Wednesday 30 October 2024

A Mythic Calendar

I’ve ragged on games before for wasting my time with bespoke calendars. Traveller’s names for weekdays are running jokes in my group. It’s the height of worldbuilding indulgence that never actually matters at the table, right?


Okay but... just let me do it this one time.


It can matter, of course, but only if you make it matter. So I’ve tried to keep things simple and focused on things that might actually affect the game, such as times when important events occur, or how certain days of the week affect peoples’ behaviour. 


This is more detail than I’m actually including in Mythic Bastionland itself, so take it or leave it for your game.


Let’s start at the top. 


Seasons

Seasons do not obey a rigid calendar, their whims known only to the Seers.


These are already covered in the book and focus on the very broad strokes of Spring, Harvest, Winter.


From a purely gameplay perspective the main thing here is that Winter sucks for travel, and if you’re invested in a particular Holding then you’ll care about how well the Harvest turns out. 


Months

Each season is broken into three months of variable length, typically around 40 days. These might be hurried through or strung out as the season progresses. As always, the Seers understand this. 


The three months fit nicely onto the existing details of each Season as written in the book. Here they’re expanded a little and named, keeping the focus on why a player Knight would actually care which month it is. 


Spring
  • Sprouts - First shoots of green are coming through. The Feast of the Sun is all excess and revelry, so lots of room for messy drama to occur in and out of court. Bloody contests are encouraged, believing it strengthens the land for the year ahead.
  • Petals - Blossoms paint the Realm in every colour. Sceptremass brings all the local rulers together to renew their vows of loyalty at the Seat of Power. Big events could occur at this gathering, or at an individual Holding while the ruler is away.
  • Leaves - The peak of ripening growth, rising up to the longest day. The Tax begins, collecting coins from the wealthy inhabitants of the Realm, Knights often sent along as escort.
Harvest
  • Bales - The land turns gold and the first hay is cut. The Feast of the Stars is the best day for weddings, knighthoods, and hosts the most important tournaments of the year.
  • Bushels - As the breeze cools, amber grains and ripe fruits are reaped in vast quantities. Eldermass is a secret gathering of Seers, which Knights are unlikely to be directly involved with, but are often summoned by Seers afterward to work their agendas.
  • Barrels - A chill runs through the air as the leaves fall. Meat, beer, and bread is loaded into storage for the winter. The Tithe begins, a portion of all foodstuffs taken into the ruler’s store, often putting a strain on the people of the Realm. Knights are called on to manage this.
Winter
  • Pyres - First frost is fought back with the roaring fires of the Moon Feast, a solemn festival often combined with a census of the Realm’s inhabitants.
  • Hearths - The Realm lies quiet in its death shroud, the people huddled inside at their fires. Kindlemass is a lone reason for some to venture toward their neighbours to offer or partake of hospitality. Generous rulers see this as an opportunity to bring the people together, while others see it as an excuse to receive lavish gifts.
  • Candles - Rivers stir, snow turns to damp earth, and the cold air reveals a hint of freshness. The Levy begins, collecting a share of raw materials and crafted goods from across the Realm, taking them back to the Holdings and Seat of Power. Travel is still difficult at this time, so Knights are expected to offer their service.


Days

A Week is nine days. Think of it as three sets of three days.


The first day in each set is a normal working day.

The second day in each set is considered lucky for a particular activity, but generally treated as another working day. 

The third day is traditionally a break from daily work for some other purpose. Most honour this in some form. 


Stoneday - Named for the hills and mountains of the Realm.

Woodsday - A lucky day for hunting, fishing, foraging, or finding lost things. 

Armsday - Those who can fight must train, others support them. 

Riverday - Named for the waters of the Realm.

Silverday - A lucky day for trade and travel.

Kinsday - All should visit their kin, especially those in need.

Skyday - Named for the heavens above the Realm.

Rainsday - Considered a lucky day if it rains. 

Stillday - A day of fasting, peace, and contemplation.


Months can change on any day, and successive days of that type are named “the first, the second” etc. 


So a chronicler might describe a particular date as “the third Armsday of Bushels” which would be roughly three weeks into the month of Bushels, at the first month of Harvest. 

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1 comment:

  1. I actually really love this. My 2 year campaign of Suns Apart (my homebrew system based on Electric Bastionland) used a custom calendar, and it was actually super effective at enhancing the vibe. Players would get excited when planning out their weeks of travel and noticing they would hit the next settlement in time for someone's birthday, or in time for a major holiday.

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