Caevas Clouds (CAY-vas)

Cave ceiling...
Thanged's unusual climate leads to some equally unusual weather patterns. The same properties that cause an overcast sky to appear to boil on Earth create a very exaggerated effect on Thanged due to the Twin Suns. When these enormous moisture-laden clouds loom overhead, travelers abroad on Kundain are advised to take bunker down and take cover for the caevas-"cave ceiling" in the old Freelander dialect-are known to bring heavy rains. City-dwellers view such rain as a blessing of prosperity from Ritho. Freelanders out on the plain and those undergoing their freelanding tours know it as a hazard, for rain is not the only thing these clouds herald. During the Storm Season, caevas are known to reach far enough to touch the ground, dragging through the land like claws. Deres witnessed first-hand how such patterns could tear apart even the strongest trees in the Eastern Jungle's borders.

Manifestation

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Diagram of Caevas Formation by Mardrena

Made with Inkscape

Localization

Caevas appears most frequently at the Northern Ring, Kundain, and the Eastern Jungle. The Southern Salt does not see much cool overcast or any tornadic activity whatsoever as far from the Ring as it is. While the Storm Season brings critical rains to the Lonesteads it often times proves a hazard with caevas claws coming dangerously close to homes. Advancements in air-shield technology alleviate the worst of the damage, and if necessary, Mazzan itself acts as an attenuated air-shield to protect the entire populated region, but other locations throughout the northern hemisphere are not so lucky.

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Caevas Overcast by Mardrena

Made with color pencil

An obscure myth related to the pei speaks of a man who sought to found a kingdom of his own on the plain, but when caevas claws threatened to destroy his entire court, Witheren turned them into monkeys which bear his name to this day.
Because Roth's Edict specifically forbids the razing of the land for resources, Thangiens rely upon the Storm Season and caevas claws to fell trees for precious lumber from the Eastern Jungle. Logging teams ferrying fallen trees must always be accompanied by an escort, and not just because of the inclement weather...
Very seldom in history does the Storm Season fail to form. The precise factor for this is unknown-perhaps solar related-, but the most recent and famous case purportedly occurred over five thousand years ago, long preceding the City Strife. In the tale of the Greedy Farmer, a period of drought ravaged the Lonesteads and the titular farmer-who had enjoyed bountiful harvests in previous years thanks to Xiar's protection-refused to share his supplies with his languishing neighbors. After Witheren cursed his land and drove him out, she supposedly struck her halberd against the Northern Ring to bully the storms into coming, but that is likely a colorful myth.

All of a sudden a low rumble drew their gazes skyward.
“That was thunder…” Sage stated.
“Whoa! I can’t say I’ve seen a cloud formation like that!” Roxi exclaimed when she saw the overcast hanging like spikes overhead.
“They call it caevas, or ‘cave-ceiling’,” Rowen informed. “It’s caused by opposing layers of moisture scrunching up against each other, like this.” Rowen illustrated by clenching his surcoat.
“Oh of all the bad luck! Right on Dais and Danae’s wedding day!” Brianna moaned.
“Actually, Thangiens believe rain after a Pairing is a sign of good luck. It’s considered a blessing of fertility from Ritho,” Mia explained.
“Yeah…it’s looking like she’s fixin’ to dump a boatload of blessing all over everyone,” Ryo grimaced when another peal of thunder echoed over the city. No sooner did he finish saying that then did everyone find themselves being pelted with sheets of heavy rain.
“OOOHHOOHOO!” “WHOOEEEE!” “OH BOY!” The girls exclaimed and tried to cover themselves.

— Foes From Another World Ch. 20

Type

Natural

Foraging Pegotaur by Mardrena

Caevas can be seen in the background overhead.