Astreaint's Lunar Zodiac
The lunar zodiac is older than the solar zodiac, and the names of the moons and of the actual signs vary from place to place. Within Chenedolle itself, there is a certain amount of (largely unintended) cultural pressure to adopt the Astreianter versions of both calendars, and the regional versions are falling into disuse. The League cities have widely varying lunar calendars, including one that has months of varying lengths, but in practice they use the solar calendar. Chadron has its own solar calendar, which it reluctantly reconciles with the Astreianter version; they largely ignore the lunar calendar because of its associations with necromancy. In general, the lunar calendar is more closely attuned to the seasons rather than strictly to the positions of the planets, and is used primarily by farmers, gardeners, people whose work ties them closely to the land - and by necromancers, as the buried dead are strongly influenced by the land. The asterisked signs are ones that are unique to Astreiant, and I’ve added some notes below.
Worm Moon (Worm, or properly, wyrm, dragon)
Wolf Moon (Wolf’s-head)
Spider Moon (the Web)
Flower Moon (the Rose)*
Rat Moon (the Rat)
Dog Moon (the Dog)
Horse Moon (the Horsemaster)
Gargoyle Moon (the Gargoyle)*
Bell Moon (the Bell-and-Spire)*
Hearth Moon (the Hearthstone)
Just Moon (the Pillars of Justice)*
Harvest Moon (the Sickle)
Vine Moon (the Cup)
Cock Moon (the Rooster)
Hand Moon (the Lion’s Paw)*
Flower Moon: most lunar calendars have a Flower Moon at this point in the spring, when the first blooms appear; Astreiant is unique in calling the associated constellation “the Rose,” as roses don’t generally bloom until much later.
Gargoyle Moon: the shape of this constellation is much debated. Astreianters see in it the city pest, which flourishes in high summer, and so named the month after it.
Bell Moon: other names for this constellation include the Tower and the Post. Astreianter magists saw it as one of the bell towers that struck the city hours before mechanical clocks were invented.
Just Moon: this constellation is more commonly known as the Gate, and the month is often called the Traveler’s Moon, but Astreianters name it the Pillars of Justice in tribute to their city’s patronne, Astree.
Hand Moon: also known as the Hunter’s Moon and the Craft Moon; the precise extent of the associated constellation is the subject of considerable debate, and it is also known as the Fist and the Bow. (It doesn’t really look like any of them.) “Lion’s paw” is probably the closest image, but lions are native to the Silklands, and most people outside of Astreiant don’t really know what one looks like.
Worm Moon (Worm, or properly, wyrm, dragon)
Wolf Moon (Wolf’s-head)
Spider Moon (the Web)
Flower Moon (the Rose)*
Rat Moon (the Rat)
Dog Moon (the Dog)
Horse Moon (the Horsemaster)
Gargoyle Moon (the Gargoyle)*
Bell Moon (the Bell-and-Spire)*
Hearth Moon (the Hearthstone)
Just Moon (the Pillars of Justice)*
Harvest Moon (the Sickle)
Vine Moon (the Cup)
Cock Moon (the Rooster)
Hand Moon (the Lion’s Paw)*
Flower Moon: most lunar calendars have a Flower Moon at this point in the spring, when the first blooms appear; Astreiant is unique in calling the associated constellation “the Rose,” as roses don’t generally bloom until much later.
Gargoyle Moon: the shape of this constellation is much debated. Astreianters see in it the city pest, which flourishes in high summer, and so named the month after it.
Bell Moon: other names for this constellation include the Tower and the Post. Astreianter magists saw it as one of the bell towers that struck the city hours before mechanical clocks were invented.
Just Moon: this constellation is more commonly known as the Gate, and the month is often called the Traveler’s Moon, but Astreianters name it the Pillars of Justice in tribute to their city’s patronne, Astree.
Hand Moon: also known as the Hunter’s Moon and the Craft Moon; the precise extent of the associated constellation is the subject of considerable debate, and it is also known as the Fist and the Bow. (It doesn’t really look like any of them.) “Lion’s paw” is probably the closest image, but lions are native to the Silklands, and most people outside of Astreiant don’t really know what one looks like.