Overview
Stormpeak is the capital of Thundermarch, a fortified city in the northwestern mountains of Valrindor. Emperor Feng rules from the Celestial Palace there, making the city the seat of Thundermarch's imperial court and a gathering point when Zharrek's shapers break out of Shroudvale and when Feng's court joins Garrik's Kaldaryn-led coalition against Shroudvale and Maraveth.
Geography and Layout
Stormpeak is built into storm-battered peaks and high plateaus. The approach climbs steeply toward the city, with stone steps slick from the storms above. The capital has a single entrance, massive dark stone walls, iron gates, towers, red-roofed buildings, red stone spires, and tiered streets crossed by bridges.
The Celestial Palace stands inside the city.
Celestial Palace
The Celestial Palace is Stormpeak's imperial palace and Feng's seat of rule. It stands inside the capital and contains vast doors, a grand courtyard, inward stairs, gilded halls, corridors, a meeting chamber with a map table, guest chambers, a guest wing, polished statues, wall hangings, ornate chairs, and elegant accommodations.
Feng receives visiting allies and advisors there. During Jin's youth, Ren Wuye lives in the palace. Thundermarch's border communities suffer during his withdrawal. After the attack on Cloudrift, Jin and Rhalyn are directed toward the palace if they want imperial attention. Years later, Khoradyn reaches the palace courtyard with his allies and reunites with Master Han. As Garrik's Kaldaryn-led coalition moves against Shroudvale and Maraveth, Wei Lianxu escorts Eira and Kaelion into the palace to meet Feng and discuss Garrik's planned strike against those targets.
Civic Life
Stormpeak's roads and squares draw travelers, merchants, guards, mages, citizens, and refugees. Its market square sells goods from across Valrindor, street food, and local keepsakes, and essence lanterns light the streets at night.
The capital stays insulated from Thundermarch's exposed communities. During Jin's youth, Stormpeak remains calm. Stormbrook falls to darkness, and Cloudrift is attacked. When Zharrek's shapers threaten Thundermarch, refugees, soldiers, and mages gather in the city. Feng's court prepares a response.
History
During Jin's youth, Ren Wuye, Tianlei's former shard wielder, withdraws to Stormpeak after failing to remain Thundermarch's active protector.
After Cloudrift is attacked, Jin Leiyun and Rhalyn flee north to warn the capital. Stormpeak is calm and crowded when they arrive, and a gate guard directs them toward the palace if they want imperial attention. Before reaching Feng, Jin confronts Ren drinking in an inn, kills him, and accepts Tianlei's pact. Lightning rolls through Stormpeak as Jin receives the lightning mark and becomes Tianlei's next wielder.
Jin later returns to Stormpeak during the renewed shaper threat. He lands in a physically intact city filled with refugees, soldiers, and mages. Isrynn brings him to the Celestial Palace, where Master Han, Zhang, Kren, and Thundermarch's forces organize the defense of Raindawn. At Raindawn, Master Han shields the city during Jin's fight with Zharrek, and Tianlei returns to the survivors.
As Garrik's Kaldaryn-led coalition moves against Shroudvale and Maraveth, Eira, Kaelion, Khoradyn, Astheron, and Rhalyn come to Stormpeak seeking Isrynn and Feng. Wei Lianxu receives Eira and Kaelion and escorts them into the Celestial Palace; Isrynn has gone to Laizhou with the Garrik-led advance toward Maraveth.