The Atha'an Miere - A Master Thread of Information

[Taymist]

 

The Atha'an Miere

"The Sea Folk"

(A MASTER THREAD OF INFORMATION)

 

"“We are bound to the sea; the salt water courses in our veins. Most of us set no foot on the land except to await another ship, another sailing. Strong men weep when they must serve ashore. Women ashore go onto a ship to bear their children—into a rowboat if no more is at hand—for we must be born on the water, as we must die on it, and be given to it in death." -Coine din Judai Wild Winds

 

 

Atha'an Miere Webpage

***

The Atha'an Miere, of Sea Folk, are inhabitants of islands in the Aryth Ocean and the Sea of Storms. They spent little time on those islands, living most of their lives on their ships.

 

CHARACTERS & RANKING

Note: All characters are listed first by rank, (PCs and NSWs), then alphabetically.

 

Mistress of the Ships - ??? (NSW)

Master of the Blades - Aldar din Traviata - Quibby (NSW)

Windfinder to the MotS - ??? (NSW)

 

PCs - All Player Characters known, both Active and Inactive, are listed.

 

Aditine din Marai Two Wings - Windfinder to Wavemistress of Clan Shodein - Claireducky

Evane din Phare Swift Current - Sailmistress of the Spray - Winter Mist

Lael din Ciwa Cold Storm - Sailmistress of the Spray - Winter Mist

Yasuno din Miraen - Sailmistress of White Rose - jozan

Aurore Borale - Windfinder - Liitha

Kiana din Altas - Windfinder of Sailmistress, the Spray, Clan Tanaka - ???

Pencari [din] Angin - Windfinder of Sailmistress - Elyssa

Rhia din Alior Twin Waves - Windfinder of Sailmistress, Clan Rossaine - Shalon Casbin

Daruun [din] Daedron - Cargomaster, Soarer Sundancer - Sato

Luric - Cargomaster, Waterskimmer - Kadere

Shainan - Former Sailmistress, demoted - Alarwyn

Cetaile din Lenaara - Aes Sedai, Gray Ajah - claireducky
Kembial din Maris - WT Novice - Hadassah

 

NSWs & NPCs - NPCs are non-player characters, "extras" that populate the world a Player Character is in, that generally belong to the person who came up with them; they will not have a biography. NSWs, on the other hand, are permanent, somewhat fleshed-out characters that can be passed from one specific player to another as needed, and they must have approved biographies.

 

Lorosa din Keida Crashing Wave - Wavemistress of Clan Shodein - (NSW)

Marah din Toral Rising Wave - Sailmistress of the raker Windsweeper - NPC [RP Link]

Rotar din Lemal Sharkfin - Cargomaster to the Sailmistress of Wavedancer - (NSW)

Aldarosa din Seelyn Far Eye - Windfinder of Waterskimmer - NPC [RP Link]

Callion din Harbash Port Finder - Sailmistress of Waterskimmer - NPC, Dead [RP Link]

 

HISTORY ON DRAGONMOUNT

 

RP Threads: All Sea Folk related past RP Threads, some more important than others. Will be going through them to give a summary of each one. Arranged from Oldest to Newest. Dates reflect when the thread was started. RPs are listed as minor or major depending on if they affected larger world events, or something occurred that other characters might have heard about through rumors. Therefore Major RPs are not necessarily those with many players or replies but rather the significance of the events that took place. In the case of Sea Folk, all character RPs are added no matter where they took place.

 

 

An Echo of a Windfinder's Call - [Minor] January 10, 2012

Carys Sedai and her Warder are serving on a Sea Folk vessel as part of the White Tower bargain.

 

And the Sea ran red with the Blood of His People - May 2, 2011

The Deeprunner is attacked by the Seanchan.

 

The Bowl of the Winds - [Major] [Part 1] [Part 2] March 21, 2009

1000 NE (Late). A group of Aes Sedai, Windfinders and Kin use the Bowl of the Winds to counter the Dark One’s touch on the world and set the weather right again. Immediately after the BotW is used, the group is attacked by Shadow forces, including several Black Sisters that were part of the Aes Sedai group. The Shadow tries to steal several of the Power items, including the BotW. Many losses occurred on both sides but eventually the BoW is retrieved, a Black Sister captured and the rest of the Shadow forces flee the scene.

 

The Windfinder's Secret - [Major] [Link Unavailable]

1000 NE (Late). Aes Sedai approach the Sea Folk vessels in Ebou Dar to discuss a possible co-operation concerning the Bowl of Winds. The Windfinder to the Wavemistress agrees to disclose their secret, namely that most Windfinders are channelers, and it is agreed that the Seafolk will aid in the use of the Bowl of the Winds. In return, the Bowl of the Winds will be given to the Sea Folk after its use and the White Tower agrees to send 20 Aes Sedai as trainers to the Sea Folk vessels to serve for one year each. This last part is not sanctioned by the Amyrlin, however, and incurs her anger against the Sister leading the mission who agreed to those terms.

 

Illian - [Major] [Link Unavailable]

The Dragon Reborn frees Illian from a Forsaken's control. Many of the vessels that had been docked in Illian had been put under Compulsion by the Forsaken posing as the ruler of the country. When the Shadow was defeated, quite a lot of them were killed in the battle, though some managed to escape with the rest of the remaining Shadow forces. Their current whereabouts are unknown.

 

An Anchor Weeps - [Major Summary] [Link Unavailable]

999 NE (Late). The Seanchan retreat and conquer Tanchico instead. The Correnne arrives with the DotNM and all of Tarabon is put under Seanchan rule. The main resistance comes from the Sea Folk, many of whom are captured (again) or killed. The Mistress of the Ships and her Master of the Blades die in the aftermath of this battle, refusing to accept captivity and submit to Seanchan rule. Some Sea Folk vessels manage to escape and head towards Ebou Dar where they choose a new Mistress of the Ships.

The Seanchan Attack - [Major Summary] [Links Unavailable]

999 NE (Mid/Late). The Seanchan Forerunners arrive in Bandar Eban and and begin taking over. The campaign to retake the lands is set in motion and a big battle occurs with the Sea Folk vessels docked at or sailing in the waters around Bandar Eban. Many Sea Folk are captured or killed. Two months later, several factions of people begin the liberation of Bandar Eban and drive off the Seanchan, during which the Horn of Valere is sounded and the world witnesses a red-headed boy battle one of the Forsaken in the sky. In the aftermath, many former Windfinders and other Sea Folk forced to serve the Seanchan are freed and make their way to Tarabon to join up with any ships there.

 

The Coramoor - [Major Summary] [Link Unavailable]

The Mistress of the Ships sends a fleet of Atha’an Miere vessels on a mission to find the Coramoor and fulfill the prophecy. The Sea Folk will serve him and in return he will give them dominion over all the waters. The Ships set sail to various ports of the mainland nations, the majority of them moving towards Tanchico, Falme and Bandar Eban.

 

Another Turn of the Wheel - [Minor] October 1, 2007

Aurore, a Windfinder, is assigned to a new ship and meets its Cargomaster, Yasuno.

 

Cold Wind - [Minor] May 4th, 2006

Luric, the Cargomaster of his ship, and a Darkfriend, kills his Sailmistress when she spies an item he was supposed to keep hidden.

 

In Bandar Eban - [Minor] March 23, 2007

Rhia, a Windfinder, meets a merchant who wishes to book passage on the Deeprunner.

From Ship to Shore - [Minor] October 5, 2008

A young Atha'an Miere, Kembial, arrives at the White Tower to be enrolled into the novice book.

 

 

RANKING

Rank is not hereditary among the Sea Folk. As survival at sea often depended on instant obedience, it should be no surprise that the Atha’an Miere stick strictly to their hierarchy. All Sea Folk must begin at the very lowest rank and work their way up, and anyone other than the Mistress of the Ships can be demoted, even all the way down to deckhand, for malfeasance, cowardice or other crimes. Player Characters likewise must also begin at the lowest rank and work their way up. For information on ranking up, please click here to see the Progression System of the Atha'an Miere at Dragonmount.

This is a list of ranks and notes on their accompanying "uniform".

 

Notes on Jewelry:

• All Sea Folk serving aboard a ship wear a certain amount of earrings (described as rings, therefore not studs) to signify their rank. It is not proper for a land-living Atha'an Miere to keep wearing their jewelry as it is for earned ranks and service in official capacities.
• Only women wear nose rings--and only in their left nostril--and honor chains. Both men and women wear earrings. Only those "of rank" (Sailmistresses, Windfinders and higher) add on the honor chain.
• The honor chain has tiny medallions hooked on it; a Sailmistress may sport a half dozen or more while the Mistress of the Ships will have around two dozen. The number of medallions directly indicate rank, among other things, and certain medallions will indicate the type of ship one serves upon. At least one Windfinder in the books was seen with a medallion that signified her part in the Escape [from the Seanchan], so they can also convey certain accomplishments. Thus medallions also serve the same purpose as ribbons on military uniforms. The honor chains are fatter for those of higher rank.
• Considering that the purpose of the honor chain is to hold medallions of station and accomplishment, it is heavily implied that honor chains are only given when a woman obtains the rank of Sailmistress or Windfinder and is officially assigned to such a post. (This is implied in the books when it is stated that a couple of apprentice Windfinders still needed to earn their last two earrings and "not to mention the nose ring", but there is no mention of the honor chain, and it makes sense).
• While the TWoRJtWoT a.k.a "The Big White Book" states that Atha'an Miere wear bracelets, this is not true for any serving on a ship, as bracelets would be a safety hazard on board. The only ones seen wearing bracelets are the three Aes Sedai Atha'an Miere.
• Those of rank also often wear a "perfume box", a small, golden and ornate filigree box on one necklace, presumably to stave off the bad smell of ports.
• Necklaces are gold or silver (All other jewelry is gold). Necklaces do not seem to be an indicator of rank, but are common for men and women.

 

Ranks: The numbers denote top to bottom ranks, where status is mostly shared (for example, a Sailmistress ranks only slightly higher than her Cargomaster).

 

1-Mistress of the Ships - A woman equivalent to a queen among the Sea Folk. The Mistress of the Ships has a degree of absolute authority that would be envied by any shorebound ruler. The Mistress of the Ships is chosen by the First Twelve of the Atha’an Miere, the twelve ranking Wavemistresses, and she cannot be removed except by the unanimous vote of the First Twelve, and a vote to remove that failed meant that each woman who had voted for it has to resign her position as a Wavemistress. Though her heart and soul are with her ship, the Mistress of the Ships is usually forced to spend a great deal of time ashore in order to be easily accessible to her people. Nevertheless, her primary residence is always her ship.

The Mistress of Ships has a total of twelve fat gold rings in her ears and her honor chain is often is weighted down by many medallions overlapping each other. She also wears brocaded silks, the blouse, pants and sash of which should be different colors each (such as a blue sash, red shirt and green pants). The particular knot used to tie the sash also signifies her rank which is more elaborate than a Wavemistress' knot. In certain circumstances, however, such as warfare and/or battle, the Mistress of the Ships is expected to yield to her Master of the Blades. The Mistress of the Ships rates a fringed blue parasol of four tiers.

 

1-Master of the Blades - The position of Master of the Blades is held by a man who might or might not be the husband of the Mistress of the Ships. His responsibilities are the defense and the trade of the Sea Folk, and below him are the Swordmasters of Wavemistresses and the Cargomasters of Sailmistresses, who held similar positions and duties; for each of them, any authority outside these areas is held only as delegated by the woman he serves. Where any vessel sailed, and when, is always up to the Sailmistress, but since trade and finances are totally in the hands of the Cargomaster (or, at higher levels, the Swordmaster or the Master of the Blades), a close degree of cooperation is required.

The Master of the Blades rates a fringed blue parasol of three tiers. He wears six fat gold rings in each ear. Like the Mistress of the Ships, he will wear brocaded silks of different colors of pants, sash and shirt.

 

2-Wavemistress - The head of a clan of Atha'an Miere. A Wavemistress has a total of ten fat gold earrings, five in each ear, to signify her rank. Her honor chain will be thicker and have more medallions on it than a Sailmistress'. They also wear brocaded silks, the blouse, pants and sash of which must always be a matching color. A particular knot used to tie the sash also signifies their rank which is more elaborate than a Sailmistress'. A Wavemistress is rated a two-tiered, gold-fringed red parasol. A Wavemistress can simultaneously be a Sailmistress of her own vessel; a Sailmistress’s crew is often kept intact after she is named Wavemistress (she adds whatever personnel are necessary to her increased duties), though sometimes it is necessary to turn the ship temporarily over to another while she handles clan duties elsewhere.

 

2-Swordmaster - Sea Folk title for a Wavemistress’s male advisor (usually her husband and former Cargomaster) who has authority over Cargomasters of the clan and directs them in matters of trade and defense.

A Swordmaster has a total of ten fat gold earrings, five in each ear. He is merited a fringed red parasol of one tier. The knot in his sash also indicates his rank. Lastly, a Swordmaster will carry a sword with an ornate hilt and one matching, curved dagger behind his sash.

 

3-Sailmistress - Ships' captains in a clan. Sailmistresses wear four small gold hoops in each their ear, for a total of eight. They also wear brocaded silks, the blouse, pants and sash of which must always be a matching color. A particular knot used to tie the sash also signifies their rank.

 

3-Cargomaster - An individual who worked with the Sailmistress aboard an Atha’an Miere ship, managing trade and defense. The Cargomaster was sometimes married to the Sailmistress. A Cargomaster will have three gold rings in each ear and two curved knives tucked in his sash, the knot of which also signifies his rank. They also wear brocaded silks, the blouse, pants and sash of which must always be a matching color.

 

[1-2-3]-Windfinders - Every Sea Folk vessel, however small, and every Wavemistress and Sailmistress, has a Windfinder, a woman who was almost always able to channel and skilled in Weaving the Winds, as the Atha’an Miere called the manipulation of weather. The Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships has authority over the Windfinders to the Wavemistresses, who in turn have authority over Windfinders to the Sailmistresses of their clans.

The Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships rates an unfringed blue parasol of three tiers and five earrings in each ear. A Windfinder to a Wavemistress rates an unfringed red parasol of one tier and four earrings in each ear. The Windfinder to a Sailmistress wears three earrings in each ear.

A Windfinder will have a three-pointed star tattooed on the back of her right hand. A woman chosen to train as a Windfinder wears three earrings in her right ear, but only one in the left; during her training she must earn the other two, as well as the nose ring. It is heavily implied that honor chains are given when a Windfinder or Sailmistress receives her own post on a ship.

By law, when the Mistress of the Ships or a Wavemistress dies, her Windfinder has to begin again at the lowest level. The rule for the Windfinder to a Wavemistress was that if no Wavemistress needed her services, she was required to move down to the lowest level on a new vessel and work back up.

 

4 - [WIP]

 

5-Deckhands - Those below ranking members and apprentices are deckhands. Their uniform consists of "baggy, dark, oily breeches" that stop just above the ankle, and a colorful sash. The women also wear brightly colored, loose-fitting blouses, though only while in port.

• Dorele, who was on her first voyage "except between the islands", sported only one small gold ring in each ear.

 

Other Important Clothing Notes:

• Atha'an Miere are barefoot except for those who have taken on a shorebound way of life.
• The quality of the breeches and sash fabrics is directly related to the status and financial state of the wearer.

 

THE SHIPS

Atha'an Miere Ships are far superior to any other oceangoing vessels in both speed and manageability and are key to the Atha'an Miere's unquestioned dominance of the sea trade.

"A ship is alive... treat him well and care for him properly and he will fight for you against the worst sea." ~ Sea Folk saying

Painting by Marek Ruzyk

 

To the Atha'an Miere, a ship is a living spirit, gifted with a man's heart and a man's courage. These ships are as much a part of the Sea Folk family as any human. The new crew themselves oversee the construction of their ship, doing most of the skilled labor themselves. The result is that every ship leaving the Atha'an Miere shipyards has been lovingly made, from the laying of the keel to the final rigging and caulking, by the very folk that will sail him.

 

• Raker - This is the most prestigious of all the Sea Folk vessels. This class of ship is the largest, most graceful and fastest of the ships, and commanding one is a mark of high honor and recognition of great skill. Rakers carry three square-rigged masts.
• Skimmer - The second-fastest class of Sea Folk ships. This is also three-masted; the same as the Raker, but it is broader in the beam and a little heavier. It is still faster than most mainland ships.
• Soarer - The Soarer is a two-masted vessel and is smaller than both the Raker and the Skimmer. However, it is usually faster and more agile than a Skimmer.
• Darter - The smallest of the Sea Folk vessels. These only have one or two masts and are consequently not as fast or agile as any of the other ships.
• Anything smaller than a Darter is considered a boat, not a ship.

 

These ships, far superior to any other oceangoing vessels in both speed and manageability, are the key to the Atha’an Miere’s unquestioned dominance of the sea trade. Spared the ravages of both the Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years, they were able to develop their seafaring technology undisturbed. Now that technology, coupled with the paralyzing conservatism of the mainlanders, maintains their edge.

A ship is usually owned by the clan of the Sailmistress who captains him, if not by the Sailmistress herself, though occasionally a ship belongs to a clan different from those who sail him. This only occurs if a ship incurs debt beyond the ability of its own crew and clan to pay. Then the ship and crew sail for their benefactors until the debt and all additional interest are repaid in full.

 

 

CULTURAL NOTES - Things you should be aware of before creating a Sea Folk character.

 

• At Dragonmount RP:
  • Sea Folk characters may not join the White or Black Towers. Male channelers who are found are immediately "given back to the salt" (killed/ made to commit suicide).
  • Do not stray from the way Sea Folk names are structured. It will always be [First Name] din [Last/Family Name]. Only Sea Folk Aes Sedai are exempt from this.
• Name Structure - An Atha’an Miere’s first name is given at birth. The second name is the family name, with “din” in the middle signifying “of the family.” Girls take the family name of their mother, while boys take the surname of their father. In young adulthood, usually within the first ten years after achieving majority, men and women are given a “salt name” which typifies them as to character or refers to some great event or deed of which they were part. These are short, usually only one or two words. A salt name such as “Wild Winds” might refer to a temper or to having ridden out a storm which should have sunk the vessel.
  • Example Names: Zaida din Parede Blackwing, Harine din Togara Two Winds, Jorin din Jubai White Wing, Moad din Nopara Red Hawk
• Appearance - Sea Folk are very dark skinned, often described as having "a deep chocolate color". They have dark eyes. They are considered alluring and beautiful, the years spent balancing on rigging and moving ships giving them uncommon grace.
• Sea Folk Clans - The Atha’an Miere are divided into numerous clans, both large and small, the following of which are named in the books: Catela, Dacan, Rossaine, Takana, Shodein, and Somarin.
• Tattoos - All Atha’an Miere are marked with "brightly colored" nautical-themed tattoos on their hands, indicating a number of things. The left hand showed clan and line. A Windfinder has a three-pointed star on the back of her right hand. A six-pointed star tattooed between thumb and forefinger of the right hand is a symbol of the covenant with the Coramoor; some believe it made one less likely to drown. Some of the other tattoos on the right hand are, in effect, the individual’s official record, showing what ships had been served on and what posts and positions had been held. One Windfinder in the books had tattoos "of stars and seabirds surrounded by the curls and whirls of stylized waves."
• Going Ashore - The Sea Folk do not like going any farther from salt water than they can help. Spotting one in Tar Valon, for instance, or Caemlyn, would normally be a very rare event. They make every effort to see that their children were born on the water, even if it was only in a small boat put off from the shore, and that they themselves died on the water. Sea Folk burials inevitably take place at sea; to die on land is considered bad, and to be buried on land even worse. For those few young women sent to train at the White Tower, they put off their honor chains and medallions along with any earrings they had the right to wear, and wear none, nor do they often wear necklaces of any kind, but most adopt, often in profusion, the finger rings and bracelets shunned by Sea Folk women. Sea Folk women who are strong enough to be raised Aes Sedai always take a new name, one which was not of the Atha’an Miere, symbolizing their break with their former lives.
• Carrying Aes Sedai on Ships - From the first days of sailing, only Aes Sedai can be refused among those asking passage, and they almost always are. Many Sea Folk consider Aes Sedai bad luck on board in any case. However, the practice is mainly to protect their Windfinders, who can almost always channel.
• Channelers - All girls among the Sea Folk who can channel must train to become Windfinders. They cannot become Sailmistresses.
• It is customary for a new Sailmistress to have a Windfinder of considerable experience assigned to her. In the same way, a new Windfinder, after she completes her entire apprenticeship, would be assigned to some experienced captain who needed a Windfinder, or would be sent along as a supernumerary. No ship is allowed to sail with both a newly promoted Sailmistress and a new Windfinder.
• Ceremonious Gestures and Saluting:
  • During formal introductions to the Coramoor, each woman [of rank] bowed slightly as she was named, and touched fingers to her lips.
  • Deckhands salute by touching their heart.
  • Sealing a Bargain is ceremoniously done by touching the fingers of the right hand to one's lips.
  • More personal agreements and departures, those with family or close friends, involve touching the other person's lips.
  • A Wavemistress' Windfinder saluted the MotS by touching fingertips to forehead, lips and heart.
  • Talaan, a Windfinder Apprentice, saluted the Windfinder to the MotS by touching her heart and bowing.
• Darkfriends - "Renaile told everyone who would listen that among the Atha’an Miere, a Darkfriend was stripped of his or her names as soon as proven guilty, then thrown over the side tied to ballast stones." [PoD, Ch. 20]
• "Not Important" - The Sea Folk totally have coffee: "...the girl had poured tea brewed to blackness..." "The tea was even stronger than it looked, very hot, unsweetened and quite bitter."
• Titles: The Dark One is known as the Father of Storms. The Dragon Reborn is called the Coramoor.