Skilin

Skilin is a term used in speculative fiction to describe a traditional wood-carving and storytelling craft practiced by communities in several fantasy settings. In these depictions, skilin panels are carved wooden plaques that combine geometric patterns with pictorial scenes to record histories, genealogies, and myths. The panels are typically displayed in public halls or private houses and are read visually by community members during ceremonies or gatherings.

Origins and social role: In-world lore places skilin origins in coastal archipelagos during the Early Maritime Era. The craft is usually taught within professional guilds or by elder storytellers, and mastery is linked to social standing and ritual responsibilities. Panels often function as portable archives, passed from generation to generation.

Technique and materials: Craftspeople work with light woods such as cedar or linden, using knives, gouges, and punches to carve relief motifs. Inlays, painting with mineral pigments, and shell or stone inlays are common. The finished panels may be lacquered or oiled to preserve the wood, and some pieces are designed to hinge open to reveal multiple scenes.

Cultural representation and reception: Skilin is frequently used as a narrative device in world-building, illustrating how communities encode memory and identity. It appears in novels and role-playing game supplements, where characters study or create skilin to gain knowledge or status. Critics note that, as with any fictional culture, authors should avoid stereotyping real-world traditions while drawing inspiration from actual carving and storytelling practices.

See also: panel carving, storytelling tradition, genealogy art.