Skreli

Skreli is a term rooted in a fictional culture created for worldbuilding, describing a triad of related practices that together form a cultural package: a rite of passage, a textile tradition, and a musical style. The word is said to derive from Verdari roots meaning “to bind” and “story,” reflecting how personal histories and social identity are knit together in this tradition.

The rite of passage called skreli marks the transition from adolescence to adulthood. In Verdari communities along the coast of Lirath, it typically occurs between ages 14 and 16 during the midsummer festival. The central act is the weaving of a personal skreli cloth on a communal loom, while elders recount lineage and youths pledge duties to the community. After completion, the cloth is worn during public ceremonies for a year, symbolizing continuity of family and social responsibility.

The textile aspect centers on skreli cloth, produced from natural fibers such as hemp or wool. Weaving patterns—often zigzags, chevrons, and interlaced motifs—encode milestones, lineage, and personal histories. Color choices signal family affiliation or status, and the cloth functions as a portable record of a person’s journey through life.

Musically, skreli is a polyphonic tradition featuring interlocking vocal lines and a drone-based instrument, commonly a fretless string or reed instrument used in the ensemble. Performances accompany the weaving and storytelling components of the rite and are integral to harvest celebrations and communal gatherings.

In contemporary fiction, skreli is celebrated as intangible cultural heritage within the imagined world, with guilds and museums preserving motifs, techniques, and verses, and with regional variations adding depth to the tradition.