Royal Meteorological Chronicle: Overcast Storm Cloudbank

The mercury in the barometer has fallen steadily since dawn, now resting at 29.73 inches and still sinking—a sure herald of the tempest that gathers in the darkening vault above. The air hangs heavy with the scent of pine and impending rain, while a light mountain mist clings to the valleys, softening the jagged outlines of the Carpathian crags. The thermometer stands at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, though the chill that creeps through the observatory walls speaks of a colder breath yet to come.

A gentle southwest breeze, scarcely five knots, rustles the few remaining leaves on the stunted oaks, but its whisper carries a warning: the clouds, thick and bruised, are massing like a congregation of spectres. The waxing gibbous moon remains hidden behind this veil, and the night will be devoid of her pale guidance. Coachmen and travelers bound for the high passes would do well to seek shelter ere the storm breaks, for the mountains are known to exact a heavy toll from the unprepared.

Let the folk of the valley towns secure their shutters and bring their livestock to lower pastures, for the signs are unmistakable. The old shepherds speak of such skies as the breath of the strigoi, and while I am loath to indulge in superstition, the sudden stillness that precedes the gale is not without its menace. The storm will come, and with it, the testing of our fortitude.

Meteorological Readings & Barometric Log:
• Atmosphere: Overcast Storm Cloudbank
• Temperature: 55°F / 13°C / 10.2°R Mountain Chill
• Barometer: 29.73 inHg - Falling Low — Tempest Imminent
• Wind & Squalls: Southwest 5 kts Gentle Breeze
• Station: Scarlet Ridge Observatory, Transylvania
• Observer: Alistair Sterling, Atmospheric & Barometric Scholar