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Following Rainbow Dash’s lead I proceeded into the heart of the Royal Equestria Weather Service central headquarters in my Equestria dreamscape.
Logically I knew that the operation out of Ponyville was only small branch of a much larger organization. I had read the history of the service and had been quizzed on various aspects of its hierarchy and infrastructure. However it is one thing to read about it, it is another thing to finally see it first hoof. The Royal Equestria Weather Service, also known as the REWS, is the single biggest source of employment for pegasi in Equestria. Dash led me to a visitor’s area where I could watch operations without getting in the way while she flew off to make arrangements.
The centerpiece of the headquarters was the Grand Map, which was a vast three-dimensional model that showed current status of all known weather across the realm and the projected patterns for the next 48 hours. Around the edge of the map sat dozens of ponies that called out a constant stream of numbers and abbreviations to several squadrons pegasi who shepherded and moved small-scale models of weather systems and clouds across the kingdom. Systems were color coded to note their potential moisture, temperature and accompanying barometric pressure and wind speeds. Also clouds and systems were denoted as to whether they were under direct pegasi-control at that moment or free roaming.
As clouds formed or dissipated new ones were created by a crew of ponies who formed them from steam generators that were staged in multiple locations around the map. The end result looked a cross between the C&C for Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the New York Stock Exchange Floor.
If the weather was coming from outside of Equestria’s borders or had originated over the Everfree Forest it was tagged as such and its projected moisture, speed, altitude, and barometric pressure were recorded from ground stations in the area. REWS teams stationed around Equestria would then intercept the wild weather systems and assess their potential impact on the projected weather plans. Teams of meteorologists were constantly recalculating the outcomes on abacus’s and mechanical adding machines and writing the results and possible solutions on vast chalkboards around the room.
The REWS even consulted with Royal Equestria Astronomical Society to coordinate with the Royal Sisters on how their manipulation of the sun and moon could affect the weather. Local farming granges sent their planting, growing and harvesting schedules to the REWS so the weather ponies knew how to best sync the weather to the growing seasons. Once scores of ponies had evaluated the data and past records reviewed weather instructions were written and dispatched.
This is one place where the REWS extensively enlisted the aid of unicorns, and REWS had platoons of them who were employed strictly to receive magically transported weather reports and to relay instructions back to teams in the field. In areas where there were no unicorns available, the reports and instructions were relayed via telegraph or relay fliers. The REWS was experimenting with a primitive form of wireless telegraphic system, but the technology was still in its infancy and was not reliable enough to count on for critical information.
Everywhere I looked hundreds of pegasi were going about the business of managing and coordinating the weather across Equestria. The kingdom was broken up into weather regions, which were managed by regional coordinators. The regions were broke down to districts and then further divided into county and metropolitan offices. Rainbow Dash was in charge for the Ponyville county office.
I was just staring at all this in wonder and confusion when a voice spoke up behind me.
“It’s quite a sight isn’t it? To this day I wonder how we make it work at all.”
I turned and found myself staring at pair of wings attached to a pony. A glistening blue-white stallion with a short cropped Prussian blue mane stood behind me. He was staring at the constantly changing model with a critical eye. He had obviously just arrived from flying since his flight goggles still had frost and ice on them, but the most amazing thing about him was the size of his wings. The Royal Sisters have great wingspans but they are at least twice the size of most ponies. This stallion was only a couple inches taller than I but even with his wings folded I could tell they were larger than Celestia’s.
“Um, yeah.” I said clumsily. “This is my first time to Weather Central and it is quite imposing.” I turned bowed my head. “Sky Brush is my name, I’m a reservist with the Ponyville County Office. Uh, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
“True Wind is my name.” Said the stallion returning my head bow. I’m assigned to REWS Central here Cloudsdale. I help oversee all high altitude meteorological activity in Equestria.”
It suddenly dawned me I was talking to one of the legendary Height Climbers of pegasi culture. Most Ponies have a maximum flying ceiling of about 18,000 ft. beyond that even with flight magic you run out of lift. Besides at those heights the air gets too thin and your brain starts turning to oatmeal, never mind trying to do any meaningful weather manipulation. RD told me how she had once on a dare had ridden some updrafts to over 24,000 ft. besides almost freezing solid she said that she could’ve kept herself occupied for half an hour or more just figuring out how to spell her name.
But for Height Climbers life began at 15,000+ ft. Height Climbers often operated at altitudes greater than 30,000ft, and some could reach altitudes of over 45,000ft. Not only did their vast wings give them more lift they possessed the magic necessary to survive the bitter cold and thin air of the upper atmosphere.
In fact a recent issue of Scientific Equestria had an article about experiments recently conducted that involved sending Height Climbers up in special balloons and with the benefit of special suits, helmets and carefully crafted unicorn spells they had reached altitudes of almost 60,000ft.
Height Climbers were the astronauts of pony culture and they were often held in the highest regard amongst their pegasi peers. Also there were never enough of them to handle all the jobs that required their special skills.
Any foal born with the obvious traits and features of a Height Climber was almost guaranteed employment and support from the Crown for the rest of their life. They and their family would receive financial aid from not only the REWS and the Crown, but from the various scientific organizations across Equestria who required their special talents. For that reason most Height Climbers had not one but often two degrees in various sciences so could conduct their work.
True Wind and I continued chatting for a few minutes as he provided me with fascinating some insights into how whole weather picture in Equestria was interconnected when Rainbow Dash flew over and landed next to me.
“Hey there Brick! Making some new acquaintances? Rainbow Dash is my name and who might you be sir?”
True Wind’s ears perked at Dash’s name. “Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. True Wind is my name and it is a pleasure to meet such an important subject of the realm. I have seen the stained glass windows in the Royal Palace. All of Equestria is in debt for what you and the other bearers have achieved.”
“Thanks!” Grinned the light cerulean blue mare. “But me and my friends just did what needed doing! Nothing more than that!” She then looked at me.
“I’ve got an appointment for you tonight at oh nineteen hundred Brick so you can see a counselor and schedule for your exam. In the meantime let’s pick up our room keys for the hostel; then let’s get a bite to eat at the headquarters cantina. I even scored us some meal tokens so the food is free tonight! Tomorrow I’ll give you a complete tour of this place and then we can spend the rest of day seeing the sites in Cloudsdale.” The prismatic mare smiled at me. “We can also start putting up my fliers for the Best Young Fliers Competition then.”
“Ah, so you’ll be entering again this year Miss Dash?” Asked True Wind.
“Yep!” replied RD. “It’s the last year I can enter and I want to win it back to back! That will be one for the record books!” Grinned the mare.
“You actually believe you can win it again after last years performance? How do plan to top last years act?”
Dash just smiled at the Height Climber. “By doing something new, amazing and awesome! Beyond that you’ll just have to attend the competition or read about it in the papers!”
To be continued.
FYI. I have stated that Cloudsdale is one of the most fantastical places I have seen in Equestria, and my attempts to sketch the Grand Map ended in disaster. I need to rethink how I can sketch it out.
Logically I knew that the operation out of Ponyville was only small branch of a much larger organization. I had read the history of the service and had been quizzed on various aspects of its hierarchy and infrastructure. However it is one thing to read about it, it is another thing to finally see it first hoof. The Royal Equestria Weather Service, also known as the REWS, is the single biggest source of employment for pegasi in Equestria. Dash led me to a visitor’s area where I could watch operations without getting in the way while she flew off to make arrangements.
The centerpiece of the headquarters was the Grand Map, which was a vast three-dimensional model that showed current status of all known weather across the realm and the projected patterns for the next 48 hours. Around the edge of the map sat dozens of ponies that called out a constant stream of numbers and abbreviations to several squadrons pegasi who shepherded and moved small-scale models of weather systems and clouds across the kingdom. Systems were color coded to note their potential moisture, temperature and accompanying barometric pressure and wind speeds. Also clouds and systems were denoted as to whether they were under direct pegasi-control at that moment or free roaming.
As clouds formed or dissipated new ones were created by a crew of ponies who formed them from steam generators that were staged in multiple locations around the map. The end result looked a cross between the C&C for Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and the New York Stock Exchange Floor.
If the weather was coming from outside of Equestria’s borders or had originated over the Everfree Forest it was tagged as such and its projected moisture, speed, altitude, and barometric pressure were recorded from ground stations in the area. REWS teams stationed around Equestria would then intercept the wild weather systems and assess their potential impact on the projected weather plans. Teams of meteorologists were constantly recalculating the outcomes on abacus’s and mechanical adding machines and writing the results and possible solutions on vast chalkboards around the room.
The REWS even consulted with Royal Equestria Astronomical Society to coordinate with the Royal Sisters on how their manipulation of the sun and moon could affect the weather. Local farming granges sent their planting, growing and harvesting schedules to the REWS so the weather ponies knew how to best sync the weather to the growing seasons. Once scores of ponies had evaluated the data and past records reviewed weather instructions were written and dispatched.
This is one place where the REWS extensively enlisted the aid of unicorns, and REWS had platoons of them who were employed strictly to receive magically transported weather reports and to relay instructions back to teams in the field. In areas where there were no unicorns available, the reports and instructions were relayed via telegraph or relay fliers. The REWS was experimenting with a primitive form of wireless telegraphic system, but the technology was still in its infancy and was not reliable enough to count on for critical information.
Everywhere I looked hundreds of pegasi were going about the business of managing and coordinating the weather across Equestria. The kingdom was broken up into weather regions, which were managed by regional coordinators. The regions were broke down to districts and then further divided into county and metropolitan offices. Rainbow Dash was in charge for the Ponyville county office.
I was just staring at all this in wonder and confusion when a voice spoke up behind me.
“It’s quite a sight isn’t it? To this day I wonder how we make it work at all.”
I turned and found myself staring at pair of wings attached to a pony. A glistening blue-white stallion with a short cropped Prussian blue mane stood behind me. He was staring at the constantly changing model with a critical eye. He had obviously just arrived from flying since his flight goggles still had frost and ice on them, but the most amazing thing about him was the size of his wings. The Royal Sisters have great wingspans but they are at least twice the size of most ponies. This stallion was only a couple inches taller than I but even with his wings folded I could tell they were larger than Celestia’s.
“Um, yeah.” I said clumsily. “This is my first time to Weather Central and it is quite imposing.” I turned bowed my head. “Sky Brush is my name, I’m a reservist with the Ponyville County Office. Uh, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
“True Wind is my name.” Said the stallion returning my head bow. I’m assigned to REWS Central here Cloudsdale. I help oversee all high altitude meteorological activity in Equestria.”
It suddenly dawned me I was talking to one of the legendary Height Climbers of pegasi culture. Most Ponies have a maximum flying ceiling of about 18,000 ft. beyond that even with flight magic you run out of lift. Besides at those heights the air gets too thin and your brain starts turning to oatmeal, never mind trying to do any meaningful weather manipulation. RD told me how she had once on a dare had ridden some updrafts to over 24,000 ft. besides almost freezing solid she said that she could’ve kept herself occupied for half an hour or more just figuring out how to spell her name.
But for Height Climbers life began at 15,000+ ft. Height Climbers often operated at altitudes greater than 30,000ft, and some could reach altitudes of over 45,000ft. Not only did their vast wings give them more lift they possessed the magic necessary to survive the bitter cold and thin air of the upper atmosphere.
In fact a recent issue of Scientific Equestria had an article about experiments recently conducted that involved sending Height Climbers up in special balloons and with the benefit of special suits, helmets and carefully crafted unicorn spells they had reached altitudes of almost 60,000ft.
Height Climbers were the astronauts of pony culture and they were often held in the highest regard amongst their pegasi peers. Also there were never enough of them to handle all the jobs that required their special skills.
Any foal born with the obvious traits and features of a Height Climber was almost guaranteed employment and support from the Crown for the rest of their life. They and their family would receive financial aid from not only the REWS and the Crown, but from the various scientific organizations across Equestria who required their special talents. For that reason most Height Climbers had not one but often two degrees in various sciences so could conduct their work.
True Wind and I continued chatting for a few minutes as he provided me with fascinating some insights into how whole weather picture in Equestria was interconnected when Rainbow Dash flew over and landed next to me.
“Hey there Brick! Making some new acquaintances? Rainbow Dash is my name and who might you be sir?”
True Wind’s ears perked at Dash’s name. “Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. True Wind is my name and it is a pleasure to meet such an important subject of the realm. I have seen the stained glass windows in the Royal Palace. All of Equestria is in debt for what you and the other bearers have achieved.”
“Thanks!” Grinned the light cerulean blue mare. “But me and my friends just did what needed doing! Nothing more than that!” She then looked at me.
“I’ve got an appointment for you tonight at oh nineteen hundred Brick so you can see a counselor and schedule for your exam. In the meantime let’s pick up our room keys for the hostel; then let’s get a bite to eat at the headquarters cantina. I even scored us some meal tokens so the food is free tonight! Tomorrow I’ll give you a complete tour of this place and then we can spend the rest of day seeing the sites in Cloudsdale.” The prismatic mare smiled at me. “We can also start putting up my fliers for the Best Young Fliers Competition then.”
“Ah, so you’ll be entering again this year Miss Dash?” Asked True Wind.
“Yep!” replied RD. “It’s the last year I can enter and I want to win it back to back! That will be one for the record books!” Grinned the mare.
“You actually believe you can win it again after last years performance? How do plan to top last years act?”
Dash just smiled at the Height Climber. “By doing something new, amazing and awesome! Beyond that you’ll just have to attend the competition or read about it in the papers!”
To be continued.
FYI. I have stated that Cloudsdale is one of the most fantastical places I have seen in Equestria, and my attempts to sketch the Grand Map ended in disaster. I need to rethink how I can sketch it out.
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 901px
File Size 150 kB
Oh now, with Sky Brush's skills he might be able to get a job here as a model-maker!
Hmm, I wonder if the earth ponies and unicorns know just how much work goes into making the weather?
For that matter I wonder if Equestria has the phone, and if so, then how many angry calls the Weather Patrol office gets every day. I.e., "You incompetents, you promised us warm and sunny and now it's raining..."
For that matter I wonder if Equestria has the phone, and if so, then how many angry calls the Weather Patrol office gets every day. I.e., "You incompetents, you promised us warm and sunny and now it's raining..."
Hmm, I wonder if the earth ponies and unicorns know just how much work goes into making the weather?
No like many things in life ponies like humans take things for granted until they don't work then they scream at those whose job it is to make it happen. Never mind those individuals have succeeded for months if not years in the system work without a hiccup, the moment there is a glitch they get nothing but grief.
Also most unicorn and earth ponies do not appreciate how powerful of a weapon the weather was for the pegasi. In the days before unification the pegasi often used the weather as a means extracting demands from the other tribes. If the war with the dragons had gone on longer or badly for the ponies there were plans of using the weather against the dragons. However that conflict was resolved very quickly.
No like many things in life ponies like humans take things for granted until they don't work then they scream at those whose job it is to make it happen. Never mind those individuals have succeeded for months if not years in the system work without a hiccup, the moment there is a glitch they get nothing but grief.
Also most unicorn and earth ponies do not appreciate how powerful of a weapon the weather was for the pegasi. In the days before unification the pegasi often used the weather as a means extracting demands from the other tribes. If the war with the dragons had gone on longer or badly for the ponies there were plans of using the weather against the dragons. However that conflict was resolved very quickly.
No like many things in life ponies like humans take things for granted until they don't work then they scream at those whose job it is to make it happen. Never mind those individuals have succeeded for months if not years in the system work without a hiccup, the moment there is a glitch they get nothing but grief.
Ah yes, the "invisible support" problem. The better the job is done, the less it's noticed. It can lead to underfunding vital services.
Ah yes, the "invisible support" problem. The better the job is done, the less it's noticed. It can lead to underfunding vital services.
Now I wonder if there's a height climber named "Black Bird" on staff?
I love this nuts and bolts stuff. Sometimes I wonder how your brain is able to make such logical connections in its sleep? Everything it comes up with fits! Once it's explained the details seem obvious that they belong, and nothing seems tacked on. It's like pieces being added onto an ever expanding puzzle. Good work!
I love this nuts and bolts stuff. Sometimes I wonder how your brain is able to make such logical connections in its sleep? Everything it comes up with fits! Once it's explained the details seem obvious that they belong, and nothing seems tacked on. It's like pieces being added onto an ever expanding puzzle. Good work!
Now I wonder if there's a height climber named "Black Bird" on staff?
Oh I am pretty certain that my subconscious was influenced by reading http://www.fimfiction.net/story/3782/higher-flier since I rather enjoyed that story.
I love this nuts and bolts stuff. Sometimes I wonder how your brain is able to make such logical connections in its sleep? Everything it comes up with fits! Once it's explained the details seem obvious that they belong, and nothing seems tacked on. It's like pieces being added onto an ever expanding puzzle. Good work!
This set of dreams and the dreams dealing with trip to Cloudsdale and the upcoming trip to Canterlot for Service to the Crown Day had some the biggest chunks of world-building in them that subconscious dumped on me.
Oh I am pretty certain that my subconscious was influenced by reading http://www.fimfiction.net/story/3782/higher-flier since I rather enjoyed that story.
I love this nuts and bolts stuff. Sometimes I wonder how your brain is able to make such logical connections in its sleep? Everything it comes up with fits! Once it's explained the details seem obvious that they belong, and nothing seems tacked on. It's like pieces being added onto an ever expanding puzzle. Good work!
This set of dreams and the dreams dealing with trip to Cloudsdale and the upcoming trip to Canterlot for Service to the Crown Day had some the biggest chunks of world-building in them that subconscious dumped on me.
Worldbuilding has always been my second favorite part of creating a story—character-building is the only thing that beat its for me—, so I eat this kind of stuff up.
So considering the height climbers, is that wingspan a genetic quirk, a form of gigantism for example, or is it more hereditary? Meaning being a height climber can be considered a family tradition? A little of both?
So considering the height climbers, is that wingspan a genetic quirk, a form of gigantism for example, or is it more hereditary? Meaning being a height climber can be considered a family tradition? A little of both?
So considering the height climbers, is that wingspan a genetic quirk, a form of gigantism for example, or is it more hereditary? Meaning being a height climber can be considered a family tradition? A little of both?
A little of both. Yes if you get two height climbers to marry and they have a foal there is a slightly better chance that they'll produce another height climber, but it does not seem to be completely hereditary. Some ponies have speculated that exposure to certain types of world magic may influence the outcome, so Celestia is not engaged in some eugenic breeding program for ponies.
A little of both. Yes if you get two height climbers to marry and they have a foal there is a slightly better chance that they'll produce another height climber, but it does not seem to be completely hereditary. Some ponies have speculated that exposure to certain types of world magic may influence the outcome, so Celestia is not engaged in some eugenic breeding program for ponies.
Height climbers, eh?
I have got to introduce you to my pony Nomad. In my headcanon he's a long distance flier, team leader for high altitude surveillance & map making (think pony version of satellite mapping), and from a place called the Painted Pegasus Plateau where there aren't any clouds (desert climage) but the plateau sits at ludicrously high altitude.
Or just wait till you're taking commissions again. That'd work too. :D
I have got to introduce you to my pony Nomad. In my headcanon he's a long distance flier, team leader for high altitude surveillance & map making (think pony version of satellite mapping), and from a place called the Painted Pegasus Plateau where there aren't any clouds (desert climage) but the plateau sits at ludicrously high altitude.
Or just wait till you're taking commissions again. That'd work too. :D
Spell checkers do that, anyone with a decent vocabulary regularly runs into words that aren't in there, that's why most have some option to add things to the list. That's also one of the reasons I keep a good dictionary at hand[1].
[1] A 2ed Canadian Oxford, but a Scrabble dictionary is a surprisingly good choice if you only care about spelling, (it just misses a number of 'dirty' words and some of the longer ones).
[1] A 2ed Canadian Oxford, but a Scrabble dictionary is a surprisingly good choice if you only care about spelling, (it just misses a number of 'dirty' words and some of the longer ones).
A thought came to mind that the REWS Central Office is built in an Art Deco style of architecture, which would suggest that the current main building is of a more recent vintage, most likely to house the expanded staff and offices necessary to run a modern weather service. The old central office building would be built in a more classic Cloudsdale style resembling Ancient Greek architecture and is either being used for the backroom support offices of the REWS, other government/municipal agencies, or probably converted into a REWS/Cloudsdale history museum.
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