A Year of Thirteen Moons

Three primary calendrical systems are used throughout the known world, all based upon the Düréan construction of a 364 day year.

The oldest calendar is the Düréan lunar calendar, which divides the year based on the cycle of thirteen full moons which appear over the course of the 364 day year. Each moon cycle lasts 28 days, and is divided into four seven-day weeks. The Düréans marked the first day of the year on the anniversary of the Dawning (the return of Ami and Dieva from the Underworld, announcing the return of Helios). Traditionally, the months of the year are called First Moon, Spring Moon, Axe Moon, Green Moon, Bull Moon, Twin Moon, Scarab Moon, Harvest Moon, Red Moon, Judgement Moon, Scorpion Moon, Twilight Moon, and Last Moon.

The Düréan calendar, sometimes with different names, is still used in Khael, Palatia, the Midlands, and parts of the Far West and Far North. The Düréans dated their calendar from the founding of Ürüne Düré, and according to the scribes of Khael the current year is 2616.

Almost as old as the Düréan calendar is the Golan Celestial calendar, based upon the cycle of star signs. The appearance of a new sign in the Heavens marks the beginning of a new month. The Golan calendar year begins with the first appearance of the Ram (which appears on the 27th day of Axe Moon in the Düréan calendar). The months of the year are the Ram (31days), the Sun Bull (31 days), the Sky Twins (30 days), the Scarab (31 days), the Sun Lion (30 days), the Virgin (30 days), the Judgement (31 days), the Scorpion (30 days), the Archer (31 days), the Dragon (31 days), the Star-Child (28 days), and the Sea Serpent (30 days).

The Celestial calendar fell out of use after Dauban Hess instituted the Imperial calendar, but beginning with Akkalion it returned to favor in the Great Schools of the Gola and in the Phoenix Court of the Divine King. The Celestial calendar is now the official calendar throughout the Thessid-Golan Empire and the neighboring Queendom of Amora-and-Meretia. Dating began with the acceptance of the calendar by King Hasuwat, but Golan scholars dispute whether the current date is 2432 (the generally accepted number) or 2832 (making the calendar older than the Düréan calendar). Official Imperial annals are dated from the ascent of Akkalion to the Emperor's throne, 446 years ago.

The third primary calendar is the Imperial Avellan calendar, created and instituted by Dauban Hess, the Golden Emperor. The beginning of the year is marked at the anniversary of the Divine King's return from exile, when Islik emerged from his ordeals in the Underworld (corresponding to the 4th day of First Moon in the Düréan calendar). The year is divided into 12 months of varying length patterned to some extent after the Celestial calendar; some uncertainty exists over whether the divisions were arbitrary or based upon the anniversaries of various heroic deeds performed by the Divine King and his followers.

The calendar is still in use throughout Sun Court Divine King lands (see map), including the Hemapoline League of Cities (comprising the Isle of Illia, where the Sun Court is located, and the Hemispial Peninsula), the Middle Kingdoms, and some portions of the Thessid-Golan Empire. Unfortunately, little consistency in the names of the months exists, even from city to city. The calendar was back-dated from the time of Dauban Hess to the ascension of Islik the Divine King into Heaven. The current year is generally marked as 1472.

In the Highlands of Daradja, both the lunar calendar and the Avellan calendar of the Middle Kingdoms are used, as is the Avellan year, currently 1472. The events of this miniseries take place beginning on the 26th of Green Moon.