[[Erathia]] is subjected to storms made of [[Moment]] sweeping it from an almost North to South movement in a cyclical rhythm. The origin of these storms is hard to determine, since travelling closer to the [[Source]] increases the risk of Moment exposure to extremely deadly levels. Researchers have identified the first mentions of storms sometime after the end of the [[Scorched Conquest]], with no further precision to the exact event that might have caused it. This theory is challenged by biologists such as [[Raelia Ecy'Da]], who note that the [[Fauna and Flora|fauna and flora]] of Erathia is too well evolutionarily adapted to the presence of Moment for its appearance to have occurred during the last 2.000 years only. # Structure & Rhythm As momentstorms have been affecting Erathi life for at least 1.500 years now, their structure has been well documented, and is solidly understood by our contributors. Moment storms are separated in two categories : [[Major Storms]] and [[Minor Storms]]. - Major storms follow a cyclical and mostly regular rhythm. They occur every 4 to 5 weeks (40 to 50 days in the [[Aspectdom Calendar]]). - Minor Storms follow a less predictable pattern, and occur during the Low Moment period, rarely exceeding two minor storms per period. They are thought to be the remnants of the Major storms and vary in strength and rhythm based on the Moment absorbed by the environment they passed through. Each Major Storms marks the beginning and the end of a cycle, the time between two storms themselves qualified as High Moment and Low Moment. - A High Moment period is the time right after a Major Storm during which the effects of the storm can still be perceived in the environment. They are generally split by the occurrence of Minor Storms during the first week following the Major Storm. A High Moment period usually lasts between 16 and 20 days. - A Low Moment period is the period of time preceding the arrival of a Major storm. Quite counter-intuitively, these periods are when the Moment load in the environment is at its lowest. These periods last between 20 and 30 days, and start after the passage of the last Minor Storm. Since the occurrence of Minor Storms are less predictable, it is commonly understood that a Low Moment period is underway when a week has passed without a Minor storm occuring. # Impact Momentstorms can have a major impact on maritime travel and prevent longer journeys from taking place without a safe harbor to protect the ships. This specific issue is one of the reasons for the travel times experiences across the planets, and warrant major investments to build ships capable of withstanding a storm from most maritime nations. # Cultural Significance Due to the impactful nature of the momentstorms, Erathi societies have developed many a way to protect their settlements with natural or manmade structures. [[Yrom Kell]] has the cliff walls protecting the city from the southward winds of moment, and its new domelike project aiming at protecting the harbour - and [[Brandholt]] has its [[Great Trees]] serving as moment conductors, preventing the unchallenged storms sweeping over the [[Ovgenian Sea]] to affect the city. Additionally, the measuring and prediction of momentstorms are necessary skills in most outdoor jobs. Navigators need it to anticipate their stopovers, while farmers need them to know when to expose their livestock and crops to the energy or not. Many curse words and insults are related to the momentstorms, but they are also a target of reverence. Due to their unknown [[Source]], they are seen as mysterious and impossible to break through, but their ability to affect the world in a powerful and sudden way is feared and respected.