The Dheghom Calendar
The year in Dheghom is measured as 413 days, divided into ten months, each consisting of 40 days. An additional 13-day period, referred to in many cultures as Kraethen, occurs at the end of the year and is tracked separately.
This calendar was originally developed by the Aos Sí and has been adopted across much of Dheghom. Time is divided further into four tendays per month, with ten days in each tenday.
The names of the days of the week are: Kaedun, Darun, Triun, Cathrun, Cuigun, Seun, Sechtun, Octun, Naiun, and Deichun. Each day spans a period of 24 hours, though cultural observances of these days vary across regions.
| Month | Season | Days | Holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reothen | Winter | 40 | First Light (1st) |
| Fayl | Winter | 40 | Hunter's Rest (12th) |
| Thallen | Winter/Spring | 40 | First Bloom (23rd) |
| Blathen | Spring | 40 | The Day of Gifts (20th) |
| Tealthen | Spring | 40 | Forgewake (15th) |
| Graineth | Spring/Summer | 40 | High Sun (7th), Field's Call Festival (17th) |
| Tullen | Summer | 40 | Midsummer's Rest (18th) |
| Arven | Summer/Autumn | 40 | Last Harvest (30th) |
| Meathen | Autumn | 40 | Gatherer's Feast (1st) |
| Dorrin | Autumn | 40 | Frostfall (14th), Ebonwake (40th) |
| Kraethen | Autumn/Winter | 13 | Long Night (13th) |
Holidays
The holidays of Dheghom are tied to the cycles of the seasons, celestial events, and shared cultural practices across the land. While each nation and culture has its own traditions and festivals, a few universal holidays are recognized in some form across all of Dheghom. These universal celebrations most often mark transitions in the year.
Ebonwake. The last night before Kraethen is observed with silent lantern processions, the reading of ancestors' names, and food offerings left at thresholds for those who have died.
First Bloom. The Spring Equinox is celebrated with garland weaving, shared meals of early greens and smoked fish, and the lighting of braziers to "wake the land."
First Light. The first day of the year is marked with the rekindling of village hearths, the lighting of torches, and the ringing of iron bells to drive away lingering shadows.
High Sun. During the Summer Solstice, villages gather to light towering pyres to prolong the day, hold contests of strength and skill, and feast until the fires burn out.
Last Harvest. The Autumn Equinox is celebrated with torchlit races around the fields, offerings of grain and smoked meats, and feasting beneath the fading sun.
Long Night. The winter solstice is celebrated with raucous gatherings, music, dancing, and drinking, ending in silence as hearths are relit with saved embers to welcome the new year.
Kraethen. The final 13 days of the year are spent feasting, dancing, hosting competitions, and reveling in defiant celebration before winter's full grip takes hold.
Midsummer's Rest. The day begins with drinking, and for those willing and drunk enough, games of strength, skill, and fisticuffs are held, with the victor crowned in celebration.
Moons of Dheghom
The four moons of Dheghom, each with a distinct orbit and appearance, have shaped how different cultures track time and view celestial phenomena. Some agrarian societies rely on the predictable cycles of Amasal for calendars and agricultural planning, while maritime cultures track the interactions of multiple moons, such as Tharion, Velthora, and Amasal, to predict tides and navigate coastal waters. Eron, faint and overlooked by most, holds significance in certain traditions for its subtle role in alignments. Alignments between moons are almost universally recognized as moments of heightened importance, with some regarded as ill omens due to the floods, storms, and seismic disruptions they often bring.
Amasal. Amasal is a smooth, pale blue moon, the largest and brightest in the night sky. It completes its cycle every 29 days and its phases are easy to track. Amasal's steady glow dominates the sky when full, casting enough light to illuminate the land.
Eron. Eron is a small, faint moon, often difficult to see without clear skies. Its dull, grayish surface looks smooth from a distance but appears dim and muted compared to the other moons. Completing its cycle every 36 days, Eron is most noticeable during alignments, when its position in the sky brings it closer to the brighter moons.
Tharion. Tharion is a reddish moon with a jagged, uneven shape. Its surface has darker streaks and shadowed ridges, making it appear rough and irregular compared to the smoother moons. Completing its orbit in 43 days, Tharion's phases are distinct due to its uneven edges, which create irregular crescents and shadows as it waxes and wanes. Its reddish hue is faint but visible even when partially illuminated.
Velthora. Velthora is a distant moon with a faint golden glow, appearing smaller and softer than Amasal or Tharion. Its surface looks smoother and more uniform, without obvious shadows or markings, and it takes 57 days to complete its orbit. Velthora's long cycle and subtle light make it striking when full but difficult to see when waning or crescent.
| Moons | Alignment | Tidal Effects | Other Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eron & Velthora | 1 year, 271 days | Low King Tide | None |
| Amasal & Eron | 2 years, 218 days | Moderate King Tide | Minor seasonal weather disruptions |
| Amasal & Tharion | 3 years, 8 days | High King Tide | Local flooding and river disruptions |
| Tharion & Eron | 3 years, 309 days | Low King Tide | None |
| Amasal & Velthora | 4 years, 1 day | High King Tide | Localized flooding in vulnerable areas |
| Tharion & Velthora | 5 years, 386 days | High King Tide | Minor flooding in deltas or farmland |
| Amasal, Eron, & Velthora | 48 years, 12 days | Low Tidal Surge | Regional flooding and occasional seismic activity |
| Tharion, Eron, & Velthora | 71 years, 89 days | Moderate Tidal Surge | Disruptions to ecosystems and inland flooding |
| Amasal, Tharion, & Eron | 108 years, 288 days | High Tidal Surge | Widespread coastal flooding and seismic stress |
| Amasal, Tharion, & Velthora | 172 years, 43 days | Severe Tidal Surge | Widespread regional damage and geological stress |
| All Four Moons | 2065 years, 103 days | Catastrophic Tidal Surge | Coastlines reshaped; global seismic upheaval |
Climate and Weather
The continents of Dheghom, Anterra and Oskara, experience the changing of the seasons in vastly different ways, shaped by their distinct geography and environments.
Anterra
The eastern continent experiences a wide variety of climates, ranging from the arid deserts of Gialar to the boreal forests and tundras of Sharasa. The southern regions, like Ryhoreiral and Khunland, enjoy mild winters and long growing seasons, though heavy rains in spring can turn the grasslands into floodplains. Avenar and Marcia, located along the coast of the Long Deep, endure blustery winds in spring and autumn, while summer storms frequently batter their shores.
Oskara
The western continent faces harsher extremes. The deserts of Baleros and Korath are scorched during the summer and raked by cold, biting winds in winter. The deciduous forests of Bethune erupt in vibrant colors in autumn, though the central mountains of Steinlund shield much of the interior from harsh winter storms. The boreal forests of Tytherin, Keld, and Ibunor face short summers followed by long, brutal winters, with frost often clinging to the ground year-round in the farthest reaches. Along the coastlines, Tuinleas and Gane experience milder seasons, though storms from the Long Deep bring violent winds in spring and autumn.
The Long Deep Islands
The islands of Acadiana, Brynnalyn, Kimara and Shirasa, situated in the Long Deep, experience milder seasons overall but are frequently battered by powerful storms. Brynnalyn faces blustery spring rains and humid summers. Acadiana suffers through long, wet winters with torrential downpours but enjoys extended, temperate summers ideal for trade and fishing. The southern islands serve as vital hubs between the continents but endure the constant threat of tempests and unpredictable ocean weather. In the north, the tundras of Sharasa and Kimara remain blanketed in snow for most of the year, and summer is little more than a fleeting thaw.