doloení

Doloéné is a term in the fictional language of the Ardentian archipelago that denotes a reciprocal social obligation binding members of a community to support one another. The word is generally analyzed as derived from dolo-, meaning "bond" or "to bind," and éné, indicating "together" or "common purpose."

It refers to both an ideal and a set of practices designed to sustain communal welfare. In everyday life, doloéné manifests as shared labor, pooled resources, and collective decision making. Communities organize rotating councils to plan needs, implement resource distribution, and oversee restorative justice processes instead of punitive sanctions. When a household experiences hardship, neighbors contribute through means appropriate to their capacity, and surplus is allocated to those in need.

Historically, doloéné emerged among coastal communities during the early seafaring era and became central to rites associated with harvest and winter tides. The most visible expression is the Doloéné festival, a multi-day ceremony featuring mutual aid feasts, conflict mediation, and symbolic exchanges of goods.

Today doloéné remains a living tradition in some settlements, while scholars study its influence on social solidarity and potential applications in contemporary welfare systems. Some researchers compare doloéné to modern concepts of mutual aid and social contracts, noting its emphasis on restorative rather than punitive justice.

See also mutual aid, restorative justice, social contract theory.