Saristian wheel

The Saristian wheel is the primary solar calendar of Elendar. It takes its name from the sun god Saristi.

It consists of twelve 30-day months, with eight extra days; two for the solstices, two for the equinoxes, and four for the transitional days, the so-called Days of Change.

The Months


 * Veschik


 * Mirrik


 * Thrae


 * Ashuak
 * Kepesk
 * Tundar
 * Valignat
 * Ixen
 * Kiar
 * Levex
 * Okarthel
 * Sjach

Thrae, Ashuak, Kiar and Levex are all considered to be months belonging to Dunatis.

The Solstices


 * Abyssma (winter solstice)


 * Elyssia (summer solstice)

The Equinoxes


 * Verthisa dok (spring equinox) "Second mountain" in Old Draconic
 * Verthisa ash (fall equinox) "First mountain" in Old Draconic

The Days of Change


 * The Day of Calming (between Mirrik and Thrae)
 * The Day of Opening (between Ashuak and Kepesk)
 * The Day of Resting (between Ixen and Kiar)
 * The Day of Locking (between Levex and Okarthel)

The Days of Change are days belonging to Dunatis, and are the days where Dunatis hands over or receives rulership from either of his siblings, Bahamut or Tiamat. The months of fall and spring are considered to be Dunatis' domain, as he plays the role of peacekeeper between his two siblings, here acting as a buffer between the winter and summer. Consistent weather in the fall and spring are considered to be good omens, but irregular change tends to be considered an omen of war and conflict, as Dunatis fails to keep the two dragon deities from fighting one another.

The Day of Calming is the day when Dunatis takes rulership from Tiamat, calming her evil designs.

The Day of Opening is the day when Dunatis hands over power to Bahamut, opening the world up to brighter days.

The Day of Resting is the day when Bahamut hands over power to his brother, where the peoples of Elendar rest after the active summer months.

The Day of Locking is when the peoples of Elendar begin to prepare for winter.

Festivals and Holy Days

Each of the Days of Change and the solstices and equinoxes are holy days with special traditions and rites associated with them, but there are also other holy days celebrated at other dates. Here follows a short summary of the most important:

20-24 Sjach - The Warding - a five day festival where the peoples of Elendar try to propitiate Tiamat with sacrifices to lessen the harshness of winter, have good luck in the next year and in general ward off evil. A more recent tradition has seen these sacrifices, originally ritual burnings of treasured property, turn into the giving of gifts, where instead of being burned, the treasured things are given to friends and family. Each day of the festival is for one of Tiamat's heads.

1 Tundar - The Couple's Feast - The month of Tundar is celebrated as the month of dwarves (Tundar means "dwarf" in Old Draconic). The Couple is Moradin and his consort, Berronar Truesilver. The 1st of Tundar is a day celebrated by all, not only dwarves, with a large banquet in communal setting. It is a celebration of family, love and of fertility.

15 Ixen - The Vigilance - A day of silence in celebration of Corellon's mythical patience, where he defeated one of Llolth's demons by pretending to be mute. Not everyone celebrates this day, but it is considered quite rude to not respect those who choose to be silent on this day.

5 Ashuak - The Festival of the Wind - a day in celebration of Aerdrie Faenya. In some areas, kites are flown. In other, captive birds are set free. A major festival in Coristía.

18 Thrae - The Hearth - a day in celebration of Troradir and of the creation of humans and halflings.