Eberron World Questions

[Klaus]

Bear in mind that it's a very tall city, and is on cliffs even at its base. Even taking into account whatever dampening effects the manifest zone may have, I'm betting citizens have to take into account a major wind-chill factor.

Indeed, altitude is of relevance in the upper regions of the city. But the cliffs don't offer much of an explanation. Rio is a very mountainous city, crisscrossed by hills that often reach into the ocean (the Sugar Loaf is a prime example). In spring and autumn (each lasting for about a month), it gets chilly up there in the evening (and by chilly I mean 20º C). In the month of winter we experience in mid July, it can get downright cold in the city, specially at night (down to a freezing 13º C). But during the remaining 9 months of the year, we get a mild summer (circa 30º C), except for January, February and March, when temperatures rarely drop below 30º C, and more often than not reach 41º C -- this year we had a few 45º C days). Even at night temperatures rarely drop lower than 30º.

And here's the thing: Rio surrounds the largest urban forest (talk about an oxymoron) in the world, which covers the largest mountain range in the city. Back in the mid-19th century, that forest was nearly all gone, and temperatures were rising more and more! So the Emperor ordered the forest restored, and the temperatures returned to its usual ranges.

 

[Troll Bait]

Indeed, altitude is of relevance in the upper regions of the city. But the cliffs don't offer much of an explanation. Rio is a very mountainous city, crisscrossed by hills that often reach into the ocean (the Sugar Loaf is a prime example). In spring and autumn (each lasting for about a month), it gets chilly up there in the evening (and by chilly I mean 20º C). In the month of winter we experience in mid July, it can get downright cold in the city, specially at night (down to a freezing 13º C). But during the remaining 9 months of the year, we get a mild summer (circa 30º C), except for January, February and March, when temperatures rarely drop below 30º C, and more often than not reach 41º C -- this year we had a few 45º C days). Even at night temperatures rarely drop lower than 30º.

And here's the thing: Rio surrounds the largest urban forest (talk about an oxymoron) in the world, which covers the largest mountain range in the city. Back in the mid-19th century, that forest was nearly all gone, and temperatures were rising more and more! So the Emperor ordered the forest restored, and the temperatures returned to its usual ranges.

You guys had an emporer? I thought Brazil was a portuguese colony? were you conquered by Napoleon?

 

[morbiczer]

You guys had an emporer? I thought Brazil was a portuguese colony? were you conquered by Napoleon?

When Brazil became independent in 1822 Pedro, the son of the Portuguese king became emperor of Brazil. The country was an empire till 1889 when it became a republic.

Mexico also had an emperor 1822-1823, and later 1864-1867.

Even Haiti had an emperor from 1849 till 1859 when some megalomaniacal dictator crowned himself emperor.

 

[Troll Bait]

When Brazil became independent in 1822 Pedro, the son of the Portuguese king became emperor of Brazil. The country was an empire till 1889 when it became a republic.

Mexico also had an emperor 1822-1823, and later 1864-1867.

Even Haiti had an emperor from 1849 till 1859 when some megalomaniacal dictator crowned himself emperor.

learn something new every day.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I would be very interested in seeing what sort of weather model you come up with, as the map doesn't really pay any attention to the terrain/weather issue.

As an example, QBarra is on the same line as Sharn and portions of Sarlona.
Sharn is apparently closer to a temperate area, albiet a very wet one {surrounded by farmlands, the Kings Forest being the only remaining 'jungle' in the area}. Apparently the cliffs and the Manifest zone convince the majority of the rain to drop right there. This coupled by the large mountain range between Breland and Droam could temper the tropical aspect for the majority of Breland itself, turning it into a mid-America great plains area.
QBarra is full blown tropical jungles, and Sarlona is more Gobi Desertish.

I think the moons will have litte impact on the weather, unless one is larger than the other. Tidal pull would be damped by the multiple moons, meaning major weather events like El Nino could be non-existant.

I think the weather is more affected by the impact of the Manifest zones. An El Nino like event could be triggered by a massive manifest zone deep in the ocean than occasionally pops in.

Eh.. 13 moons is a cool conceit, and fits nicely with the mythos of the world. It just doesn't work very well when adding 'realistic' weather models.

 

[Nuclear Platypus]

When Brazil became independent in 1822 Pedro, the son of the Portuguese king became emperor of Brazil. The country was an empire till 1889 when it became a republic.

Mexico also had an emperor 1822-1823, and later 1864-1867.

Even Haiti had an emperor from 1849 till 1859 when some megalomaniacal dictator crowned himself emperor.

Even the US had an emperor, Emperor Norton I, who reigned for 21 years. By his decree, the Golden Gate Bridge was built.

Here's a wikipedia entry on him.

Ok, back to the thread.

 

[Klaus]

You guys had an emporer? I thought Brazil was a portuguese colony? were you conquered by Napoleon?

Brazil declared independence from Portugal in 1822, becoming an Empire ruled by Pedro I, son of the Portuguese King. He ruled for a while, but eventually stepped down from the throne in favor of his infant son, Pedro II, and went on to take the throne of Portugal (only to relinquish it in favor of his daughter). The portugese call him the Warrior King, for the war he fought to secure his daughter's throne against the girl's uncle.

Pedro II took the throne as soon as he came of age, and ruled until the Republic was declared in 1889, mostly as a backlash because he abolished slavery a year before (his daughter, actually, while ruling in his stead). Pedro II was a man of science, and proud of his brazilian heritage.


Ok, back to Sharn:

Another thing to consider is the effect of the lava pools that fill the bottom of the canyons separating the different wards. Not only would heat be poured up, rainfall would cause a very strong fog from the evaporating raindrops. Maybe the manifest zone cancels this heat and allows the prevailing conditions to continue.

 

[Christian]

Eh.. 13 moons is a cool conceit, and fits nicely with the mythos of the world. It just doesn't work very well when adding 'realistic' weather models.

I think D&D celestial mechanics tends towards the Aristotilean rather than the Newtonian. It's doubtful that those 'moons' are planetoids in gravitational orbits ...

 

[demiurge1138]

I've always portrayed southern Breland as being subtropical to tropical. Sure, the King's Forest is surrounded by farmland, but that farmland is as likely to be growing bananas and other fruits, coffee or chocolate than it is to be growing grains. I figure Aundair and Breland's reasonable diplomatic relationships have a lot to do with vast agricultural trade.

And doesn't Valenar have a costal mountain range? That might have to do with the inland conditions being desert. Or there could just be a manifest zone to Fierna buried somewhere beneath the sands. Or it could just be due to over-agriculture by the Cyrans, ala the Oklahoma Dust Bowl.

Demiurge out.

 

[Klaus]

Indeed, the Blade Desert is shielded from the ocean by mountain ranges in Lhazaar, Valenar and Q'barra. We have a similar condition here in (where else?) Brazil, where the interior of our Northeast region is made up of badlands, whereas the coast has forests and the Amazon rainforest lies to the North.