Xanthalian time

Time in Xanthal is told as a number series, preceded by the first (largest) temporal unit being used in the dictation. The series then subordinates. The measurement of cycle time varies by planet. All times below are in Xanthalian National Standard Time (A.Z.) unless otherwise noted. The national standard time of Xanthal is measured from Earth Calendar (A.R.) 01/01/1960 00:00 as follows:

• 1 Earth Second = 1 səkənd
• 100 səkənde = 1 menut
• 100 menute = 1 ąwr
• 10 ąwre = 1 da
• 10 dae = 1 wek
• 10 weke = 1 mąnŧ
• 10 mąnŧe = 1 yr

For very long periods of time, decades and centuries can be used, but these are not standard calendar units.

• 10 yr = 1 yrDəkąl
• 10 yrDəkąl = 1 yrHenąl
• Etcetera

Xanthalian time is told in subordinate unit order, with the first unit named.

...yr, mąnŧ, wek, da, ąwr, menut, səkənd.

“Ąwr ąbną, kąsDək-nen, julDək-jul” (Hour six-nine-one-eight-eight) = 6 ąwre, 19 menute, 88 səkənde.

Units in the sequence can be skipped, but when this is done the unit after the skipped units must also have a unit tag.

Yr kąsnąHeną-lunąDəkną-vaną, mątą, da əlną = 153 yre, 2 mąnŧe, 7 dae.

When referring to the time of day in casual conversation, it is preferred to simply state the ąwr-menut-səkənd series in terms of menute.

Ąwr 6:91 = 691 menute.

Be sure to precede actual time of day with “mor.” “Ensą” indicates time from moment said.

The Xanthalian calendar overrides all other calendars for official records, but most inhabited planets in Xanthal have their own timekeeping systems. Official Xanthalian measures acknowledge units of time on each planet as used on that planet.

Out of context, the Earth 60-60-24-365/366 is referred to as “Rŧąl;” “of Earth” (Səkənd Rŧąl, Menut Rŧąl, Ąwr Rŧąl, etc.).

Dates before A.R. 1960 are numbered backward from 0. These years are written preceded with "-" OR appended with “şoąl.”

A.R. 1959 would be in yr -0, A.R. 1955 in yr -1, etc.

There are no proper names for subunits of time, but days of the week or months of the year can be identified within the next-largest unit by specifying the unit in question followed by an adjective number.

The fourth mąnŧ of the yr is “mąnŧ gonąl,” meaning “fourth month.”

This is not to be confused with the calendar month, which would be “mąnŧ van,” or “month three,” because month zero of the calendar is the first month of the year (yr). Distinguish the two by the use or absence of an adjective number. If the number is stated as an adjective (ends in “-ąl”), it is being identified as month X of the year. If the number is a noun, it is calendar month X.

Context is important to take into account when dealing with time in any language. Consider the origin of the presenter and the current location. Usually, a native on a planet will use that planet’s cycle time, but this should not be taken as a given. Mirfakan proper dictates that, when no planetary notation is made, national standard time is being used, but this rule frequently goes unobserved in casual conversation. Xanthalian time can be explicitly specified by the prefix A.Z. When in doubt, ask for clarification.

Conversions:

• Xanthalian to Earth:
  • 1 səkənd = 1 second
  • 1 menut = 1 minute, 40 seconds
  • 1 ąwr = 2 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
  • 1 da = 1 day, 3 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
  • 1 wek = 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
  • 1 mąnŧ = 115 days, 17 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
  • 1 yr = 3 years, 62 days, 9 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds
• Earth to Xanthalian:
  • 1 second = 1 səkənd
  • 1 minute = 60 səkənde
  • 1 hour = 36 menute
  • 1 day = 8 ąwre, 64 menute
  • 1 week = 6 dae, 48 menute
  • 1 solar year ≈ 3 mąnŧ, 16 dae

Planetary time

Most Xanthalian planets have their own calendars to track the passage of time by the cycles unique to them. A summary of these planetary calendars follows.

Freeland

Freeland’s original pirate colonists came from Earth, and they took their timekeeping system with them. Seconds, minutes, and hours are all identical to their Earth counterparts, with only days and years changed to fit the planet’s rotation and revolution. The fact that a Freeland Day does not evenly divide into Earth Hours was compensated for by eighteen minutes of free time, which has since collapsed into the word “Freetime.” This is not a formal unit, referring solely to these extra eighteen minutes, which are acknowledged at the end of every day. Traditionally, Freetime was observed as a time for the colonists to release their inhibitions and engage in sex, theft, and violence as well as other, generally raucous behavior. When the rule of law finally reached Trasnia such practices were outlawed, but Freetime remains a favorite period for making risky, informal confessions and proposals; as tradition dictates that nothing a person says during Freetime may be held against them later. Months of various durations divide up the year and also serve the function of Earth’s weeks in scheduling work and vacation time. Many of the months are dated in spirit, but they persist as a reminder of Trasnia’s past as well as for functional purposes. The names of these months and their meanings are listed below, along with their designation as working or vacation months.

• Days 1-17: Redemption encourages new beginnings, a time for transition and change. Working.
• Days 18-58: Liberty is a celebration of self-sufficiency and independence. Vacation.
• Days 59-62: Void is observed in respect of the vastness of space. Working.
• Day 63: Founder commemorates Carl Wilson, the first leader of Trasnia. Vacation.
• Days 64-90: Trasnia honors the nation and its people, preserved by their collective strength. Working.
• Days 91-106: Silmeria is a Valkyrie from Norse mythology, considered for many years to be the patron deity of Trasnia. Vacation.
• Days 107-254: Fortune refers both to the wealth that a brave and cunning buccaneer may obtain and the luck required to find it. Working.
• Day 255: Regret is a day of mourning for those one has killed. Working.
• Days 256-283: Revelry is a time for crews to enjoy the wealth they have obtained. Vacation.
• Days 284-317: Skipper honors the captains of ships and, more recently, of state. Working.
• Days 318-379: Boatswain honors the loyal crews whose work provides for those at home. Working.
• 380-457: Freeland acknowledges the importance of the homeland and those who remain behind to work on land while their spouses or children are voyaging. Vacation.

60 seconds = 1 minute
60 minutes = 1 hour
19 hours + Freetime = 1 day
457 days = 1 year

• Freetime = 18 minutes A.R.
• 1 day = 19 hours, 18 minutes A.R.
• 1 year = 367 days, 12 hours, 6 minutes A.R.

Megukuga

Megukuga’s planetary timekeeping system attends solely to readily apparent environmental distinctions and does not track recurring cycles. The much more precise Xanthalian system is relied upon for historical documentation. There are no units of time in Megukuga’s system, only descriptors of specific conditions. The original and most important distinction is seasonal, around which the than on this traditionally rural planet scheduled their agricultural activities. It should be remembered that this system has its origins in a time when the than were controlled by a collective hive mind, and individual concept of time was unnecessary, thus its rudimentary and primitive nature. The titles have been translated for easy reading.

• Dark/Light: Typically corresponds to night and day, but literally the definitions are based upon the level of natural ambient light visible at a location, so the term “dark,” for example, can apply during eclipses and heavy storms as well. This is the newest term, and is used to specify certain days in relation to the present.
• Green/White: This distinction is seasonal and varies by region, green/white being typical in areas distinguished by foliage in the summer and snow in the winter. Another example of this distinction is dry/wet, typical of deserts.
• Full/Empty: Referring to the phases of the planet’s large outer moon, this label is used to track the progression of the seasons, due to the fortunate fact that it completes a cylce almost exactly every half solar year.

Renku

Renku uses a timekeeping system based on that of its parent country, but the unit duration has been changed to fit the planet’s unique phases. Səkənde and menute equivalent to Earth Seconds and Minutes subdivide a long ąwr unit, which tracks planetary rotations (dae). Due to Mirfak’s extremely long orbital period, calendar years (yre) are subdivisions of solar years, which are referred to as rozrne (orbits).

60 səkənde = 1 menut
139 menute = 1 ąwr
12 ąwre = 1 da
303 dae = 1 yr
229 yre = 1 rozrn

• 1 səkənd = 1 second A.R.
• 1 menut = 1 minute A.R.
• 1 ąwr = 2 hours, 19 minutes A.R.
• 1 da = 27 hours, 48 minutes A.R.
• 1 yr = 350 days, 23 hours, 24 minutes A.R.
• 1 rozrn = 220 years, 18 days, 6 hours, 18 minutes A.R.

Shinra

The passage of time on Shinra is measured by an updated version of the traditional timekeeping system used by its original Kendarian settlers. Its short orbit is measured in totse (cycles), with eleven spĭne, planetary rotations, taking place for every cycle. Every rotation is divided into 360 degrees (dĭvĭzrne), which can be further divided for greater precision.

360 dĭvĭzrne = 1 spĭn
11 spĭne = 1 totsa

• 1 dĭvĭzrn = 3 minutes, 59 seconds A.R.
• 1 spĭn = 23 hours, 54 minutes A.R.
• 1 totsa = 10 days, 22 hours, 48 minutes A.R.

Wakimaishu

Time on Wakimaishu is tracked almost exclusively by the Xanthalian calendar. The planet’s solar calendar simply crams Xanthalian time into the appropriate unit lengths for rotations and revolutions.

9 ąwre = 1 rotation
205 rotations = 1 revolution

• 1 ąwr = 2 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds A.R.
• 1 rotation = 1 day, 1 hour A.R.
• 1 revolution = 213 days, 4 hours, 33 minutes, 36 seconds A.R.