The Gloranthan Calendar

Time in Glorantha

Time is the most powerful of the gods of the New Age. We recognize Time in three natural forms (lineal, cyclical, and illusionary), but Time did not exist in the Godtime or Great Darkness. The lineal relations imposed on the myths and stories of those ages originate from our own temporal state of mind, since we mortals assuredly are a natural part of the Time flow of the New Age. Mythical events did not always occur in the exact order we perceive them, and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile conflicting versions of certain occurrences in Dreamtime. The difficulties in our understanding of that age are illustrated by the words with which we describe the mythical state -- Dreamtime, God's Age, Golden Eon, Non-time, and so on. Each word contains some measurement of Time within it, thus clearly showing mental anguish at reconciling their differences. It is interesting and perhaps important that the magicians of the Hero Wars period (when contact between men and gods was greatest) referred to the Godtime as "the Magic Place," or "Godworld," even when referring to a prehistoric event.

Although Time is sometimes spoken of as a deity rather than a force of nature, no mortal, and few immortals, claim to touch his powers directly. Time is called the Weapon of Ghani, the Backbone of Kara-polor, the Invisible Nail, the Eater of Entropy, and the Great Compromise. Like most of the other Laws and Powers of Glorantha it is rarely worshiped, yet it is always present: a permanent part of the cosmic fabric. It is the product of all the gods, although the Seven (or Eight) Lightbringers are called its parents by their worshipers. The children of Time's body are Powers and Forces, like Springtime, Evening, or Age.

One convention is the order used to set down a date. In general, chroniclers will list the day of the week first, then the week of the month, then the month or season, then the year. Two ways are commonly used to record the actual dates. One is by inscribing the Runes appropriate to the day, while the other is to note the date numerically. Both methods are shown on the Calendar of Holy Days in the appendices.

In the latter system, Roman numerals have been used to denote season. Thus 5/2/I/1614 is the same as Fire/Harmony/Water/1614.

One Day on Glorantha is the time needed for the sun to traverse the sky from east to west. One night is the time needed for the sun to traverse the underworld from west to east again.

One Week is made of seven days, named for the five elements and one godsday and one 'wild' day. Elemental influences vary with intensity depending upon the day of the week. Thus Windsday has available more airy energies than usual. A godsday is set aside for peace, meditation and worship. Most important holy days take place on this day. On this day deities are more influenced to receive worship, but are more tight-fisted in giving.

The 'wild' day is an unformed piece of time, and the magical influence available to magicians on these days varies widely, depending on location, history, pre-arranged conditions, and many more factors. The most powerful local deity often is worshipped on this day.

One Season is made up eight weeks. The eight weeks are named after eight Powers, or 'grey gods.' These divinities often are forgot in temporal reality, and so the names of the week are the most divergent in the world calendars.

One Year has within it five seasons and one two-week Sacred Time. This totals 42 weeks, or 294 days. The seasons are aligned elementally, and the powers of deities often depend upon the season.

The Parts Of The Year

Fire Season is comparable to our Summer. The weather is generally hot and dry. This is the time for warming and ripening, when the plans and schemes of men mature and bear fruit along with the fields and the herds of men. It is the time which is best for campaigning with the military in good weather, or for studying magic in cool, shadowed libraries. The energies are ripe for active forces, intellectual pursuits, and outward expansions.

Earth Season is comparable to our Fall, for the fruits of the fields are harvested then, and the herds are the largest before their slaughter to store food against the coming hard weather. The forces of life draw to themselves now, leaving fields and pastures to the approaching cold and darkness. Yet it is also the time of greatest plenty, and a period of great festivities and rejoicing.

Dark Season is like our Winter, for at that time there is great hardship and gloom across the world. The Night Demons wield the cold weapons of ice and storm as if the Great Night had never passed. Weaker beings are wise to hide at this time, hoarding their store of food and mumbling cheerful prayers and stories over crackling fires. Only the boldest go forth in these weeks, or those with the most urgent business. Trolls are most active during this time, while brown elves sleep.

Storm Season is the time of great violence and danger. The air gods rule this season, and their energies have always been of a violent and unpredictable time. This time is like the War of the Gods, when the gods mutually share their common heritage of warfare and destruction in order to maintain the cosmic balance. The spirits of life and darkness wage war. Sometimes the darkness spirits win, and the ice and cold drag on for weeks. Sometimes the spirits of life win, with spring-like weather and new shoots and buds. Usually, neither is entirely victorious, and this is a time of violent weather changes. Results of this bloody season can undo a whole year's constructive effort. Troubles begun here often inadvertently allow chaos forces to slip into the world, which are a great nuisance the following year.

Sacred Time equals two weeks in length, but is officially listed as being 14 days instead. Activities halt at this time and the world sets aside its daily life to suffer the death and rebirth of the cosmos in rituals. Oracles are sought and spells are cast to protect the land. All religious persons participate in re-enactments of their creation myths: to live, one must descend into death and be reborn. Enlightenment, even for the cosmos, lies in its rebirth. It is necessary for all people to participate in these annual ceremonies, for their commitment integrates the participants more fully into the world. With this integration it comes an unconscious understanding of the cosmic balance. This is a primary reason for the high level of mana generation and usage in Glorantha, for the massive release of energy during this time is a major factor in rejuvenating the cosmos. Failure to complete these acts will probably result in chaos seeping again into the world.

Lunar Time

The Red Goddess was born in Rinliddi (Peloria) in 1220 S.T. Lunar chronomancers always begin their chronologies from that date. She lived on the surface world for 27 years before her apotheosis.

When she departed and took her place in the sky, the goddess was at the height of her power. Her possessions upon earth suffered a decrease in available mana for 27 years after her ascent, then increased again for 27 years to the levels available while the goddess had been on the earth. This created a 54 year period between crests of power, with a central low. This 54 year cycle is called a Wane, since the power is at a wane during its center.