Weavestatic Sandstorm
A phenomenon unique to the Al'Biq Desert, these sandstorms can cause any active magic to experience disruptive effects, like Magical Interference.
Manifestation
True to its name, while within the storm, one can feel chaotic magic fizzing and buzzing around them. To non-magical individuals, these sandstorms sound similar to any other - a persistent, whooshing din. To the more magically inclined, and increasingly so with one's aptitude for or infusion with magic, the sandstorm takes on a piercing, high-pitched, intermittent ringing, as though tiny shards of glass or small bells are clattering within.
Within the storm, if one can focus for long enough to take it in, scattered swathes of the flowing, shifting sand take on an iridescent shimmer amongst the rest of the whirling beige-brown cloud. Occasionally one can se sparks of arcane power streaking and chaining haphazardly across higher density regions, leaving behind it a strong ozone-like smell. Structurally, the storm takes on a vortex pattern, similar to seaborne storms.
Localization
Weavestatic sandstorms are only known to occur within the Al'Biq Desert, though similar magical phenomena are sometimes measured over the Zeric and Gandeiric Oceans.
Occurrence
Sandstorms are uncommon in the southern parts of the desert but become more common the more northward one travels.
- Storms have a 5% chance of occurring for each hour travelled on the southernmost end of the Al'Biq, just north of Varn. This increases to 10% near Kir-Tal, 40% near Tal'Vir, and further increasing towards Netzlatl.
- Those with higher perception, like the storm spotters and nomads of the Al'Biq, have learned to spot storms approaching from a distance.
- Storm sizes and properties can vary. For broadly categorized sizes, roll a d6 on the Weavestatic Sandstorm Size table.
Mechanical Effects
As storms worsen from their edge to their center, various effects can occur. These effects can be avoided only while indoors. They can be traversed with the right preparations, but an unexpected ambush by native creatures or other humanoids could prove deadly and prolonged exposure can cause exhaustion.
- While wearing desert-ready clothing and mask, exposure for 3 storms in one day leads to 1 level of exhaustion.
- Without these protective measures, exposure to a single storm can induce 1 level of exhaustion .
Physical Effects
Weavestatic sandstorms, like normal sandstorms, can be traversed with the right preparations. That said, travelers should beware as unexpected ambushes by creatures or otherwise could prove deadly, and prolonged exposure in general can cause exhaustion as one makes their way through the battering storm.
Magical Effects
Beyond the physical effects of these storms, their notoriety and name come from their effects on magic.
For the below effects, treat magic items as cast spells for activated effects and persistent spells for passive or persistent effects, however their effects are restored and affected each round as if re-cast.
Outskirts
Even at the outskirts of the storm, just inside the storm wall, one can start to feel he strain on magical energy.
- Visibility is dropped to 30 feet in any direction due to the density of the storm, and magical effects dissipate over half their normal distance
- All casting requires a concentration check (DC 10 + the spell's level), as charged sand within the storm batters against the caster.
Body
Further into the storm, casting starts to go haywire as the charged air interferes with with targeted and persistent spells. The following effects compound with those at the storm's outskirts.
- As the density of the sand increases, aiming magic becomes unreliable. If the spell with a range other than self or touch misses, roll a d6. On a 1 or 2 the spell hits the nearest creature to the intended target instead of the intended target.
- Spells requiring an attack role are at disadvantage.
- Spells requiring a saving throw allow advantage to each target.
- Spells targeting a friendly creature must succeed on a spell attack against their AC.
- Persistent magical effects have a 25% chance to dissolve at the end of each of the affected creature's turns.
Eye
The eye of the storm is the most calm from a physical standpoint, but can cause strange and drastic effects whenever magic is used.
- Visibility returns to normal, and the almost physical density of magic in the air allows for casting to no longer require concentration, including spells that normally require concentration to maintain. Attack rolls are also no longer made at disadvantage, however the danger of target scrambling upon missing remains.
- Every time a spell is cast, roll on the Weavestatic Surge table
