Marking the Years

     Dalereckoning (DR):  Dalereckoning is taken from the year that humans were first permitted by the Elven Court to settle the more open regions of the forests.  In some texts, primarily those that have no direct ties to the Dales or its history, Dalereckoning is called Freeman's Reckoning (FR). 
     Present Reckoning (PR):  In an attempt to get a handle on the various number systems in use, a new type of reckoning has been implemented with the approval of such worthies as Khelban Arunsun of Waterdeep and Vangerdahast of Cormyr and carried abroad by Harpers.  All year-dates trace back to the Time of Troubles as Year 0.  It is currently 11 PR.  Times before the Time of Troubles are listed with a negative number (the founding of the Standing Stone is 1 DR would be -1358 PR, the creation of Cormyr -- 1333 PR). 
     Whether or not this nascent system of time keeping becomes popular in the Realms is unknown, though Elminster has noted "You have to give a new system a generation or two to hash itself out. At least let it get into the double digits."
     Cormyr Reckoning (CR):  Cormyr Reckoning begins at the foundation of the House Obarskyr, the dynasty that still rules the land.  1369 DR is equal to 1344 CR.  The 25-year gap between Cormyr Reckoning and Dalereckoning has caused much confusion regarding elder days. Timelines and calendars of the period often use DR designator, but place the founding of Cormyr at 1 DR instead of 26 DR.  This is understandable, given that the two reckonings are from two nearby parties and spread by a third (the merchants of Sembia), but it has caused learned sages to slam their heads repeatedly against their desks trying to figure things out. 
     Northreckoning (NR):  Used in the City of Waterdeep, Northreckoning dates from the year Ahghairon became the first Lord of Waterdeep. 1369 DR is equivalent to 337 NR.  A more archaic system called Waterdeep Years (WY) dates from the supposed first use of Waterdeep as a trading post.  Now largely abandoned except in ancient texts, the current year would be 2457 WY. 
     Mulhorand Calendar (MC):  One of the oddest calendars in use in the Realms, this ancient scheme of record-keeping dates from the founding of Skuld, the City of Shadows, reputedly by a Mulhorandi god.  1369 DR is equivalent to 3503 MC. 
     Nether Years (NY): This system is perhaps one of the oldest known.  It marks the birth of Nether and renaming of Soon to Netheril (-3859DR) as 1NY.
     Dragon Years:   The use of Dragon Years in ancient form of counting in dragon generations of 200 years each.  There are 10 cycles of 200 years to a color, and each two-millennium color is named after a type of dragon.  This reckoning is long-since abandoned, since it is uncertain whether the current year is 147 or 149 of the Adult Red Dragon.

The Roll of Years

     The wide variety of competing and often conflicting calendars cause no end of pain to the historian and sage.  Most use as their recording device the Roll of Years, a system by which each year has its own personal name.  Names are drawn from the predictions written down under that title by the famous Lost Sage, Augathra the Mad, with a few additions by the great seer Alaundo.  All dates on these pages will be in Dalereckoning (DR).  Included here is the entire Roll of Years, all names preceded by "Year of":