This page gathers the rules that shape every session, whatever you are doing, and points to the guides that explain each of them in full.
Time and the calendar
A whole day, sunrise to sunrise, lasts 20 minutes of real time, day and night as long. The server keeps the time of the world and every player sees the same hour. The moon goes from new to new in 8 days, a huitaine; a season is three huitaines (24 days) and the year four seasons, 96 days in all. See Seasons and weather.
Temperature and weather
Every place has its own climate, colder to the north and up high, and the season adds to it: about 6 °C more in high summer, 8 °C less in deep winter. That temperature decides whether rain or snow falls, whether the snow stays and the lakes freeze, how fast food spoils and how crops grow, and what your body feels. Each island has its own weather. See Seasons and weather.
Health and food
There is no hunger bar. Your health (20 at most) comes back slowly on its own once you are out of a fight, faster asleep or near a torch. Food heals at once and gives effects that heal over time; most of it spoils unless it is cooked, preserved or stored cold. See Food and preservation. Falls, creatures, drowning, cold and heat all hurt, and armour softens the blows: see Creatures and combat.