The twelve months of the Common Calendar are derived from the ancient traditions of the Almagest faith, a human religion that depicts its gods as living in the heavens as constellations among the stars. In the Almagest religion, the twelve gods rotate through the skies, each taking prominence for one-twelfth of the year. Each of these periods corresponds to an Adnati month, and each month is named after the constellation that dominates the sky during that period.
Almost every month lasts 30 days. There are two exceptions. The first exception is the Winter Solstice, which is New Year’s Day, the first day of the calendar year, and is a “null day.” Though printed calendars will mark it in the first month of the year, Elapidaans, it is considered to be Day Zero, and is not officially part of any month. The other exception is the Summer Solstice. It is counted as the 31st day of Altadaans, the sixth month of the year, which is the only month to have more than 30 days.
Adnati’s largest moon, Lunaal, has a cycle of 29 days, which roughly but inexactly corresponds to a calendar month. This cycle means that most of months have a single full Lunaal moon, but on rare occasions there can be a second full Lunaal moon in the same calendar month.
The twelve months are:
- Elapidaans – The first month of the calendar, which begins the day after the Winter Solstice and is the first month of winter. It is named after the Almagest god Elapida, the Basilisk.
- Chryadaans – The second month of winter and the second month of the Common Calendar. It is named after Chryasor, the Pegasus.
- Melquedaans – The third month of winter and the Common Calendar. It is named after Melquart, the Hippocampus.
- Bennedaans – The first month of spring, and the fourth month of the year. It is named after Bennu, the Phoenix.
- Pausadaans – The second month of spring, and the fifth month of the year. It is named after Pausanius, the Manticore.
- Altadaans – The third month of spring, and the sixth month of the year. Unlike the other months, it has 31 days, with the 31st being the Summer Solstice. It is named after Altair, the Griffin.
- Tuthodaans – The first month of summer and the seventh month of the year. It is named after Tuthose, the Kraken.
- Meludaans – The second month of summer and the eighth month of the year. It is named after Melusina, the Dragon.
- Ketedaans – The third month of summer and the ninth month of the year. It is named after Ketesias, the Unicorn.
- Garudaans – The first month of autumn and the tenth month of the year. It is named after Garuda, the Peryton.
- Chelydaans – The second month of autumn and the eleventh month of the year. It is named after Chelys, the Aspidochelone.
- Atraradaans – The third month of autumn and the twelfth and final month of the year. It is named after Atrarora, the Salamander.