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Seasonal Cycle
The Four Tides
The Naiad calendar divides the year into four Tides, each corresponding to a phase of the water cycle and accompanied by specific rituals, economic activities, and social events.
| Tide | Season | Water Phase | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising Tide | Spring | Snowmelt, swelling rivers, flooding plains. | Sproutling Tide festival; planting of Aqua-Lotus and Lumen-Reeds; opening of trade routes; Festival of the Flow. |
| High Tide | Summer | Peak flow, warm waters, maximum biodiversity. | Night of Luminescence; military training exercises; deep-aquifer exploration; harvest of Crystal-Moss. |
| Turning Tide | Autumn | Cooling waters, leaf-fall, migration of Mist-Hawks. | The Great Confluence pilgrimage; annual Harmonic Conclave; preservation of water-memories before winter stillness. |
| Still Tide | Winter | Low flow, frozen surfaces in northern regions, subterranean retreat. | Stillwater Vigil; scholarly pursuits in Underglow Caves; maintenance of Ripple Net; crafting and repair of submersibles. |
Lunar Phases & Rituals
- Full Moon: The Confluence rite (reproduction) is performed exclusively under full moons; all sacred springs are considered at peak potency.
- New Moon: Night of introspection; Naiads avoid merging with water, believing the darkness makes water-memories difficult to read.
- Waxing Crescent: Considered auspicious for beginning journeys, launching new vessels, or starting apprenticeships.
- Waning Crescent: A time for concluding projects, settling disputes, and returning borrowed water (a symbolic debt-clearing custom).
Agricultural Cycles
- Aqua-Lotus Cultivation: Planted in spring, harvested in late summer; the petals are used in healing rituals and cuisine.
- Lumen-Reed Farming: Reeds are cultivated in shallow marshes year-round but reach peak luminescence in midsummer.
- Glow-Carp Spawning: Managed fisheries release captive-bred Glow-Carp during the Night of Luminescence; wild populations are strictly protected.