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The following chart lays out the makeup of a year:
1 year = 9 months = 36 weeks = 359 days
1 month = 4 weeks = 40 days (except for Dinay, which has 39 days)
1 week = 10 days (except for the last week of Dinay, which has 9 days)
1 day = 24 hours (standard hours like we have on Earth)
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The exception to this pattern is that the last month (Dinay) only has 39
days. People that like patterns and even numbers always pester the gnomes
as to why the final day is missing. The gnomes always answer in an
exasperated manner, "If we added that day in, then you'd be born in
the summer and would celebrate your 359th birthday in the
middle o' winter!" Of course, the humans never see the point, but
that's to be expected.
Each month has a name and each day of the week has a name. The years are
numbered, not named, according to the gnomish calendar system. The nine
months are Gruhay, Norunnay, Ballay, Soray, Dwonay, Calagay, Dorday,
Shiltay and Dinay. The names for the ten days of the week are Simarr,
Griala, Grunni, Bortill, Thorhig, Ddal, Gomanna, Farria, Drudal and
Thinall.
When someone is describing a date, they will usually say, "The
3rd Gomanna of Ballay." Some human wizards have taken to a
system that causes less confusion (for the humans, that is) by saying,
"The 27th of Ballay." This new system is a point of
contention with the gnomes, but halflings seem to like the new system. The
dwarves and elves have yet to adjust to the new system and still use the
older methodology that was created by the gnomes.
Like Earth, Laenwold has four seasons. The first day of each year is
always the first day of spring. This is a sign of rebirth, renewal and
celebration for many even if the winter snows have not yet melted away in
the northern expanses and the tops of the mountains.
There are five moons circling Laenwold. All of these moons affect the
tide to some degree. This makes docking and undocking ships a very precise
science that many of the best sailors have mastered. If a captain or
navigator declare that a boat is leaving in twenty minutes, it will be
leaving in exactly that time or be stranded until the next high tide
arrives.
The closest moon to Laenwold is Coranna. This moon is a tiny moon that is
bluish in color and appears to be perfectly smooth. Despite its lack of
features, most people consider Coranna to be the most beautiful moon of
Laenwold. A single phase of Coranna lasts seven days. This is the most of
any of the moons.
Dolia is the next moon out. It is slightly larger than Coranna is has a
distinct green tinge to it. The surface of the moon is marked with a few
scars of past encounters with other heavenly bodies. One of the marks on
Dolia appears to be the face of a smiling woman, but it can only be seen
when the other moons are mostly hidden in the shadow of Laenwold. A single
phase of Dolia lasts three days.
The third moon out, Gallor, is the largest of the five moons. Gallor is
the moon that is primarily responsible for the tides, but all of the moons
have some sway over the movement of the oceans. Gallor is a pearly white
color, but numerous craters and scars mar its surface. The scars reveal
the darker core of the moon in places. This gives it a blotchy, diseased
look that many find disturbing when the moon is full. A single phase of
Gallor lasts five days.
The fourth moon circling Laenwold is Iomor and it is halfway in size
between the giant Gallor and the diminutive Coranna. This brilliant red
moon leaves a trail of dust and debris behind it as it circles the planet.
Fresh plumes of smoke and dirt can be seen flying from the surface of the
moon. This happens on rare occasions, but when it does happen, it is an
omen of evil and destruction. Only the most malicious creatures revel in
the activity of Iomor. A single phase of Iomor lasts four days.
The farthest moon from Laenwold is Toroth. Toroth is slightly smaller
than Gallor is (as viewed from Laenwold, but we won't get into the details
of it all) and is the color of pure sulfur. People say that they can smell
the brimstone of the abyss below when Toroth is full, but that is pure
superstition and nonsense. Toroth's surface is marked up as badly as
Gallor's, but the only shapes or figures visible in the craters is what
most people call "The Frog of Toroth". A single phase of Toroth
lasts six days.
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