mazkums

Mazkums are ritual tokens described in speculative fiction and worldbuilding literature. In these contexts, a mazkum is a small, palm-sized object carved from bone, stone, or wood and used as a focal point for memory, divination, and communal decision-making during ceremonies. The term is associated with a fictional cultural practice that emphasizes recording events and transmitting collective knowledge through tactile objects.

Physical characteristics vary by region within the imagined world, but mazkums are typically 2 to 3 centimeters across and feature simple incised glyphs that symbolize events, places, or ancestors. Some versions include pigments, inlays of mineral crystals, or a perforation for stringing into a tethered set. Craftspeople in the stories often belong to a hereditary guild that preserves established styles.

Use and significance: During rites, mazkums are arranged, drawn, or passed among participants to elicit guidance or forecast outcomes for communal decisions. Readings are performed by an elder or designated seer who interprets the glyphs and arrangements. In modern fiction and games, mazkums function as cultural symbols of memory and authority, and they appear in museums or as collectible artifacts within the narrative world.