Elanthian Time
From Elanthipedia
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The world of Elanthia has its own system of time. There are days and seasons, just as in the real world. However, time flows faster in Elanthia than it does on Earth, and the weeks and months are not divided the same way.
Some old systems (such as repair shops) use Earth time, but this is out of character.
Unless otherwise noted, this article refers to the Kermorian calendar, which is used throughout the known lands. The Gorbesh calendar is described below.
Telling Time
As a new adventurer, you can estimate the time. The accuracy of this estimate improves with perception skill. Rangers and Moon Mages can tell time more accurately. Moon Mages also have the ability to tell the time while indoors via a superior Time Sense.
Many Elanthians do not have access to timepieces, so they rely on their observations of the sun and moons. Other methods include: sundials, orlogs (windable timepieces), bells, and anlas candles.
Because dates are reckoned as years and days since the victory of Lanival, the first day and year are 0, not 1. The days of the month are numbered from 1-40. Thus, the first day of the year is expressed as 1 Akroeg or as "0 days since the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer."
Conversion Charts
| Elanthia | Earth |
|---|---|
| 1 roisan | 1 minute |
| 1 hour | 15 minutes |
| 1 anlas (2 hours) | 30 minutes |
| 1 day (12 anlaen) | 6 hours |
| 1 andu/week (4 days) | 24 hours |
| 1 month (10 andaen) | 10 days |
| 1 year (10 months) | 100 days |
| Second | Roisan | Hour | Anlas | Day | Andu | Month | Year | |
| Second | 1 | |||||||
| Roisan | 60 | 1 | ||||||
| Hour | 900 | 15 | 1 | |||||
| Anlas | 1,800 | 30 | 2 | |||||
| Day | 21,600 | 360 | 24 | 12 | 1 | |||
| Andu | 86,400 | 1,440 | 96 | 48 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Month | 864,000 | 14,400 | 960 | 480 | 40 | 10 | 1 | |
| Year | 8,640,000 | 144,000 | 9,600 | 4,800 | 400 | 100 | 10 | 1 |
Units of Time
The Elanthian day consists of 12 anlasaen, beginning and ending at midnight. There are no time zones. (Perhaps the known lands are so small that time zones are not needed.)
The words "minute" and "hour" are not OOC terms[1], although the use of "hour" may confuse people. (They may interpret it as 60 minutes if they think you're being OOC, 30 minutes if they think you mean anlas, or 15 minutes if they think that you mean the Elanthian hour.)
Roisaen (Minutes)
The Gamgweth word for minute is "roisan." (The plural is "roisaen.") The term "minute" is an acceptable alternative.
Anlasaen
People often refer to "anlasaen" (shortened to "anlaen") as "hours," but this is technically incorrect. An anlas actually contains two Elanthian hours.
There are 12 anlaen in a day:
| Number | Name | Hours | Roisaen | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Anduwen | 0-1 | 0-29 | |
| 1 | Starwatch | 2-3 | 30-59 | |
| 2 | Asketi's Hunt | 4-5 | 60-89 | summer sunrise |
| 3 | Berengaria's Touch | 6-7 | 90-119 | |
| 4 | Hodierna's Blessing | 8-9 | 120-149 | winter sunrise |
| 5 | Peri'el's Watch | 10-11 | 150-179 | |
| 6 | Dergati's Bane | 12-13 | 180-209 | |
| 7 | Firulf's Flame | 14-15 | 210-239 | |
| 8 | Tamsine's Toil | 16-17 | 240-269 | winter sunset |
| 9 | Meraud's Cloak | 18-19 | 270-299 | |
| 10 | Phelim's Vigil | 20-21 | 300-329 | summer sunset |
| 11 | Revelfae | 22-23 | 330-359 |
Days
The soldiers of the Empire divided each day into 15 sections or watches -- nine for the day and six for the night. This usage survives into present times.
The nine day watches are: dawn, early morning, mid-morning, late morning, noon, early afternoon, mid-afternoon, late afternoon, and dusk. (Sunset occurs after dusk but is not a "watch.")
The six night watches are: early evening, mid-evening, late evening, midnight, night, and almost dawn.
Andaen (Weeks)
The word "andu" (pl. andaen) literally means "day" in Gamgweth, which is a source of confusion for adventurers. However, since each andu is actually four days long, the best translation is "week."
Source: The Elanthian Calendar
Each of the months is divided into 10 andaen of four days each. These "weeks" are named after the Immortals.
| Name | Days |
|---|---|
| Kertandu | 1-4 |
| Hodandu | 5-8 |
| Evandu | 9-12 |
| Truffandu | 13-16 |
| Havrandu | 17-20 |
| Elandu | 21-24 |
| Chandu | 25-28 |
| Glythandu | 29-32 |
| Faeandu | 33-36 |
| Tamsandu | 37-40 |
Months
There are ten months in a year; each is 40 days long. The months are divided into ten andaen of four days each and are named after Lanival's companions and their possessions.
| Number | Name | Days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akroeg the Ram | 0-39 |
| 2 | Ka'len the Sea Drake | 40-79 |
| 3 | Lirisa the Archer | 80-119 |
| 4 | Shorka the Cobra | 120-159 |
| 5 | Uthmor the Giant | 160-199 |
| 6 | Arhat the Fire Lion | 200-239 |
| 7 | Moliko the Balance | 240-279 |
| 8 | Skullcleaver the Dwarven Axe | 280-319 |
| 9 | Dolefaren the Brigantine | 320-359 |
| 10 | Nissa the Maiden | 360-399 |
Seasons
The year has four seasons of equal length (100 Elanthian days or 25 Earth days).
| Season | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | 30 Dolefaren (day 350) | 9 Ka'len (day 49 of the next year) |
| Spring | 10 Ka'len (day 50) | 29 Shorka (day 149) |
| Summer | 30 Shorka (day 150) | 9 Moliko (day 249) |
| Fall | 10 Moliko (day 250) | 29 Dolefaren (day 349) |
- These dates are from The Elanthian Calendar. Either the dates or the days of the year are off by 1. (30 Dolefaren is day 349, not day 350.) The author probably forgot that the first day of the year is numbered 0, not 1.
Years
The years run in a cycle of seven names and are numbered according to a watershed event of Elanthian history, the Victory of Lanival.
- 0. Year of the Silver Unicorn (Victory of Lanival)
- 1. Year of the Bronze Wyvern
- 2. Year of the Golden Panther
- 3. Year of the Amber Phoenix
- 4. Year of the Iron Toad
- 5. Year of the Emerald Dolphin
- 6. Year of the Crystal Snow Hare
Elanthian Holidays
Gorbesh/Alaudian Calendar
Source: The Gorbesh Calendar
The Gorbesh Calendar is sometimes called the Alaudian Calendar after the Founder of the Empire. The calendar reflects the importance of religion, astrology, and prophecy in Gorbesh society.
Days
There are 400 days in the Gorbesh year.
Weeks and Months
No mention of week or month divisions. Presumably, they are of the same number and duration as the Kermorian calendar.
Years
The Gorbesh have different names for the planets of our solar system.
| Inner | Outer | ||
| Kermorian | Albarian | Kermorian | Albarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verena | Xosedas | Szeldia | Osec |
| Estrilda | Avieben | Merewalda | Alauven |
| Dergaulda | Tliij | Ismenia | Aneus |
| Yoakena | Eimarqe | Morleena | Maeben |
| Penhetia | Sidasas | Imlothi | Misueshi |
| Dawgolesh | Ilierek | ||
| Er'qutra | Kneisa |
These names form the basis of the 35-year cycle. Names are paired in the form of one god to one goddess, ie, Xosedas - Osec.
- Xosedas - Osec
- Avieben - Alauven
- Tliij - Aneus
- Eimarqe - Maeben
- Sidasas - Misueshi
- Xosedas - Ileirek
- Avieben - Kneisa
- Tliij - Osec
- Eimarqe - Alauven
- Sidasas - Aneus
- Xosedas - Maeben
- Avieben - Misueshi
- Tliij - Ileirek
- Eimarqe - Kneisa
- Sidasas - Osec
- Xosedas - Alauven
- Avieben - Aneus
- Tliij - Maeben
- Eimarqe - Misueshi
- Sidasas - Ileirek
- Xosedas - Kneisa
- Avieben - Osec
- Tliij - Alauven
- Eimarqe - Aneus
- Sidasas - Maeben
- Xosedas - Misueshi
- Avieben - Ileirek
- Tliij - Kneisa
- Eimarqe - Osec
- Sidasas - Alauven
- Xosedas - Aneus
- Avieben - Maeben
- Tliij - Misueshi
- Eimarqe - Ileirek
- Sidasas - Kneisa
Prime Years
The first year of the cycle, Xosedas - Osec, is always a time of great importance and consequence. Expensive, year-long festivals are hosted, the greatest war campaigns are begun, new buildings or cities are started, and new monuments are raised. Also, the people are most devout at this time.
Death Years
The last year of the cycle, Sidasas - Kneisa, is a time of reflection and remembrance of everything that's happened in the past cycle as we salute the new age. The Skalds write epic scrolls recording the events and people, immortalizing them for all time.
External Links
- Current DR Time A DR to GMT and back again time converter.
References
See also
- Time (script) Genie script that converts DR time to real time and vice versa
- Time Unit Converter (script): Genie script that converts between Earth and Elanthian units of time (as opposed to specific dates and times).
