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I happen to LOVE Storm Pillar. It’s one of those rare powers in which proper application lets me look at the Ranger and say “Ha! Do THAT with your Twin Strike!” It is also the only At-Will power (with the possible exception of the Shaman’s Spirit Companion) that really feels like you can summon something any time you darn well please since you get to actually put down a new mini (or token) on the table. The best part? It’s even more useful out of combat than in combat. At least in my experience…
Pelagius ran through the cave at top speed which was sadly still a lot slower than his companions. This priest of Shar had given them the slip on more than one occasion and Pelagius would sooner see the depths of the Abyss than let that little snot get away from them again. Quicker and quicker – the priest dodged through the tunnels under Cormyr, not even needing to see where he was going. These catacombs were his home; he knew them like his own mother… ”Well, assuming he hasn’t sacrificed his mother already..” Pelagius considered in short gasps, much like his breath.
His uncle Mircolis was hard to see darting through the labyrinth, shrouded in his warlock’s shadowstuff, so only the slowing of footsteps and a curse word in Elven clued Pelagius in that the first of them had given up the chase. Another twenty paces or so and the normally unsettlingly calm Piotr suddenly gave a shout followed by a hard thud. Piotr tripped over a rock jutting out and hit his head on the ground hard. ”Go! Stop him!” Piotr commanded and Pelagius’ short legs redoubled their efforts, almost on their own.
Now it was just Pelagius and the wall of a man everyone simply called Staff chasing the priest. Left, right, right, left, up.. how would Pelagius ever remember the directions to escaping this maze? No matter. The priest would lead them out whether he liked it or not – of that, Pelagius was sure. His legs burned as he ran, with Staff and the priest slowly disappearing from sight.. but wait? Is that a door? Is that the only way out? The cavern surrounding them offered no other exit. A thought raced across Pelagius’ mind as Staff prepared for some kind of leap. ”Wait!” Pelagius called out. He thought, “I may not be much of a fighter, and I can’t run very fast but Selune help me, THIS I can do!” Lightning crackled around Pelagius’ ears as he spoke the words of arcane power, “Denshi hashera!” and with a rapid swipe of his arm a pillar of electricity broke free from clouds formed by the dankness and wetness of the cave. The priest skidded to a halt, afraid to approach the localized storm and turned just in time to see Staff launch himself and then the world went black….
Later that night, the party sat around a slowly dying fire, mending their equipment and splitting the bounty of gold they earned for catching the priest. Mircolis sat down next to Pelagius, who seemed very much in the middle of intense concentration despite not doing much besides gazing into the fire. ”Good job back there, Gea. Your mother would have been proud.” Mircolis puts a hand on Pelagius’ shoulder. ”Now, let’s get some rest. And put that thing out already – you must have killed every mosquito in the kingdom by now.” Pelagius looks past the fire to his Storm Pillar just outside the camp as it casually fries a decent-sized bat and smiles. They will rest well, indeed.
The Storm Pillar occupies its own square and zaps anything adjacent to it. When Pelagius dropped it in front of the doorway, the priest of Shar could no longer enter (or even get close!) and had to instead deal with one very angry monk. Since it’s an At-Will, it can be ‘sustained’ indefinitely, also making it a very handy if somewhat primitive bug zapper for those times when you really need a good night’s sleep under the stars.
P.S. Bonus points to the first person who can tell me what power Piotr just took Off the Grid as well! Here’s a hint – Pelagius didn’t spend a healing surge.
Ryven Cedrylle was introduced to 2nd edition D&D by his father at age 8 and has been hooked ever since. When not out somewhere with his nerd-loving wife, he spends an inordinate amount of time staring at small objects - primarily beakers, stars, books about religion and virtual gaming miniatures. Follow him on 
This is one of my Favorite powers. It’s amazing how many players overlook good powers, because of generic build choices.
Just remember that the Storm Pillar states: [Each enemy that moves] “to the pillar on ITS TURN”.
So no pushing them there by other powers!