The Sacred Storm

Overview:

The Sacred Storm is the energy of the skies, and emissary of the Unseen Gods. Representing strength, fertility, enlightenment, and life, Lightning has fascinated the Scholars of Squallrisen for decades. After experimenting into the occult and the mystic, Umberto, Luigi and Honoria Galvani made a roaring discovery. The bodies of the dead could be stimulated using electricity and lightning, channelled into the muscle tissue and nerves.
It began with a twitch in the skin, and from then on, the news had overtaken the Academy. For sixty years, scientists of the School have flocked to the teachings of the Galvanis, even after their inevitable demise at the hands of one of their own creations. This did not dissuade their apprentices, but merely emboldened them to try their own theories on the corpses of their dead masters, which they kept entombed deep beneath the Academy. Known as the Eternal Three, the Galvani siblings rot in permanent undeath as unliving testimonies to the powers of Science and Mysticism.
The Sacred Storm is the science of harnessing electricity to the soul, “restore” the mind, and animate the body. It can even be pushed so far as to (theoretically at least) eliminate mortal needs by ascending into a state of unlife. In order to continue experimenting on the potential ends of finality, the impoverished and the sick are dragged to the Academy by Body Snatchers, by way of carts full of corpses at night.
A grim truth remains: the Galvanists have already achieved ‘ascension’ though it is still considered 'imperfect'. The original Galvani siblings are shackled in the unwilling permanent torment of lichdom, forced to calculate and theorize desperately craving for eternal rest…

Manifestation

To those who study the Sacred Storm, it manifests as bright sparks and motes of light, eventually magnifying into a pure halcyon lightning. The hissing and humming of electricity is often interpreted as the voice of the Unseen Gods, capable of predicting the future and granting enlightenment to those whose minds have been opened by its influence.
Like a vigorous snake, whipping and snarling away in brief instances of life, the Heavenly Emissaries are symbols of life, vigour and fertility, granting them power over the body's functions and the capacity to heal without making use of the Blood. Rather than being opposed to the Dragon's Blood, the Sacred Storm is uncaring instead, seeking to grant life to all things, regardless of decay and death.
As an adverse force to the many destructive things in Bloomenpeak, the Sacred Storm and those who study it, believe it is their sworn duty to grant 'immortality' to all those who require it. Who decides this is obscure, even to the practionners, however it is widely believed that all should be granted 'immortality'.

Localization

"Perhaps a corpse would be re-animated; galvanism had given token of such things: perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought together, and endued with vital warmth."

- Mary Godwin (later Shelley), 1816

Areas struck by lightning become supercharged with divine energy that the scholars of Squallrisen make use of to raise the dead. These areas allow scholars and bodysnatchers to recharge their voltaic dials rather than go to academy turbines. However, the Academy grounds remain where many can find the powers of the Sacred Storm in use.
Some automatons attempt to function using the Sacred Storm and its emissaries, albeit they are costly and not as effective as Blood fueled machinery. They also have a tendency to require expensive maintenance. Still, the Academy strives to supplant the Blood as the major Power in the city.

Scholarly Applications

New York: Body Snatchers by Granger Historical Picture Archive

The Sacred Storm's forms are many, and can be applied differently using technological marvels and metaphysical symbology. The creation of the Galvani's Voltaic Dial has allowed scholars to harness ambient electricity and convert it into lightning with which they may use the various powers granted to them by the Storm.

Automatons:

Automatons are mechanical instruments capable of working without direct human input. Things such as horseless carriages, lanterns, tram systems are all considered 'automatons'. The Sacred Storm allows scholars to fuel smaller contraptions using the power of the heavenly emissaries, such as the 'voracious spider', an arachnid-like automaton that latches onto dead bodies and 'resurrects' them so long as they remain attached. (Note: the spider will kill a living body before resurrecting them, its all the same really.)

Heavenly Sigils:

Similar to ancient runes, heavenly sigils are icons available to the scholars that are inscribed into the skin and minds of the wielder or subject. Kept memorized through the voltaic dial, or some other annotation system, the sigils grant various boons to those under their direct influence. These gift greater strength, erudition, or some other blessing, however will slowly disassociate the user from their corporeal form the more the sigil is used.

Credit goes to: Ryan Amon.