Different parts of the world have different methods of keeping track of the year. Most systems divide the year into twelve months of twenty eight days each, corresponding to a full lunar cycle. Each month begins with a new moon. Despite this general consistency, the names used for the months vary widely. Some regions and cultures use their own names, while others prefer a zodiac calendar that is widely known across the world.
Years are counted using the ancient era clocks, with each new tick on the outer discs representing the passing of another year. As such, the current year is denoted by the estimated number of elapsed ticks. Despite the ubiquity of this method, many common people are unaware of the origin of the number used for the year, but use it out of convention.
Some regions use other, more local methods of tracking the passage of time. In Khapesh, for example, instead of twelve months the year is divided into three seasons, called Akhet (inundation), Peret (growth), and Shemu (harvest). These are marked by the state of the Aur River. Years in Khapesh are traditionally denoted by the number of years of rule of a given dynasty. Y9975*, for example, would be known as the year 341 of the Menes dynasty. However, nearly everyone in Khapesh is familiar with more broadly used calendars as well, and the traditional system is mostly relegated to ceremonial and religious purposes.
The Marcher calendar is primarily used in Brightmarch, Hinthial, Kharakun, and the western Laqto Rainforest. An evolution of an old elven method of timekeeping, it revolves around the region's wet and dry seasons.
Calendar
| Month | Zodiac calendar | Marcher calendar | Khapeshan calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bear | Moonrise | Peret |
| 2 | Dragon | Wind's Blessing | |
| 3 | Songbird | Starwatch | |
| 4 | Lion | Fire's Grasp | |
| 5 | Camel | Rain's Call | Shemu |
| 6 | Falcon | Revival | |
| 7 | Wasp | Soaring Sun | |
| 8 | Snake | Greenbloom | |
| 9 | Basilisk | Rain's Retreat | Akhet |
| 10 | Elephant | Bounty | |
| 11 | Wolf | Water's Wane | |
| 12 | Phoenix | Year's Rest |