[The following material was originally written for use in the PBeM Beneath the Golden Moon . It presents a radically different form of Laranianism to that of Gods of
Hârn.]

This document presents rather more information on the Laranian calendar than most of the residents at Menekod know. It is arcane and confusing. It is
presented here for general enjoyment, and also as an illustration of the atmosphere at Menekod. This calendar, badly understood even by scholars, is used
by the soldiers at Menekod every day, and it is not taken lightly.

Background

Contrary to the information presented in HârnWorld, Tuzyn Reckoning is not the standard calendar in use in Hârn. The standard, if any might take this name, is that
of the Peonians; it is used by almost all everyone in Kanday. However, there do exist other calendars, among them one developed by the Laranian church.

This calendar is rarely used, even by Laranians, since it is more convenient to use a single standard (and also because of the cumbersome nature of its naming
system). However, at Menekod it is strictly observed, and is used (alongside the Peonian) on all official documents. The practice, presumably, was inherited by the
Order of the Checkered Shield from the clerical Order of Hyvrik. The rest of the Laranian Church had ceased using it in 1071, when it was decided by the Tirnatha
to switch over to the Peonian calendar.

The calendar was deliberately devised to reflect the cyclical nature of the war between the goddess Larani and the demon Agrik. This conflict is believed to take
place primarily in Tirithor and the Agrikan-controlled wastelands that surround it - in the middle of which is the fortress Balgashang. While the doctrinal explanation
of this war is involved and somewhat confusing, the calendar presents a simplified version.

The Calendar

Taking as its base a 360 day year (even Laranians understand that it's convenient to have a calendar which at least roughly matches the seasons), three different
subdivisions are used: the Battle (Þisluazuhnôh Saei), the Skirmish (Bhárantun Luah), and the simple day (Adþukeina). Each Skirmish is 20 days long, each Battle is
made up of six Skirmishes, and there are three Battles in a year.

There are two further divisions that enter into the calendar. Each period of eight years is counted as a single Siege (Áinummêhun Gaáiwiskôþs); because the year is
not actually used in this calendar, there are in fact 144 named Skirmishes and 24 Battles per Siege!

The second division, which is really only a formality, is termed the Campaign (Aflêtanda Þus Frawaúrhteis Þeinôs), and is one thousand one hundred and fifty-two
years long. Needless to say almost all known events belong to the same Campaign, which officially started in 370 BT (the date given to the founding of the Laranian
Church). This means that the next Campaign starts in 782 TR.

The complete set of divisions can be laid out in the following fashion. There are:

20 days per Skirmish
6 Skirmishes per Battle
24 Battles per Siege
144 Sieges per Campaign

The explanation behind this calendar lies, as mentioned, in the battle between Larani and Agrik. The Campaign represents the complete cycle of the battle against
Agrik, ending with Larani's total victory, before the entire battle begins again on a new or renewed battlefield. Within this is a repetition of Sieges, which alternate
between being the Siege of Dolithor and the Siege of Balgashang (each Campaign therefore begins with a Siege of Dolithor and end with a Siege of Balgashang).
The names of the Battles depend on which Siege is currently being undertaken; this is not the case with the names of days or Skirmishes.

Skirmishes are named independently of Battles, and days are named independently of Skirmishes. The name of the Skirmish gives an indication of how the Battle is
going, and each day within a Skirmish sets the tone for that part of the Skirmish. Or so the theory goes. In reality, no one is entirely sure about how the calendar
works exactly. This is because it was originally devised centuries ago, and is written in a language and script that none now understand fully, and few understand at
all. Large amounts of interpretation and guess-work was necessary in order to construct the calendar as it generally stands today. Those trained in the use of the
calendar learn a particular interpretation, and just as importantly are trained to copy exactly the strange script that is used. Any translation is somewhat dubious,
though this is not generally admitted.

It appears that the days are named after both Laranian saints and Agrikan demons, and reflect the course of the Skirmish/Battle; this always follows a set pattern
(though variation does occur), as the course of each Skirmish plays out. For a full example of a how a day is constructed, compare the following two descriptions:

The Dawn of Ostruto the Guide, Cunning Scout of the Skirmish of the Black Oak of the Battle on the Plain of Gold in the Siege of Balgashang.

The Dawn of Demon Yovek Screamspear, Heartless and Mindless Herald of the End of Peace of the Skirmish of Lost Souls of the Battle of Crimson Chasm in
the Siege of Balgashang. May his name be cursed and his will forever shattered.
 
 
 

Author: Jamie Norrish