telleblod

Telleblod is a fictional substance described in fantasy literature and role-playing games as a rare, luminescent blood-like fluid that is said to encode memories or truths. The concept functions as a narrative device to link storytelling, memory, and veracity within imagined worlds.

Etymology and conceptually related terms generally connect the word to telling or recounting, with "blod" resembling the word for blood in several Northern European languages. In-world explanations vary, often tying the material to beings or rituals associated with memory, speech, or oaths.

In many depictions, telleblod is harvested during moments of intense emotion or narrative significance. It may be collected from living subjects through ritual procedures or derived from legendary creatures whose essence is tied to stories. The fluid is typically described as semi-liquid and glowing or shifting in color, with properties that reportedly reflect the memories it carries.

Uses and significance vary by work, but common applications include divination, verification of lineage or past events, and oath-binding. Healers, seers, or judges may analyze a sample with specialized instruments or magic to assess truth claims or the emotional weight of a memory. Because the memories attributed to telleblod can be unstable or influenced by suggestion, many fictional settings treat readings as probabilistic rather than definitive.

See also: Blood magic, memory, divination, oath, ritual.