The Timesong calendar, also referred to by surface worlders as the Serôs calendar,[1] was the most commonly used calendar across Serôs, the undersea realms of the Sea of Fallen Stars. It was created a century prior to the Dale Reckoning by Arkallus Vordahl, an Oghmanyte priest from the surface, by using correlatives between calendars of the surface world and the various calendars of Serôs. This was done in an effort to unify the various undersea races with a system all could follow and to better spread the word of the Church of Oghma.[2] It was established in -69 DR[2][3][4] in the city of Myth Nantar.[1] That year it would be first used among some merfolk groups and by the shalarin, becoming tied to the Third Passing of the shalarin.[2]
Months[]
The Timesong calendar was split into ten months, referred to as "songs", with each lasting three "currents". Each current was twelve days in length, making for a total of thirty-six days per song. There was also an additional five days in the midyear that fell between two months, bringing the total number of days in most "cycles" (years) to 365. Much like the Calendar of Harptos, days were simply referred to by their number within a song or current, rather than having a distinct name.[5]
Years[]
Years were referred to in the Timesong system as "cycles". Some cycles were given names based on historical events, myths, or stories so as to better remember them.[2] Such as 1439 TS (1369 DR),[6] which became widely known as the "Timesong of Iakhovas the Ravager",[5] marking it as the time of the Twelfth Serôs War.[6] Though for most years it was more common to simply refer to them by a number, followed by the word "Timesong" or its acronym "TS",[2] such as "652 Timesong" or 652 TS (582 DR).[7]
Months & Festivals[]
Five of the songs within the Timesong calendar were named for an activity in Serôs that the song was primarily associated with, while five of the others were named in reverence to major deities of the ocean. The names and aliases of these songs, the activity associated with them, and their relationship to the months of the Calendar of Harptos were as followed:[5]
- Icesong ("The Seas' Cloak"): This song was named for the winter season. It was the time each cycle when most of the migratory races of Serôs lived in the warmer, southern waters of the Inner Sea. It was also during this time when those that had farms in southern Serôs tended to major kelp harvests.
- From Hammer 1 to Alturiak 5
- The surface festival of Midwinter fell on Icesong 31
- Ilxenhunt ("Ilxendren's March"): This song was named for Ilxendren, patron god of the ixitxachitls, as it was the primary month in which the 'chitls engaged in raiding across the central and northern waters of the Inner Sea, as well as upon some summer settlements.
- From Alturiak 6 to Ches 11
- Homesong ("The Journey"): This song was named for the migratory races of Serôs beginning their annual journey back to the central and northern waters of the Inner Sea, roughly north of the Whamite Isles, as the summer season returned.
- From Ches 12 to Tarsakh 17
- Eadarsong ("Eadro's Blessing"): This song was named for the god Eadro. It was during this time that the first major harvesting of kelp occurred all across Serôs and was also the common birthing month for the nonmigratory races.
- Tarsakh 18 to Mirtul 22
- The surface festival of Greengrass fell on Eadarsong 14
- Huntsong ("Germal's Stream"): This song was so named due to being the time each cycle when locathahs, merfolk, and tritons primarily engaged in hunting. Its nickname was derived from Germal, a legendary merman hunter who lived during the time of Hmurrath.
- From Mirtul 23 to Kythorn 28
- Sashelsong ("Seascalm"): A leap year day that occurred once every four cycles, equivalent to the day of Shieldmeet in the Calendar of Harptos, and was marked as the day upon when the Aryselmalyr Empire fell. The name "Sashelsong", a name in reverence to the elven deity Deep Sashelas, was derived from a belief among aquatic elves that it was by the will of their patron goddess that their empire fell so that the various races of Serôs could join in their guardianship of the Inner Sea. Its secular alias, "Seascalm", derived from the other races of Serôs viewing the day as a time to celebrate their independence from subjugation under the Aryselmalyr Empire. This song was also tied to a particular whalesong that was only heard during this time.
- Heartsong ("Ishtishia's Bounty"): A special holiday season among the people of Serôs that spanned five days in the midyear.
- From Kythorn 29 to Flamerule 3
- Eldasong ("Eldath's Kiss"): This song was named for the goddess Eldath. This was the time for the second major harvesting of kelp across all of Serôs. It was also the song when morkoth commonly engaged in raiding.
- From Flamerule 4 to Eleasis 8
- Lifesong ("Time of Renewal"): This song was so named for being the time each cycle when the migratory races of Serôs commonly gave birth.
- Sekolhunt ("Sekolsong", "Sekolah's Wrath"): This song was named for Sekolah, the patron god of the sahuagin, as it was the time each cycle when they feverishly engaged in raiding the Inner Sea. This song was also marked by minor kelp harvests.
- From Eleint 15 to Marpenoth 19
- Roamsong ("The Journey"): This song's name, as well the nickname it shared with Homesong, was derived from it being the time during each cycle when the migratory races of Serôs began making their annual journey to the southern waters of the Inner Sea in light of the coming winter. These migratory journeys were often harassed along the way by sahuagin.
- Umbersong ("Umberlee's Threat"): This song was named for the deity Umberlee. For the migratory races of Serôs, it was the time during each cycle when they commonly mated. For the nonmigratory races, this song was viewed as a period of general relaxation from the many threats and as a month of general rest in the northern seas from the usual toil and dangers.
- From Uktar 26 to Nightal 30
- The surface festival of the Feast of the Moon fell on Umbersong 6
Appendix[]
Background[]
To find the Timesong equivalent to any year using Dale Reckoning, one only had to add 70 to the year. For example, the year 582 DR would convert to 652 TS.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 70. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 73. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
Connections[]
Aryselmalyn calendar • Azuposi calendar • Calendar of Hmur • Kara-Turan calendar • Timesong calendar • Zakharan calendar