The Goerthan Week

Days of the week are not named, but may be described relative to the nearest Templeday. Templedays occur on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, 23rd, and 28th of each month. The 20th of Glant, when the present campaign began, could also be referred to as the 2nd day after Madrach. The 21st is then the 2nd day before Cro'ach, and the 22nd is the 1st day before Cro'ach.

Templedays are set aside for honoring the specified Drue Lord. They are not necessarily compulsory nor non-working days. Usually local customs differ on what activities occur on Templedays. The `high month' specified in the table above is the one Templeday out of the year for the Drue Lord that is a major holiday.

The Goerthan Month

Years in Madoria are 360 days long, and are divided into 12 months of 30 days each. The Madorian moon shows the same nine faces at approximately the same time every month.

Goerthan Calendar

The Goerthan calendar is based on the Verentian one, with Verentian names for the months translated into Saerish. The Druich calendar used prior to Verentian influence was supressed ruthlessly and eventually the Verentian calendar replaced it even in areas where the Verentians had little control (such as Galfmor). Today, the priestesses of Lidach still use the Druich calendar, and the Order of Law consults for accurate dating of religious events.

Month	Saerish	Sign	Season	Activity
1	Brent	Duntheor(1)	Ascent	Org Grazing
2	Arhant	Worm	Ascent	Crohelms Watch
3	Rellent	Dragon	Ascent	Mowing
4	Selant	Dancers	Summer	Weeding
5	Glant	Lion	Summer	Pre-Harvest
6	Dent	Slave	Summer	Harvest
7	Brissent	Fool	Descent	Pack Lizard Grazing
8	Effellor	Maiden	Descent	Crohelms Watch
9	Sarpellor	Org	Descent	Org Slaughter
10	Glisterent	Seaworm	Winter	Org Grazing
11	Morent	Companion	Winter
12	Marpellor	Great Deer	Winter
Notes: The Duntheor is a mythical plains beast with bulbous horns; the Great Deer is based on Megaloceros. Notice the lion. I have a fondness for felines of all types, so they exist on Madoria. I also have a fondness for all varieties of pachyderms.... For more information on the activities, see the section on Goerthan economy.

Holidays

Rising Fires

Marking the first day of the season of Ascent, Rising Fires is marked by dancing, games, and contests. The entire affair is held outdoors, and flowers are strung everywhere. Often the courtship of Pella by Crohelm is re-enacted. Rising Fires is also the traditional high holiday honoring Malladun.

High Fires

The first day of summer is celebrated by High Fires. A peasant always fears his crops will fall to the corrupt influences of evil spirits. Stories are told by the hierophants of beastmen who befouled the land prior to the rise of the Drue Lords to remind everyone of the potential evils. Prior to the time of the Drue Lords, High Fires served exclusively to honor Fendor.

In addition to the usual contests and games, a main part of High Fires centers around performing rituals of protection and warding. Afterwards, of course, the farmers are supposed to be diligent toward weeding their fields.

Dwindling Fires

Descent comes after harvest, and for Dwindling Fires a private family feast is held. Dwindling Fires marks the time when Tir-Cadrun crossed the Sea of Rue and, after dying, was admitted into Welgonell. After the local priest tells the story of Tir-Cadrun's quest, the participants make a circuit around the perimeter of the village or castle, and then retire to an indoor meal.

Dwindling Fires is also an important holiday honoring Lidach.

Cold Fires

Winter is Drune's time. On Cold Fires, animals are slaughtered and their spirits sent to the underworld as gifts to the Lord of the Dead. The spirits of ancestral clan spirits are honored and beseeched to provide protection through the winter. Like Dwindling Fires, the actual holiday feast is held inside and gifts are shared amongst family members.

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