Magical Storms

The storms on Xhousong are unique to the continent. Born of the Mage Wars roughly a century ago, it's a magical miasma of crackling energy wrapped up in a never ending storm. Dark grey clouds drift across the vast, expansive desert, cracking lightning across the sky and rumbling thunder that shakes the ground. The downpour beneath the dark grey clouds is a heavy curtain, hiding monsters that call the storm home.   The storms are never ending. They never calm, never diminish in size. They only move, sluggishly crawling across the desert. Leaving a flooded desert behind.  

History

The continent of Xhousong hasn't known peace for several centuries. The Red Mage wars are simply the most recent conflict in Xhousong's history and the believed reason for the storm's existence. Roughly a century ago, before Xhousong was the dry, desert it is now, a rend in the ground split open and allowed a magical evil to crawl forth and onto Vyril.   The monster sought to consume the land's energy and twist Xhousong into a reflection of the world it had come from.   The Red Wizards, the magical power of the time though diminished and rare in number, struck out to defeat the evil. They succeeded, but the final confrontation and resulting magical battle twisted the magic of Xhousong into the resulting storms.   Many have tried to both find Red Wizard relics and tomes, in the hopes of finding a way to stop or control the storms, or harness the storms through their own means. No one has succeeded. Most die trying.  

Monsters in the Rain

Bound by Flame by Camille Bachmann
Skullcracker by Dope pope
The magical storms are the home to all manner of terrifying, twisted monsters not seen anywhere else on Vyril. They're crafty, predatory, and hunt only within the confines of the storm as though it is their cage. Most who live in Xhousong have found that, by hiding indoors while it is raining, they are able to escape the notice of the stormy predators, so it has become common practice and necessary for surivival that when a storm is on the horizon, people sheek shelter.   It is far better to hide away in a dark, unfamiliar cave than be caught out in the rain.
Landscape_02 by Thomas Dubois

Oddity

Despite the heavy rains and constant presence of the storms, Xhousong still remains a desert. Plants struggle to grow, animals are few and far between. Only the monsters in the rain seem to thrive. Their favorite prey are the remaining citizens of Xhousong.
ArtStation Usage Policy :: ArtStation and our service providers, members, users and licensees may use, copy, display and transmit your user name in connection with any or all of Your Content if ArtStation or the service providers, members, users or licensees wish to do so.


Cover image: Stormy Desert by Steven Cormann

Comments

Please Login in order to comment!