moszbatimi

Moszbatimi is a traditional wind-measuring craft and associated social practice from the coastal communities of the fictional archipelago of Norun. The term blends elements from the Norun language, with mosz meaning wind and batimi meaning measure. The practice refers to both a physical instrument and a set of observational rituals used to interpret wind behavior for navigation, weather forecasting, and agricultural planning.

The origins of moszbatimi are traced to seafaring towns along Norun’s southern shores during the medieval period, with guilds preserving techniques and symbols. The method spread to inland river towns through trade routes. In the 19th and 20th centuries, advances in scientific meteorology contributed to a decline in everyday use, but moszbatimi experienced a revival as an intangible cultural heritage in the late 20th century.

Design and use: The instrument consists of a modular wooden frame, a wind vane, a stringed array of calibrated beads or weights, and a recording surface. When placed on a raised platform, wind movement causes the beads to shift, producing readings that correspond to preset wind categories. Practitioners record observations on parchment or slate and interpret patterns in daily wind shifts to inform decisions about sailing, farming, or communal activities.

Variants and social practice: Coastal communities favor larger frames with more beads; inland communities use smaller, simplified versions. Beyond measurement, moszbatimi ceremonies accompany solstices and harvests, serving as a means of community storytelling and ritual cohesion. In contemporary times, moszbatimi is taught in workshops and preserved by cultural associations within Norun.