Gallel's Heir

Appendix C: Calendar and Time

The Calendar of Galia and most of the continent dates from the arrival of the Ancestors from another place, more than 2500 years before. Some believe the Ancestors came from another world, others believe they came from the very Otherworld. Others determine that they came from across the ocean, fleeing from enemies, though the exact story is lost to time. The term "AE" refers to "After the Escape" and is written after the year of a date, as in "Yelsday, Diesh the 18th, 2543 AE."

The original Ancestors arrived and spread out across the continent, intermixing with the natives, and each region worships or honors its founder. Anath shen Sorrel Albandor settled in Gungal with her bondman, or yuki, Moor. The land was later split in two, Galia and Turbia resulting. Galia worships Anath, while Turbia worships Moor.

The year is split into 18 months, of 20 days each, with a 5 day celebration the first week of the year (The Feast of Lights). A leap year occurs every six years; the 6th day of the celebration is considered the most holy, as 6 is the most holy number. 

Weeks are 6 days each: Yelsday, Brinsday, Halsday, Maresday, Ansday, and Moorsday (though the last two days may be different, depending on the region, honoring their local Ancestor). 

A day is split into 18 hours, or three 6-hour blocks: morning, afternoon, and night. The day begins at dawn, specifically dawn as it would be on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which is the Feast of Lights itself.

Hours are measured by cylinder clocks: tubes suspended on their sides, which hang from pulleys on either side and spin with the use of weights. Hours of the day are etched with lines and numbers around their circumferences.

Gungali numbers are in base 12,  with each numeral 0-12 having its own symbol and value.