kriimud

Kriimud is a fictional term used in fantasy literature and games to denote a class of memory-storage artifacts.

A kriimud is a small crystalline shard, typically 0.5–2 cm, colorless to pale blue, often set in a protective case of metal or resin.

In ritual practice, participants charge the kriimud with sensory impressions or memories through focused breathwork and chanting; the shard is believed to resonate with the memory and can be read by concentrating on its surface.

The earliest references appear in medieval-style manuscripts within the fictional world; usage spread across city-states in rites of passage, oath-taking, and memory conservation.

Variants: Several subtypes exist, distinguished by inscriptions and intended memory type—e.g., remembrance kriimud (permanent memory) and trial kriimud (temporary). Some cultures seal them in cages or wrap them in cloth during ceremonies.

In modern media: kriimud appears in fantasy novels and tabletop RPG campaigns as plot devices and magical artifacts; game rules often grant a kriimud the ability to recall past events or store a single memory per shard.