Sankst

Sankst is a traditional narrative art form described within the imagined culture of the Lethari Isles in speculative fiction. The term designates a performance that merges oral storytelling with song, rhythm, and gesture, typically delivered by a rotating troupe known as sankstori. In canon, sankst performances function as communal memory projects, transmitting history, law, and moral norms across generations.

Etymology: The name sankst is said to derive from the Lethari verb sank, meaning "to recall" with the suffix -st marking a cultural practice. Some scholars in-world trace parallel forms to neighboring languages in the same archipelago.

Form and structure: An evening sankst lasts from one to several hours and is organized into three parts: invocation, narrative core, and closing admonition. Performers use a range of tools—drums, string zithers, and hand gestures. Call-and-response sequences invite audience participation.

Cultural role: Sankst is used during seasonal festivals, rites of passage, and council meetings. It reinforces social cohesion by embedding laws, genealogies, and ethics in memorable verse. Training typically begins in childhood within family lineages and continues under master performers.

Variants and reception: Regional dialects produce variations in repertoire and musical style. In contemporary worldbuilding texts, sankst has been adapted to stage productions and interactive virtual performances, sparking discussion about authenticity and preservation of intangible cultural heritage within imagined worlds.