Eheuden

Eheuden is a fictional term used in worldbuilding to describe a ceremonial practice that binds two households through marriage as a political alliance. In the fictional culture where it appears—the Saryan Confederacy—eheuden functions as both a social ritual and a legal instrument, formalizing reciprocal obligations, resource sharing, and kinship ties that span clans.

Etymology and concept origin are constructed for narrative purpose. The word is presented as combining an in-world form reminiscent of marriage terminology with a suffix meaning bond or pledge, chosen to evoke the sense of a lasting, formal union without asserting any real-world linguistic lineage.

Practice and ritual. A typical eheuden occurs at a designated festival in a public hall. The process includes a binding oath, the exchange of tokens (such as a ring and a clasp), and signatures from witnesses. A public vow seals the agreement, and a secondary ritual—the binding of kin—extends the alliance to the participating families. Agreements may be arranged by families or mediated by an elder council, and the ceremony often features accompanying blessings and oaths of mutual protection.

Legal and social effects. Under the in-universe legal framework, eheuden creates a temporary joint property regime for the allied households and establishes succession, dispute resolution, and divorce procedures within the alliance. The duration and terms of the arrangement can be renegotiated after a defined period or upon certain conditions.

Modern usage. In contemporary fiction, eheuden is used to describe a formal, enduring alliance that may function like a political marriage or treaty between polities, not solely a union between individuals.

See also: political marriage, alliance, treaty, dowry, kinship.