Seafolk

The Seafolk (Atha'an'miere) are a secretive and reclusive people who
inhabit the islands of the Aryth Ocean and the Sea of Storms. Most
Atha'an'miere spend their lives on the decks of their fast moving sailing
ships, and they are known to trade throughout the wide world even as far
as Shara on the other side of the Aiel Waste.

The Seafolk ships clearly have a rigid chain of command. At the top of
the hierarchy is the Mistress of Ships. Second in command is the
Wavemistress. Next, is the Master of the Blades followed by the
Swordmaster. Women who have the ability to channel are called Windfinders
and are second only to a Wavemistress. The Cargomaster is the only one
who negotiates what trade is done.

The Seafolk are known to wear loose but colorful clothing are run barefoot
across the decks of their ships. They consider those who live on land
"drylanders" and do not socialize except in matters of trade. It is rare
that any "drylander" may set foot on a Seafolk ship without the Mistress
of Ships' permission. Even then passengers are expected to give a gift of
passage that would equal the cost of passage. It is the Windfinder and
not the Sailmistress who decides what passangers may come aboard. The
Seafolk are very defensive and avoid the White Tower with a passion. They
do, however, send a few girls to the White Tower on a regular basis such
that the Tower will not come to them to seek them out.

They wait to serve the Coramoor when Tarmon Gai'don comes. The Coramoor
is the Seafolk version of the Dragon Reborn, or the Aiel's Car'a'carn.
They wait to fight the "Father of Storms" (the DarkOne). And, they avoid
sailing into the open ocean to the west where they believe the Islands of
the Dead lay.

They are a graceful people of average height and are dark skinned and have
dark curly hair. Some clans have been known to have straight hair
however. The women are known to be beautiful and tempting.

They try to maintain expressionless faces when around drylanders. They
mainly trade in ivory and silk. They are very tight lipped around
non-Seafolk and can be very defensive until they get to know you. They
wear gold and silver necklaces. They wear baggy pantaloons and both
genders go bare chested. The men are clean shaven and are generally
tattooed with a six pointed star on their right hands and their lineage
and clan on the left. Earrings and other jewelry are used to symbolize
rank among the Seafolk. And, they wear intricately decorated belt knives
often inlaid with gold and delicate carving.