Hydaelyn Role-Players

Full Version: Help with units of time and measurement in FFXIV
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Okay.  I've heard Malms, Fulms...but what are they exactly? And what's the rest of the stuff that goes with them?
(09-08-2015, 08:09 PM)Riven Wrote: [ -> ]Okay.  I've heard Malms, Fulms...but what are they exactly? And what's the rest of the stuff that goes with them?

Ilm = inch
Fulm = foot
Yalm = yard
Malm = mile

onze= ounce
ponze = pound
tonze = ton

Time is a bit harder.

bell = hour
hour = hour
sun = day
moon = month
cycle? = year
year = year
era = omgsounsyyhelp

Edit: This was brought in wholesale from FFXI, too.
There's another thread from a long time ago that I wandered across that I've kept bookmarked for personal reference.  It basically restates what Warren said, but it has a few other tidbits on it.

Time and Measurements in Hydaelyn
I always assumed an Era was the mark of a major event in the civilizations occupying Hydaelyn instead of a hard set measure of time. Astral signalling a rise of a civilization or an uplifting period, and Umbral a downfall or destruction.
(09-08-2015, 08:09 PM)Riven Wrote: [ -> ]Okay.  I've heard Malms, Fulms...but what are they exactly? And what's the rest of the stuff that goes with them?

Ilm = Inch
Fulm = Foot (12 Ilms)
Yalm = Yard (3 Fulms)
Malm = Mile (1760 Yalms)

Onze = Ounce
Ponze = Pound (16 Onzes)
Tonze = Ton (2,000 Ponze)

Bell = Hour (1 Hour in game time = 2m 55s in real life)
Sun = Day (24 Bells)
Sennight = Week (8 Suns)
Fortnight = 2 Weeks (16 Suns)
Moon = Month (32 Suns)
Twelvemoon = Year (12 Moons)
Epoch = 12 Years or one full Zodiac.

Astral Era = Time when mankind builds up his civilizations. (Seem to average 1000-1500 years.)
Umbral Era = Time when mankind tears down his civilizations. (Length of time varies greatly.)

Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Eorzeans measure length and distance in ilms, fulms, yalms, and malms. The ilm is the fundamental unit of measurement, roughly equivalent to the length of an adult Hyuran thumb, with the longer fulms, yalms, and malms calculated using the ilm as the base. Needless to say, as the size of body parts can vary widely from person to person, these units were somewhat imprecise in the early days of their use. While this would rarely be a problem within close-knit communities, confusion quickly ensued as trade and commerce spread across the realm.

Matters came to a head in the year 986 of the Sixth Astral Era, when a pirate who had come to Limsa Lominsa to procure sailcloth from the black markets became enraged when his purchase fell short of the length for which he believed he had paid. Though contradicting accounts of the incident exist, most agree that the ensuing scuffle left some fifty men dead or wounded. Admiral Agatzahr Roehmerlsyn of Limsa Lominsa took swift action, promptly arresting the pirate who had caused the ruckus, lopping his thumb clean off, and declaring that it would henceforth serve as the standard measure of an ilm throughout the land. Cast-iron replicas of the buccaneer’s severed digit were produced in bulk and distributed around the realm to serve as one-ilm rules, and disputes over vague measurements soon became a thing of the past.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:1 ilm: An adult Hyuran thumb, a ripe rolanberry
1 fulm: 12 ilms, an adult Hyuran foot, a grown chocobo tailfeather
1 yalm: 3 fulms, a bastard sword blade, an adult Lalafellin male
1 malm: 1760 yalms, the distance an adult Elezen can run in a tenth bell, the approximate height of O'Ghomoro

1 onze: An adult Hyuran thumb, a 100-gil coin
1 ponze: 16 onzes, a merchant's scale stone, a block of kukuru butter
1 tonze: 2,000 ponzes, a fully matured goobbue, 600 bottles of Wineport red (1 standard overseas shipment)



Those were the basics.

NOW... here's where shit gets complicated (SO FEEL NO OBLIGATION TO USE THIS IN RP BUT ITS THERE IN THE LORE IF YOU'RE CURIOUS).

___________________________________________________

All time is measured by movements of the Elemental Wheel.
Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 1 - The Suns
By the unit of a sole Sun we mean that period which lasts for the duration of four cycles of the six elemental hours - those of Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth. And so is the sun twenty hours and four, and so shall it ever be.

In English, 12:01am - 1:00am is the Hour of Ice. 1:01am to 2:00am is the Hour of Water. 2:01am to 3:00am is the Hour of Wind... etc etc. Until you get to 7am, and the cycle starts over again with Ice. Four cycles (6 hours) of the six elements = one day.

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 2 - The Moons
The life of a single Moon spans four cycles of eight Suns, and is thus the sum of thirty and two. The eight deriveth from the elements six, Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth, and the polarities two, Astral and Umbral.

In English, 1 month = 4 weeks always. 1 week = 8 days always.
Days of the Week are named in this order:
Iceday
Watersday
Windsday
Lightningday
Fireday
Earthday
Astralday
Umbralday

Michael-Christopher Koji Fox Wrote:Yes! The days of the week definitely have names. Because the game was based off of themes that we had in Final Fantasy XI—the main lore guy was Kenichi Iwao, who worked on XI, and I had also worked on XI, and then we came on and started collaborating for XIV—and, again, it’s a new world, but we do want to, like with all Final Fantasy games, take stuff from previous Final Fantasies, and that’s one of the things that we wanted to take, because it was such a good system. In Final Fantasy XI, you had your elements, and because we have those same types of elements in XIV, we wanted to do the same thing—so you have your Watersday and your Firesday and you have your Windsday.

Now, for those not familiar with 1.0, the elemental wheel's six elements are guided by an Umbral and Astral aspect each. Elements Fire, Wind, and Lightning are said to be more Astral-ly guided, while Ice, Earth, and Water more Umbral. However, each element possesses both Astral and Umbral qualities. Hence why you have an Astral Ice Month (Halone) and an Umbral Ice Month (Menphina). But I'm getting ahead of myself...

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 3 - The Years
The Year is made when the Moon goeth round the two Astral and Umbral poles, fluctuating between the six elements, and that in turn. In this, the Year can be said to be the length of twelve Moons. The first and second Moons of the Year are the first astral and first Umbral, and together they share affinity with Ice.

In English, 1 Year = 12 Months. Months alternate Astral and Umbral (in that order) for each of the Elements in the natural order of things. Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth.

First moon - First Astral Moon - Halone, the fury
Second moon - First Umbral Moon - Menphina, the lover
Third moon - Second Astral Moon - Thaliak, the scholar
Fourth moon - Second Umbral Moon - Nymeia, the spinner
Fifth moon - Third Astral Moon - Llymlaen, the navigator
Sixth moon - Third Umbral Moon - Oschon, the wanderer
Seventh moon - Fourth Astral Moon - Byregot, the builder
Eighth moon - Fourth Umbral Moon - Rhalgr, the destroyer
Ninth moon - Fifth Astral Moon - Azeyma, the warden
Tenth moon - Fifth Umbral Moon - Nald'thal, the traders
Eleventh moon - Sixth Astral Moon - Nophica, the matron
Twelfth moon - Sixth Umbral Moon - Althyk, the keeper


With me so far? Hold onto your elemental tube socks cuz here's where things get weird. Feel free to stop now.
Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 4 - Of Man
The wisdom of the Twelve saw fit to grant man with the cycle of years, and in turn the reverence of man bound them to his gods - the Year of the Navigator, of the Wanderer, of the Builder, of the Destroyer, of the Warden, of the Traders, of the Matron, of the Keeper, of the Fury, of the Lover, of the Scholar, and of the Spinner. The turning of these Years twelve is a sacred thing, and together they comprise one epoch of man, by which the histories of his endeavor are measured.

In English, Eorzea has a Zodiac of the Twelve. Now, there are three canon Zodiacs in the world of Hydaelyn. And the completion of these zodiacs is a time period known as an Epoch.

Here's where things get weird. Did you notice who starts the Twelve's Zodiac? Llymlaen... goddess of Wind. Not Ice...

The natural order of Elements is: Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth.
The order of years is: Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Ice, Water.

Why? Who knows, but this wasn't just a random mistake of the devs because...

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 5 - Of Gods
The constancy and eternity of time derive from the pulse and breath of the Twelve. And by their divine will the brilliance of the Astral Eras which see man flourish and prosper, and the shadows of the Umbral Eras which see man falter and doubt, are visited upon him in equal, and neither the greatest good nor the greatest evil may escape their purview. Since the peace among the Twelve was broken and life was created to wage their wars, six cycles of the Eras have come to pass in keeping with the elemental order. The Sixth Umbral Era belonged to the waters, as heavy rains fell and the seas rose high, submerging and cleansing all in a great deluge. With time the waters receded, ushering in the present Sixth Astral Era, during which man has again rebuilt his halls and tilled his lands. Naught save the ken of the Twelve themselves knoweth when the Seventh Umbral Era shall come and end our days. The sole certainty what resides within man is the selfsame as it has ever been - ours is the power to make of our Era what we might.

In English, Eras are elementally aspected as well, and are in keeping with the same order as the passing of the Years in the Zodiac.

1st Umbral Calamity - Wind
2nd Umbral Calamity - Lightning
3rd Umbral Calamity - Fire
4th Umbral Calamity - Earth (Fall of the Allagan Empire)
5th Umbral Calamity - Ice (Age of Endless Frost)
6th Umbral Calamity - Water (Oha-Sok's Great Flood)

7th Umbral Calamity - Non-aspected because it was supposed to be the end of the world - a culmination of the sins of mankind. If the gods forgave mankind by this time the following astral era would last forever.

The Divine Chronicals Wrote:Seven waning moons see seven suns rise,
Divine order roils, fallen corpses writhe.
Souls from aether far, strangers from strange lands,
Yester with thine eyes, morrow by thine hands.


Of course this last bit could all be thrown out the window with the revelation of Hydaelyn in 3.2.
SPOILERS AHEAD
According to this latest patch, when speaking with Hydaelyn, she says the Ascians are trying to free Zodiark by destroying the 8 fetters that hold him in place. They've succeeded 7 times throughout history. 7 successes = 7 umbral calamities. Meaning there's an 8th coming that we need to prevent which will mark the return of Zodiark and the death of Hydaelyn, possibly. This suggests an 8th Calamity, which would fall in line with Hydaelyn's 8 elements: Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Astral, Umbral.


Hope that helps! ^^
Lot of characters use "summers" as their time measurement as well for years. One of mine does that (as in, "I've been in Eorzea proper for at least three summers now") and there's an NPC in... Costa, I think, that uses it as "I've been around for fifty summers and I know how to make a lady smile" or however he says it. Kind of an alternate to how you'd say years, depending on your character.
(09-08-2015, 10:37 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-08-2015, 08:09 PM)Riven Wrote: [ -> ]Okay.  I've heard Malms, Fulms...but what are they exactly? And what's the rest of the stuff that goes with them?

Ilm = Inch
Fulm = Foot (12 Ilms)
Yalm = Yard/Meter (3 Fulms)
Malm = Mile (1760 Yalms)

Onze = Ounce
Ponze = Pound (16 Onzes)
Tonze = Ton (2,000 Ponze)

Bell = Hour (1 Hour in game time = 2m 55s in real life)
Sun = Day (24 Bells)
Sennight = Week (8 Suns)
Fortnight = 2 Weeks (16 Suns)
Moon = Month (32 Suns)
Cycle = Year (12 Moons)
Epoch = 12 Years or one full Zodiac.

Astral Era = Time when mankind builds up his civilizations. (Seem to average 1000-1500 years.)
Umbral Era = Time when mankind tears down his civilizations. (Length of time varies greatly.)



Those were the basics.

NOW... here's where shit gets complicated (SO FEEL NO OBLIGATION TO USE THIS IN RP BUT ITS THERE IN THE LORE IF YOU'RE CURIOUS).

___________________________________________________

All time is measured by movements of the Elemental Wheel.
Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 1 - The Suns
By the unit of a sole Sun we mean that period which lasts for the duration of four cycles of the six elemental hours - those of Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth. And so is the sun twenty hours and four, and so shall it ever be.

In English, 12:01am - 1:00am is the Hour of Ice. 1:01am to 2:00am is the Hour of Water. 2:01am to 3:00am is the Hour of Wind... etc etc. Until you get to 7am, and the cycle starts over again with Ice. Four cycles (6 hours) of the six elements = one day.

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 2 - The Moons
The life of a single Moon spans four cycles of eight Suns, and is thus the sum of thirty and two. The eight deriveth from the elements six, Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, and Earth, and the polarities two, Astral and Umbral.

In English, 1 month = 4 weeks always. 1 week = 8 days always.
Days of the Week are named in this order:
Iceday
Watersday
Windsday
Lightningday
Fireday
Earthday
Astralday
Umbralday

Now, for those not familiar with 1.0, the elemental wheel's six elements are guided by an Umbral and Astral aspect each. Elements Fire, Wind, and Lightning are said to be more Astral-ly guided, while Ice, Earth, and Water more Umbral. However, each element possesses both Astral and Umbral qualities. Hence why you have an Astral Ice Month (Halone) and an Umbral Ice Month (Menphina). But I'm getting ahead of myself...

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 3 - The Years
The Year is made when the Moon goeth round the two Astral and Umbral poles, fluctuating between the six elements, and that in turn. In this, the Year can be said to be the length of twelve Moons. The first and second Moons of the Year are the first astral and first Umbral, and together they share affinity with Ice.

In English, 1 Year = 12 Months. Months alternate Astral and Umbral (in that order) for each of the Elements in the natural order of things. Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth.

First moon - First Astral Moon - Halone, the fury
Second moon - First Umbral Moon - Menphina, the lover
Third moon - Second Astral Moon - Thaliak, the scholar
Fourth moon - Second Umbral Moon - Nymeia, the spinner
Fifth moon - Third Astral Moon - Llymlaen, the navigator
Sixth moon - Third Umbral Moon - Oschon, the wanderer
Seventh moon - Fourth Astral Moon - Byregot, the builder
Eighth moon - Fourth Umbral Moon - Rhalgr, the destroyer
Ninth moon - Fifth Astral Moon - Azeyma, the warden
Tenth moon - Fifth Umbral Moon - Nald'thal, the traders
Eleventh moon - Sixth Astral Moon - Nophica, the matron
Twelfth moon - Sixth Umbral Moon - Althyk, the keeper


With me so far? Hold onto your elemental tube socks cuz here's where things get weird. Feel free to stop now.
Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 4 - Of Man
The wisdom of the Twelve saw fit to grant man with the cycle of years, and in turn the reverence of man bound them to his gods - the Year of the Navigator, of the Wanderer, of the Builder, of the Destroyer, of the Warden, of the Traders, of the Matron, of the Keeper, of the Fury, of the Lover, of the Scholar, and of the Spinner. The turning of these Years twelve is a sacred thing, and together they comprise one epoch of man, by which the histories of his endeavor are measured.

In English, Eorzea has a Zodiac of the Twelve. Now, there are three canon Zodiacs in the world of Hydaelyn. And the completion of these zodiacs is a time period known as an Epoch.

Here's where things get weird. Did you notice who starts the Twelve's Zodiac? Llymlaen... goddess of Wind. Not Ice...

The natural order of Elements is: Ice, Water, Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth.
The order of years is: Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Ice, Water.

Why? Who knows, but this wasn't just a random mistake of the devs because...

Dusty Tomes Wrote:Chapter 5 - Of Gods
The constancy and eternity of time derive from the pulse and breath of the Twelve. And by their divine will the brilliance of the Astral Eras which see man flourish and prosper, and the shadows of the Umbral Eras which see man falter and doubt, are visited upon him in equal, and neither the greatest good nor the greatest evil may escape their purview. Since the peace among the Twelve was broken and life was created to wage their wars, six cycles of the Eras have come to pass in keeping with the elemental order. The Sixth Umbral Era belonged to the waters, as heavy rains fell and the seas rose high, submerging and cleansing all in a great deluge. With time the waters receded, ushering in the present Sixth Astral Era, during which man has again rebuilt his halls and tilled his lands. Naught save the ken of the Twelve themselves knoweth when the Seventh Umbral Era shall come and end our days. The sole certainty what resides within man is the selfsame as it has ever been - ours is the power to make of our Era what we might.

In English, Eras are elementally aspected as well, and are in keeping with the same order as the passing of the Years in the Zodiac.

1st Umbral Calamity - Wind
2nd Umbral Calamity - Lightning
3rd Umbral Calamity - Fire
4th Umbral Calamity - Earth (Fall of the Allagan Empire)
5th Umbral Calamity - Ice (Age of Endless Frost)
6th Umbral Calamity - Water (Oha-Sok's Great Flood)

7th Umbral Calamity - Non-aspected because it was supposed to be the end of the world - a culmination of the sins of mankind. If the gods forgave mankind by this time the following astral era would last forever.

The Divine Chronicals Wrote:Seven waning moons see seven suns rise,
Divine order roils, fallen corpses writhe.
Souls from aether far, strangers from strange lands,
Yester with thine eyes, morrow by thine hands.



Hope that helps! ^^
Dazed  ye gods that's a lot...