The Imperial Calendar

How the Imperial Calendar works, and why it is important.

6/29/20252 min read

In the Empire of the Platinum Lion, time doesn’t just pass — it unfolds with meaning. The Imperial Calendar of Trexlin is more than a way to track days; it’s a sacred rhythm rooted in myth, sunlight, and the legacy of one legendary figure: Lionchild I.This distinctive calendar system has shaped the empire’s festivals, farming cycles, and spiritual life for generations. Let’s explore how it works, what it honors, and how it continues to influence daily life across Trexlin.

A 330-Day Solar Year

The Imperial Calendar follows a solar cycle of 330 days, broken into 10 standard months and 4 major festivals that mark the changing of the seasons. Each month contains exactly five 6-day weeks for a total of 30 days, creating a neat and predictable pattern. The festivals — placed between months — provide 30 additional days set aside for celebration, remembrance, or reflection.

Here’s how the year breaks down:

  • 10 Months × 30 days = 300 days

  • 4 Seasonal Festivals = 30 days

  • Total Year = 330 days

Unlike many calendars based on lunar cycles or astrological events, the Imperial system is solar and ceremonial, using seasonal turning points and light measurements to structure the year.

The Flow of Months and Festivals

The year begins with Freyog 1, the first day of winter and the New Year. From there, time flows through a regular cycle of months and festivals:

  1. Freyog

  2. Melog

  3. Festival of Flowers (Spring begins) - 5 Days

  4. Shinog

  5. Bricog

  6. Yadrog (Summer begins on day 16)

  7. Festival of Explorers - 10 Days

  8. Lifor

  9. Dredfor

  10. Festival of Revelations (Autumn begins) - 5 Days

  11. Tellog

  12. Revinog

  13. Ressog (Winter begins on day 16)

  14. Yearfest (End of year) - 10 Days.

Seasons and Sunlight

Trexlin’s seasons are tied directly to these festivals, and each begins on a specific, unchanging date:

  • Winter: Begins Freyog 1

  • Spring: Begins Festival of Flowers, Day 1

  • Summer: Begins Yadrog 16

  • Autumn: Begins Festival of Revelations, Day 1

  • Winter (again): Begins Ressog 16

Days are divided into 14 Bells (each 2 hours long), and sunlight is measured in Bells, Chimes, and Dashes. The longest day, for example, is Explorers 1, marked by 8 Bells and 2 Chimes of sunlight. The shortest? Yeartest 1, with only 6 Bells.

This system turns the passage of time into a living clock of the sun, deeply woven into religious rites, agricultural schedules, and everyday speech.

The Crypt and the Ceremonial Core

At the heart of the calendar is the legend of Lionchild I, the founder of the Platinum Lion Dynasty. His descent into the Crypt of the Lion — and his miraculous emergence bearing the Artifacts of the Lion — are celebrated twice yearly:

  • Festival of Explorers: Marks the day Lionchild entered the crypt. A massive stadium in the capital, LionsDen, now encloses the site. The crypt is opened in a ceremonial rite. Adventurers are invited to enter — though none have returned in generations.

  • Festival of Revelations: Marks Lionchild’s return. The crypt is opened once again, more in hope than expectation, as citizens gather in silence to await the impossible.

These two festivals are not only mythic in origin — they also structure the empire’s belief in heroism, sacrifice, and revelation. Every citizen knows the story. Every calendar is oriented around it.