Contrary to the information presented in HârnWorld, Tuzyn Reckoning is not the standard calender in use in Hârn. The standard, if any might take this name, is that of the Peonians; it is used by almost all everyone in Kanday. However, there do exist other calenders, among them one developed by the Laranian church.
This calender is rarely used, even by Laranians, since it is more convenient to use a single standard (and also because of the cumbersome nature of its naming system). However, at Menekod it is strictly observed, and is used (alongside the Peonian) on all official documents. The practice, presumably, was inherited by the Order of the Chequered Shield from the clerical Order of Hyvrik.
The calender was deliberately devised to reflect the cyclical nature of the war between the goddess Larani and the demon Agrik. This conflict is believed to take place primarily in Tirithor and the Agrikan-controlled wastelands that surround it - in the middle of which is the fortress Balgashang. While the doctrinal explanation of this war is involved and somewhat confusing, the calender presents a simplified version.
Taking as its base a 360 day year (even Laranians understand that it's convenient to have a calender which at least roughly matches the seasons), three different subdivisions are used: the Battle (Þisluazuhnôh Saei), the Skirmish (Bhárantun Luah), and the simple day (Adþukeina). Each Skirmish is 20 days long, each Battle is made up of six Skirmishes, and there are three Battles in a year.
There are two further divisions that enter into the calender. Each period of eight years is counted as a single Siege (Áinummêhun Gaáiwiskôþs); because the year is not actually used in this calender, there are in fact 144 named Skirmishes and 24 Battles per Siege!
The second division, which is really only a formality, is termed the Campaign (Aflêtanda Þus Frawaúrhteis Þeinôs), and is one thousand one hundred and fifty-two years long. Needless to say almost all known events belong to the same Conquest, which officially started in 370BT (the date given to the founding of the Laranian Church). This means that the next Campaign starts in 782 TR.
The complete set of divisions can be laid out in the following fashion. There are:
20 days per SkirmishThe explanation behind this calender lies, as mentioned, in the battle between Larani and Agrik. The Campaign represents the complete cycle of the battle against Agrik, ending with Larani's total victory, before the entire battle begins again on a new or renewed battlefield. Within this is a repetition of Sieges, which alternate between being the Siege of Dolithor and the Siege of Balgashang (each Campaign therefore begins with a Siege of Dolithor and end with a Siege of Balgashang). The names of the Battles depend on which Siege is currently being undertaken; this is not the case with the names of days or Skirmishes.
6 Skirmishes per Battle
24 Battles per Siege
144 Sieges per Campaign
Skirmishes are named independently of Battles, and days are named independently of Skirmishes. The name of the Skirmish gives an indication of how the Battle is going, and each day within a Skirmish sets the tone for that part of the Skirmish. Or so the theory goes. In reality, no one is entirely sure about how the calender works exactly. This is because it was originally devised centuries ago, and is written in a language and script that none now understand fully, and few understand at all. Large amounts of interpretation and guess-work was necessary in order to construct the calender as it generally stands today. Those trained in the use of the calender learn a particular interpretation, and just as importantly are trained to copy exactly the strange script that is used. Any translation is somewhat dubious, though this is not generally admitted.
It appears that the days are named after both Laranian saints and Agrikan demons, and reflect the course of the Skirmish/Battle; this always follows a set pattern (though variation does occur), as the course of each Skirmish plays out. For a full example of a how a day is constructed, compare the following two descriptions:
"The Dawn of Ostruto the Guide, Cunning Scout of the Skirmish of the Black Oak of the Battle on the Plain of Gold in the Siege of Balgashang.""The Dawn of Demon Yovek Screamspear, Heartless and Mindless Herald of the End of Peace of the Skirmish of Lost Souls of the Battle of Crimson Chasm in the Siege of Balgashang. May his name be cursed and his will forever shattered."