Overview
Thundermarch is a western Valrindor nation ruled as an empire from Stormpeak by Emperor Feng. It is the homeland of Jin Leiyun, Zhang, Yingshui, and the storm-god tradition of Tianlei. The nation has storm, air, lightning, and elemental mages, with Cloudrift Temple teaching the dragon arts under that tradition.
Thundermarch faces the darkness near Stormbrook, the Shaoying-Thundermarch War, the shaper advance toward Raindawn, the Kaldaryn Peace Campaigns under Khoradyn and Garrik, and the Maraveth War under Garrik's coalition.
Geography
Thundermarch spans storm-battered mountains, high plateaus, green valleys, farmlands, rice fields, rivers, roads, villages, and cities. Stormpeak stands in the northwestern mountains, Cloudrift lies among river routes and fertile plains, Raindawn guards a western mountain approach, and Stormbrook sits near rice fields and later rail access.
The mountains between Thundermarch and Xalmyrra block easy skyship travel. Cave and rail passages connect Thundermarch with Keldara, Zeydrith, and Valrindor's route network. The northern coast faces constant storms, large waves, and islands such as Shanari.
Society and Rule
Thundermarch's people rely on rain and storms to sustain their fields. In 2103 AX, Thalion travels through drought-stricken Thundermarch with Helena Hyperion, Ignatius, and Sephara, bringing rain and spreading Tianlei's name. He leaves Sephara in Stormbrook to teach lightning magic, and her lessons begin Thundermarch's later storm and lightning traditions.
Emperor Feng rules from the Celestial Palace in Stormpeak, with advisors such as Wei Lianxu and commanders such as Yingshui. Ren Wuye's withdrawal into Stormpeak leaves exposed communities feeling abandoned, and Jin's later return as Tianlei's wielder restores public faith during the Raindawn defense.
Thundermarch mages serve in imperial forces, city defenses, and Kaldaryn-led Valrindor coalitions. They often wear red robes with blue dragon motifs, especially during the Great Shaper War near Laizhou, the Battle of Raindawn, and Garrik's advance on Maraveth against Shroudvale's remaining shapers.
History
Thundermarch becomes independent around the fall of Malverand. Its early history includes Tianlei's birth, Thalion bringing rain during the drought, Sephara teaching lightning magic in Stormbrook, and Isaac creating the mountain cave from Thundermarch to Keldara.
Thundermarch joins other human nations against Shroudvale in the Great Shaper War, fights the first shaper expansion, and seals Shroudvale behind walls. Centuries later, the nation suffers from darkness on its borders, Shaoying pressure near Cloudrift, and the collapse of confidence in Ren Wuye and Feng's distant rule.
During Jin's youth, darkness destroys Stormbrook, Shaoying attacks Cloudrift, and Jin travels to Stormpeak with Rhalyn to confront the capital's failures. Jin kills Ren Wuye there and becomes Tianlei's next wielder. Khoradyn and Garrik later defend Cloudrift, force peace with Shaoying and Linsothar, and tie Thundermarch's security to the Kaldaryn-led peace settlement.
The shapers later break out from Shroudvale and advance toward Thundermarch after attacking Shaoying, Linsothar, and Hengvaris. Jin, Zhang, Master Han, Yingshui, Kren, Isrynn, and other allied mages defend Raindawn; the city survives. Master Han dies after overloading his essence to shield it from the Raindawn battle's worst backlash. Afterward, Feng has mostly reunited Thundermarch, Kren remains for a time during the rebuilding, and new rail routes strengthen travel and communication.
Places
- Stormpeak, Thundermarch's mountain capital.
- Celestial Palace, Feng's imperial seat in Stormpeak.
- Cloudrift, a city on river routes and fertile plains fought over during the Shaoying-Thundermarch War.
- Cloudrift Temple, Jin and Zhang's training temple under Master Han.
- Raindawn, the river city defended during the shaper advance.
- Stormbrook, Jin's southern village and Sephara's early lightning-teaching base.
- The mountain cave and rail passages linking Thundermarch with Keldara, Xalmyrra, Zeydrith, and Valrindor's rail-and-cave network.