Hellstorm

Written by Heart

Unstoppable like the wrath of the Daemon itself, the Hellstorm is said to be the result of the evil within the hearts of mortals manifesting itself in physical form. In reality, it is the aftereffect of a land suffering from the tainting. It is said that what the storm brings forth is a glimpse into what the realm of "Hell" truly is.

— High Wizard of Camelot, Merlin

History

The Hellstorm is a natural phenomenon that has existed since the dawn of time and is tied to the tainted creatures of the world as well as their source, the Daemon. Records of the phenomenon go back all the way to the ancient texts deciphered by archeologists from even the ancient civilizations of the Firstborn empires. In these texts and pieces of art, there are clear signs of the Firstborn erecting powerful barriers and magic to ward off the Hellstorm which brings fire and despair to their lands.
There are many notable incidents of this throughout history, however, the storms seem to focus primarily only on the northern continent. This is theorized to be due to the high focus of Humans, who tend to have the most fluctuating emotions and are the most easily swayed by the darkness inspiring the tainting of their lands, and themselves.

Manifestation

In order for the Hellstorm itself to form, there are a set amount of requirements. Specifically, the fact that the land itself must be suffering from the effects of the tainting, and due to this, the process of the storm begins to take root. As the taint begins to infect the ground, as well as plant and animal life, the land itself begins to twist and change into what is known as "Blighted Land". This spreads from the epicenter by way of a powerful tainted being using powerful magic manipulating their own lifeforce and infusing it into the land, or from continuous infections from the weaker corrupted creatures spreading across it.
As the land is tainted, the plant life begins to release the dark energy into the air. This negative energy begins to corrupt the natural energy found in the area, and not only increases the chances of more creatures in the land suffering from corruption but also begins to spread into the very air in the form of tainted spores that the plants would naturally produce in the form of pollen. As time passes, the blighted lands and air begin to purposely change the air and climate, temperatures begin to rise and drop at incredible speeds back and forth without mercy.
The more magic in the area from the ley lines or Sites of Power, the more potent the storms become. There is a constant storm hovering over the far northern mountains that causes it to be cold enough to cause frostbite in seconds one moment, and so hot that one suffers minor burns the next. From this wildly shifting temperature comes tremendous changes in air pressure, as well as moisture and chemical reactions in the atmosphere above the blighted land.
This erratic temperature change, combined with the intense and wildly varying storms that come afterward, is what is known as the "Hellstorm".

Effects & Appearance

The appearance of the Hellstorm is difficult to miss, this is due to the fluctuating temperatures and wildly effected weather that clings to the area surrounding it. An area that is suffering from the Hellstorm has been tainted, and as such is considered "Blighted Land". Due to this the land itself is hostile, with grass like blades that feast on blood, parched earth dry and sharp, any water found only in the plants that are hardened and resilient to the heat that they produce. Even the species of animals are tainted, and therefore significantly stronger than they normally would be. The land is black, red, and brown no matter what colors it may have been originally.
Topping this off is the fact that, due to the weather, varying temperatures, and dark spores in the air, the land is surrounded in a dark grey mist at some level constantly. Combined with wild temperature shifts, rain, sleet, freezing rain like blades of ice, all taking place while massive bolts of lightning constantly fly through the air and great winds that could rip a man off his feet bombard the land.
Not only does the blight taint and ruin the land for any but other tainted beings, but the storms destroy nearly anything in sight, combined with the wild temperatures rusting, freezing, burning, and even sometimes melting materials, it is a hostile deadly land that is unmistakable by the pitch black and red clouds with tinges of green swirling over the area and spreading out more "normal" storms around it from the temperatures residual effects.

Threats of the Hellstorm:

• Becoming Tainted
• Blighted Land & Tainted Flora/Fauna
• Heavily Fluctuating Temperatures
• Heavy Rainfall and Winds
• Thick, Constant Fog
• Continuous Lightning & Thunder
• Tornados & Shifting Air Pressure
• Freezing Rain & Deadly Hail
• Acid Rain & Blistering Heat/Humidity

Type

Metaphysical, Demonic