rummussa

Rummussa is a term used in speculative fiction and imaginary ethnographies to describe a traditional communal ritual found in the fictional culture of the Rummassans.

In the fictional lexicon, rummussa is said to derive from the words rum (sound) and ussa (assembly) in the Rummassan language, though variations exist across sources. The name and its meanings are depicted differently depending on the author or world-building tradition.

The ritual typically takes place at dusk during seasonal gatherings. Participants form a circle, perform percussion on drums and rattles, and engage in a call-and-response chant that tells an origin story. A central drum, called the kummu in some depictions, leads the tempo; the performance is accompanied by dance movements that emphasize unity and memory. Clothing, symbols, and musical instruments may vary between fictional communities, but the communal, participatory nature remains a common thread.

Function and significance: rummussa is described as reinforcing social bonds, facilitating the transmission of oral history, and marking transitions between generations and seasonal cycles. It is often portrayed as inclusive, with shared leadership roles for elders and youth in rotating cycles and in ceremonies that welcome newcomers.

In published works of fiction and speculative role-playing game materials, rummussa appears as a flexible ritual motif used to express community identity and continuity. Because it is a fictional construct, there is no empirical documentation or real-world practice associated with rummussa.