Kádi Calendar of the seasons
The seasons of the world are tied to the great world-forge. Our ancient creator worked in cycles, taking rests in between. Thus his hammerstrokes shaped the rhytm of the world's turning seasons.
Annual Overview of the Kádi Calendar
This is the way the dwarves order the world's seasons:
| Season | Days | Defining Feature | Key Festival | World-Forge State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostpeak | 60 | Deep freeze, skyfire auroras | Deadnight | The Forge is Silent |
| Thawroot | 60 | Warming soil, snow-melting blooms | Kindleseed Festival | The First Spark |
| Rootrest | 60 | Cool stillness, fogs, patient endurance | Second Stirring | The Smouldering |
| Sunsurge | 100 | Long warmth, growing rivers | Festival of Kelvies | The Open Flame |
| Stormquench | 60 | Cool, violent storms, celestial chaos | The Gale Dance | The Quench |
| Amberfall | 60 | Final harvest, preparation for the cold | Hearthcall (10 days) | The Hammer’s Fall |
Frostpeak
Coldest season. Skyfire illuminates the long nights. A time of silence, carving, and staying close.
Days: 60
World-Forge: The Great Cooling—the forge is silent; even the embers sleep.
Flora & Fauna:
- Trees and plants appear lifeless and dead.
- Animals are in deep hibernation or have migrated.
- Wildlife don seasonal pelts, with thick white or grey coats.
Phenomenon:
- Skyfire—Dazzling magical auroras from celestial storms beyond the sky.
Work:
- Indoor decorating and repair.
- Carving, storytelling, and organizing.
Customs:
- Kindleseed crafting—Coals are taken from the forge, they are carved, painted and inlaid with seeds.
Sayings:
- “Even the flame must sleep.”
Festival of Deadnight:
- Deadnight—Celebrated on the longest night; a sacred, solemn festival under the skyfire.
Thawroot
The beginning of warmth and activity. The land breathes again.
Days: 60
World-Forge: The First Spark—Bellows stir, warmth and life return.
Flora & Fauna:
- Crops begin sprouting beneath the snow; Early plants and flowers appear.
- Wildlife returns and animals emerge; birdsong fills the air; predators wake up from hibernation.
Phenomenon:
- Beneath-Bloom—Some plants burst through melting snow in colorful explosions.
Work:
- Soil preparation, clearing of snow, and first seeds planted.
- Smithing and other work resumes with fresh intent.
- 'The stirring of soil and fire'—Symbolic planting of the first seeds of the year, accompanied by the symbolic first breath of the season by opening windows and blowing the bellows of the forges.
Rootrest
A cold season of patience and slow hardening. Growth slows, but endurance is honed.
Days: 60
World-Forge: The Smouldering—heat deep within, not yet aflame.
Flora & Fauna:
- Roots grow deep, but slowly; Plants seem dormant;
- Wildlife quiets again.
Phenomenon:
- Deep fogs and a quiet aura fall over the land.
Work:
- Crafting, cleaning, and detail work.
- Protecting the plantings; Harvesting of early root vegetables.
Customs:
- Endurance rituals: running, fasting, meditations.
Sayings:
- “Even embers can melt steel, given time.”
Festival:
- Second Stirring—plants are ritually “woken” with song and stone-tapping.
Sunsurge
The longest and most vibrant season. Water and warmth flood the land.
Days: 100
World-Forge: The Open Flame – fire blazes bright, rivers run molten.
Flora & Fauna:
- Forests flourish, plants flower, and crops grow large.
- Insects hum, animals shed their winter coats, and wildlife mate.
Phenomenon:
- River-surge – snowmelt swells rivers, flooding areas and connecting rivers and lakes to one another.
Work:
- Mining, building, and farming at full pace.
- Seasonal roads and bridges are repaired, gathering of faraway resources, people travel and trade.
Sayings:
- “This is the flame that shapes.”
Festival:
- Festival of Kelvies: As the first kelvie flowers bloom, dwarves start preparations. High in the mountains, under the thunderous clashing of the Copperhorns mating ritual, the dwarves celebrate a feast of drums, hallucinogens and dance.
- Riverbless: as the rivers flood and new lakes form, games are played in and around the water
Stormquench
Chaotic cold weather, lightning, and wild magic storms.
Days: 60
World-Forge: The Quench – steam, sparks, and chaos.
Flora & Fauna:
- Some trees crack open from lightning. Plants seem to brace for the chaos. Fungi flourish.
- Migrating creatures swerve off course. Animals take shelter.
Phenomenon:
- Elemental storms, sky-rips, and magical lightning bolts. The Haze - the hazy storm of wisps
Work:
- Fortification, planning, feasting.
Customs:
- Windchimes of bone are hung to protect against the chaos
- High-value tools and items are laid out in the rain to be “imbued” by storm essence.
Sayings:
- “The sky forgets to whisper.”
Festival:
- The Gale Dance – Chaotic feast in the storm: wild music by wind instruments and drums, kites are flown, bonfires lit, and people dance chaotically.
Amberfall
The closing warmth of the year. Golden light, retreating warmth, harvest and preparation.
Days: 60
World-Forge: The Hammer’s Fall – all things shaped are cooled and set aside.
Flora & Fauna:
- Plants spread their seeds (fruit), and sunsets turn golden-red.
- Animals gather resources and prepare shelter. Hibernation begins.
Phenomenon:
- Gold-and-red-leaved forests, migrating birds darken skies.
Work:
- Harvesting fruits, storing food, and gathering supplies for Frostpeak.
- Reinforcing dwellings, mending gear.
- Travel back home, closing and preparation for Frostpeak.
Sayings:
- “The hammer falls not in anger, but in rest.”
Festival:
- Hearthcall – a 10-day festival where all food is stored and counted, and all people return home.
(to the reader: I'm struggling with the layout, so any advice is greatly appreciated)
Written overview of the 6 seasons, with their respective symbols and associated colors and features
I actually really like the layout. This was a fun article to read. I loved seeing the year through the eyes of the dwarves. The Gale Dance in particular sounds both chaotic and fun.
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