Bastion of Thunder

The Bastion of Thunder is located in the Plane of Storms, hovering within an immense volcanic mountain that rises above the silver blanket of perpetual storm that coats the land below. The highest reaches of the snow-covered fortress disappear into the gray ether of upper stratospheric storms.

The bastion can be reached from the base of the mountain, through caves and tunnels that guide one up through the mountain core. Inside, the mountain is hollow, extending deep beneath what can only be assumed is the Plane of Storm's surface. A vortex of air and debris spins within the hollow core, creating an eternal windstorm. The inner walls of the mountain are at the mercy of the maelstrom of debris, and though battered, somehow maintain their integrity. The energy generated by this vortex is used to keep the Bastion of Thunder suspended in the middle of the great cylindrical mountain.

The bastion appears to be a natural construction made of stone, its surface blasted perfectly smooth by the endless current of sand and rock particles driven by the astral winds. The tower in the center of the fortress looks as if it were made of a tree or some other vegetation that has been reshaped in an ingenious manner.

A light from one of the upper turrets indicates the location of the old hermit. It is there that Karana is thought to be sleeping.

Many planar creatures – servants of the realm and servants directly under the divine master himself – are plentiful throughout the bastion, maintaining the chaos that is erupting all around them. Among these amazing, odd creatures is a species comparable to the giants of Norrath, though unlike the latter, they are not a creation of The Warlord. The Taarid, Satuur, Kuraaln, and Volaas are each avatar embodiments of a particular meteorological element. Their task is to conduct storm systems of all environmental classifications. Ranging from the scorching dust and sand storms of the desert to the calm, cool drizzle of a temperate spring rain, these avatars exist as representations of the elemental phenomena they embody in both appearance and temperament.

The giants, though chaotic, are not hateful. Any aggression they show toward the mortal trespassers of this divine plane arises not out of spite, but from their duty to maintain the chaos that has enveloped the plane while Karana has been asleep.

As would be expected, the bastion itself, being subject to the giants' chaotic endeavors, is in a perpetual state of disarray. Most of the furniture has been destroyed and much of the walls and floors are covered with water, blackened char marks, broken stones and torn tapestries. The once immaculate towers have fallen into disrepair without the governing balance of The Rainkeeper.