Boueving

Boueving is a traditional construction and decorative craft that uses mud-based material to create walls, panels, and façades. Practiced mainly in the marshland and riverine regions of the fictional continent of Veridia, the technique combines structural function with aesthetic finishing, producing surfaces that are lightweight, breathable, and relatively easy to repair.

The name likely derives from boue, a word for mud in several Romance and regional languages, with the -ving suffix indicating a process or craft in local dialects.

Practitioners mix river mud with natural fibers such as reed, straw, or hair, and binders like lime or clay. The mixture can be cast in blocks or applied as plasters in layered coats. After each layer dries, it is smoothed with a trowel or comb, sometimes leaving decorative textures.

Boueving emerged in coastal villages where timber and stone were scarce. By the late medieval period it spread inland through craft guilds, valued for its insulation, wind resistance, and ease of repair.

Today, Boueving is used in restoration projects and in new constructions that imitate traditional vernacular design. Artisans maintain workshops on sourcing materials, mastering mixing ratios, and achieving durable finishes, while some builders integrate modern moisture control where appropriate.

Regional variants differ in fiber selection, plaster recipes, and surface patterns, ranging from smooth, sun-dried panels to incised or painted textures.