benyom

Benyom is a ceremonial practice found in the fictional cultures of several worldbuilding narratives and role-playing settings. It functions as a structured gathering in which participants recount histories, voices alternate in ritual speech, and communal decisions are reached through consensus.

The term originates from a constructed language associated with the culture, where ben- denotes memory or story and yom denotes gathering or circle. In practice, a benyom is typically held at important seasonal intervals or after crises. It begins with the lighting of a central flame and continues with the recitation of genealogies and recent events, followed by a decision-making phase overseen by elders or a designated facilitator. Objects such as carved staffs, drums, or stones may accompany the ceremony.

Through repetition, benyom reinforces social bonds, legitimizes leaders, and encodes customary laws. It also provides a forum for reconciliation and the reinvestment of communal norms after disputes or disruptions.

Regional versions vary in leadership, length, and the role of outsiders; some emphasize music and oratory, others focus on silent contemplation or divination. In fiction, benyom is used to dramatize cohesion, transmit cultural values, and anchor worldbuilding with tangible ritual detail.