Calendar Systems

## People's Calendar

### Timescale

The year begins on the first day of the first month of spring. There are 16 months to a year, 5 weeks to a month and 8 days to a week, known simply as First to Eighth Day. Months are named after animals that are commonly hunted in that season, or after gods. The only exceptions are the seventh month of the year, which was renamed for Chief Morendir after the tribal uniting, the eleventh month, which is called Bounty as it is harvest month, and the thirteenth month Frost, because of the weather.

The year of the tribal uniting is known as year 0. Years before are counted backwards, with the suffix BU (Before Uniting). Years after are counted forwards, with the suffix AU (After Uniting).

### Months

#### Spring

The first month of spring is called Horse, as it is traditional to have one's horses reshoed after the winter weather passes. The second month is Yoscurn, named after the small tree-dwelling creatures that emerge from hibernation around this time of year. The third month is Lamb, because of the livestock breeding season. The fourth month of spring is known as Ranja, derived from the name of time goddess Dranj-Aria, in homage to the passing of another year and the fleeting nature of time.

#### Summer

The first month of summer is called Yari, derived from Hikli-Yari, the old goddess of light. The second month is Limij, named after the plains grazers that are abundant during the season. The third month was formerly called Poltikam, after a large tasty fish that could be caught in the Twin Lakes. Around 15AU, the month was renamed Morendir to commemorate the birth of the great Chief who united the tribes. The final month of summer is called Onai, after the small golden birds that tend to lay their eggs at this time.

#### Autumn

The first month of the season is named Chor, after the absent High God of the Manak tribe. The second month is Renir, named after the Akram's absent god of hunting because it is the last month of the year before the plains start to become empty for the winter. The third month is harvest month, and known as Bounty because of this. The last month of autumn is called Cralek, after the huge bears that roam the Farm Valley during the winter.

#### Winter

The first month is called Frost, because this is usually when the colder weather begins to arrive from the frozen south. The second month of winter is Wiklat, named for Pokole's goddess of ice and snow. This is a reference to the old tribal tradition, where the priestesses of Wikla-Tira would travel to the edge of the ice sheet to pray for a mild winter. The third month is Wolf, so named because of the starving packs that begin to venture closer to the People's lands in search of food. The fourth and final month is known as Nentila, for the small rodents that breed through the winter and often find their way into the People's grain stores by the end of the year.

### Holidays and Events

There are several events scattered through the People's calendar. The most important are Midsummer, held on the last day of Limij, and Midwinter, the last day of Wiklat. The coming-of-age ceremony, a town-wide festival in which everyone is counted a year older and those reaching their fifteenth year are considered adults, is held on Eighth Day in the second week of Morendir. The Spring Festival is usually held during the second week of Lamb, though the exact day varies between towns. The Harvest Feast, or Autumn Festival, is a week long event in the fourth week of Bounty.

## Oakshire Calendar

### Timescale

The Oakshire calendar has 16 months a year, 5 weeks each and 8 days a week, similar to the People's system. A new year begins roughly halfway through winter, on the first day of Loxan. In their current calendar, the years are measured forwards from the year of the Mage Exodus, though previously they used the Nakatan system of using the year of their first Emperor's birth. There have been several tweaks to the Oakshire calendar during the kingdom's existence, as various kings and queens have renamed months to honour those they wanted to remember, or erase those they wished to forget. The following is correct as of the events of The Shades.

### Months

***Loxan*** - first month of the year, named for the One God worshipped in Oakshire after the Year of Enlightenment

***Kagan*** - end of winter, named for the ancient Maralian god of rain Kagrat

***Bluna*** - first month of spring, derived from the Old Elvish for bloom

***Tolodo*** - often the wettest month, named for the Nakatan god of storms Tolodron

***Ansas*** - named for the old goddess of wisdom Ansari, as part of King Andrew I's treaty with the South

***Casra*** - last month of spring, named after the Oakshire-born Empress Cassandra of Nakata

***Tregan*** - beginning of summer, named for the old goddess of fire Treda

***Bareda*** - midsummer is the 31st of the month, name derived from the Old Elvish for heat

***Bordi*** - usually the hottest month of the year, derived from the Maralian word for bake

***Andras*** - named for King Andrew I, last month of summer

***Salas*** - first month of autumn, renamed by King David for his Queen Sally, whose favourite time of year it was

***Woolat*** - traditional harvest month, named for wool as the sheep are shorn in preparation for making winter clothing

***Gimm*** - derived from the Natabish word for gem or jewel, after the reds and golds prevalent as leaves change and fall from the trees

***Dupra*** - end of autumn, derived from the Old Elvish for drop

***Fristus*** - beginning of winter, from the Old Elvish word for freeze or frozen

***Morlas*** - last month of the year, midwinter is on the 31st, named for Queen Jane's stillborn son Mortimer

### Weekdays

Days of the week are named in a similar fashion to the months, though there has been far more consistency in the days' names over the years. The week begins with Ansday, named for Ansari again. Tagsday and Brenday follow, after the local names for the two moons, Taglis and Brenn. Middoch is a simple corruption of mid-week, if said with an Elvish accent. Freeday was historically a day when many people were free from work, hence the name, and Kingsday was declared by King William to be another day off from obligations. Loxday, named for the One God Loxan, is traditionally a day of religious services and community work, and Entoch, the last day of the week, is another Elvish corruption of end-week.

In more recent times, as the general population of Oakshire has become less religious, Freeday is more often a working day and Loxday is treated much the same as Kingsday.

## Nakatan Calendar

### Timescale

The Nakatan calendar differs from most other human calendars, as it has 21 months with 30 days apiece, and every 2 years an extra day known as Emperor's Day is added at the end of the year. Emperor's Day is a nationwide festival, when all rulers of Nakata throughout history are honoured and celebrated

## Maralian Calendar

### Timescale

The Maralian calendar is much the same as the Oakshire calendar, except the names of months are slightly different and the years are taken from the founding of Maral, the island nation's capital city.

## Natabish Calendar

The Natabs were late to adopt a formal calendar, measuring the passing of the year by changing seasons and moon phases rather than any set months or weeks. When they did begin using a calendar, they simply used the Oakshire version, as it made travel and commerce with them simpler.