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Overview:
Tempest Heights, perched among the ancient giants of Sabhaile Forest, is a showcase of the ingenuity and spirit of the Tempest Pack. This sprawling treetop village, seamlessly integrated into the canopy, serves as both a sanctuary and a strategic vantage point for its inhabitants. Known for its breathtaking views and harmonious existence with nature, Tempest Heights stands as a testament to what can be achieved in tandem with nature.
Description:
Constructed on the sturdy branches of Sabhaile’s oldest trees, Tempest Heights is a network of platforms, bridges, and dwellings that sway gently with the forest’s breath. The architecture is an organic blend of natural materials and Cia’an craftsmanship, featuring wood harvested from the forest floor and ropes made from local vines. The village’s layout is designed to enhance community interaction while also providing privacy and tranquility for its residents.
Each dwelling is uniquely tailored to harness the natural light and views of the forest, with skylights and open terraces built above the dense canopy allowing some of the only natural light into this ancient part of the forest. The central plaza is the heart of the village, built into the hollowed out trunk of a behemoth of a tree, where community decisions are made, celebrations are held, and stories are shared.
The design of Tempest Heights also incorporates various environmental protections, such as rainwater collection systems and wind barriers, ensuring the village not only survives but thrives in the dynamic forest ecosystem. This treetop village showcases the Cia’an’s deep respect for their environment in addition to their ability to adapt and flourish in what many would consider a challenging living situation.
Notable Locations:
- The Great Hollow: This central plaza is built within the hollowed-out trunk of the largest tree in Sabhaile Forest. The Great Hollow is spacious enough to easily harbor the entire clan, serving as a communal meeting place, with sectioned off area’s built in to accommodate private meetings, and other higher up business.
- Lunar Tower: Positioned to rise above the forest canopy, Lunar Tower is a beloved lookout and observatory within Tempest Heights. This elevated platform is perfect for stargazing and monitoring celestial events, offering unobstructed views of the night sky.
- Whispering Path: This secret entrance to the village is known only to the Tempest Pack members. The Whispering Path is a concealed, winding staircase carved inside an ancient tree, leading up to the heart of the village.
- Sky Orchard: This area of the village has been heavily reinforced to support soil beds and water systems, allowing for the cultivation of various fruits and vegetables high above the ground. The orchard not only provides sustenance but also adds to the village’s self-sufficiency, reducing the need to descend to the forest floor for supplies.
Local Legends or Stories:
The Tempest Pack preserves many tales about their treetop home, but two are cherished above all others. One claims that the Lunar Tower is far more than a simple platform for watching the stars. On nights of the blood moon, it is said that Theri’an himself descends from the heavens to commune with his disciples. Here, amidst the whispering canopy and crimson light, chosen Cia’an are believed to receive visions and guidance from the God of Beasts, shaping the future of the Pack and reaffirming their place as his favored children.
Another story speaks of the mighty tree that forms the Great Hollow. According to legend, this was the very first tree ever planted on a barren Siar’Morrin by Alber, sister of Theri’an, when she first scattered life across Staterum. The Great Hollow thus carries within it the breath of creation itself, and to dwell within its heart is to be forever close to the source of all living things. The Pack believes this sacred tree chose them as its keepers, binding their destiny to the flourishing of the forest.
Visitors’ Experience:
For most outsiders, Tempest Heights might as well be legend, for all their likely hood of ever visiting it. The Tempest Pack guards their sanctuary fiercely, and few are ever granted the privilege of setting foot within its lofty heights.
On the rare occasions when a guest is invited, it is considered a profound honor. Such visitors are treated with every courtesy: offered the finest food from the Sky Orchard, a place of rest within dwellings overlooking the canopy, and the chance to hear the Pack’s stories within the sacred Great Hollow. At night, truly honoured guest may even be led to the Lunar Tower, where starlight and silence frame the deep spiritual communion the Pack holds with the heavens.
Yet these experiences are reserved for the exceptional few. For most who wander Sabhaile Forest, Tempest Heights remains unseen and untouched, a hidden world suspended among the treetops, known only through legend and rumor.