Atha'an Miere
Encyclopedia
The Atha'an Miere are a fictional group of people in Robert Jordan
's series of fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time
.
The Atha'an Miere, called the Sea Folk by commoners, are a group of people with complex customs that live on ships and on islands in the Sea of Storms. They only showed up on the mainland to trade goods, until prophecy seemed to be fulfilled (see Coramoor, below). They typically have a dark complexion, and are seen as "exotic" by mainlanders. The rank of a Sea Folk can be determined by both the number of piercings (typically ear and nose, with a chain in between for higher ranks) and the quality of the metal used for the earrings/nose rings.
Sea Folk porcelain sculptures, delicate and graceful objects of art, are highly prized by mainlanders, frequently costing their weight in gold to obtain.
and society's collapse. While some fled inland, moving as the landscape changed and water moved, others fled to the ships. Despite not knowing how to use them or knowing anything of the sea they soon mastered their boats, and also made their promise to the Amayar.
Windfinders typically fear being found by Aes Sedai, as they believe the Aes Sedai may take them to the White Tower against their will to train them. Because of this, a Windfinder has the right to refuse passage to a passenger who can channel, something usually reserved for the Sailmistress of the ship.
However, when Nynaeve and Elayne
approach the Sea Folk on the orders of the rebel Amyrlin
Egwene al'Vere
, they comply with many of the Aes Sedai's requests, such as assistance in finding and using the Bowl of the Winds and helping Elayne Trakand maintain Caemlyn's food supplies during the siege, by opening gateways for merchant wagons to travel through.
Way of the Leaf.
Another little known facet of Sea Folk culture is that both genders go topless while at sea, and out of sight of the mainland. Presumably all of their passengers know this eventually, and keep silent either out of respect/moral outrage, or for more prurient interests. This fact alone may account for why passage on a Sea Folk ship is frequently so costly, although they are also the fastest sailing vessels in the land, and some of the most reliable (partially due to the unrevealed abilities of Windfinders).
The Atha'an Miere put a lot of emphasis on the "salt", or the sea. Each person has two names, a birth name, and a salt name awarded later.
among ocean cultures is the Water Way adhered to by the Amayar. This is a focus upon a nonviolent, pacifist way of life.
devastating news is delivered to the Mistress of Ships during her meeting with Logain. The Amayar have committed mass suicide in accordance with their prophecies after the giant crystal hand on one of their Islands has melted. Children were given instant poison, and the adults used slower poison. There are almost none left alive, and the few that have been found are said to be immensely sad at being denied death.
, who is also the Dragon Reborn
and the Car'a'Carn of the Aiel
, is believed to be the fulfillment of that prophecy. The Sea Folk will serve the Coramoor in any way they can, but no-one agrees on exactly how the Bargain should pan out. By Knife of Dreams an agreement has been reached, with particularly onerous terms both ways, something which the new Mistress of Ships is extremely displeased about.
He shall wield the One Power, and hold the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The Aiel shall come over the Dragonwall to his call, the Stone of Tear shall fall, and war shall break over the nations of the land. Those who once ruled shall return, and shall be driven back for the first time.
The White Tower shall be broken in his name, and Aes Sedai shall kneel to wash his feet and dry them with their hair.
He shall bring us to glory and all the seas of the world shall be ours.
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
's series of fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
.
The Atha'an Miere, called the Sea Folk by commoners, are a group of people with complex customs that live on ships and on islands in the Sea of Storms. They only showed up on the mainland to trade goods, until prophecy seemed to be fulfilled (see Coramoor, below). They typically have a dark complexion, and are seen as "exotic" by mainlanders. The rank of a Sea Folk can be determined by both the number of piercings (typically ear and nose, with a chain in between for higher ranks) and the quality of the metal used for the earrings/nose rings.
Sea Folk porcelain sculptures, delicate and graceful objects of art, are highly prized by mainlanders, frequently costing their weight in gold to obtain.
Creation
During the Breaking of the World everyone was a refugee, fleeing from the destruction wrought by the male Aes SedaiAes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
and society's collapse. While some fled inland, moving as the landscape changed and water moved, others fled to the ships. Despite not knowing how to use them or knowing anything of the sea they soon mastered their boats, and also made their promise to the Amayar.
Windfinders
Windfinders can be found on every ship the Sea Folk inhabit. Most Windfinders can channel, and are ranked only under the Sailmistress and Cargomaster on a ship. Windfinders who can channel can typically handle Air and Water most skillfully, creating thick and powerful flows to aid their ship's travel. Conversely, many have little to no skill with Fire or Earth, even less than most female channelers, due to the nature of their society.Windfinders typically fear being found by Aes Sedai, as they believe the Aes Sedai may take them to the White Tower against their will to train them. Because of this, a Windfinder has the right to refuse passage to a passenger who can channel, something usually reserved for the Sailmistress of the ship.
However, when Nynaeve and Elayne
Elayne
Elayne is a French female given name meaning "light". It is derived from Elena. Other names with same meaning are:*Elaine*Ailin*Aileen*Elane*Eliane...
approach the Sea Folk on the orders of the rebel Amyrlin
Amyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
, they comply with many of the Aes Sedai's requests, such as assistance in finding and using the Bowl of the Winds and helping Elayne Trakand maintain Caemlyn's food supplies during the siege, by opening gateways for merchant wagons to travel through.
Culture
A much less-known part of Sea Folk culture is that their vaunted porcelain is actually created by the Amayar, land-dwellers on the island of Tremalking, overseen by a Sea Folk governor. The Amayar apparently follow a pacifistic lifestyle very similar to the Tuatha'anTuatha'an
The Tuatha'an are a fictional group of people in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Also known as Tinkers and The Traveling People, The Tuatha'an are a nomadic group of people who travel continuously and widely in brightly colored wagons. These wagons are comparable to the Gypsy Vardos...
Way of the Leaf.
Another little known facet of Sea Folk culture is that both genders go topless while at sea, and out of sight of the mainland. Presumably all of their passengers know this eventually, and keep silent either out of respect/moral outrage, or for more prurient interests. This fact alone may account for why passage on a Sea Folk ship is frequently so costly, although they are also the fastest sailing vessels in the land, and some of the most reliable (partially due to the unrevealed abilities of Windfinders).
The Atha'an Miere put a lot of emphasis on the "salt", or the sea. Each person has two names, a birth name, and a salt name awarded later.
Hierarchy
The Atha'an Miere have a fixed and rigid hierarchy, and are sticklers for rank. They are headed by a Mistress of the Ships (informally called Shipmistress), roughly equivalent to a queen, but without a fixed geographic territory. Her consort and/or male counterpart is the Master of the Blades, responsible for trade and security concerns. She is also assisted by the Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships, the highest rank a Windfinder can achieve. Under this leadership, the Sea Folk are further organized into thirteen clans, headed by a Wavemistress. She is assisted by their Windfinder and Swordmaster, respectively. Each ship of the various clans, has a Sailmistress, Windfinder and Cargomaster respectively. Even one who becomes the Mistress of the Ships, must begin as a deckhand. The rank of a Windfinder and Cargomaster is dependent on their Sailmistress. The eldest thirteen of the Sailmistresses of a clan elect its Wavemistress, while the thirteen Wavemistresses elect the Shipmistress.The Amayar
Unknown to any but the Atha'an Miere, there are a group of island dwelling people that they protect. During the breaking they asked the Sea Folk to protect them from the madness of the Breaking, as men stole and slaughtered, and they take this as a solemn duty. It is the Amayar that make the fabled Sea Folk porcelain, and also their trade goods. In counterpoint to the Atha'an Miere, they rarely leave land, and, if they do, it is only in small fishing boats that stick close to shore.The Water Way
A parallel to the Way of the Leaf of the Tuatha'anTuatha'an
The Tuatha'an are a fictional group of people in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Also known as Tinkers and The Traveling People, The Tuatha'an are a nomadic group of people who travel continuously and widely in brightly colored wagons. These wagons are comparable to the Gypsy Vardos...
among ocean cultures is the Water Way adhered to by the Amayar. This is a focus upon a nonviolent, pacifist way of life.
Mass suicide
In Knife of DreamsKnife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
devastating news is delivered to the Mistress of Ships during her meeting with Logain. The Amayar have committed mass suicide in accordance with their prophecies after the giant crystal hand on one of their Islands has melted. Children were given instant poison, and the adults used slower poison. There are almost none left alive, and the few that have been found are said to be immensely sad at being denied death.
The Coramoor
The Sea Folk believe that the Coramoor is predicted by the Jendai Prophecy to lead them to greater glory, including domination of all the seas of the land. Rand Al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, who is also the Dragon Reborn
Dragon (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the Dragon is the champion of the Light and the Creator against the evil Dark One. Although the Dark One was imprisoned by the Creator at the moment of creation, he continually seeks to break free of his prison. In each Age, the Dragon...
and the Car'a'Carn of the Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
, is believed to be the fulfillment of that prophecy. The Sea Folk will serve the Coramoor in any way they can, but no-one agrees on exactly how the Bargain should pan out. By Knife of Dreams an agreement has been reached, with particularly onerous terms both ways, something which the new Mistress of Ships is extremely displeased about.
The Jendai Prophecy
We must wander the waters until the Coramoor returns, and serve him at his coming.He shall wield the One Power, and hold the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The Aiel shall come over the Dragonwall to his call, the Stone of Tear shall fall, and war shall break over the nations of the land. Those who once ruled shall return, and shall be driven back for the first time.
The White Tower shall be broken in his name, and Aes Sedai shall kneel to wash his feet and dry them with their hair.
He shall bring us to glory and all the seas of the world shall be ours.