The Pillar of Lightning

There's a place at the edge of the great desert where giant red pillars form canyons, like ancient riverbeds long bled dry. Their towering forms resemble the skeletons of forgotten giants, their weathered surfaces etched with scars of countless sandstorms. Among them stands a towering spire of red rock, not much different than all those around it, save for one striking feature:   Atop the spire, a churning black storm cloud seethes and roils, its jagged edges illuminated by the constant flash of lightning. The growling of the thunder is like a constant roar, warning wanderers away and drowning out everything else.   No one knows who made the Pillar of Lightning, what is at its top, or what lies within it. All who have dared to approach have met a swift and terrible end. Some have been struck down by lightning, while others have simply disappeared into the churning clouds never to return.   The desert people whisper quiet tales about the Pillar of Lightning, their voices hushed with awe and fear. Some say that it is an ancient artifact, cursed by a powerful mage. Others say that it is a portal to another world, the surrounding forces ripping apart the very fabric of reality.   The Pillar of Lightning stands to this day, a silent sentinel, a testament to the power and mystery of the desert, its secrets forever hidden from those who would dare to approach.