Calendar

Within Spokenword, there have been many proposals for how to keep track of time and the passing of seasons. However, of all these proposed systems the one that has stuck over the years and has become universal across the world is the Periodic System. While it certainly was not the first calendar, it was the most systematic, unbiased, and reasonable. It is a fairly simply calendar to understand, as can be seen below.

#### Time Flow

Using the Periodic System, the flow of time is simple and easy to understand.

1. There are 60 seconds in a minute.
2. There are 60 minutes in a hour.
3. There are 24 hours in a day.
4. There are 7 days in a half-quarter.
5. There are 2 half-quarters in a quarter (making 14 days in a quarter).
6. There are 4 quarters in a period.
7. There are 7 periods in a year.
8. There are 10 years in a decade, 100 years in a century, etc.

#### The 7 Periods

The seven periods of the calendar year are as follows:

1. Period of Youth
2. Period of Promise
3. Period of Life
4. Period of Fire
5. Period of Maturity
6. Period of Ice
7. Period of Renewal

Periods have 56 days each, except for the 7th period, the period of Renewal, where there are only 29 days, half of a normal period, plus an extra day. This shorter period symbolizes the rapid coming of the new year and a call for change within communities. This extra day is known as the "Day of Both Moons" on the calendar and is the only time both moons, Tilth and Mylnn, are visible in the sky. Afterwards, the new year starts and the calendar resumes as normal.

#### Names of Days in a Quarter

Telling what day it is in a quarter is systematic and reliable. There are 7 days of White Moon (even if Tilth isn't visible) for the first half-quarter than 7 days of Black Moon (likewise Mylnn doesn't have to be specifically visible) for the second half-quarter. A standard quarter would go like this:

1. Monday of the White Moon
2. Tuesday of the White Moon
3. Wednesday of the White Moon
4. Thursday of the White Moon
5. Friday of the White Moon
6. Saturday of the White Moon
7. Sunday of the White Moon
8. Monday of the Black Moon
9. Tuesday of the Black Moon
10. Wednesday of the Black Moon
11. Thursday of the Black Moon
12. Friday of the Black Moon
13. Saturday of the Black Moon
14. Sunday of the Black Moon

Colloquially, these dates are shortened to "White Monday," "Black Thursday," "White Sunday," etc.

#### Year Benchmarks

Unlike the Periodic System as a calendar, the benchmark for years is something that is not hegemonic in Spokenword. Many different benchmarks are to refer to what year it is in the Periodic Calendar, usually varying based on culture and Historian influence. Most popular of these benchmarks is Historian Record (HR), which is widespread throughout the continents of Spokenword since the rise of the Historians about 400 years ago. The following are the benchmarks used today:

* **Historian Record (HR)**
	+ 0 HR marks when the Historians were widespread and capable enough to record history across the entire world, with a Grand Library established in every major region of Spokenword. It is a non-biased and non-cultural benchmark, which makes it great for widespread use. It is officially used in Brocheran, some parts of Anckerdemn, Southern Mekanon, and most of Irralon. Where it is not the official benchmark, it is still recognized in all parts of the world as valid, but not always official. It is the most used benchmark in the current day.
	+ The current year in HR is 321.
* **Ildregaard Formation (IRF)**
	+ 0 IRF marks when Great Lord Reayon I declared Ildregaard a sovereign power and himself the first great lord of it. It is officially used in Ildregaard, the Steel Union, and the Vekik Thaczil area of Irralon. It is the second most used benchmark in the current day.
	+ The current year in IRF is 1226.
* **Yoving's Awakening (YA)**
	+ 0 YA marks when Saint Yoving of Anckerdemn first heard the voice of Oln, reassuring the faith in the Old Gods and starting the widespread practice of the Old Faith, Orthodox Rakatism. This would eventually lead to Wintervale's founding in 55 YA. It is officially used in Wintervale and some parts of Arigild and the Voljordian countries, but some of the latter regions use HR.
	+ The current year in YA is 408.
* **Miscellaneous Benchmarks**
	+ There are a few other benchmarks that do not have nearly as much significance in the modern world, and some may even be archaic. Among these are Uncertain Historian Record (UHR), which measures time since the moment the Historians were formed, not their globalization; Empire Age (EA), the time since the Valkran Empire was formed; and Modern Anckerdemnish Era (MAE), which measures Anckerdemn's modernization from a non-religious standpoint. There are a few more archaic and uncommon benchmarks, but they are negligible.

#### Telling the Date

To properly say what the date is in Spokenword, refer to the guide below. Different benchmarks do not change the syntax.

**Longest form:** Monday of the Black Moon, the 33rd Day of Ice, 568 HR.

**Proper form:** Black Monday, the 33rd of Ice, 300 HR.

**Short form:** The 33rd of Ice, 300 HR.

**Compact form:** 33-I/300 HR.