadily shaped their world tree over millennia. Believing themselves the sole masters of the natural world, they gradually turned selfish and warlike as they thrust their forest kingdom into a fervor of uncontrolled growth and bloodlust. Ignoring the warnings of the Sturvah, they challenged Caldros to assail their mighty forest kingdom, believing themselves safe within the power of Evensa. They were not.   Aqua Solis - An ocean city and floating fortress designed by Ascendent Technologies to accommodate a population of social, business, and political elites who upon realizing that their pollution was causing global warming and the oceans of their world to overtake the land, designed a way to escape the rising tides. Carrousing themselves as untouchable by those they left to drown upon increasingly shrinking areas of land, they flaunted their power and crass destruction of nature for their own gain. This flagrant display eventually drew the anger of Caldros who claimed their city for his own.   KS-71 Spearpoint - A flagship starship capable of invading and ending entire worlds, the KS-71 Spearpoint specializes in converting the surfaces of untouched planets into swaths of pure and unfettered resource harvesting regardless of the loss of life. Created by the Zondu, an alien species, dedicated to consumption on a near-galactic scale, the KS-71 Spearpoint only saw a single use when it, in the midst of converting the verdant world of Gemura, was suddenly swallowed by a system spanning hurricane and thus became another of Caldros' eternally cycling trophies.     Further Information:   To be drawn into The Storm Cloaked King's realm is to be drawn into a realm of neverending storm and a simple choice. To submit to the king's authority or to eventually erode away underneath his eternal onslaught.   For many initial trophy islands and their mortals, the path toward redemption is a long one that requires frequent submission to the god's authority. Those that can shave away their pride and maintain his realm successfully will eventually be given a choice. To be drawn into the peaceful center of the storm's eye to reside in the true realm of their king, to remain in the storm as caretakers of his storm, or to be freed to spread their knowledge and teachings to all who will listen. Of course, as Caldros is a mercurial god, these choices may be rendered few or fail to be presented entirely if he so wishes.   To those who choose not to submit, their fate can only be one of two things. They either find a way to escape the storm...or they are ground away underneath its power until there is nothing left but rain-soaked dust.