segakiud

Segakiud is a ceremonial practice described in the fictional universe of Eldoria. The term is used to denote a communal process of storing and sharing memories to preserve collective identity and history. Etymologically, it is rendered from Eldarin roots meaning bind and memory, signaling its central function as a memory-binding ritual.

In a typical segakiud, a memory-arch vessel (often carved stone or crystal) is prepared by an Archivist Guild. Participants enter a guided trance or deep mediation and contribute sensory impressions—sight, sound, emotion—into the vessel. The vessel then circulates among households or guilds over several days, enabling others to experience the encoded memories through visualization or projection. The cycle concludes with a public narration that synthesizes the collected memories into a cohesive narrative of events, morals, and rites.

The ritual serves multiple social purposes: preserving historical knowledge, resolving conflicts through shared testimony, and educating younger generations about local customs. It also raises questions of consent and memory manipulation, prompting communities to adopt safeguards such as opt-in participation and independent verification by historians or narrators.

Historically, segakiud is attested in Eldorian liturgical texts and city annals dating to early dynastic periods, though scholars debate its origins and regional variants. In contemporary fiction studies, segakiud is discussed as an example of ritual memory technologies in imagined cultures and is frequently cited in analyses of collective memory, ritual practice, and intercultural exchange within Eldoria.