Annals of Bastonia

The Annals of Bastonia are the official histories of Ahren as documented by the scholars of Bastonia - one of the many official calendars in use on the continent of Ahren. The Annals can be seen as comprising of two broad parts - the legendarium of the Long Ages of Darkness, whose years are accounted as those Before the Walls, and a more concrete history comprising two seperate ages, the Age of Rebellion and the much longer balance of history known simply as After The Walls, with the epoch between the two being the year 50 of Elvish Springtime in the Rophalin Calendar, which is the traditional completion of the construction of the original fortifications of the city of White Rock. The term both refers to the general practice of historical documentation and calendar-keeping among the Men of Bastonia, as well as being the title of almost every written book on the subject.

The Annals have a large focus on the history of Bastonia and intermingle religious tradition with historical fact, especially during the first few generations After the Walls, and all history that comes before.

Reckoning of Years, Months, and Days

Because of the celestial event associated with the Triumph of Heaven, which occurs with remarkable regularity, most Ahrenic calendar systems show shocking agreement on the demarcation of years - the Bastonian canon is no different, and divides the year clearly on the day of the Triumph of Heaven. Much like the Rophalin Calendar (the dominant calendar on the continent), the Bastonians put the Triumph of Heaven on a special day outside of the normal order of months - considering the day and its signs and portents so holy as to belong to neither a week nor a month, being simply a Holy Day.

Since the phenomenon of the Triumph is always 364 days between occurrences, it so happens that the Rophalin Calendar and the Annals share an equal number of 13 months, divided into weeks of seven days - in the Bastonian sense, this is to honour San Lukas's part in the Battle of the First Wall, which saw him hold against a breaching force for seven days without rest.

Though Ars Magica is an important artifact of Bastonian culture and the dominant school of magic in the Kingdom, its practice has been suppressed to varying degrees throughout the church, and its edicts and understandings are therefore not common knowledge among the average Bastonian. The Annals, therefore, retain an older set of names for the months based on natural phenomena in the region. These months are, in order from the first month (the month that begins the day after the Triumph of Heaven) to the last (the month that ends on the Feast of Expiation, which is a holiday the day before the Triumph of Heaven):

• Sonnenskeening: Literally the "Kindling of the Sun"; named for the apparent extension of the daylight which follows the Triumph.
• Eirafall: Named for the snowfalls, which tend to be at their annual extreme for most of Bastonia during this month.
• Kerncalt: Idiomatic Bastonian expression for a cold that bites through into your soul - the weather tends to be at its coldest extreme throughout this month.
• Lastfrosts: By now, winter's grip is broken and it becomes safe to start up agricultural industry agian.
• Firstfruits: Traditionally, foraging on crown and unincorporated lands begins in this month.
• Firstjaegging: Private forests occasionally hold "spring hunts"; military campaigns typically begin.
• Startsbruch: Heavy industrial concerns which are sensitive to winter and spring weather begin in earnest (quarrying and mining, primarily)
• Highsommer: The weather is at its warmest and most pleasant.
• Durreskeening: Unfavourable conditions often cause droughts in this month; paradoxically summer storms may make water TOO abundant in localized areas.
• Ernteskeening: The major grain and root harvests of the year take place in this month.
• Firstfrosts: The autumn weather becomes treacherous overnight.
• Homecomings: Throughout this month, remote camps (both military and industrial) empty and their workers return to their homes. Nobility return from campaigns.
• Heilegesmond: The month of the Holy Moon contains several holidays which collectively prepare for the Triumph of Heaven.

Scholars familiar with the Ars Magica often use these months interchangeably with those of the Rophalin Calendar (which have magical connotations).

The days of the week are also named. Since months consist of twenty-eight days, they are evenly divided into four weeks. The days are listed in order beginning from the first of the month:

• Trennensdag: By long tradition, the day of the beginning of the breach. Considered the beginning of the working week as well.
• Duellsdag: The Duel's Day represents the day that San Elijah reached San Lukas in the breech and the pair began their duel
• Herastag: It is common to venerate San Hera on this day, sometimes called "midweek". Rest is emphasized.
• Laurenstag: While San Lauren was not a saint at the time of the Battle of the First Wall, they are commonly venerated on this day, which is traditionally the day that hunting parties set out from home to begin their hunts.
• Heatherstag: This day is held to represent the construction of the Blister in the Breech, a mythical fortification that helped stem the tide during the battle of the first wall, by San Heather.
• Lukaserstag: By long tradition, this is the day on which Lukas was felled and elevated instantly to his sainthood. Held to be the end of the working week.
• Kingstag: Represents the day on which San Lukas was able to use his own divine power to turn the tide in the breech and effectively win the Battle of the First Wall. Held to be the day on which San Lukas was also coronated by the Almighty herself as the first Monarch of Bastonia. Universally held as a day of rest.