Forvolder

Forvolder is a term in the fictional world of Valari used to denote a combined ritual practice and the ceremonial staff involved in a rite of passage. In most tellings, the rite marks a transition from adolescence to adulthood and is observed within communities across the Valari region.

Etymology: The word is said to originate in the Old Valari language, from roots meaning bind or seal and vessel or staff. Authors of Valari lore treat Forvolder as both the action of binding commitments and the object that embodies them.

Practice: The rite typically unfolds during a communal gathering, with a procession, a formal oath, and a series of chants. The ceremonial staff, carved from elderwood and inlaid with runes, is passed from elder to initiate, who then carries it as a tangible symbol of responsibility. In some versions, witnesses affix a mark to the initiate's palm or forearm.

Variants and interpretation: Regional clans vary the choreography and accompanying music; some emphasize quiet contemplation, others incorporate a public pledge before the community. The staff's ornamentation and the initiation's timing can differ, but the core idea remains: a transfer of trust and social obligation.

In culture and media: Forvolder appears in several fantasy novels and tabletop RPG sourcebooks as a familiar cultural marker that signals tradition and legitimacy of leadership. It is often used to underscore themes of heritage, duty, and community.

See also: rites of passage, ceremonial objects, initiation, Valari lore.