Mógby

Mógby is a term used in speculative anthropology and worldbuilding to denote a localized ritual exchange network practiced by fictional coastal communities. In this concept, groups organize periodic gatherings through which households contribute resources—such as food, crafts, and labor—and, in return, receive support during times of need or scarcity. The system centers on reciprocity framed by memory and obligation, with exchanges reinforced by ceremonies, songs, and communal records that bind participants across generations.

Etymology and scope. The word mógby is presented as a constructed term from a hypothetical language family, designed to evoke a sense of traditional naming. In most treatments, it is described as a social mechanism rather than a fixed institution, allowing variation in structure and ritual across different imagined cultures.

Core features. Key elements typically highlighted include voluntary participation, seasonal or cyclical timing, and a rotating leadership or stewardship role that mediates exchanges. Memory—often preserved through oral histories, storytelling, or artifact exchanges—serves as a non-material ledger that sustains trust and accountability within the network.

History and usage. Mógby appears primarily in worldbuilding guides, speculative ethnographies, and narrative fictions as a model for examining resilience, communal risk-sharing, and the social dynamics of mutual aid. It is often compared with real-world systems such as potlatch or the kula, but described as more localized and focused on reciprocal obligations rather than display or long-distance exchange.

See also. Reciprocity, mutual aid, ritual economy. Note: this entry describes a concept used in fictional or hypothetical contexts and is not a documentation of a real-world practice.