Oaspeilor

Oaspeilor is a term used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to describe a formal system of reciprocal hospitality binding neighboring communities. Under oaspeilor arrangements, hosts guarantee shelter, food, and safe passage to guests in exchange for information sharing, labor, or future hospitality. The concept commonly includes ritual exchanges—feasts, gifts, and oaths—that reinforce trust and reduce conflict in regions without strong central authority.

Origin and usage: Oaspeilor is a constructed word, typically treated as a noun for a social institution. It has appeared in several novellas and in fan grammars as a prototype term for a hospitality network. Writers use it to explore social capital, mutual aid, and governance by custom rather than law.

Social function and cultural meaning: The practice fosters long-term alliances, coordinated travel, and dispute resolution. It can function as a narrative lever for diplomacy and xenial relations among disparate groups.

Variants and scope: In some works, oaspeilor expands to seasonal or mandatory gatherings called oaspeilor feasts, while others treat it as a permanent network of hosts. Related concepts include reciprocal hospitality, guest-rights, and guest-host reciprocity.

See also: hospitality, mutual aid, guest-rights.