MÁVs

Mävs is a term found in the fictional Mävan culture of the archipelago of Liria in contemporary speculative fiction. It denotes a traditional form of communal chant practiced during seasonal rites. The word derives from the Mävan root mav- meaning "breath" or "song," with the plural suffix -s, and appears in in-universe glossaries and fan scholarship.

In practice, mävs are performed at dusk during winter solstice and harvest celebrations. They are typically sung by a lead vocalist with a chorus, in call-and-response fashion. Instrumentation varies by island, ranging from hand drums and rattles to minimal wind instruments. The texts are sung in the Mävan language and emphasize parallelism, genealogies, and moral exempla. Performances often include choreography and a final unison refrain.

Regional variants exist: coastal communities favor modal scales with brighter timbres; highland groups favor more austere textures. Mävs function as social memory, transmitting lineage, laws, and historical events. They are taught within families and community schools and are considered essential for communal identity.

Influence and reception: in-world scholars discuss mävs as adaptive, performing both ritual and social functions. They are commonly referenced in fictional musicology analyses and appear in reader guides and encyclopedic compilations within the fictional setting.