Time Measurement in the World of Trexlin

We've talked about other units of measure, but only briefly touched on time in the world of Trexlin.

I had established a base unit of time - the Beat. It was the time needed for an object to fall 1 trant. This turns out to be about 0.5 seconds.

While the Threv, long ago, developed mechanical devices to measure time. It is the original system that they developed which has become the de facto standard for measuring time (with the notable exception of the Quem and Alfay - both of whom have other time measurement units).

The widely accepted units are:

• Beat = 0.5 seconds

• Dash = 100 beats (50 seconds)

• Chime = 36 dashes or 3,600 beats (30 minutes)

• Bell = 4 chimes or 144 dashes (2 hours)

• Day = 14 bells or 56 chimes (28 hours)

In addition to these units, the Empire of the Platinum Lion has a number of time conventions that are unique to the areas under their control:

• Half Tower (more commonly called Haft) = 7 Dashes (5.8 minutes)

• Tower - 14 Dashes (11 min, 40 seconds)

Time is typically expressed in Bells/Chimes or as Bell/Chime/Dash. A time given as 11 and 3 would be 11 bells and 3 chimes. Whereas if it was given as 11, 3 and 18 would be more precise as 11 Bells, 3 Chimes and 18 dashes.

A day is 14 bells. Depending on the time of year (and location) there is generally between 6 to 8.5 Bells of sunlight per day. Daylight varies, with the shortest day of the year (yearfest 1) right about 6 bells of sunlight - up to the longest day of the year (Explorers 1) with 8 Bells 2 Chimes of daylight (as measured in the capital city of LionsDen).

Likewise, the sunrise / sunset varies over the year.

• Yearfest 1 - Sunrise: 4 Bells. Sunset 10 Bells . 6 Bells of Daylight

• Explorers 1 - Sunrise 2 Bells, 3 Chimes, 4 Dashes. Sunset 11 Bells, 1 Chime, 4 Dashes. 8 Bells 2 Chimes of Sunlight.

The Imperial Calendar is based on a solar year of 330 days. This is divided into 10 months, each of 30 days, 2 major festivals - both 10 days, and 2 minor festivals - both of which are 5 days.

The Imperial month is further divided into 5 six-day weeks. The days of the week are:

• Illton

• Trogton

• Ramton

• Ceston

• Pashton

• Eqton

A specific day is generally referenced as the day of the week and the week number of that month. So, Ceston-2 would be 4th day of the 2nd week of the current month. It is occasionally abbreviated simply as 2/4 which would be the same, namely the 4th day of the second week of that month.