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The night before the sunrise event, Cane sat in his dimly lit study, the soft glow of candlelight casting flickering shadows on the walls. His desk was cluttered with maps, weather charts, and ancient tomes that held the secrets of the skies. The rhythmic tapping of raindrops against the windowpane was the only sound, a soothing backdrop to his solitary vigil.

Cane’s focus was broken by the arrival of an urgent message, delivered by a swift and elegant bird that seemed to carry the shadow of gravestones in its eyes.

Cane unfurled the scroll, his expression darkening as he read the contents. The Thunderbolts were testing a new chemical compound -- one that they knew would eventually be used to reduce pollution and it was planned for release the following day in an unpopulated region of the world. The makers wanted to ensure its efficiency, to see it in action. It was a a well thought out project but when Cane checked the details he cross-referenced the coordinates with his own maps and his heart sank.

The targeted area was isolated all right and it was because of this that in recent years it had become a popular tourist destination, bustling with activity and filled with cruise ships arriving and departing from the man-made harbour that supported the industry.

A sense of urgency gripped him. Cane understood the deadly consequences if his actions failed, if the gas were to be released in such a busy tourist-populated area and there were issues with the chemistry, if the poison in the compounds reacted badly with the local environment there was life at stake. He needed to redirect the drop and speak to the leader of the 'bolts.'

His mind raced and as he formulated a plan to neutralize the threat Cane knew that a powerful weather event would be required to dissolve the gases and disperse them safely into the atmosphere before they reached land.

Cane rose from his desk, and moved to his observation chamber. It was a room lined with a triptych of crystal windows of three contrasting types: Quartz, Amythyst and Obsidian.

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Each window provided a panoramic view and not only influenced the type of energy manipulated but also protected and aided the summoner in controlling and directing the forces.

The large, clear quartz window stood to the right of the triptych, shimmering with captured starlight. It was the 'willing' window, through it Cane directed his attention and as the quartz intensifyied his intent, it helped him broadcast it into the atmosphere, making the weather manipulation more precise and directed.

The amethyst window stood to the left of the triptych, it bathed the room in a soft violet light, casting ethereal shadows. Its crystal lattice resonated with high frequency vibrations, and connected deeply with the mind's intuitive layers. This crystal that was threaded through the glass amplified psychic abilities, enhancing Cane’s capacity to foresee and manipulate weather patterns psychically. The amethyst also known for its protective and purifying properties helped focus and control the storm’s energy, maintaining clarity and preventing overwhelming emotional disturbances from clouding judgment.

The large obsidian, crystal window held the middle position in the room, it was at the center of the curved triptych.

Dark and opaque, it absorbed the light, creating a stark contrast to the other windows. It acted as a dense grounding force amid the high swirling storm energies. This windown prevented potential backlash from the intense weather events being manipulated. It held the lightning and twisters at bay, and it was particularly crucial when the weather summoned was volatile or potentially destructive, and its opacity could be switched off, so on clear days, Cane and his friens might relax and enjoy the calm beauty of the skies.


Standing in front of the Amethest, Cane extended his hands, summoning the weather. Thunder rumbled in response, and dark clouds began to coalesce above, charged with his intent as he moved behind the Obsidian. His temper held passion and little rancour and as the storms' expression intensified, Cane knew he had to imprint a message on the aether to warn others, so with a determined expression he focused and visualised the connections ,and in the crystal he saw his thoughts produce a series of intricate patterns, designs within designs that glowed with an ethereal light and slowly formed the message: "DANGER - SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY."

Cane knew that this message would remain in position for all who inhabited the skies until the danger had passed, it was a warning, a beacon, to those who might otherwise remain oblivious to the impending threat.

From his position in his observation chamber Cane watched as mini-twisters rushed into the affray, he was happy to see them. They would lift, turn, and throw the gas that escaped the winds and rain into a sluice to flush it away.

As dawn approached, Cane was reasonable happy that he had succeeded, that he had saved lives, but this new manifestation of the Thunderbolds was a warning and going forward he knew he needed more than just a storm; he needed the precision and harmony of the daily dawn, and he knew an Artisan that might help mitigate the chaos. So leaving his observatory he called up his charriot and descended towards the summer workstation.

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Mari, Portnashanagan, 2024