The Maelstrom

The Maelstrom is a wind and lightning storm carrying corrupted energy from the Corrupted Mountains off the west coast of the large island called the Savage Wastes. It is the most notable metaphysical phenomena and is partially documented, with the ancient origins steeped in legend. When one ventures out into the Maelstrom and it's ensuing chaos, one will often encountered increased activity of the various corrupted beasts that lay in waiting for their next prey and meal.
Excluding the region's native inhabitants, the storm can corrupt, taint and poison the minds and bodies of nearly any mortal over long periods of time. For non-natives that are there during the storms, there are a few things that can lessen these effects to varying degrees, however slightly. Those are the following:

• Physical shelter
• A blessed or magical pendant of protection
• An alchemic concoction made of corrupted herbs from the region mixed with borage and an alchemical base made of an herb called vervain ground up with small amount of animal fat.

Manifestation

The Maelstrom appears with heavy cloud coverage with a hue & aura of lavender, the occasional tornado, and red lightning. In addition to the visual queues, the winds can reach up to extreme levels that are known to throw people and shrapnel, but not always.

Localization

The Maelstrom only appears within the barren plains of the Savage Wastes as well as the Corrupt Mountains off the western coast of the island. However, the eastern and northern most areas of the island seem to hardly be touched. Some scholars hypothesis that the Maelstrom is due to the Corrupt Mountain's ancient use as a base for a Daemon during an ancient war in the mysterious Elder Era due to the studies conducted at the ruins located inside a cavern network in the mountains. However, not a lot of research has been conducted as of yet.

Type

Metaphysical, Demonic