Seafolk Information

[Wayfarer]

This is a collection of different information that is made for the Seafolk. Slowly but surely we'll get there until its all done.

 

If there's something you think should be added, let us know as well, or better yet, volunteer to write it up :D

[Wayfarer]

History of the Amayar and the Atha’an Miere:

 

With the Breaking of the World, no one was left untouched and everything was in upheaval. Some of those people felt they would fare better on the oceans where they could hopefully put themselves out of the reach of men maddened by the taint and Mesaana’s children who continued to wreak havoc despite the Chosen’s incarceration.

 

Although the history of the Atha’an Miere is lost to them as they had little need for it, the Amayar have retained it. The ships of old, behemoths that would make the largest Raker seem but a Skimmer, these ships took those who wished to flee. Many were lost at sea never to be seen again, yet six great ships survived; The Catelar, the Dacan, the Rossaine, the Shodein, the Somarin, and the Takana.

 

For twenty years they, along with smaller ships that joined to form a great fleet, wandered the seas until they came by the islands of the Amayar whose islands at this time were few. The Amayar were a people who lived not only by the Water Way, but believed that power and technology entrapped a person rather than emancipated them. Without freedom, one could not move on to the next plane of existence. The result was that they lived basic, rustic lives, and preferred to be left alone. So insignificant they had been during the War of Power, that they had remained untouched by both sides.

 

With their way of life and lack of technology, the Amayar were left with no choice but to accede to the rule of the Captains of the ships. Having found a place that was safe, the eldest amongst them who wished to make land once more were allowed to do so. From there, the ships explored.

 

In different directions they went, yet all of them found the remains of great lands, shattered until they were little more than the islands of the Amayar themselves. With no great land to call their own, and many either having become acclimatised to life on the sea or known no better, the refugees were slowly changing. Life for them on the sea was becoming more preferable, though those that wished to be put ashore on the new islands were allowed to do so.

 

Yet a larger problem was looming. The great vessels that had carried the people away from the madness of the land were filled with a life that had been made by man, a life that was fading away. In the face of such a threat the ships were forced to put their people ashore, and one by one, the life in those ships faded and died.

 

As discussed, many of the refugees had become acclimatised to the seas, or known no better. Life on the islands was no life at all, but a prison. Yet with the great ships unable to ride the waves, there appeared to be no other recourse.

 

It was at this time that the Amayar proved to be the benefactors of the refugees. Their ships, disdaining the technology of the day, were instead powered by sails. Using the Amayar ship designs, the first ships of those who would become the Atha’an Miere were created and put to sail.

 

It was over the next couple of centuries that the refugees ceased to be wanderers of the waves without a home and made the ocean itself their home, truly becoming the Atha’an Miere. The Amayar, for their service, were given free right of passage, which for a time was used. As much as the Amayar disliked the sea, there were new islands, now unoccupied and waiting to be settled. Through the Atha’an Miere, the Amayar spread to many island chains and found new homes.

 

Those settlers of the Atha’an Miere that had no wish to return to the sea were soon absorbed by the Amayar until only Amayar were left living on the islands, save for Atha’an Miere who acted as governors or were currently docked. Furthermore, the clans of the Atha’an Miere pledged to protect the Amayar from all harm, not only from each other, but from any other threat.

 

It is important to note that during this time, the society became divided between clans. These clans were based upon the ships that had born the survivours, the greatest and most numerous of these of course being the great six. The clans were not united, each had their own leaders, and they regularly feuded with one another over waters that could be fished or matters of honour amongst other reasons. Tattoo’s become a common way of determining a person’s clan and sept (septs owning particular docks)

 

It was likewise during this time that the practice of women captaining ships became prevalent. There were three main reasons for this:

 

a) Only large families could afford to fund the building of a new ship. Important to note as Windfinders were exclusively direct kin to the captains.

b) While women fought in battles along with men, men were considered the primary defenders of ships. Therefore, their main role was as fighters and for this they trained, leaving the guidance of a ship to women.

c) The social practices inherited from the original survivours gave women a great deal of authority, not only as individuals but as those who hold together a family.

 

By 500 AB, the Darter, Soarer and Raker had begun to take shape as we know them today. The smaller clans have attached themselves to the main six for protection, who are still feuding, now to claim ascendancy above the others. With the mainland rediscovered during this time, trade has become an all important factor. In particular, the products supplied by the Amayar in the form of porcelain and glassware bring great wealth to the Atha’an Miere. The practice of wearing such wealth in the form of piercings becomes particularly popular to denote rank.

 

In 728 AB, two coalitions of the clans are particularly dominant. The Dacan, Shodein and Takana forming the first alliance. The Catelar, Rossaine and Somarin forming the second. In this year, the two alliances met in an epic battle that raged in the Aile Malkar for a month. At the end of which, the fleets under the Dacan, Shodein and Takana submitted to the Catelar, Rossaine and Somarin. As the Wavemistresses of the Rossaine and Somarin were dead, the Wavemistress of the Catelar, Nahira din Kalid Crescent Full Moon, became the first Mistress of Ships.

 

It was to her a great deal of the organisation of current day Atha’an Miere society owes its thanks to. Rather than dispossessing her opponents, she brought them under her the same as her allies. Nepotism, which had been rife beforehand within the clans, was banned. All positions of authority within the clans were to be elected, even the Mistress of Ships. Some say this was because Nahira din Kalid herself was barren, but for whatever reason, it was to weld the Atha’an Miere into one people.

 

Not that this meant peace graced the Atha’an Miere from this point onward. Indeed, there were plenty of times when the authority of a Mistress of Ships was challenged by disgruntled Wavemistresses, yet change inevitably won. As the demands of warfare lessened, the blademasters of ships became known as Cargomasters, though they still maintained their skill at warfare.

 

Warfare had driven the development of ships particularly useful for fighting and scouting, and with peace and the focus on trade came the development of the Skimmer. With the discovery of Seanchan before the 800 AB, the Atha’an Miere further enriched themselves by trading with the ports to be found there, as well as Shara when it and its commodities were discovered. With wealth came greater stability, and the ability to secure finer goods that the islands or seas could not provide.

 

This period lasted until the time of Artur Hawkwing. The Atha’an Miere during the period forged bonds with Hawkwing, and during the time not only told Hawkwing the open coasts of Shara, but more importantly the continent of Seanchan. This was to cost the Atha’an Miere dearly.

 

Accompanying the fleet under Luthair Paendrag, it was the Atha’an Miere who made the passage across the Aryth Ocean possible. While the Atha’an Miere did not fight, they did help supply the invasion. Such faith was not returned in kind when Luthair discovered through his captured channelers that Wndfinders were for the most part channelers themselves.

 

Ordered to be captured by Imperial seal, Atha’an Miere were ambushed across the main continent while in dock. Forever from that time onward, the Atha’an Miere refused to give passage across the Aryth Ocean to the ‘Isles of the Dead’. Not only because of those lost, but because the secret of their Windfinders was known there.

 

The gift of passage was far more restricted from this time onward, though it was available to those who could offer a suitable gift. Atha’an Miere history remained relatively untroubled, until the Hailene of recent times. A fleet of five hundred ships, while its size was not so much an issue, the damane upon the ships were.

 

For the moment, the Atha’an Miere have abandoned islands that the Seanchan have approached, and taking the Amayar with them to places of safety. While they still have the fighting spirit of their forefathers, it will take something to awaken it. When that day comes, there shall be a reckoning.

[Wayfarer]

Ships of the Sea Folk

 

Note: When I wrote this, I wasn't a qualified maritime historian. I'm still not :) So its possible things are off, but I used roughly 15-18th century ships as my resource, factoring in things like less weight due to no cannons etc.

 

Darter: One to two masts, can reach a speed of up to 14 knots with favourable winds, square sails and small load. Crew can consist of anywhere between 60-110 depending on what the ship is outfitted for. Roughly one hundred tons in weight, vary in length between 40-60 feet, has a shallow draft ranging from 5-10 feet so it can also manouvre rivers and shoals when necessary. As a fighting vessel, more a hit and runner or raider. Trade wise, it has the advantage of being perfect for reaching inland via rivers, or being able to hug the coast with little fear of running aground.

 

Soarer: Two masts, reach a speed of 16 knots at most, once again favourable conditions. Crew can range between 100-160, once again dependent on the outfitting. 125-150 tonnes, they are about 70-80 feet in length and have a shallow draft of 10-15 feet. For fighting, its the smallest ship that can stand on its own, and its agility is greater than either the Skimmer or Raker. As a trader, it can still hold a respectable amount of cargo, especially when compared to mainlander ships.

 

Skimmer: Three masts, can reach a speed of 14 knots at its highest. Crew can range between 200-250 men. Can weigh between 275-315 tonnes, length of about 120 feet. Can solidly defend itself against most other ships, and due to it having a wide hull, it has twice the cargo space than its closest rival, the Raker.

 

Raker: Three masts, can reach up to 18 knots at best, fastest ship in the world. Crew ranges between 500-700 depending on the purpose of the ship. Weighs between 800-1000 tonnes, length of 200 feet. It is the battleship of the Sea folk, the pride and joy of the people who live on the waves. When not in use for its martial ability, the Raker still makes a fine merchant vessel in its own right.