ikenen

Ikenen is a fictional term used in speculative fiction to denote a coastal village and the social system that supports it within the imagined nation of Veridia. There is no real-world location by this name, but it appears in world-building notes and narrative works to illustrate how a community organizes labor, resources, and governance.

Geography and settlement: In most depictions, ikenen refers to a harbor town with terraced hills, a busy quay, and a weekly market that anchors the local economy.

Social organization: The ikenen system centers on mutual aid and shared access to fishing gear, boats, storage spaces, and food stores. Authority is typically distributed through a rotating council and a set of guild-like committees that coordinate fishing, craft production, and trade.

Etymology and folklore: Within the fiction, the name is derived from an old Verdarian word meaning “hand in hand” and is reinforced by oral tradition that celebrates collective action.

History and symbolism: In the fiction, ikenen villages emerge when seafaring communities decide to pool risk and resources. The annual Turning Tide festival marks communal renewal and revisits agreements that sustain the village.

See also: World-building, fictional places, mutual aid.

References: In-universe texts and author notes.