calendars
Taken from Wikipedia, an excerpt from Bede the Venerable on the Old English lunisolar calendar:
- The [two] months of Giuli derive their name from the day when the Sun turns back [and begins] to increase, because one of [these months] precedes [this day] and the other follows.
- Solmonath can be called "month of cakes", which they offered to their gods in that month.
- Hrethmonath is named for their goddess Hretha, to whom they sacrificed at this time.
- Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance.
- Thrimilchi was so called because in that month the cattle were milked three times a day; such at one time, was the fertility of Britain or Germany, from whence the English nation came to Britain.
- Litha means "gentle" or "navigable", because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle, and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea.
- Weodmonath means "month of tares (weeds)", for they are very plentiful then.
- Helegmonath means "month of sacred rites".
- Winterfilleth can be called by the invented composite name "winter-full".
- Blodmonath is "month of immolations", for then the cattle which were to be slaughtered were consecrated to their gods.
I'm a particular fan of the Month of Immolations, the Month of Sacred Rites, and Thrimilchi, the last one especially because of Bede's tolkien-esque pining for a lost epoch of plenty.
From Patrick James Stuart:
One - Anyone looking directly into the face of the Fine Gackling1 Moon will go quite mad and not know who they are for as long is its light shines.
Two - Anyone in direct moonlight can change shape with nothing more than a silent thought.
Women can change into Animals.
Men into Stones.
Murderers into weapons.
Goblins into animals,humans, objects or plants.
Animals into Humans.
And Children into Goblins.
Your players shouldn't have to keep notes on what the date is. They should know, because the date is happening to them. They look around and see piles of scorched carcasses, littered wreaths and garments from last night's rites: they know it is the Month of Immolations. They see a naked man on all fours, braying, struggling with a stag, his head gored raw as he tries to lock horns he doesn't have: they know the Fine Full Gackling Moon has just passed.
the calendar of wulfwald
Referee: to determine what day it is in game, crossmatch with the real-life month and moon phase. e.g. in March:
today is the waxing crescent of Hrethmonath, the Garlic Moon. The air is thick with the smell of garlic, and vampire hunters roam the land. what would you like to do?
Giuli, the Pyre Moon. Snow and soot on the ground, and the everpresent smell of burning. In every settlement a pyre is kept going all night, every night. If it goes out, that settlement is cursed for a year and a day.
Solmonath, the Cake Moon. Poor folk in this month are covered in ash from head to toe: all through Giuli people took the last of their flour and barley and made little cakes to toss into the fire. In this month, the hard little Solmoni are free to whoever digs through the ashes to find them; superstition holds that they imbue wisdom.
Hrethmonath, the Garlic Moon. Wild garlic grows everywhere, the smell is inescapable. Young adults form roving groups looking for vampires, but never find any, because the deathless have learned to hide. In more civilised places vampires are no longer treated as real, and 'hunting' is something like halloween; youngsters running about with wooden swords and garlic wreaths.
Eosturnomath, Eostre's Moon. This is the month of spring blooms and feasting. In no other month are the rules of hospitality more sacrosanct; this is the time of joy and celebration, and all things must be shared lavishly amongst the brotherhood of man.
Thrimilchi, the Bear Moon. A time of plenty. Rain falls every other day, and rivers gleam silver with fish. In this month, the bears awaken.
Litha, the War Moons. A long month of two moons, hot and dry. The ground becomes firm, good for fighting on. Always in Litha the marching of men, the singing of swords, and the watering of parched earth with hot blood.
Weodmonath, the Wedding Moon. Days shorten, and all animals are more aggressive, especially bears. Wars are ended by pacts of marriage, but it doesn't always go smoothly. Fights in this month are over love, not business, and they are the bloodiest of all.
Helegmonath, the Sacred Moon. all month can the priests and pilgrims' colourful tents be seen, their loud chants and retorts be heard. This is the month of prophecy. All sensible people avoid hilltops and groves like a plague, lest they take a druid's fancy and some fell geas or star shines upon them.
Winterfilleth, the Dark Moon. Bears are at their most savage. Raiders abound. They say winterfilleth is the birth month of the skinwalkers. At this time of year it is not right to trust. Stay indoors.
Blodmonath, the Blood Moon. The blood gods grow thirsty without war, so sacrifices are given.
Giuli, as per the first month of the year.
My idealised Troika! campaign would be based in Troika City, with the Inciting Incident being the sudden appearance of the Gackling Moon. On the Moon's surface, the dungeon from No Sun For A Wicked Moon, hides the secret to banishing the Gackling Moon back to the Moonlands.↩