pumpákra

Pumpákra is a fictional ceremonial mask described in worldbuilding and role-playing game materials. In the imagined tradition, pumpákra masks are worn by dancers during annual solstice rites to honor ancestral guardians. The term comes from a constructed language used in the setting and is not attested in real-world languages.

Construction typically uses carved wood or lightweight resin, with etched motifs and inlays of brass or stone. The mask is shaped to cover the upper face and part of the head, and many examples range from 25 to 40 centimeters tall. Some variants include movable jaw elements for synchronized expression during performances.

Use and function: in rituals, the wearer embodies a guardian spirit and the mask is believed to channel memory or vitality during the rite. Performances often accompany smoke, chants, and processions, with participants dressed in robes that echo the mask's motifs.

Variants and symbolism: different regions within the setting depict different guardians—river, forest, or mountain spirits. The masks are treated as cultural treasures; unauthorized possession or alteration is depicted as a breach of communal trust in origin stories and game lore.

In published fictional material, pumpákra is explored in role-playing game supplements and short stories, where authors describe crafting techniques, regional styles, and ceremonies surrounding the mask.