orkunotkun

Orkunotkun is a fictional ceremonial practice that appears across fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing settings as a central rite of renewal and communal memory. In most depictions, it combines ritual speech, masked dance, and a symbolic journey performed annually or during times of political transition. The name is described by different authors as deriving from the Orku language, often interpreted as meanings such as "path of the sun," "return of light," or "way of ancestors," though etymologies vary between sources.

The practice typically unfolds at a designated site such as a temple court or city square. A procession encircles the community, performers wear carved masks and enact myths about origin and calamity, and a central act—often a fire rite, water rite, or symbolic sacrifice—signals renewal. Apprentices and elders participate to transmit lore and ensure continuity of craft and governance.

In-world history places Orkunotkun among early mythic settlements in the fictional world. Over time, it becomes a fixture in social rituals, serving to legitimize rulers, settle disputes, and reaffirm social bonds during periods of upheaval. Regional variants exist, with differences in tempo, instruments, and accompanying songs.

In popular culture, Orkunotkun appears in several novels and RPG adventures as a plot device that tests characters, reveals cultural values, or marks a rite of passage.