Time

How time is perceived within Serastol has changed much over history, but its present perception is the most important facet to focus on. Past approaches to time and their shifts are mentioned within the Historical Chronicle.

Basic Time

The perception of time within Serastol has small-scale units that are familiar to those observing the setting. This familarity ends starting with the length of a day, which marks itself at a total of 22.5 hours. The structure of a day can be divided into four distinct periods. Two of these periods are long, and are known as starlight and soldrought, while the other two periods are called changes. A day begins with 11 hours of starlight, then fifteen minutes of change. This is followed by 11 hours of soldrought, and another fifteen minutes of change. During a period of change, the Obscurial Sheath is either activated or deactivated through magical means. Activation surrounds the star with a light-blocking aura, while deactivation removes this aura. This establishes what is equivalent to day and night. This cycle is accurately tracked by spires placed on opposite ends of Serastol that line up with similar spires on the Obscurial Sheath as Serastol rotates.

In the grander scheme of time periods, Serastol has what are known as Epochs, which are measured by years. These are variable eras of time, distinguished by “significant world circumstances” that mark the start of a new one. What counts as a significant world circumstance is debated by a congregation of people from all three continents on Serastol, known as the Measurers of the Domain. At the end of each year, they will gather to determine if an event or circumstance is significant enough to mark a new Epoch at the start of the next year. If they do determine that a new Epoch is to begin, the members of the congregation choose a letter, and the Epoch will be known by this letter until they further understand and study the significant world circumstance better. At this point, they will then settle on a full title for the Epoch using the letter as a base. The exception to the naming system surrounding the Epochs is Epoch Solaria, due to the system itself being set up at the very beginning of Epoch Magestia.

In the present, the current Epoch is marked by the letter D, as the significant world circumstance that warranted it has not yet come to be understood.

Calendars

Between the large and the small periods of time lie the months within the year. There are eleven distinct months, and most of them are comprised of twenty seven days, or three weeks of nine. The months are as follows:

Starwake - Month 1 | Flareni - Month 2
Firewake - Month 3 | Fevereni - Month 4
Ashwake - Month 5 | Cindereni - Month 6
Blightwake - Month 7 | Muteni - Month 8
Gleamwake - Month 9 | Joveni - Month 10 | Starcoda - Month 11*

The exception to the 27-day months is the final month of the year, Starcoda. Starcoda results from the disruption of the two-month pattern that is typical of most seasons of the year. It was decided that the ninth and tenth months would keep their two-month format, and the final irregular month would simply fill in the rest of the time before the seasonal cycle began anew. Due to this, the month of Starcoda is viewed as a 39-day long period that celebrates the rejuvenation of the star. One extra exception takes place every three years, where Starcoda will gain a 40th day to make up for a tiny discrepancy within the seasonal rotation's length (the seasonal rotation is approximately 309.33 days).

Seasons

The seasons of the year are based on a cycle of effects that the red star within Serastol presents. There are five distinct seasons, each season made up of two months except for the final irregular season. The first month of each season is known as a wake, where a season's effect first presents from the star. The second month of each season is simply a continuation of the season's effects. The table below catalogues the seasons and their effects