THE ATHA'AN MIERE

"If it pleases the Light, all will be well. All will be well, and all manner of things will be well, if it pleases the Light."

Society  The Atha’an Miere are matrilineal and split up into clans. The exact number of clans is a closely-held secret. All members of a ship are of the same clan, with the crew of a Sea Folk ship is roughly half male, half female. Marriage between clans is uncommon, but not unheard of, with husbands joining the wives’ clan. Despite the practice of women not wearing blouses while on the open sea, the Atha’an Miere are a very strict, almost prudish people. But what they consider indecent isn’t what you would expect.

The Atha’an Miere are still a very mysterious society, keeping themselves aloof of the Shorebound, whom they look upon with mild disdain. Ever since Tarmon Gai’don, when the secret of the Windfinders was discovered, Aes Sedai are no longer denied the Gift of Passage outright. But they must go through the proper rituals to obtain the Gift.

Tar Valon no longer tries to take Atha’an Miere channelers for Aes Sedai & Asha’man. Some Atha’an Miere channelers go to Tar Valon for training, but as an exchange program. Very rarely will an Atha’an Miere become Aes Sedai or Asha’man. Those who do are looked down upon by their people.

Atha’an Miere still pay well for Gleemen. Ogier are given the Gift of Passage without a return gift expected. Members of the elusive Shorebound association known as the Guild are denied the Gift of Passage. The Atha’an Miere still have their secrets, and do not wish to reveal them. If a passenger is discovered to be a member of the Guild, they are tossed over the side with ballast stones tied to their ankles, the same as with Darkfriends.

The Atha’an Miere still control most Seagoing trade in the Wetlands. They still call to ports in Shara, much the same as they did before Tarmon Gai’don. However, Mayene is now just as large a port of call for the Atha’an Miere as Tear, much to the chagrin of the Tairans. Trade in the west has only recently reached pre-Tarmon Gai’don levels. During the Seanchan Wars, trade with Tarabon and the Almoth Plain ceased. Seanchan vessels attacked Atha’an Miere vessels on sight. Fierce battles between damane and Windfinders, aided by any channeling men on board, were common. The Atha’an Miere Islands due east of Tanchico were captured by the Seanchan, and serve as their naval bases.

Only after fierce pressure from the Taraboner people many years after the end of the Seanchan Wars did the Seanchan let up on their policies towards the Atha’an Miere, and trade resumed with Tanchico. However, Atha’an Miere ships no longer call to Falme, or any other Seanchan-held city. Seanchan ships are still known to attack Atha’an Miere vessels, so the Atha’an Miere keep a sharp eye out for bluff-bowed ships flying ribbed sails and the stooped hawk banner.

Rank  Each Atha’an Miere starts out as a deckhand on their parent’s ship, no matter where the Pattern may weave their destiny. Below are the paths of advancement:

Women: Deckgirl, Sailmistress, Wavemistress, Mistress of the Ships
Men: Deckboy, Cargomaster, Blademaster to the Wavemistress, Master of the Blades
Channelers: Deckhand, Acolyte, Windfinder, Windfinder to the Wavemistress, Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships

Men can also become Windfinders, but it is very rare. Rare because it is a breach in tradition, men aren’t usually strong enough in Air and Water to be a competent Windfinder, and most men would rather use their skills to defend their ships.

Attire and Appearance of the Atha’an Miere

The Atha’an Miere are usually of average height. They are dark-skinned, with straight or curly black hair. They are a graceful people, especially the women, who are also rumored to be exceptionally beautiful. Atha’an Miere tattoo their left hands with clan symbols.

Both genders wear gold or silver necklaces and earrings, sometimes more than one and with stones set in them. Women sometimes have nose rings. The more jewelry, the higher ranked the person. Both genders also wear baggy breeches of dark, oiled cloth, held up by narrow, colorful sashes, and left loose at the ankle. Women wear loose, colorful blouses when at port or near the shore.

Marks of Rank

Number and quality of earrings denotes rank. Sailmistresses, Windfinders and higher have a delicate chain that runs from nose ring to earring. Higher-ranking individuals also wear clothing of similar cut to lower ranked individuals, but of finer materials. They also wear a gold perfume box around their neck, which emits a musky scent. A two-tiered fringed red parasol marks a clan Wavemistress, a single tiered red parasol marks her Blademaster.