Time
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Just like the cosmos, time is also a finicky thing to understand, being one of the natural laws of the universe. It is every existing and never-ending, yet it affects everything just as equally. However, it is essential to keep the celestial alignment in mind when discussing time itself. Based on the course of Eseron and the many planets or realms that encircle the sun, their influence appears to affect the months of the upcoming year to some degree. Besides such on Eseron, one week consists of eight days, each day consisting of twenty-four hours. While every week consists of eight days, this also means that every one of the twelve months consists of thirty-two days in total.
Celestial Alignment
The Celestial Alignment is a naturally occurring phenomenon, which is based on the proximity of Eseron to the other planets or realms that might be found within the solar system. Based on Eseron's proximity to those planets or realms, the weather, temperature, and other factors are seemingly influenced and adapted to be harsher, gentler, or different from the next year.
Lilith’s Veil
During the years of Lilith’s Veil, Eseron is known to have much longer and often harsher, colder months, which often prevent the ice and snow from melting easily and early on. Instead, the meltage doesn’t occur within the last few weeks of the quarter, and even then, the warmth of the upcoming months is seemingly delayed and slowed down, stunting the growth of plant life early on. Said colder weather seems to stretch over the whole year as the usually scorching warm months appear more moderate than hot in any way or form. At the same time, cloudy weather is more prominent during this alignment, often causing farmers to fear a bad harvest as their crops do not grow as much without the proper sunlight. Lastly, the cold weather also starts to pick up weeks earlier, unlike what was anticipated by most, with snowfalls already starting at the end of the third quarter of the year. Ancient folktales speak of a queen who lost her husband-to-be before they could officiate their vows, resulting in a great depression throughout the lands, crops withering and nature dying as the maiden mourned a life that should never be, and the gods mourned with her. The rainy and icy weather, which comes along with this alignment, is said to represent her tears and the tears of the citizens, which they shed in grief over their loss.
Emerald Dusk
The year of the Emerald Dusk is the most anticipated alignment of the four, closely followed by Amber Dawn, due to its positive influence on the plant life of Eseron. Like the alignment of Lilith’s veil, the Emerald Dusk influences some months of the year more strongly than others. The colder, icier months seem to end a bit earlier, giving way to the many plants to start budding and to bloom earlier and often for an elongated period of time. However, while such may be the case, it also causes several issues as plantlife is taking over more of the landscape, often overgrowing and overflowing farmlands and smaller settlements with its foliage and greenery during those months. Later in the year, those plants also become a dangerous hazard, as they start to dry up during the hotter months, becoming perfect tinder for a wildfire to consume.
Eden's Shine
One may either love or hate the years of Eden’s Shine, as it is rather enjoyable during the early and late quarters, but extremely dangerous during the middle of the year. Especially during the first quarter of the year, Eden’s Shine causes the ice and frost to melt early on, often within the first few weeks of the new year, while also allowing plantlife to sprout early on. However, at the same time, this development also causes the warmer months to approach faster, often resulting in sweltering heatwaves before the second quarter of the year has even started. Said heatwaves often become so warm during the middle of the year that most plant life starts to dry up and wither, while the soil turns into solid slabs of dried-up dirt. Rainfall is also sparse during this alignment, which results in many crops drying up if they aren’t frequently watered through manual means, making farmers lose their minds as livelihoods become endangered by those droughts. At the same time, the water levels of rivers and water reservoirs fall to an all-time low, endangering many more, especially the lives of those living within settlements and cities, which depend on those sources of freshwater. Similar to the month of Edensrest, the name is based on the old story of the farmer named Eden, who helped the settlements of Eseron during a great drought by sharing his crops and resources to save many from starvation. His smile was, according to the children's story, so bright that the sun, Zon, became jealous and continued to usher away any possible clouds until the end of the year, resulting in even more heatwaves.
Amber Dawn
The fourth of the celestial alignments is the year of Amber Dawn, which is often loved by farmers, yet despised by most travellers and merchants alike. Especially the early months of the year aren’t as heavily impacted, as the temperatures shift from the colder, icier weather to a more moderate one. However, just after the first quarter of the year, the first changes can be spotted, as the sky often seems to be covered by thick and dark clouds. The warmth of the sun is also less intense, as the clouds seemingly block out a fair majority of the heat. As such, the middle of the year stays moderately warm instead of the usual heatwaves, which have plagued the land just the previous season. However, especially as the second quarter of the year comes to an end, the heavy storms and rainfalls begin, causing the dried up soil of the previous year to be flooded so fast that the soil can’t absorb the water in time, causing floods, landslides and even sinkholes to form. Yet, making such events even worse is the length of most of those storms and rainfalls, as they often keep on going for weeks on end. Those who have been able to survive those dangerous storms and rainfalls are, however, blessed by a rather positive effect; Their harvest has never been as bountiful as during the years of Amber Dawn.
Months
Newdawn - The beginning of a new year
The start of a new year is marked by the continuation of the celestial cycle, when one of the outer elemental realms makes way for another as being the one closest to Zon and thus Eseron. This changes what is considered the start of a new year and thus a drastic change in overall weather. Newdawn is the first month of the year and is generally marked by icy to temperate temperatures depending on the cycle. Its name derives, as one would expect, from the start of the new year.
Starfall - The melting of snow and ice
The month of Starfall marks, as the name would suggest, the end of the celestial bodies of our skies shifting and turning position, and with it, this usually marks the end of the colder months, even in warm years where Ignos dominates the sky. The general weather begins to adjust to the celestial alignment for that year and is considered by some as the true start of the celestial year. During the same time, a meteor shower can be spotted at the end of the month, which returns every year. As such, some settlements hold small festivals to celebrate the return and passing of said meteor shower.
Firstseed - The first sprouting
As the month of Firstseed rolls around, the first quarter of the new year slowly crawls to a close with it. It is usually considered the first month where the climate evens out for that year, and a proper prediction for the year’s harvest can be made. If the climate allows it, it is also when the first seeds that survived the celestial shift rise from the soil to bloom the barren lands with their colours.
Highbloom - The flowering time
The start of the second quarter of the celestial cycle, or year, is the month of Highbloom. It is called that because the seeds that first sprout at the start of Firstseed fully start to come out, dotting the land with a tidal wave of colour from the coldest of tundras to the driest of deserts. Of course, this effect varies from year to year, but Highbloom is considered a relatively reliable point for this event to start, even in its delayed form of Lilith’s Veil.
Greenfall - The cascade of greenery
The month of Greenfall is generally considered to be rather mundane, marking the halfway point of the second quarter; no major events typically occur during this time. The landscape still enjoys its green coat, and the temperature is considered to be pleasant, even during Lilith’s Veil. Only towards the end of the month does the temperature begin to rise.
Highsun - The bringer of warmth
Towards the end of the second quarter, the halfway point of the year comes in sight, and with it comes the peaking of temperatures towards the warmest peaks of the year, a process that starts firmly within this month. The first heatwaves are expected around this time and begin to reach their first proper peak towards the end of the month, and thus, the halfway point of the year.
Goldscorch - The flame-bringing
As the first month of the third quarter arrives and the second half of the year begins, temperatures are at an all-time high. While during Lilith’s Veil that usually comes down to pleasant temperatures one would expect from Highbloom, during Eden’s shine this time of year is the most deadly, as fields often do not survive the heat, and many cannot stand the scorching temperatures that plague even the coldest of regions.
Sunfall - The mellowing of heat
As the name of the month suggests, Sunfall is when the temperatures that plague the land begin to slow down. The peak temperatures come to an end, and the climate for a brief moment returns to a more temperate, pleasant state. This is also the time of year when most go to the field to see what crops survived the heat of Goldscorch and if there will be a harvest that year, which is prepared during this time.
Edensrest - The harvest-bringer
The month of Edensrest is named after the time of harvest and when the soil properly comes to a rest after the months of heat. The crops that dot the land have fully grown by now, and farmers must make haste to collect their produce, for towards the middle of the month and quarter, the most rainy period of the year begins, which floods the land clean and prepares it for the next year of farming. Based on the old folklore and children's story, this month was also the month were Eden harvested the many crops and resources, which he later used to save many settlements from starvation, just to finally rest afterwards.
Rainswrath - The melancholic flood
The name of this month speaks for itself, as this is the month that symbolises the height of the rainy months. Depending on the celestial cycle, this month can be either one of the tamer, simply wet times or an absolute tidal wave of storms and other weather madness, drowning coasts and islands in a whirlwind of nature’s wrath. The start of the final quarter of the celestial year is often marked by this chaos as the elemental world begins to pull away.
Redfall - The turning of leaves
Similar to its cousin, the month of Greenfall, Redfall is also considered a rather mundane month, marking the halfway point of the fourth quarter and, as such, the slowly approaching end of the year. During this time of the year, the foliage of the lush trees has started to turn a dark red, golden yellow, or leathery brown, just before the very leaves start to flutter to the ground below. Depending on the celestial alignment, however, the climate and weather of this month become rather unpredictable, ranging from raging storms to icy climates and sometimes moderate temperatures instead.
Godsnight - The time to rest
The final hurdle of the year is called Godsnight, a period of the year where the days are short and temperatures fall to an all-time shocking low, even during more temperate years. This month and time of year mark the end of the celestial year and thus the beginning of the elemental planets' cycling, where the body that dominated the skies for that year withdraws and makes way for another to take its place. The exact end of the year is marked by the one night of the year when none of the realms can be seen in the sky, leaving the turning of the year the darkest night of all.
Days of the week
Moonday - A new cycle begins
Just like the cycle of the moon, each week begins anew. Moonday marks the very beginning of the new week and is usually met with dislike by many, as they were able to rest the day before, but have to accomplish their weekly chores again starting from this day onward. During this day, most merchants also travel back to their homesteads or farms to refill their supplies and handle any business on-site.
Harvestday - A new harvest
After returning from their long travels, those merchants who attended the market start to take care of their fields, harvesting those crops that have ripened during their absence. Most often, the Harvestday is also used to refill one's supplies and pantry with any resources one may need for the week.
Wineday - To process one's harvest
Being the third day of the week, Wineday is commonly used by farmers, merchants and commoners alike to process their harvest or their newly obtained goods. In the past, it was primarily used to process grapes into wine, hence the name of the day, but nowadays the processing can range from turning milk into butter or cheese or turning newly obtained fabric into wonderful gowns.
Thunderday - The refreshing middle
Signalling the middle of the week, Thunderday is often a busy day, as many chores and tasks need to be finished before one prepares for their upcoming travel to the surrounding settlements and cities, so that one may attend the upcoming market. As such, this day was named after the electrifying thunder, which is just as busy, energising and refreshing.
Fireday - The lighting of the hearth
Fireday takes place right before the day of the market, and is meant for families and merchants to get together and enjoy a warm meal with each other, while being warmed by the crackling fire of the hearth. Smaller gatherings and festivals usually start during Fireday, while many festivities on Fireday end with the ignition of a bonfire, which shall warm the hearts and souls of those attending.
Marketday - Day of the merchants and sellers
The sixth day of the week, known as Marketday, is exactly as one would imagine it to be - a day of trade and business. After a lengthy week of gathering materials, of travelling from one settlement to the next, of preparing one's stall, this day is the very reason why such hardships have been endured by the many merchants. Throughout the many settlements, markets open up, merchants sell their exotic wares, and guilders flow like beer in a tavern.
Sunday - To honour the life-giving sun
Honouring the very sun, Zon, which has graced Eseron with its light for aeons, this day is usually a day of cleansing and purity. Housewives start to clean the huts of any dirt and dust, while their husbands take care of the fields, cleansing away any weeds and unwanted pests.
Saintsday - To commemorate their acts
Known as a day of worship and remembrance, Saintsday rings in the end of the week. During this day, most human citizens visit their churches or places of worship and remember the many acts of the saintly figures of their religious beliefs. As such, it is seen as a holy day for many and no work gets done during it.
Time Conversion (OOC-Note)
To help our players with the general time conversion between real-life time and in-character time, we have created this simple time conversion table. Besides such one may also use the “/date” command while being on the server to get the current time and date displayed within a chat message. Similarly, a player may also use the “?date” command within the bot-commands-channel of the Fables & Fantasy Discord to receive information about the current time and date in-game.
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