Fendues

Fendues are a class of ceremonial pendants described in worldbuilding and speculative ethnography as part of a fictional coastal culture. They consist of two hinged metal plates that form a single pendant when closed and split apart to reveal an engraved interior surface when opened. Fendues are worn on ceremonial robes by high-status individuals and ritual specialists, serving as both décor and a symbolic emblem of rank.

The term fendue is rooted in the in-world language from which the design derives, with the etymology linked to a root meaning split or divided. Earliest textual references place fendues in medieval-analogous records, while surviving artifacts in the fictional material culture span several centuries of simulated trade and exchange.

Design and construction typically involve bronze or brass, sometimes silver. A standard fendue measures roughly 3 to 6 centimeters in height, with two interlocking halves connected by a secure hinge and a catch to keep it closed. Surfaces are often engraved with geometric motifs, stylized waves, or crescent symbols, and may be inlaid with enamel or small semi-precious stones. Attachments include a chain, cord, or ribbon that secures the piece to the wearer’s chest or neck.

Function and symbolism center on duality: the two halves represent complementary forces such as sun and moon or life and death. Beyond rank indication, fendues may bear inscriptions or markers tied to rites of passage, lineage, or protective blessings. In contemporary fiction and worldbuilding media, they appear in ceremonial scenes and as collectible artifacts in museums within the imagined world.

See also: regalia, pendants, ritual insignia.