Ostrakonomy

Ostrakonomy is the study of time and shard movement. It is studied almost exclusively by Teryxians, although a few Haarkeen and Aurumel have been known to dabble in ostrakonomy with help form a Teryxian tutor or even a retired Ostraknomist.

Shard movement is not always exact, so it is almost more of an art than a science. However, this has not stopped the logic-driven Teryxians from attempting to develop a standard calendar. Their findings are detailed below:

 GENERATIONS 

This is similar to the real world equivalent of a leap year, in that the Ostrakonomists discovered that every 13 cycles, the Shards are in about the same location. Obviously, it is not exact and the Teryxians have found flaws (i.e. the collission between Quill and Banyan), but it has allowed the Teryxians to have a standard means of telling time.

 CYCLES 

A cycle is the real world equivalent of about 2-3 years depending on the cycle. Some cycles are longer than others. A cycle is roughly how long it takes for a every Shard to complete a lateral flotation pattern and return to the center. Not every Shard moves at the same speed, and cycles tend to be more Quill focused than anything else, but the other Shards have adopted this method of telling time simply for its ease and standardization.

 KINDLING 

Kindlings are the real world equivalent of a day. There is no set number of kindlings in any given cycle, so Folk generally have to wait for the predictions of the ostrakonmists to know how many kindlings will be in the current cycle. Whatsmore, kindlings are not a period of darkness and light, but a period of being awake before requiring sleep. Most Folk consider a Kindling to be about the same length.

DENOTING TIME

Cycles are referred to within the generation they belong. For example 5.2 would be the second cycle of the fifth generation. Since the Fall, the Timekeeper's Lodge has reset the calendar and generations are now referred to as B.F. (before the Fall) and A.F. (after the Fall), the Fall being the collission between Banyan and Quill. So now that same date would read 5 A.F. 2. Unlike BC in the real world, BF is still numbered from 1 to 148 with 148 being the most recent and 1 being the first recorded generation.

Since dating can be so unpredictable, the dating system is used for the discussion of history more than the discussion of the future.