The discussion - or at least the topic - on the 4e brainstorm thread got me thinking ... what precisely would a Brainstorm be and were would it be most likely to manifest?
I am thinking the Astral Plane, where ideas and creativity can manifest in strange and wonderful ways. A clashing, thundering cacophony of thoughts which assault and possibly transform anything they come into contact with.
Made, primarily of passions, fever dreams, and all the wonderful ideas of tormented geniuses, the storm seeks an outlet for the energies that drive it - attempting to force themselves into the minds of sentient creatures like boundless tsunamis of inspiration (sometimes quite impractical in nature) capable of driving the sanest Hardhead barmy as a howler.
When it encounters inanimate materials, the storm twists and attempts to remake the mass to reflect the myriad ideas which make up its essence. Sometimes this results in magnificent formations, like mountain statues venerating thought and creativity ... but more often than not it transforms the victimized material into a senseless, useless though possibly dangerous landscape of quicksand theories going nowhere and jagged, impenetrable forests of thought.
Like most potentially recurring things on the Astral, Brainstorms are rarely encountered and most of those who do are in no position to share their experience with the uninformed.
So - that's my quick crack at it ... anyone else?
Well, its just a rain of brains isn't it...?
There are probably Mind Flayers singing happily in it. All together now and shake those tentacles.... "Da Da Daaaa Da Da, Da Da Daaaaa Da Da.... I'm siiiiiiiinging in the brains, just siiiiiiiiiiiining in the brains...."