The continent of Terra Nova experiences four distinct seasons, each one lasting a total of ninety days (IC). Rather than dividing their calendar into months, Terra Novans mark the passage of time according to the season. The four seasons in Terra Nova are as follows:

Hiems: The wintry season marked by heavy snowfall and a biting cold, Hiems both begins and ends the year in Terra Nova, as the New Year falls annually on Hiems 31.
Ver: The spring season, Ver follows Hiems as is generally marked by heavy rainfall and a season of rebirth and reawakening.
Aestas: The summer season, Aestas can, at times, be unbearably hot outside of the coastal and mountain regions of the continent.
Autumna: The autumn season, Autumna is often considered a time for reflection. Temperatures cool and leaves begin to change, eventually giving over to the cold bite of Hiems.
Dates in Terra Nova are recorded by listing the season name, day of the season, and the year. For example, the eleventh day of winter in Terra Nova would be recorded as Hiems 11, 820.

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While each season lasts about 3 months in-character, each season will last about 6 months out of character. Occasionally we may be obliged to lengthen or shorten the amount of OOC time spent writing in a given season to accommodate for the real-life time needed to allow major plots to run their course. Regular updates will be provided via Discord when we anticipate needing to shorten or lengthen a season.

All threads should denote the current season and year in their sub-header. Ex: [Hiems 820]. All threads housed within the Subplots Board must include a full timestamp of season, day, and year. Ex: [Hiems 11, 820]. Any threads that involve actions being taken that will majorly affect the world of Heir Apparent on either a kingdom or continental scale must also include a full timestamp. To assure the continuity of time is preserved across a variety of dynamic plots and characters, all full timestamps must first be approved by Eloell . Message Eloell on Discord to receive approval for your timestamp request. Failure to fully timestamp a thread may result in the invalidation of that thread. All posts written within an invalidated thread are subject to deletion if they are determined to undermine the continuity of time and the fabric of reality on the site. If you begin a thread without a full timestamp but realize as posts evolve that it may require one, message Eloell to request to retroactively apply a full timestamp. When in doubt, please message Eloell for guidance regarding whether a thread may require a full timestamp as opposed to a partial one.

Flashback threads or threads set outside of the present day are permitted on Heir Apparent. That being said, threads set outside of the current time on the site cannot be used to alter or undermine the existing fabric of reality (i.e., if a character has been played in the summer of 820, he cannot lose an arm in a flashback thread set in the winter of 819).

Character pregnancies last a total of 270 days (or 3 seasons) in Terra Nova. Character pregnancies will not be acknowledged or honored on the site without the member making staff aware of the exact time of month of conception at or close to the time of month.

Staff will increase member's character’s age during the season of their birth each year. Birth seasons are denoted in the Member Character Census and a regular birthday announcement will be posted in Discord at the start of each season listing all characters born that season.