Climates

Legend

“As she aged she had noticed a change in both winds and precipation, especially when she topped the rim and looked down the plains. Turning her head she expressed her thoughts to the accompanying scholar.”

Skjald Sejrik

Description

The World of Isles of Midgard is a unique world, with the hottest zones at the poles and a sun-circling path that is far from, and briefly, at the equatorial belt, the climates and precipitation patterns differ dramatically. The transition between these climatic zones is gradual in some places while stark and abrupt in others, leading to diverse landscapes and ecosystems.

As the world changed, so did its climates, influenced by natural and supernatural events. It’s climates shaped the lives and activities of its inhabitants; farmers, hunters, and gatherers learned to read the skies and predict the weather, adapting their practices to the rhythms of nature. Initially a means of survival, the study of climates became a sophisticated science.

Scholars continually adapted their understanding, ensuring that knowledge of climates remained a cornerstone of society, guiding people through the ever-changing dance of the elements. Some of the measuring factors are temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation; others are latitude, altitude, terrain, and nearby waters and their currents.

The understanding of weather and climates evolved over the ages, especially under scholars like Wralt Kröbzien and Ruidi Giggar, whose system categorises climates based on long-term weather patterns, aiding in the planning of settlements, agriculture, and daily life. The system remains in use to this day, and thus climate has become the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years.

Skjald Sigurd

History

Hunters are believed to have been among the first to distinguish between climate and weather. Slowly, the distinction arose into a thing scholars studied and categorised.

Skjald Ulrich

Long ago, in the late dark ages, when the Astral leaks and work of the divines created vast void gardens, lakes, and skies, drifting high above in the odd landscape of the Void, Hunters, trackers, farmers, and others, whose activities depended on weather conditions, became adapted to predict weather and what would trigger changes.

Skjald Sigurd

Some began to study these long-term weather patterns full-time and plan settlements and daily business accordingly. Then came the world reforming, and after things had settled, populations grew, and people began to specialise more in their own crafts. A demand for increased crops, harvests, and wisely placed settlements arose. So, simple weather observation changed into the academy of climate studies.

Skjald El Mary

Up through the first and second ages, weather and climate studies were conducted at several locations, but most notably, they were the work of Wralt Kröbzien. Which gained widespread recognition and usage up through the second age, mostly due to its inclusion of some of the results the world reform and 1st Cataclysm had brought along. *Late second age, Rüdi Giggar, improved Wralts system, so people today call it the Kröbziggar system.

Skjald Vinotis

One of the odd things the teachers of the Academy of Climate Studies observed over time was the difference in how students pronounced things due to their origins. As time passed, they noticed it had less to do with racial and local origin than with where the students came from.

With the arrival of the Wanderers, the Vular convinced academic leaders of both climate and linguistic academies to create an academy covering both fields of research.

The first of these, Sadolin Citadel, led by the Ogryl Njallat Tindemar, was built in the city of Sadolin at Ljostari.

It didn’t take long before the linguistic aspect of climates rested in the hands of language folks, as climate sponsors and researchers were far more interested in the weather.

Skjald Valgrif

The fourth age brought dramatic changes to climates, biomes, and weather. Scholars still use the Kröbziggar system due to its adaptability to world changes triggered by the Vular War aftermath, in which the world tilted slightly so the Sun and Moon courses ran differently. Ljostari sank, Mt. Vula erupted, and the Deep Blue Tsunami changed sea currents, destroying quite a large number of famous dishes and brews—my bad!

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

Recent remarkable weather events
In 1071, the Deluge of Markeoy, often referred to as “The Year of Endless Rain,” occurred on the island of Markeoy. For a full year, the skies wept without respite. Torrential rains turned roads into rivers and valleys into vast lakes. The ground, unable to absorb the sheer volume of water, led to catastrophic flooding across the island. Homes, farms, and entire towns were submerged under the relentless downpour.

The continuous precipitation caused landslides in the highlands and widespread destruction in low-lying areas. Crops were washed away, and infrastructure crumbled under the weight of the water. The people of Markeoy struggled to salvage their homes and belongings, often resorting to building makeshift rafts to navigate the submerged landscapes. The island’s economy, heavily reliant on agriculture, faced ruin as the persistent rain destroyed the year’s harvest and the following planting season.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Markeoy underwent significant changes. New methods of flood control and water management were developed, leading to the construction of extensive levees and canals. The Year of Endless Rain is commemorated annually with festivals that celebrate resilience and the unity of the island’s inhabitants. The event also inspired numerous songs, stories, and poems, embedding itself deeply into the cultural heritage of Markeoy.

Skjald Vinotis

In 1146, the Great Drought, known as “The Scorching,” was a cataclysmic event that afflicted the island of Dalip. For seven long years, the rains ceased entirely, and the once verdant fields and forests of Dalip withered under an unrelenting sun. Rivers and lakes dried up, and the land cracked and crumbled as the life-giving moisture was leached away. Crops failed year after year, and livestock perished in droves, leading to widespread famine.

The inhabitants of Dalip, largely agrarian, faced dire consequences. Entire villages were abandoned as people migrated in search of water and sustenance. The normally temperate climate turned harsh and unforgiving, reshaping the social and economic fabric of the island. The once-thriving trade in agricultural products came to a standstill, and the population was halved as starvation and disease took their toll.

To this day, Dalip bears the scars of the scorching. Ancient irrigation systems, built in a desperate bid to save the crops, remain monuments to the ingenuity and perseverance of the people. The memory of the Great Drought is a sombre reminder of the delicate balance between nature and survival, and the tales of those years are passed down through generations as both cautionary and inspirational legends.

Skjald Ulrich

In 1194, the Tempest of Naldar, also known as “The Great Gale,” struck the island of Naldar with unprecedented ferocity. The storm, brewing for days over the Sunlands, unleashed its full fury upon Naldar, with hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, and monstrous waves battering the coastline. The tempest raged for three days and nights, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Buildings were torn apart by the winds, trees were uprooted, and entire coastal villages were obliterated by the storm surge. The seas, whipped into a frenzy, swallowed ships and flooded the land, causing immense destruction to the island’s fishing fleets and coastal defenses. In the interior, the tempest’s reach brought down forests and caused rivers to overflow, creating a widespread disaster that affected every corner of the island.

The aftermath of the Great Gale saw Naldar rebuild with renewed vigor. Stronger, more resilient structures were erected, and coastal defences were reinforced to withstand future storms. The event became a pivotal moment in the island’s history, uniting its people in the face of adversity. Memorials and monuments were established to honour those who perished, and the tale of The Tempest of Naldar is a stark reminder of nature’s might and the enduring spirit of the Naldaans. The storm also led to advancements in meteorological studies within the Academy of Climate Studies, aiming to better predict and prepare for such events in the future.

Skjald El Mary