Seasonal Cycle

The Eldorian year is organized around the four shifts of the ambient magical aura, which correspond to and amplify the natural seasons of Eldoria. Each seasonal transition is a matter of both ecological significance and cultural celebration, marked by festivals that have been observed in some form since the earliest days of the founding covenant.

Spring — called the Season of the Green Rising — is heralded by the emergence of the green-gold luminescence in the forest canopy. This is the most joyous time of the Eldorian year: apprentices are formally presented to their guilds, new building projects are begun, and the forest's renewed energy is understood to bless fresh undertakings of all kinds. The Festival of the First Light is held on the first day when the aura is judged by the Druid Wardens to have fully brightened.

Summer — the Season of the Deep Emerald — is the period of greatest productivity. The magical aura is stable and strong, and craftwork undertaken during this season is believed to carry an extra measure of durability and quality. Harvest of magical herbs and fungi is at its peak, and the Sylvan Guard conducts its major training exercises in the long, bright days of midsummer.

Autumn — the Season of Amber Turning — is marked by the amber-and-russet shift of the aura and the formal Amber Harvest festival, when the year's magical reserves are assessed and the community gives collective thanks. This is also the season of the annual Guild Exhibition, where the year's finest craftwork is presented and prizes are awarded.

Winter — the Season of Silver Sleep — is the forest's dormancy period. The pale silver-blue aura of winter is associated with memory, introspection, and the honoring of the dead. The longest night of winter is kept as the Night of Remembrance, when crystal-archive recordings of deceased community members are replayed and their contributions are formally acknowledged.