Pocket Guide to the Magdal Isles #2 - Timekeeping tools
This one's a more pure worldbuilding tidbit. Just a blurb about how time works and how the denizens of the Isles structure their calendars.
The Magdali Calendar is the most common in the Isles. Its first year honors the arrival of King Viriathus I and his invading army from the Western Wolfsea. Unlike other Calendars, the Magdali Calendar separates time by Centuries, each one hundred years long. At the end of each Century, Magdali Seers name the next. To do this, they look to the current State of the Isles and watch for Omens from the Gods to help predict what will come.
Currently the Isles are on their Fifth Century of the Magdali Calendar, named as the Century of Blades. It was predicted to be a Century of great changes in Governance and Political Assassinations. This prediction has been proven correct so far, with the Baetican King Samir having been assassinated 20 years ago. Anything prior to the year one A.A. (After Arrival) is known as the Ancient Era, and the years, counting backward, are designated with the tag B.A. (Before Arrival).
There have been Five Centuries since the Arrival of King Viriathus:
Century of Arrival (1 A.A.-99 A.A.): Named after the Arrival of the Lusitani King Viriathus I and his invading army into the Isles.
Century of Conquest (100 A.A.-199 A.A.): Named for predictions of grand conquest of the Isles into the Lusitani yoke.
Century of Glory (200 A.A.-299 A.A.): Named after predictions of grand rebuilding from centuries of war, after the defeat of Alshamal.
Century of Kings (300 A.A.-399 A.A.): Named after the fracturing of the Lusitani Kingdom into the three separate Human Kingdoms, Lusitania, Baetica, and Insula Magna.
Century of Blades (400 A.A.-Present): Named after predictions of Great Changes in Governance and Political Assassinations. The Alshamali Heir was found dead with several daggers in his chest in the first year of the Century.
The current four seasons and twelve months that make up a year are rooted in the early years of the Alshamali. Except for the addition of Lusitani religious holidays after the Century of Arrival, the months and primary seasonal holidays of the year have remained largely the same for thousands of years.
Each thirty-day month has a low name, usually used among the common classes, and a high name based on the old Lusitani and Magdalene names. The high names are usually only used by scholars and some members of the ruling class.
5 Secondseed (Conventina)
9 Hearthfire (Endovelicus)
Each week lasts for seven days. The first and seventh day are traditionally considered to be days dedicated to rest/worship, though that may vary from place to place depending on local traditions.
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