The Weather of Ala Mhigo.

[Capheira]

I've attempted to track down what the climate of Ala Mhigo would have been like for roleplay and background purposes, but I've been unable to find anything hugely specific in lore or within other threads. 

 

From what I have read here in discussion on the square-enix forums, it is possible that the city-state would have been similar to coerthas given it's matching latitude and altitude. Additionally, being that the city itself was placed within the 'Highlands' and from what we have seen of various concept arts this would lead me to the belief that it was located in the mountains; also cold and prone to snow.

 

Yet Gridania, from what I am aware, does not get any snow at all; thus bringing us back to the fact that the city was built into the mountains itself, erected as a fortress city like the concept art would suggest. Though parts of the image are indeed clouds, there is obvious snow there to my eye.

 

If we take into consideration what the alpine climate of the Highlands is like, or the "H" climate under the Köppen classification;

 

Highland climates are cool to cold, found in mountains and high plateaus. Climates change rapidly on mountains, becoming colder the higher the altitude gets. The climate of a highland area is closely related to the climate of the surrounding biome. The highlands have the same seasons and wet and dry periods as the biome they are in.

 

Furthermore, apart from stone being the sturdier and more durable resource for longevity and fortification both, it perhaps also takes into consideration the extreme erosion caused by strong winds at such an altitude.

 

With increasing height, temperature, pressure, atmospheric humidity, and dust content decrease. The reduced amount of air overhead results in high atmospheric transparency and enhanced receipt of solar radiation (especially of ultraviolet wavelength) at elevation. Altitude also tends to increase precipitation, at least for the first 4,000 metres (about 13,100 feet). The orientation of mountain slopes has a major impact on solar radiation receipt and temperature and also governs exposure to wind. Mountains can have other effects on the wind climate; valleys can increase wind speeds by “funneling” regional flows and may generate mesoscale mountain- and valley-wind circulations as well.

 

Perhaps, as with many places, Gyr Abania itself is not a particularly cold climate or cannot be labelled as such with the little information available, yet it can perhaps be assumed that the city itself and surrounding area was of a cooler temperature and often blanketed in snow.

 

Thoughts?

[Virella]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

 

Seems more like clouds to me.

 

No snow.

 

Anyhow, snow? Nah, that's Ishgard now. Every bit of concept art we've been given seems pretty mountainous (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Ala_Mhigo just scroll down). Hells, if anything I'd always imagined the tempature as it is here over in good old Holland. Not snowy, perhaps at times, because we do have summers and winters after all! Other times warm, but never really extremely cold or warm. Of course the mountains may have been very different, but mind you, mountains doesn't always imply snow after all! And seeing from the way Monk garbs for example are made, and those are traditional, pre-Mad King outfits, we hardly going to see fighters in cold areas with the gear they've worn. Surely aether and combat can keep you warm but eh, judging from this?

 

 

 

And I believe the lore behind the AF2 gear is that they are the old school version of what people used to wear back in the days. Hells, Monks were even more skimpier clothed back in the days!

 

No chance in hell the majority of Ala Mhigo's ground were covered with snow, if we are to judge from the attire of their religious sect

 

Editing as I go by the way because I'm stuck doing a dungeon ;_; Give me a moment!

[Capheira]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

If you click on it in the OP, it will enlarge the image.

[Virella]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

If you click on it in the OP, it will enlarge the image.

To this size yes

 

[Kage]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

If you click on it in the OP, it will enlarge the image.

It actually doesn't, not with the forum system as it is. The image system scrolls into what Virella provided.

 

I can think of Gyr Albania as perhaps being a temperate to cooler climate but I don't believe it really got too much snow. Pre-Calamity, Coerthas Central Highlands were greeeeeen. Green green and trees! Of course, that doesn't mean there is no cold but... Shaving eyebrows and wearing the temple garb that exposes them to the elements... Hurm.

 

Also look at the AF2 gear of Monk and Warriors.

[Capheira]

Thank you for your reply, Virella!

 

To be fair though, I think if you're at an altitude where you are above/in the clouds you can assume you're going to be freezing your ass off even if it doesn't snow. The higher you go, the further the temperature drops.

 

On the note of 'keeping warm' and cold climates I mean, it may not be historically accurate but there is plenty of viking/norse based artworks of men and women wearing hardly anything in a fantasy genre so I'm not sure if that really holds up. I mean, in a practical sense I hear you but I don't think because gear isn't necessarily 'warm' looking it means there is "no chance in hell" of it snowing. 

 

I don't think it's a stretch to consider that it would definitely be cold and be prone to snow, even if it's not an everyday thing.

 

[Virella]

To be fair though, if you're at an altitude where you are above/in the clouds you can assume you're going to be freezing your ass off. On the note of 'keeping warm' and cold climates I mean, there is plenty of viking/norse based artworks of men and women wearing hardly anything in a fantasy genre so I'm not sure if that really holds up. I mean, in a practical sense I hear you but I don't think because gear isn't necessarily 'warm' looking it means there is "no chance in hell" of it snowing. 

 

Someone also mentioned it looks a lot like London, which also snows!

"No chance in hell the majority of Ala Mhigo's ground were covered with snow, if we are to judge from the attire of their religious sect."

 

Surely, mountain peaks, season changes ect, but eh, majority of the time? Nah, I really, really doubt that. Surely fantasy is one thing, but SE tends to ish keep racial gear in mind in that regard. You don't see too many Ishgardian elezen in skimpy outfits, and dressed rather warmly. You don't see Ul'dahn npcs wearing shittons of layers of clothing like the Ishgardians tend to do ect. Dravanian Forelands weather, if anything that's my bet for Ala Mhigan weather.

 

No snowy people, no hot weather people either (gods if I hear one more person go about how Thanalan heat reminds them of Ala Mhigo, I will slap them with my keyboard >: ( )

[V'aleera]

No chance in hell the majority of Ala Mhigo's ground were covered with snow, if we are to judge from the attire of their religious sect

 

Counterpoint:

 

[Virella]

No chance in hell the majority of Ala Mhigo's ground were covered with snow, if we are to judge from the attire of their religious sect

 

Counterpoint:

 

Yeah that's dragoons though, and I don't know why the hell that belly window makes any sense, BUT LETS NO GO THERE BECAUSE IVE SEEN THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE.

 

BUT IN GENERAL, THE NPCS TEND TO DRESS ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER THEY COME FROM AYE? That was the whole point, sniping out one exception compared to the many other examples eh. Well. No.

[Oli!]

It's worth noting that the reason why Coerthas has snow is because when Dalamud dropped, all the aether in the air dicked-up the climes and made it cold.

 

In other words, it's Magic Snow.

 

Outside of Coerthas in places that should be roughly the same longitude, it isn't even snowing (Dravania, for instance).

 

So if we know that climates are influenced by aether (honestly, what isn't in this setting?) then we can't really use geographical position to get a good hold on what it would be like.

 

There's some concept art, though.

 

 

EDIT: Regarding belly-windows, Ishgard wasn't always the frozen hell it now is, so it might have been a little more sensical to have a belly window once upon a time.

 

If there's any reason to object to having a belly window, it's because you're fighting dragons and they can stab you.

[Dat Oni]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

If you click on it in the OP, it will enlarge the image.

It actually doesn't, not with the forum system as it is. The image system scrolls into what Virella provided.

 

It works just fine for me.

[Virella]

It's worth noting that the reason why Coerthas has snow is because when Dalamud dropped, all the aether in the air dicked-up the climes and made it cold.

 

In other words, it's Magic Snow.

 

Outside of Coerthas in places that should be roughly the same longitude, it isn't even snowing (Dravania, for instance).

 

So if we know that climate's are influenced by aether (honestly, what isn't in this setting?) then we can't really use geographical position to get a good hold on what it would be like.

 

There's some concept art, though.

 

 

EDIT: Regarding belly-windows, Ishgard wasn't always the frozen hell it now is, so it might have been a little more sensical to have a belly window once upon a time.

 

If there's any reason to object to having a belly window, it's because you're fighting dragons and they can stab you.

Good point there as well Olli, we don't really know what the current weather is in any case. Things might have gone to hell there as well for all we know. Ishgard appears to be as mountainous if not more so then Ala Mhigo, hells if we look at the map? Ishgard is build onto a mountain, whereas Ala Mhigo doesn't appear to be as high up as Ishgard. And Ishgard only got the snow due to the calamity!

 

And same about the belly window.

[Sig]

Based on the concept art, I've always envisioned Gyr Albania as fairly temperamental in low-lying regions (regions at altitude near city) but cold at higher elevations (mountain depicted in background) and during colder months.

[Kage]

Ishgard didn't really have snow as it is now. Look at Ishgard weather with the flashback from Heavensward MSQ events.

[Capheira]

Based on the concept art, I've always envisioned Gyr Albania as fairly temperamental in low-lying regions (regions at altitude near city) but cold at higher elevations (mountain depicted in background) and during colder months.

 

Ah, yes. This is pretty much the point I was making though in far better terms, thank you! :thumbsup:

 

From what we can see of what limited artwork there is, although none of it is snowing given it's altitude and location, I believe we can safely assume that the weather would be quite crisp and at times prone to the cold, and perhaps harsh winters given the strength of wind.

 

If we take a moment to consider it's location is listed as being the "Highlands" of Gyr Abania, and then compare this to the "Highlands" of our world, their geographic layout and climate....

 

 

To shift slightly away from what is 'practical' and 'logical' as far as climates go, and to take a step out on a creative head-cannon, I've personally considered that is may be similar in location to what we saw of Skyhold in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

 

Ala Mhigo:

 

Skyhold:

[Kage]

IS THIS A PICTURE FOR ANTS?

 

If you click on it in the OP, it will enlarge the image.

It actually doesn't, not with the forum system as it is. The image system scrolls into what Virella provided.

 

It works just fine for me.

 

Congratulations on it working fine for you 30 minutes after the fact.

[Sounsyy]

It's been discussed, but Ala Mhigo (and the Gyr Abania region) is a part of Abalathia's Spine, the mountain range that stretches across northern Aldenard and forms the land bridge between this continent and Ilsabard. As it is similar latitude and elevation to Ishgard and Coerthas, we can assume similar climates to that of Ishgard pre-Calamity. I say pre-Calamity because up until five years ago, Coerthas saw warm, wet summers, as well as the harsh, cold winters we've become accustomed to seeing in 2.0. The Calamity brought an unseasonably early winter that never lifted from Coerthas for five years.

 

The Frozen Fang

In years past, the hot alpine summers would have seen this fallen Dravanian outflyers blown with maggots and reduced to bones in a matter of days. Now, in the endless winter wrought by the Calamity, the carcass rests in the permafrost under a thick blanket of snow, perfectly preserved since the day he was pierced through the heart by a ballista.

 

Snowcloak

The bitter cold which swept over the Coerthas highlands following the Calamity did not only blanket the region in snow and ice, but transformed the water of Twinpools and the Swiftrun into a mountainous flow of ice - a flow which has slowly crept through the western Coerthas highlands and now has completely engulfed Gargoyle Crossing, preventing passage.

 

The men we rescued from the collapsed wing have not fared well. Given our dwindling supplies and this seemingly endless blizzard' date=' we may be forced to make difficult decisions soon. This unseasonable weather grows worse with every passing day, and the toll it has taken on morale is plain. We have yet to receive reinforcements from the Holy See, and I fear none shall come. Nevertheless, Ser Yuhelmeric remains steadfast in his decision and will not suffer any talk of withdrawal.[/quote']

 

A: We’re finally going to get to see some of Abalathia’s Spine! That sounds a bit like there’s some mythology involved… Is Abalathia an entity?

 

KF: Mr. Oda doesn’t want to talk about the mythology just yet, but we wanted to talk a bit about the makeup of Abalathia’s Spine so you get a better idea than the map might give you. There are four different regions. Northern Abalathia is where the Hellsguard come from; the caves are close to the magma sleeping beneath the mountains, so they believed themselves to be the guardians of the entrances of hell. Right now, you can’t go there. In southern Abalathia, you have Coerthas. Western Coerthas is basically the foothills and lower Abalathia. In the west, you have Dravania, the forelands and hinterlands. This is all controlled by dragons, and the hinterlands are where Sharlayan was, and yes, you can go there. Of course, then you have eastern Abalathia, which is connected with Xelphatol, the Ixal’s main area, and also Gyr Abania, where Ala Mhigo is. You can’t go there, yet. Floating above all that, though, you have the Sea of Clouds and the Churning Mists and all that.

 

Again, this isn't to say that it's always snowy or cold in Ala Mhigo, but that it, like Coerthas and the rest of Abalathia's Spine, has cold, snowy winters and hot summers.

 

As for why you don't see snow in Gridania even though it lies at the foot of Coerthas... well normally, Gridania does have snow. There was actually a 1.0 quest called "Winter's Knell" discussing how Eorzea as a whole had seen a rise in temperatures lately and they had been having later and later winters for reasons unknown. "Winter's Knell" is actually an Ala Mhigan celebration revolving around snow, so, another confirmation that Ala Mhigo at least has cold, snowy winters.

 

The North Shroud is unseasonably warm this year. In fact, there are some as say winter has yet to arrive. This makes yet another strange phenomenon assailing the land, and consternation is writ plain on the faces of Gridanians. Between this and the bloody-red hue of Dalamud, the citizens can scarce be begrudged their sense of apprehension.

 

An odd few have been heard expressing that they would as soon skip the harshness of winter in favor of an early spring. This way of thinking, however, is dangerously naïve, warns Fufucha of the Botanists’ Guild. The bounty of ice and snow is no less important than that yielded in warmth, stresses the Lalafell, before going on to remind us in a motherly tone that nature is dependent upon the turn of the seasons. The coming of the cold tells plants to shed their leaves against the chill, and animals to hoard what food they can. A late winter would cause seeds to sprout prematurely, only to wither before the onslaught of biting wind.

 

Far be it from this paper’s intent to incite panic, but the situation is grimmer than one might think. This grimness certainly was not lost upon an Ala Mhigan refugee named Waldomar, who took it upon himself to approach Stillglade Fane with a proposal: the holding of a festival hailing from his homeland called Winter’s Knell. The festival entails the building of Father Frost, a giant of snow, in a ritual to usher in the blessing of winter and pray for the well-being of loved ones.

 

The weather up in the North Shroud don't seem t' be gettin' as cold as it rightly should this time o' year' date=' ye see, an' them Gridanians is bloody wailin' about it. Bah! We're it up t' me, I'd strike the season from the reckonin' an' go straight to spring, but ye could be sure them tree-botherers would spout some bilge about the bleedin' circle o' life.[/quote']

 

 

Hope this helps! ^^

[Capheira]

*Winter's Knell' date=' & lots of helpful things*[/quote']

 

Exactly what I wanted to know, thank you! :love:

 

I appreciate all the supporting notes also, there are many good points here and support the conclusion that as expected bitter winters and snow were known occurrences if we base it on the information provided.

 

Do you think the ranges would see colder temperatures than Gyr Abania itself?

[Aya]

I've thought of it like a mix between Scotland and Scandanavia. Highlands combined with incredibly deep forests and valleys. A cool, but temperate climate. There doesn't seem to be much evidence for real severe winter in Eorzea outside of the cataclysmic weather of Ishgard

[Sounsyy]

Do you think the ranges would see colder temperatures than Gyr Abania itself?

 

I think it could reasonably be argued that the southern portion of Gyr Abania would see more temperate seasons, possibly warm rainy springs and autumns given the region's proximity to the Rothlyt Sound and the Jade Sea which has warm waters. Then as you go north and climb in altitude you get the alpine climate that was talked about earlier.

[Caspar]

I would hope for diversity's sake it is not another snow area. Perhaps the rainfall is low and it's dry. Then again, it's a costal nation it seems?

[Erik Mynhier]

High altitude + near the sea = Chilly, wet, but no snow. Add to it the rocky nature of mountains and the way the clouds move about randomly switching the wet weather with harsh dry. I see a standard mountain/valley climate that has less to do with height, and more to do with what side of the mountain you are on.