The Astral calendar is the main calendar in use in the region surrounding Ahabalad, which is its birthplace. It is both a solar and lunar calendar, the months being based on the phases of the moon and the year corresponding roughly to the solar year. Most nations of the Timani Basin use it to be able to communicate more easily with each other.
The Astral cycles and years
According to the Astral calendar, the world goes through cycles, which are supposed to affect the magical energies of the world and the fate of its people. Each cycle lasts 80 years and is divided in four sections. Each section lasts 20 years and corresponds to a season: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each of those 20 years bears a name inspired by nature. Associated with its season, you get the full name of a specific year in a cycle. For example, the year of the Autumn Dew is the 54th year of the cycle.
| Year 1 |
Sun |
Year 11 |
Sky |
| Year 2 |
Bud |
Year 12 |
Wind |
| Year 3 |
Blossom |
Year 13 |
Cloud |
| Year 4 |
Foliage |
Year 14 |
Dew |
| Year 5 |
Flame |
Year 15 |
Rain |
| Year 6 |
Sap |
Year 16 |
Snow |
| Year 7 |
Fig |
Year 17 |
Lily |
| Year 8 |
Soil |
Year 18 |
Moth |
| Year 9 |
Jackal |
Year 19 |
Moon |
| Year 10 |
Star |
Year 20 |
Night |
Each year lasts 360 days or 390 days every three years, to make the lunar calendar match the solar year. The third year is called an embolismic year. The Astral year starts around the vernal equinox.
The Astral months
An Astral year is comprised of 12 months, each one lasting 30 days, except for the embolismic year which lasts 13 months. The months of the Astral calendar are named after deities, heroes, demi-deities and saints that are commonly found in the Timani Basin's beliefs. Each month lasts a full moon cycle.
| Month 1 |
Hadian |
| Month 2 |
Baharan |
| Month 3 |
Arezuan |
| Month 4 |
Shamahan |
| Month 5 |
Nergylan |
| Month 6 |
Hayatan |
| Month 7 |
Hassani |
| Month 8 |
Afsuni |
| Month 9 |
Matari |
| Month 10 |
Zhalehan |
| Month 11 |
Sinnan |
| Month 12 |
Abbasan |
| Month 13 |
Reshkian |
The Astral weeks and days
In the Astral calendar, each month has 5 weeks of 6 days. The first day of the week is considered a rest day in most professions. Each day of the week has been named after an animal that has some significance in the different cultures of the Timani Basin.
| Day 1 |
Galline |
Day of the Rooster |
| Day 2 |
Equine |
Day of the Horse |
| Day 3 |
Strigine |
Day of the Owl |
| Day 4 |
Vespine |
Day of the Wasp |
| Day 5 |
Vulpine |
Day of the Fox |
| Day 6 |
Pardine |
Day of the Leopard |
Holidays and yearly events
All the nations of the Timani Basin have a plethora of holidays and yearly events and celebrations. Here are a few of the more important ones:
- The New Year's celebrations: from the 30th of Abbasan to the 1st of Hadian, or from the 30th of Rekshian to the 1st of Hadian on embolismic years.
- The Beginners' Ball (Telidrica) : on the ides of Shamahan.
The starting point
The Astral calendar's starting point is the date marking the supposed death of Nergyl, otherwise known as the Son of Flames, God of fire. The Hero Hayat is said to have fought and killed the God in single combat, putting an end to a century of volcanic activity that had darkened the skies of the Timani Basin for a century.
Formulation
A date would usually be written as in this example:
Vespine, the 28th of Arezuan, 49:19.
It is sometimes written as followed, but it is considered less practical if more poetic:
Vespine, the 28th of Arezuan, year of the Spring Moon of the 49th cycle.
Thirteenth Month Birthdays
People who are born on the 13th month during an embolismic year usually celebrate their birthday at the end of the 12th month on regular years.
