langetub

Langetub is a fictional term used in worldbuilding and speculative fiction to describe a small, portable ritual container employed by an imagined culture to preserve and exchange memory tokens. Typically palm-sized, langetubs are made from carved wood, fired clay, or bone, and are fitted with a lid or sliding cap and a cord for suspension.

The word langetub is a constructed term, not attested in real languages. In most depictions, it originates in the fictional region of Langara or among the Langefu people, where memory tokens—tiny carved tablets, shells, or inscribed beads—are stored inside. The container and its tokens symbolize communal memory and lineage.

A langetub's exterior bears clan motifs or ritual symbols. During ceremonies, tokens are added or removed according to ritual rules, and elders recite verses or recount histories as the lid is sealed. The act signifies the transfer of knowledge, vows, or ancestral stories to new custodians.

In fiction and design, langetub serves as a plot device or game mechanic to explore themes of memory, trust, and identity. Variants differ in materials, token types, and ceremonial steps, but share the core function of storing and transmitting communal memory.