Flow storms
Flow storms were the magical equivalent of hurricanes, the result of severe imbalances in the flows of essence. These were caused by backlashes of excessive power, including collapsing portals and celestial alignments. Though there could be idiosyncratic, strange effects unique to any given storm, they typically had severe winds and elemental disturbances. They would often cause random portals to form in uncontrolled fashion, whether unstable voids or shimmering tears in the fabric of reality. If they were to anchor on a powerful source of energy, they had the potential to swell up to great sizes, potentially becoming permanent rather than dissipating over weeks or months.
They were extremely dangerous for anyone attuned to the essence. There was even an archaic story of Kai and V'tull being blasted apart from each other by a flow storm during the Wars of Dominion. Sheru was forced to retreat because of the storm caused by the Estrion incident. Flow storms were primarily an I.C.E. Age concept, at least in their most unbridled form.
Due to the instability of the flows of essence, magic would become unreliable at best. The effects of a spell would be greatly reduced or severely amplified, or misfire, or result in a completely different spell entirely. The availability of mana would fluctuate wildly. It was possible for spells to be ripped off or dispelled, as well, which is an effect that still happens under the lingering "mana storm" over Darkstone Castle. When flow storms traveled below ground or through mountains, they were also known to cause earthquakes and volcanic upheaval. Whatever rifts or tears in the veil resulting from a storm could lead to the demonic having access to the world.
Examples of Flow Storms
- Darkstone Castle (anchored by unstable portal)
- Obsidian Tower (anchored by crystal sphere, using Estrion's Staff)
- Drake's Shrine (anchored by Eye of the Drake, no longer present)
- Melgorehn's Reach (Althedeus incident, portal/planar in nature)
- Felstorms (Teras Isle, Maelstrom Bay incident)
- Planar Intersections (DragonRealms phenomenon; The Confluence)
- Energy Maelstrom (Spell 710)
Background Effects
The following are excerpts that illustrate some of the properties of mana storms as they have existed in GemStone IV.
Darkstone Castle
The lingering "mana storm" over Darkstone Castle was caused as a backlash by the attempt of Estrion to open an unholy gate to Charon (Lornon) so that Scalu (Sheru) could freely walk the earth, unhindered by the usual restrictions on deity avatar presence in the I.C.E. Age source material. These storm effects exhibit some of the classic "greater essence focus" symptoms.
Dark flames arc toward the ground, their frightening, reddish-gold glow throbbing with unspeakable power!
All around you, the sound of bells pealing wildly assaults the quiet.
The ground undulates beneath your feet for several seconds.
Horrified screams suddenly pierce the air, as every soul ever claimed by the demonic seems to rip the very fabric of your sanity with their agony.
High above the old castle, a gaunt figure appears, extending his long arms toward the skies in a gesture of summoning.
The clouds overhead converge, and the strange spirit is engulfed in flame, leaving no trace but insane cackling that lingers for several moments afterward.
A bolt of pure red light suddenly arcs down from the sky to bathe everyone and everything in an evil, bloody glow.
The air around you flashes with an intense, pale blue light!
For an instant, the whole world seems blanketed in darkness as the clouds thicken and swirl outward, like some malignant tumor eating away at the light.
Leaves, pebbles, and bits of soil pelt your forehead as a hot whirlwind pops up nearby!
Thundering blasts of heat explode all around you!
Bolts of lightning from the everpresent cloud overhead streak downward, lacing the air with delicate webs of energy.
Suddenly there is a faint tingling sensation that seems to course through your body, you feel as if the energy surrounding you is weakening slightly. The [defensive spell] fades from around you.
Bilious green fingers of energy streak toward the ground!
The scent of ozone rains down from the sky in a thick wave of darkness that stings your eyes and leaves you gasping for breath.
Melgorehn's Reach
The extreme power nexus that resulted from the artifice of Melgorehn's Reach also caused a planar vulnerability which allowed the Cross Into Shadows story arc. In the final struggle with Althedeus there were effects that could arguably be called a mana storm, beyond the blood rain that had been happening for months prior to his defeat. The following may be significantly incomplete, and took place late into 10 Lormesta of 5115 Modern Era.
- Planar Instabilities
Dark, chilling laughter echoes across the sky like a powerful thunderclap.
Stars begin to blink out of existance, overtaken by large forms approaching in the distance.
Streams of crimson bleed across the sky like jagged, dripping wounds
A flash of crimson light flares in the distance. (these effects were probably Walkar's armor)
Airships soar into view over Wehnimer's Landing, crimson lightning crackling around them as golems fall from the sky along South Ring Road!
Shadows writhe and flicker along the ground. The shrieks and moans of those long dead resound around the exterior of Wehnimer's Landing!
The air bends and shimmers, odd sounds popping and humming in the distance. Colors bleed away all around you and you feel a brief, but powerful sense of vertigo as your surroundings shift. (random teleportation effect)
A low rumble echoes through the room making your hair stand on end. A single point of light flickers to life in the center of the room moments before erupting into a massive swirling vortex! (random temporal rift effect)
Slowly, Lake Eonak shifts to black like living, writhing shadows. The stars reflected in its once smooth surface bleed away.
A shadowy, bone-chilling haze settles over Wehnimer's Landing, flashes of crimson lightning arc within it as the moan of the undead echo around you!
Shadows bleed through the night sky, suffocating the stars. Around Melgorehn's Reach, a crown of shadows slowly forms.
The stars begin to fade in the sky as it darkens, blood dripping from the air. The stars soon return, glowing fiery red like a black banner filled with a thousand glowing crimson eyes.
The shadows spread across Lake Eonak begin to bubble and twist.
The shadows of Lake Eonak begin to slowly dry up, visibly shrinking..
The shadows of Lake Eonak shrink further and further.......
The last of the shadows of Lake Eonak close up, returning the waters to normal, cutting off those who had traveled beyond.
- Blood Rain (generic)
Blood trickles down from the grey skies.
A sudden gust blows the bloodrain at you in a stinging attack.
Sanguine rain soaks the area.
Dark droplets of blood rain from the grey skies.
Puddles of blood form along the ground as the blood rain continues.
The sky is stained crimson as the blood rains down from the heavens.
Blood oozes from the clouds high above, as if the very sky is bleeding.
>look up
Blood rain completely obscures the sky.
Elemental Confluence
The Elemental Confluence was an enormous nexus of the prime elemental planes that traveled through space, devastating Bre'Naere by grazing it and almost colliding with Elanthia in 5115 Modern Era. As the Confluence approached, there were "elemental disturbances" that were characteristic effects of flow storms, except that they were slowly developing over weeks given the magnitude but distance of the source. There were early reports of mana fluctuations and random rifting. Mostly, there were elemental invasions, breaches into our plane of existence. When Alusius betrayed us by anchoring the Confluence to Elanthia, the planar intersection ripped open unhealing tears in the fabric of reality across the world. These points of elemental instability were quasi-permanent portals to the interplanar nexus.
There was severely atypical weather for given regions, other than the more obviously magical effects. Raining in Icemule Trace in the winter, for example, but snowing on Teras Isle. There were invasions of what turned out to be native elementals of the Confluence, but also other elementally attuned monsters such as ice spiders. Companion creatures were observed anticipating weather effects shortly before they happened.
- Common Weather Effects (1x/hour)
Beads of water form along the ground and slowly spread out like a blanket of tiny bubbles. One by one, the watery globules dissolve without a trace.
Puddles of water form briefly along the ground, but are quickly sucked back into the earth.
A rapid and drastic change in air pressure forces your ears to pop.
Sliver-sized cavities open like mouths in the ground beneath you, the rigid earth undulating with a slow, reverberating hum. Thread-like wisps of steam escape each breach and curl upward. The tiny openings quickly fold over and vanish.
A wave of shimmering heat ripples through the area, temporarily causing the air to grow hot and stagnant, to the point of near suffocation. A moment later the environment returns to normal.
A small funnel appears in midair, churning and twisting as it briefly expands before blinking out of existence.
The faintest of tremors resonates through the ground.
Low rumbles echo in the distance as green-yellow arcs converge overhead, crashing together in an electrifying display. Luminous sparks plunge to the ground and crackle just before sizzling out.
*CRACK*! A bolt of incandescent blue lightning abruptly leaps down from the sky, slamming into the ground nearby.
- Uncommon Effects (concurrent with less unusual weather effects)
From the west, a high-pitched whistle rings out, echoing in intensity as the sky lights up with a bright crimson hue, indicative of burning embers in a raging inferno. A large meteor shoots across the sky and explodes with a clamorous clash!
The sky is filled with a blanket of low clouds, pale and unmoving. Sounds seem muffled and the air feels thick and takes on a quiet stillness.
A small thread of silver-white energy crackles into existence, twisting briefly like an angry serpent before fizzling away.
A vibrant red-orange fireball streaks across the heavens, landing somewhere in the distant landscape with a tremendous burst of flying sparks and embers.
A blast of frigid air surges past, chilling you to the bone.
A funnel of wind coils around you, gradually strangling the air from your lungs. You start to gasp for air, but the wind dies down, and you are able to breathe once again.
High above Wehnimer's Landing a burst of fiery-orange light erupts in the sky, radiating outward and shining with intensity. The searing glow lingers in the air for a few moments before fading away.
Large dark clouds suddenly swirl together over the Bay, only to be scattered apart by a torrent of strong winds a moment later.
Birds erupt from the trees of the Lower Dragonsclaw, taking flight into the sky. The air around them suddenly bends and the birds blink out of existance.
Streaks of red, yellow and azure lightning streaks throug the sky!
Dark red and orange hues bleed across the sky.
Dark red and azure lights bleed across the sky above the Lower Dragonsclaw.
Snowflakes continue to fall heavily from the sky, a huge pile of snow forming along the southern edge of the Lower Dragonsclaw forest. (note: snowing in a lightning storm)
More piles of snow begin to form along the streets of Wehnimer's Landing, expanding before collapsing as swarms of ice spiders break free.
- Tornado
A blinding flash of lightning is quickly followed by a low rumble of thunder.
Small funnels begin to coil down from the storm cloud over head, like twisting shadowy columns as powerful winds rush through the area.
A heavy drizzle trickles down from the grey skies.
Roaring wind rushes past you, forcing the pelting rain to sting your skin.
From the storm cloud above, Evialla is tossed out and goes free falling to the ground!
Sheets of heavy rain drown you in an unrelenting curtain of water.
The sky is full of rain-sodden clouds.
Trees are uprooted along Upper Trollfang, some tossed about wildly, while others are torn to shreds before scattering in the wind like a shower of wooden shrapnel.
Quickly the black cloud overhead scatters, spreading out like a tattered shawl as the rain weakens.
- Before Alusius and Aadyra Firebird Appearance
The sky begins to fill with huge clouds, dark and grey on the bottom, pale and white atop, their puffy crowns ascending toward the heavens.
A small vortex appears in the waters of Darkstone Bay, just inside the sea gate of Wehnimer's Landing.
*BOOM*! Thunder ripples across the heavens like the angry roar of a dragon, as arcs of brilliant green and yellow lightning tear through the sky!
>[people] falls to the ground!
>The ground beneath you violently shakes and rumbles!
>Roundtime: 6 sec.
The small vortex of spinning water dissipates near the North Docks, and moments later another appears in the waters below the Coastal Cliffs.
Thin jagged bolts of yellow, green, and cerulean lightning streak down from the sky along the waters of Darkstone Bay beyond the Cliffs, and small fishing vessels begin to turn, hastily tryng to return to shore.
Far out into the Bay, air and water collide and suddenly huge funnels rise up from the sea, lifting half a dozen fishing vessels with it, and propeling them into the air! The fishermen and crew flail wildly in the air, tossed aside and then engulfed by the spinning vortex within the waters.
- Solhaven Incident
The sky suddenly comes alive with a brilliant display of silver lightning, each bolt dancing across the sky in all directions.
From the east, a high-pitched whistle rings out, echoing in intensity as the sky lights up with a bright crimson hue, indicative of burning embers in a raging inferno. A large meteor shoots across the sky and explodes over the Bay with a clamorous clash!
Violent winds whip in from the Bay, and a large funnel begins to form out over the waves, churning and twisting as it briefly expands before blinking out of existence.
The ground shudders violently as small jagged cracks spread out like shattered glass, finally closing back up as the tremors subside.
A web of glowing lightning burns in the sky like a dome of white netting.
The earth oddly shifts and fractures from the center outward, quickly filling the gaps just as quickly as they formed.
A flock of small birds fly overhead, soaring through the sky before they suddenly blinks out of existence, swallowed up by a bend of air surrounding them.
Hundreds of small globules of fire falls from the sky, churning with a bright glow, until they just burns up before touching ground.
*CRACK*! Bolts of incandescent blue lightning abruptly leaps down from the sky, slamming into the ground all around Solhaven.
A point of light forms in the sky, rippling and crackling, bright as the sun but much smaller. As it draws nearer, it resolves into a sweeping current of energy, red and gold in turns, chaotic in its dancing but inexorable in its motion.
The ground underfoot rumbles like a thing alive.
A flare of crackling light leaps off of the nexus of energy in the skies overhead. Thunder without sound ripples through the air, leaving silence in its wake. And then, raindrop-like percussion, as hundreds of birds begin to fall from the sky, stone dead.
The nexus of energy in the skies has grown so great, so bright that it outshines the sun, casting shifting shadows across the ground like those cast by a guttering candle.
Slowly, the ribbon of energy bisecting the sky begins to diminish, as if it is veering away.
Alusius sharply says, "No. You cannot escape from me so easily, not after I have hunted you for all of these years."
Alusius flings his free hand toward the skies, and a bolt of energy strikes toward the crackling energies above!
The crackling energies above begin drawing nearer once more at an accelerated pace!
Without warning, a solitary jolt of blue-green lightning descends from the parted clouds, making a direct connection with Aadyra. Her instantly limp cadaver is snatched into the air and fiercely thrown far off into the distance.
The very air begins to thin, growing stretched, tattered.
Rapidly developing in the heart of the sky, a whirlpool of dense blue-black clouds blots out any traces of daylight that reigned across the lands moments before.
The darkening mass churns and writhes in the heavens, finally expanding into attenuated fingers of smoke that branch outward from the formation. As the clouds dissipate, the remaining light is distorted into an eerie glow that cloaks everything in a deep violet-blue haze.
Heavy, pulsating convulsions erupt from somewhere beneath the ground, the rippling aftershocks working jagged cracks in the surface of the earth.
The sky appears to split open like the brittle shell of an egg. A breathtaking scene of silver-white lightning bolts through massive torrents of rain, wind, and airborne hailstones.
A bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky and strikes XXXXX!
... 30 points of damage!
Arcing bolt of electricity galvanizes left leg to knee joint. Won't be using it for awhile.
XXXXX screams and falls to the ground grasping his mangled left leg!
He is stunned!
A tremendous crack of thunder follows instantly!
Glowing rents and tears shiver across the sky, spewing forth convulsing ripples of elemental energy!
The elemental calamity settles abruptly, as all of the energy is sucked out of the unfolding scene of chaos. The obtrusive sound of shifting subterranean rock accelerates underfoot, before ceasing completely with a single, final reverberating thud.
A huge XXXXX elemental bursts forth into existence!