Time and Distance Measurements
In Alenta the moon’s revolutions coincide very closely to the planet’s. In other words, a lunar-based year and solar-based year coincide. Thus, most celestial calendars vary only in the dates, not in year length. In Brighland, Imperial Reckoning is standard, so the game begins in the year 990 IR.
A day is 24 hours (traditional; the reasons are obscure, but probably are related to the “pilot stars” that rise at regular intervals at night). Five days make a week. Two weeks make a tennight. Two tennights make a month, four months make a season, and sixteen months (320 days) make a year.
| Months | |
| Winter |
Summer |
| Nivalas “The Snow Month” | Vertras “The High Month” |
| Hebras “The Dimming Month" | Calidas “The Burning Month” |
| Famas “Famine’s Month” | Mercas “The Month of First Grapes” |
| Ceralas “Waxing Month” | Frumas “The Month of Fruits” |
| Spring | Autumn |
| Pluvas “The Rainy Month” | Segaras “The Harvest Month” |
| Setaras “Planting Month” | Fularas "The Browning Month" |
| Ventalas “ Windy Month” | Miras “The Waning Month” |
| Cresaras “Growing Month” | Gelunas “The Month of First Frosts” |
The Days of the Week (High Imperial/vernacular) |
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Kaletar/Starday The beginning of the week and the auspicious day to begin any major task or journey. |
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Mentinar/Harday Considered a day of greatest labor, when backs are still fairly fresh. |
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Komitar/Lawday Court and other administrative functions are traditionally held on this day, which often corresponds with market day. |
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Drasinar/Fasday Tasks wind down for the week. For the pious and penitent, this is a common day to fast and perform religious observances. |
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Sacrimar/Finday The end of the week, when most work ceases. Dominists celebrate mass on this day if no other. |
| Measuring the Days |
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Although most cultures consider the day as beginning either at sunrise or sunset, the Imperial standard is midnight (when the prevailing pilot star is at its zenith). Dominism has divided the day into three parts, each with three ceremonial vigils known simply as “the Hours”; this ecclesiastic timekeeping has found its way into common usage in some places when useful. A villager may arrange a meeting by the Sardis bell, whereas a ship captain may judge the end of his watch to be the 4th hour by stellar reckoning. |
Hours of Faith: 20th hour to the 4th hour |
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Oragema (Hour of Agema): 20th hour |
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Orafilio (Hour of Phillip): 23rd hour |
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Oranemon (Hour of Memnon): 2nd hour |
Testament of Revelation: 4th hour to the 12th hour |
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Oramazel (Hour of Mazela): 4th hour |
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Oradaria (Hour of Daria): 7th hour |
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Orasardii (Hour of Sardis): 10th hour |
Testament of Law: 12th hour to the 20th hour |
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Oranefati (Hour of Naphates): 12th hour |
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Oraiasa (Hour of Jaxa): 15th hour |
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Orabrisona (Hour of Brison): 18th hour |
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[Developer note: most of these measurements are equivalent to English standard, but some, being archaic, will be unfamiliar to the average gamer. Therefore, this reference chart.] |
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These measurements are set out by law; local custom may vary somewhat. The most common measurements are in italics. |
Area/Distance: |
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Inch = 3 barleycorns/one English inch |
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Foot = 12 inches |
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Hand = 4 inches |
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Span = Approximate distance, averaging 9 inches 1 |
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Yard = 3 feet |
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Ell = Approximate distance, 27 inches2 |
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Rod = 5.5 yards |
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Chain = 22 yards/4 rods |
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Furlong = 10 chains/ 220 yards/40 rods 3 |
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Mile = 1760 yards/8 furlongs |
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League= Usually 2.5 miles, sometimes 3 miles4 |
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Hide = variable administrative unit; usually 40-120 acres |
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1.The
distance between the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when
the hand is fully extended. |
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2. The distance between the shoulder and the wrist or thumb. |
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3. Literally “a furrow long”; the standard length of one furrow. |
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4. A Cordalunic* rather than Brikani measurement |
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Weight: |
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Ounce = 1/12th pound |
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Pennyweight = 1/240th of a pound |
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Pound = an ancient standard |
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Stone = about 14 pounds |