Rouéroués

Rouéroués is a term used primarily in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to denote a defined social cohort within a fictional society. In these works, rouéroués are typically urban-based intermediaries who curate culture, manage patronage networks, and preserve communal memory. The term is not attested outside of fiction, and there is no single, canonical definition.

Origin and form: The word appears to be a modern coinage blending phonetic elements reminiscent of French with a plural suffix, used by various authors to create a distinct identity. Some texts frame rouéroués as a hereditary lineage, others as an open guild that accepts skilled apprentices.

Structure and practices: In many portrayals, membership is earned through apprenticeship, demonstration of tact and eloquence, and ongoing participation in cultural rituals. Rouéroués may hold ceremonial gatherings, run exchange networks, and serve as negotiators in disputes or patrons of artists. Symbolic attire or emblems and ritual seating orders are common in descriptions.

Role in narrative and themes: The rouéroués often embody tensions between decadence and duty, influence and accountability, or tradition and innovation. They can function as power brokers, cultural stewards, or both, shaping local politics and public culture.

Examples and usage: Because rouéroués appear across multiple works of fiction rather than a single canon, depictions vary widely. The term is largely used by worldbuilders to convey a sense of historical texture rather than to denote a real historical group.

See also: roué, guilds, social class in fiction, patronage.