Terror Waves of Evermist Lake
Tyrnabay is a kingdom with many dangers. Most can be tracked back to the actions of Folk: greedy nobles, violent mercenaries, schemers of all sorts wishing to increase their power, wealth, or both. But some dangers are natural, and many of these can be traced to one source: the Bleeding Peak. The most spectacular of the Peak's contributions to life in Tyrnabay are the Terror Waves that have been unleashed without warning ever since history in the region has been recorded.
The waves vary in intensity, depending on the severity of eruption and avalanche. Histories of the region tell that some were barely detectable, while others were devastating. Twice in the 2000+ year history of Tyrnabay, the wave was so severe that it breached the narrows between Evermist and Sweetwater Lakes and continued across the latter to lay waste to the city of Sweetwater.
Every 75 years or so, give or take 20 years, the relatively quiet outpouring of lava is interrupted, as if the volcano is plugged. Pressures build quickly, though, and within a week or so, the volcano erupts violently, spewing bombs of rock ash and lava. The eruption disrupts the structure of the lava flows and avalanches of rock cascade into the lake. A tsunami is the inevitable result, with the wave radiating outward from the peak to wreak its havoc.
Occasional strong wind patterns can also clear the lake of mist, or at least parts of it. As a result, there have been many "false alarm" panics when the winds blow the mists off the lake. Conversely, there have been tales of individuals who dismissed a true Clearing of the Mist as weather related, only to be unpleasantly surprised by the appearance of a Terror Wave.
Origin of the Waves
Terror Waves are tsunamis that strike Evermist Lake, and on extremely rare occasions, Sweetwater Lake. They result from the infrequent, though somewhat period violent eruptions of the Bleeding Peak on the southwestern shore of Evermist Lake. These eruptions create avalanches which tumble into the lake, displacing vast amounts of water very quickly. Once triggered, the waves radiate eastward and northward across the lake until they strike opposite shores. This puts the city of Delveshadow, as well as the Orcish settlement referred to as Fishing Home in the path of potential destruction.The waves vary in intensity, depending on the severity of eruption and avalanche. Histories of the region tell that some were barely detectable, while others were devastating. Twice in the 2000+ year history of Tyrnabay, the wave was so severe that it breached the narrows between Evermist and Sweetwater Lakes and continued across the latter to lay waste to the city of Sweetwater.
Warning Signs
The lands around the Bleeding Peak do not have any established settlements, so there is usually noone to see the volcanic explosion that would give rise to a Terror Wave. But there are warning signs that the Folk of Tyrnabay have learned to heed. Foremost among these is the Clearing of the Mists. The everpresent fog on Evermist Lake is due to the steam rising from Bleeding Peak's lava flows. But when these flows are interrupted - and the pressure buildup to an explosion begins - the fogs dissipate. And the longer the lake is clear, the more severe the coming wave is likely to be.The Bleeding Peak
The Bleeding Peak is a volcano located on the southwestern shore of Evermist Lake; its roots extend into the lake itself. One of several active volcanos in the Broken Ranges, Bleeding Peak is named for the almost continuous stream of red lava flowing from its summit down into the waters of the lake. In fact, it is the steam rising from this lava entering the water that is responsible for the everpresent fogs for which the lake is named.Every 75 years or so, give or take 20 years, the relatively quiet outpouring of lava is interrupted, as if the volcano is plugged. Pressures build quickly, though, and within a week or so, the volcano erupts violently, spewing bombs of rock ash and lava. The eruption disrupts the structure of the lava flows and avalanches of rock cascade into the lake. A tsunami is the inevitable result, with the wave radiating outward from the peak to wreak its havoc.
Occasional strong wind patterns can also clear the lake of mist, or at least parts of it. As a result, there have been many "false alarm" panics when the winds blow the mists off the lake. Conversely, there have been tales of individuals who dismissed a true Clearing of the Mist as weather related, only to be unpleasantly surprised by the appearance of a Terror Wave.
Consequences
Remarkably, ships in deep waters when the wave passes by them suffer no damage at all; the crews may not even sense the passing of the wave; it is only the coastlines that experience the destructive power of the waves. The damage caused by a Terror Wave is dependent on its severity, Only a few in recorded history have been insigificant enough to cause little damage - if they are noticed at all. In the city of Delveshadow, the docks and shipyards take the brunt of the damage.
As a result, the piers themselves, and many of the homes, shops, and warehouses near the docks rely on Dwarven stonecraft rather than more traditional wooden structures. While the waves still sweep away anything not secured, at least the infrastructure survives.
The Orcs of Fishing Home have taken the opposite approach - the structures that make up that village are designed so they are easy to repair or replace.
Gnomish engineers have attempted to construct barriers to lessen the impact of the waves, but these have never worked.
The greatest damage occurs in the rare instances where the wave does not dissipate in the narrow channel between Evermist and Sweetwater Lake. A full-strength wave sweeping across Sweetwater Lake spells catastrophe for the residents of the port town of Sweetwater itself, as this town is simply not built to withstand the forces unleashed by a Terror Wave.
As a result, the piers themselves, and many of the homes, shops, and warehouses near the docks rely on Dwarven stonecraft rather than more traditional wooden structures. While the waves still sweep away anything not secured, at least the infrastructure survives.
The Orcs of Fishing Home have taken the opposite approach - the structures that make up that village are designed so they are easy to repair or replace.
Gnomish engineers have attempted to construct barriers to lessen the impact of the waves, but these have never worked.
The greatest damage occurs in the rare instances where the wave does not dissipate in the narrow channel between Evermist and Sweetwater Lake. A full-strength wave sweeping across Sweetwater Lake spells catastrophe for the residents of the port town of Sweetwater itself, as this town is simply not built to withstand the forces unleashed by a Terror Wave.
The multiple strategies the different towns use to survived the wave stood out and made to world's reaction to the waves feel dynamic.
Share your world on Lavani's Reading List!
I took as inspiration the ways many cultures around the world have tried to deal with earthquakes and tsunamis... some by strong defense, others by simply letting Nature take what it wants. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. It's always greatly appreciated!
Laurels & Loot is a new, lightweight TTRPG rules system that hearkens back to the early days.
The Forgotten Academy is a mega-dungeon being created for the #Dungeon23 Challenge