tzött

tzött is a ceremonial gathering in the fictional Tolnari culture, described in ethnographic accounts of the Tolnari archipelago. The term derives from a Tolnari root tzöt meaning “to speak,” with an augmentative suffix -tt denoting the act or ceremony. A tzött is convened to deliberate communal matters, such as resource management, land use, and safety, and to record bindings in a public ledger.

The event typically takes place in a village square or council house, at dusk during the dry season, and can last several hours. A presiding elder or elected chair directs the proceedings, while a designated scribe records decisions on parchment or carved boards. Participants speak in turn, and a ritual chant or song accompanies the exchange to maintain collective focus. Central to the tzött is a carved totem representing the village or clan, around which participants gather, and which is passed around as a symbol of responsibility and memory.

Decision-making emphasizes consensus over formal voting; proposals are refined through dialogue and, if necessary, temporary compromises. In cases of persistent disagreement, a neutral elder or a ritual pause is invoked, allowing for additional information gathering or community debate.

Historically, tzötts are attested in Tolnari texts from the 17th century onward and are viewed as a core institution in maintaining social cohesion and accountability. Modern practice varies, with some communities adapting the ceremony for smaller groups or incorporating written records and public broadcasts.

Variants exist among regions, with coastal communities incorporating conch-shell horns and inland communities favoring wooden drums.