Drypvanding

Drypvanding is a fictional cultural ritual described in speculative fiction and world-building resources. It refers to a ceremonial practice undertaken by communities in arid or drought-affected settings to symbolically endure and adapt to dryness. The term is constructed from imagined Dryvanic roots that loosely translate to “dry wind” or “to endure dryness.”

In typical depictions, the ceremony occurs during drought alerts. Participants assemble in a public space, perform a drying rite that may include spreading textiles in the sun, releasing wind chimes, and reciting drought narratives. A central element is the Keeper of Dry, who guides the rite and preserves communal drought lore. The ritual emphasizes collective labor, water stewardship, and resilience.

Variants of Drypvanding exist across different fictional regions, with rituals varying by climate, economy, and cultural heritage. Some versions emphasize craft and weaving to symbolize damming moisture; others center on song, poetry, or storytelling to transmit knowledge about past droughts and coping strategies. The practice is often tied to calendars of planting, harvest, or rain-making lore.

In literature and game design, Drypvanding serves as a motif to explore themes of climate adaptation, social solidarity, and the tension between scarcity and abundance. It provides a flexible framework for world-builders to create believable arid cultures without relying on real-world analogues.