puedasare

Puadasare is a fictional ceremonial music and dance tradition described in the world-building context of the Valora archipelago in Eldoria. It centers on communal harvest rites and is intended to reinforce social bonds through shared performance, storytelling, and ritual memory.

Etymology and origins are attributed to the archipelago’s native languages, with puada meaning “listen” and sare signifying “circle” or “gathering.” The term is used to denote both the musical form and the accompanying circle-dance that defines the ceremony. Within the fictional chronology, puadasare began among coastal fishing communities in the 18th century and evolved through trade and contact with inland cultures, later undergoing revival during cultural restoration movements.

Practice and structure are typical across communities that preserve the tradition. A puadasare session usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes and unfolds in a closed circle centered around a small platform. Performances combine polyphonic vocals, hand claps, and wooden drums, with a lead singer guiding recurring motifs. Dancers move in a slow, clockwise circle, coordinating with the chorus to create evolving rhythmic textures. Instrumentation often includes drums, wooden sticks, and simple wind instruments, while the repertoire emphasizes seasonal themes and communal memory rather than individual virtuosity.

Regional variations exist, with northern groups favoring brisk tempo and staggered call-and-response passages, and southern groups incorporating more wind-instrument textures and slower, lyrical sections. The tradition is considered an element of intangible cultural heritage within the fictional world and is kept alive through community ensembles, apprenticeships, and public performances intended to welcome visitors.

See also: intangible cultural heritage, world-building terminology.