While some nations maintain their own calendar, nearly all still use the standard Marathan calendar. A year is 365 days, counted as per sidereal time. This means that the length of days are determined by particular stars rather than the sun or by the cycles of the moon. The stars with the Mazzaroth are utilized for this task. The calendar year is split into three seasons (Season of Sowing, Sprouts, and Harvest) spanning 120 days each, and each season is associated with a cluster of three constellations, as described below.
Once a year passes, the next cluster of constellations is used. The end of each year is marked by five days of celebrations, with each focused on one of the five primes of the Mazzaroth. Each season is split into weeks, five days long (Konsday, Sensday, Amsday, Nensday, Lenday) which results in 24 weeks within each season.
We use a 1:3 (OOC:IC) timescale here. When writing out the date, you can use the following format: Day of the Week (out of 5), Week (out of 24), Season (out of 4), Year/Age For example 5/13/3 4A93 would be written out as: Cenday in the 13th week of the Harvest season, 4th Age year 93 When picking out your character’s soul or constellation, check here for an easy reference about the year and season: Soul Calculator Link.
The Mazzaroth
As the Marathan Empire expanded, so too did its superstitions surrounding the soul. They believed the Mazzaroth—a circle of constellations in the sky—was the origin of the human soul, and that by understanding it you could effectively predict the course of one’s life. It is now a common belief throughout Yiegdra that a person possesses a soul type inherited from the Mazzaroth, determined by their birthday. Though not necessary, you are encouraged to select a soul type for your character.
Zvan, the Eastern Wolf Star
The Martyred Soul: Doggedly loyal, living a frenetic life of action and reaction in service to your chosen cause. Superstition goes that you will sacrifice everything for what you love.
Rhea, the Eastern Wild Horse Star
The Defiant Soul: Strong-willed and individualistic, you loath authority and the shackles of responsibility. Superstition goes that you will never taste the same blessings you grant others.
Posa, the Eastern Mule Star
The Enduring Soul: Your uncanny discipline and resolve allows you to spur others into action. Superstition goes that your tolerance for abuse will bring you worsening misfortune, until finally you break.
Varasha, the Northern Lion Star
The Sovereign Soul: Unrelenting, you will dominate the trials laid before you through sheer tenacity and force of will. Superstition goes that you will experience a period of rapid ascent, then fall to ruin as empires do.
Seridia, the Northern Bull Star
The Antagonistic Soul: Facing forward and never back, you will meet life’s conflicts head on. Superstition goes that you will create as many enemies as you fell, struggling to sate your thirst for conflict.
Athari, the Northern Chimera Star
The Exiled Soul: Fearless, intimidating—your effortless confidence offends others. Superstition goes that you will burn twice as bright for half as long; when you are gone, all they will remember are the ashes.
Garuda, the Western Eagle Star
The Enlightened Soul: Blessed by uncommon insight, you quickly adopt new skills and recognize the hurtles which have thwarted your peers. Superstition goes that you will foresee far-off tragedies; ones you are powerless to stop.
Chaya, the Western House-Cat Star
The Shadowed Soul: Your cunning—with a penchant for deception—makes you a born socialite. Superstition goes that you will grow complacent in your success, and become easy prey for your replacement.
Kutuhali, the Western Monkey Star
The Inquisitive Soul: Although you lack foresight, you are blindingly clever and quick to seize new opportunities. Superstition goes you will follow your curiosity to its end, and realize too late that there is nowhere left for you to go.
Sundra, the Southern Marshal Star
The Shepherding Soul: Attentive and nurturing, you elevate those around you to reach their fullest potential. Superstition goes that you shall live to see them repeat your own mistakes.
Manta, the Southern Handmaiden Star
The Innocent Soul: Infinitely patient, your compassion sways hearts and opens minds. Superstition goes that love will blind you, and evils will be born by those you cherish.
Amsel, the Southern Butterfly Star
The Companion Soul: Finding fulfillment in others’ happiness, you will selflessly devote yourself to their betterment. Superstition goes that your gentle nature will make you an easy mark, and your good deeds will not go unpunished.
Ista, the Transient Formless Star
The Changeling Soul: Mutable, ever-shifting. Your life is one of constant evolution and transformation. Superstition goes that you will never truly know yourself, only the fleeting pieces that others see.
Enerda, the Transient Binary-Snake Stars
The Bisected Soul: Whimsical, you yearn to sample the many flavors of life; love comes easy to you. Superstition goes that you will always try, but never truly fill the hole in your heart.
Myshka, the Transient Mouse Star
The Disquieted Soul: Phlegmatic, but possessed by sudden fits of manic creativity and flashes of brilliance. Superstition goes that you will compose great symphonies in your head which will never be written.
The Turn of Ages
An “Age” marks a major period of history which spans from the occurrence of one world-changing event to next. This typically means the fall of a dynasty, the founding of an empire, or the death of a monarch. There have been 4 Ages, each one lasting a different length of time measured in centuries. The Ages are:
1st Age — Length: Pre-history
A time before time. No records exist of the 1st Age; its history is glimpsed only as fragments of Second Age myth.
2nd Age — Length: 674 Years
Marks the rise of the world’s first great power, the Hordes of Tand and the people of Ensas. Their dynasty collapsed with the death of Krasna Khagan, ending the Second Age. Ruins of their peoples exist across the globe, though the history of them is vague and often poorly understood. The Marathans plundered many artifacts of the Second Age and stowed them in immense vaults. Evvel Aytzel is believed to have their own archives, although this has never been confirmed. The Tousaleans had enclaves devoted to Second Age idols, and the Unmaari reclaimed and rebuilt the cities of this period.
3rd Age — Length: 851 Years
Marks the rise of the Marathan Empire following the death of Krasna Khagan, its spread across Yiegdra, and the death of the Marathan Emperor Anathara. In the immediate aftermath, the founding of the Empire of Tousav ended the Third Age. This period is well understood, and its history still echoes in the people across the continent. In the Middle Third Age the Marathan Kingdom became the Marathan Empire after uniting the scattered peoples of Ensas, conquering Evvel Aytzel, and subjugating the lands that would become Tousav. During this period the Gailians in Lagain rose to prominence and formed the Holy Kingdom, and the people of Aardayn fought a bloody war of unification that brought the tribes under one Tsara.
4th Age — Length: 128 Years
Marks the rise of King Argal’s dynasty, the founding of the Empire of Tousav, and the conquest of northern Yiegdra. The current year is 4A 128 and the Fourth Age is ongoing. This period covers the rise of the Empire of Tousav, the reconquest of the Marathan vassals by King Argal’s dynasty, the ascent of the Holy Kingdom of Lagain as a center of religious and military power, and the Century of Skirmishes.