Tempest Island
Tempest Island is one of many glorious yet dangerous floating storm continents throughout Altairus. Here, the rumbling of thunder is as common a sound as birdsongs in the spring and the sun almost never shines.
Geography
In addition to being partially buried in the clouds, Tempest Island has flatlands with sparse trees and hardy grasses to the west where the storm gremlin village is located, and on its east side is Mt. Tempest, a colossal mountain housing treasures of all kinds from Air-infused crystals to the Air Fragment Stormbringer.
Ecosystem
All of the life on Tempest Island is adapted to the fierce weather conditions that the island imposes, whether that is through their resistance to lightning, weather-based magic powers, or superior flight capabilities. Being relatively isolated and hard to reach without the power of flight, the life on Tempest Island looks very different from life on the ground.
Ecosystem Cycles
Depending on where it migrates, the weather of Tempest Island can change slightly. Normally it is rainy and stormy, but in colder areas the rain turns to sleet or snow and when it gets particularly hot or dry, the rain tends to let up slightly and the sun shines through the clouds.
Localized Phenomena
Every time Tempest Island passes over another part of Altairus, it brings with it heavy precipitation, thunder, and lightning. When it is passing over, you can recognize it by spotting Mt. Tempest, the massive purple-stone mountain that rests on its eastward side.
Climate
Tempest Island is characterized by extreme weather conditions; massive thunderstorms, high winds, and lightning in just about every color of the rainbow are omnipresent. Indeed, for most beings, even those associated with the Air element, Tempest Island is almost inhospitable. To the storm gremlins and weather wyverns that call it home, though, it is paradise.
Fauna & Flora
The flora and fauna of Tempest Island are all associated with the Air element. Storm gremlins are the most well-known inhabitants of this island, but other hardy Air elementals such as weather wyverns, thunderbirds, and shock wolves dwell here as well. Amongst its flora, lightning-resistant spearleaf trees dot the lowlands, and hardy grasses blanket the ground. Tear bulbs are also native to this island.
Natural Resources
Mt. Tempest houses two important resources for making magical staves; blackmetal and Air crystals. Blackmetal is a metallic ore that looks similar to iron, but has a slightly lower density and a significantly lower electrical resistance. Air staves are typically made out of blackmetal to help them conduct the electricity generated by Air magic. Air crystals are infused with Air magic from the surrounding storms, and they are typically used as batteries to power Air staves.
The tear bulb, an onion-like crop plant with a bright blue color and the ability to induce uncontrollable sobbing in anyone who inhales or ingests the proteins it releases when cut, is cultivated in the lowlands, as when it is cooked the sob-inducing protein is denatured and it acquires a buttery, savory flavor.
The local storm gremlins have also managed to develop technology to convert the electricity from the lightning that the island constantly generates into a power source for their village. Hence, the storm gremlin village is much more modernized than one would reasonably deduce from looking at the facades of the huts.
The tear bulb, an onion-like crop plant with a bright blue color and the ability to induce uncontrollable sobbing in anyone who inhales or ingests the proteins it releases when cut, is cultivated in the lowlands, as when it is cooked the sob-inducing protein is denatured and it acquires a buttery, savory flavor.
The local storm gremlins have also managed to develop technology to convert the electricity from the lightning that the island constantly generates into a power source for their village. Hence, the storm gremlin village is much more modernized than one would reasonably deduce from looking at the facades of the huts.
History
The storm gremlin village has existed in the lowlands since the storm gremlins first settled on Tempest Island. They have lived peacefully here ever since.
Tourism
Due to its extreme weather and difficulty in accessing without flight, Tempest Island is very isolated from the rest of the world, though its main inhabitants, the storm gremlins, visit the lands below freely and of their own volition. The only way to access Tempest Island without flying is via a rainbow bridge, which storm gremlins can create at will. However, this is potentially very dangerous, as a storm gremlin may deactivate the bridge mid-crossing, leading whomever is crossing it to plummet straight to the ground.
Location
The skies of AltairusType
Floating IslandAssociated Element
AirImportant Landmarks
Mt. TempestAlternate Name(s)
Storm Island, Island of Lightning
Related Ethnicities
Related Tradition (Primary)
Related Traditions
Inhabiting Species
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