The Ancient League of Mariners

Transportation, Naval, Ships and Shipbuilding

The Mariners cover every aspect of naval transport -- dockworkers, sailors, navigators, and the like. The guild has a rather intense rivalry with the Transeisen Transportation Union, which focuses on land travel and airships.

Structure

Guildmaster

The current Guildmaster is Captain Johannes Strom, a lutrin. Captain Strom is not only an adept sailor, but a ferocious swordsman. He has a deep sense of pride and honor, and is known for challenging insults with the blade.

Guild Representative

Adamar Nacht, a dwarf, is the guild representative. While most dwarves like keeping their feet on solid ground, Adamar would much rather be on the open ocean. He is a jolly fellow, fond of drinking, music, and adding to his collection of exotic seashells.
 

Guild Administrator

Alice Weingart, the guild administrator, is an ama’il half-elf. Though they are not, in truth, the greatest of sailors, their skill in navigation has had many captains trying to win their favor. Alice is quiet, serious, and not afraid of enacting strict discipline.
 

Guild Structure and Ranks

Apprentice: Apprentices in the Mariners are formally called cadets, although pretty much every one of their superiors call them swabbies. Cadets are placed under the care of a shipmate, whose instructions they are to follow in all things.   Journeyer: Marine journeyers are called shipmates, though other names for the rank include middies, hearties, seafarers, and dogs. Shipmates are responsible for the everyday workings of a ship, performing labor such as trimming sails, tending to elementals, or loading and unloading the ships.   Master: Masters in the Mariners are properly titled Captain, whether they actually captain a vessel or not. Master mariners are the only rank allowed to command a ship within the guild. Many vessels also take Masters as their navigators.   Mastery Exam: A Mastery exam in the Mariners involves successfully commanding a voyage of the judging panel’s choosing, preferably with minimal loss of life or cargo.

Culture

The Ancient League of Mariners is a curious mix of casual and formal. On ship, hierarchy is absolute, respect is a must, and everyone knows their place and role. On land, however, camaraderie is far more open, and relationships between officers and juniors are relaxed, with Masters often buying their crew drinks and other pleasurable pursuits while in dock.   Patron God: Lucetius  

Guild Symbols

The official symbol of the guild is an anchor, which many have tattooed upon themselves (along with anything else, as tattoos are highly common among guild members). Cadets wear a rope design in copper along the wrists of their clothing, while shipmates wear a silver one, and Captains a gold one.  

Guild House Description

Located on the docks of Novandria, the Guild House of the Ancient League of Mariner’s is one part port, one part barracks, one part drydock, and one part shipping warehouse.

Public Agenda

The Ancient League of Mariners handles most shipping that has to be done through the docks, though there are some recent political pushes to use airships for that shipment process instead. The League is actively fighting against those initiatives.

Assets

Perhaps obviously, most major ships that are built or stationed in Eisen are at least partially owned and supported by the League.

History

The Ancient League of Mariners was one of the first Guilds founded under the Old Dwarven Empires.
Type
Guild, Professional
Alternative Names
Mariner's Guild
Demonym
Mariner, Sailor
Location
Patron God
Lucetius   Guild Symbols
Anchor, Rope