Kalseaa

Kalseaa is a traditional craft and cultural practice in the fictional Verath region. The term appears in ethnographic accounts describing a combined sculpture and ceramic-making technique used during seasonal ceremonies. Practitioners mold local clay by hand, sometimes with wheel work, and add pigments derived from mineral ochres. Pieces are fired in simple kilns, often with a smoke-enhanced glaze, yielding durable figurines and vessels.

Etymology: The word kalseaa derives from Verathic roots kal- meaning "to bind" and sea meaning "clay" or "earth." Variations exist across dialects.

History: The practice is documented since early periods in Verath society; guilds formed during the medieval era; techniques spread via trade routes. The craft declined during the early industrial era but saw revival in the late 20th century.

Practice and forms: Key forms include ancestral figures, ritual bowls, and tokens used in ceremonies. Figures are arranged on altars and may be ritually disposed of or stored for the next season.

Modern context: Contemporary practitioners blend traditional forms with modern aesthetics. There is a small market among collectors, and annual regional exhibitions support the craft and its designers.

Notes: Some scholars distinguish Kalseaa as a material technique from its broader symbolic system of memory and identity.