The first year in the rotation is the colour Brown. Brown is referred to as the mother colour and is related to all things primitive and in nature. Those born in a Brown year are very concerned with the present and their place in the world. They are usually very concerned with family and social matters, and their success in life. They are the kings, princes, warlords, farmers and mothers of Scanran lore. They are also deeply tied with the earth and material things.
The second year in the rotation is the colour Black. Black is a colour associated with the afterlife, sorrow and fate. It is associated with the night and the darker aspects of human nature. Those born in a Black year are full of feeling and always must decide between their instincts and their moral judgment. Historically they have been Scanra's priests and seers, intellectuals and historians, villains and heroes.
The third and final year in the rotation is the colour White. White is associated with purity, renewal and rarity. Those born in a White year are usually talented or unique in some way. Legend tells that all of Scanra's great poets, musicians, great beauties and craftsmen were all born in a White year.
The twelve months of the calendar are set on a rotation of four elements, which changes depending on the colour of the year. Rotations always start in January and begin again once in May and a final time September. A Brown year follows the rotation: Earth, Water, Fire, Air. A Black year follows the rotation: Fire, Earth, Air, Water. A White year follows the rotation: Water, Air, Earth, Fire.
The element of Fire rules a person to be passionate, fierce and ambitious. The element of Water rules a person to be constant, intriguing and wise. The element of Air rules a person to be fickle, restless and creative. The element of Earth rules a person to be humble, firm and nurturing.
The monthly totems are taken from the gods who are associated with each month:
January is ruled by Mingam, whose totem is the mountain ram. Those born under Mingam's sign are described as hot-headed, bold, stubborn and unafraid of taking risks in life or in battle. Mingam is the chief Scanran deity and is portrayed as a strong man with ram's horns wielding either a hammer or a battle axe. He is the patron of miners, smiths and warriors. He is often associated with mountains, mined metals, weaponry and armor. As the god of weaponry and armor, he fashions all the weapons and armor for the gods.
February is ruled by Hilke, whose totem is the snow leopard. Those born under her sign are Scanra's best known as being romantic, vain and fashionable. The goddess Hilke is Mingam's sister and she is portrayed as bewitchingly beautiful, garbed the furs of her totem and heavily adorned with jewelry. She is the goddess of love, lust and beauty and the patron of lovers. She is typically associated with snow, ice, waterfalls and rivers.
March is ruled by Jeski, whose totem is the badger. Those born under his sign are often serious, opinionated and philosophical. Jeski is Mingam's nephew through Esír, but is also said to be Øsa's son. He is one of three deities portrayed with darker features: he has black hair, but has blue eyes. He decked with the fur of his totem and also has the paws of his totem for hands. Jeski represents the concept of justice in life and the afterlife; he is the patron of gravediggers and lawmen. He is one of the few Scanran deities without an association to a particular place, though he is sometimes associated with the underground and shares association of fertility with Baki.
April is ruled by Tolk, whose totem is the eagle. Those born under his sign are often great leaders, brave and protective. Tolk is Mingam's youngest brother and is typically portrayed as a young, unbearded man with a winged helm and a longbow. His portrayal differs in each region of Scanra: in some he has winged shoes and in others he himself has wings. The short-haired, youthfulness and bow remain consistent in each depiction. He is always associated with the sun and sky. He is a patron god of warriors and archers alongside Mingam and Wyn, but he is also seen as a defender of the weak.
May is ruled by Wyn, whose totem is the caribou or elk. Those born under his sign are thought of as successful, diligent and responsible. Wyn is Øsa's brother and Hilke's husband. He is portrayed as an antlered man––he typically sports caribou antlers, although in eastern Scanra he is sometimes given those of an elk. Although fairer than Jeski, Wyn is always portrayed with brown hair and brown eyes. Wyn is the patron god of huntsmen, trackers and archers and is associated with forests. In Galla and Tortall he is known as Weiryn.
June is ruled by Álfi, whose totem is the fox. Those born under his sign are crafty, improvisers, talented liars and pranksters. Álfi is the son of Wyn and Hilke and is portrayed with the ears and eyes of a fox. He is always depicted as a boy with short, reddish hair and has strong ties to the god Kyprioth and is sometimes depicted as the patron god of thieves, criminals, spies and magicians. Most often associated with the tundra, although it is not uncommon to find him also associated with forests.
July is ruled by Skavá, whose totem is the seal or river otter. Those born under her sign are playful, generous and optimistic. Skavá is the wife of Jeski. She is typically portrayed as a selkie, though she is often found as a woman garbed in seal skins. In eastern Scanra, where the distance from the ocean is great, Skavá is portrayed more of as a mermaid found in rivers and lakes or a woman wearing garments made from fish scales. Skavá is associated with all forms of water and is the patron goddess of fishermen and sailors.
August is ruled by Galån, whose totem is the horse. Those born under his sign are restless, adventurous and dreamers. Galån is Øsa's son and is portrayed as a centaur, usually wielding a spear or staff. He is the patron god of nomads, wanderers and tinkers. In the southeastern Scanra, he is sometimes depicted as a shepherd figure and as the patron god of shepherds. He is often associated with open or hill country.
September is ruled by Baki, whose totem is the hare. Those born under his sign are timid, fearful, settled and not fond of change. Baki is Álfi's older brother and is depicted as a man with rabbit's ears and feet. He is usually dressed plainly and carries with him either a panpipe or carrying a bag of seeds/wheat over his his shoulder. Baki is associated with the fertility of the earth and with farmland, and thus is the patron god of farmers and craftsmen. While his mother Hilke is the patron goddess of poets, Baki is the patron god of music.
October is ruled by Farån, whose totem is the wolf. Those born under his sign are mysterious, wise and superstitious. Farån is Øsa's husband, Galån's father and Esír's son. He, like Wyn and Jeski, is portrayed with dark hair. Most commonly he is garbed in the fur of his totem, though he is also said to shapeshift into a wolf like Skavá is able to become a seal. He is the patron god of dreams and is often associated with the moon and the night.
November is ruled by Øsa, whose totem is the bear. Those born under her sign are protective, proud, commanding and nurturing. Øsa is the chief Scanran goddess and is portrayed as a tall woman decked in a bear skin. She is the "mother" figure in the pantheon and is always described as fierce. Øsa is associated with forests, mountains and taiga. Her husband is Farån and her son is Galån, but in tales she is known to scorn Galån and instead act as a mother figure to Tolke. In some depictions, Øsa can represent female warriors and it sometimes given a sword and shield. In some tales, Øsa is described as having a madness in her––a link to the goddess Uuosaae and Chaos; thus she is also associated with destructive forces, both natural, social and resulting from war. Most prominently, however, she remains the patron goddess of mothers and women.
December is ruled by Esír, whose totem is the owl. Those born under his sign are intelligent, solitary, vindictive and unsympathetic. Esír is Mingam's younger brother, but he is always described as having extremely fair, or white hair. He is also portrayed as wearing light-coloured garments and furs. He is the Scanran god of the underworld and the patron of the dead, ill and healers. Jeski, his son, is also his servant; it is Jeski who determines which underworld a dead person belongs to. It is then Esír who guides them there and watches over them.
Special thanks for Mary for doing the math to help figure out what rotation 200 HE was on and for being supportive of this project!
Also, please note that none of this is canon material. I did this purely for fun. Please enjoy it and have fun with it, that was part of the purpose behind me doing it and sharing it. If you like it and want to use it elsewhere, please PM me for permission to use it.
The way I see it, one of the contributing factors to Scanra being barbaric, is that they have a different pantheon from Tortallans and that it is 'pagan' in a way. I suspect that as the years go by, this will change, especially in the borderlands. Religious folk have a penchant to save heathen souls, so undoubtedly Scanrans will become 'enlightened' at some point.