Storm Callers
Humans
SOM01 Storm Raiders/01, 2, 4
Group in city of Holdgate on the Kaldfell Peninsula, who use their magical powers to help their city and people flourish by controlling the seas around them, so that their ships (fishing, raiding, protecting, will keep returning and not sink, thereby maintaining the lifelines of their economies.
Apprenticeship begins at eight years old, beginning to learn to reach to and recognize spirit of the seas, to realize it was your ally, and needed to be respected, so that it would cooperate and release energies to the human. Each apprentice was issued a thin wooden staff, about six feet long, with which to touch and sense the seas and the energies, to form a point of communication, and to gently re-shape it. Calling was likened to riding a horse - it took gentleness, firmness, and wisdom to succeed. Each apprentice was assigned to a Caller, who acted as their mentor, teaching them the ways of the seas, and how to connect with the energies.
When the mentor felt their student was ready, they were allowed to take their Test. If they passed, they were then a Storm Caller, and eligible to work on the ships - the fishing vessels, the war ships, the ships that kept the seas stormy and upset (maintained the Storm Wall), so that the raiders who might want to conquer their lands (the Barskall Warriors) could not approach them.
The test was meant to test the abilities of the apprentice in communicating and controlling the seas. The person was ferried out to the Testing Rock, a small platform of a rock, jutting above sea level at low tide, too small for two men to stand on. The rock had an open channel drilled through it, to the seas below, through which they could place their apprentice rods, to touch/communicate, reach to the spirit of the sea, to beg for the use of some energy to calm it. with the seas. When they were there, another Storm Caller would, from the shore, call up a ropiling sea, which woulc/would wash the person from the rock, unless they could calm the sea, and thus survive. If they could do that, they would leave the rock, and swim the half-mile to land, in a calm sea, showing their strength and ability to handle themselves in the water. If they couldn't calm the seas, the higher tide, coming in, and the roiling seas would drown them.
If and when they made it to shore, they were asked to a meeting, and were recognized by their mentor, by the Magistrate, the day-to-day leader/ruler of the city (but an employee of the ships' controllers), by the Storm Callers assigned to working ships, and by captains of working ships (who handled the crews and their daily decisions). Each person there had a vote. No one could be relieved of their vote or their responsibility by any other. Everything was a joint action. In the middle of the table was a blue journey-man's cloak and sturdy, eight-foot long staff. which was awarded to the person. staff. The Captains and the Callers had talked and decided on placement of new caller, who was apprised of their assignment at that meeting. It was said the the callers who became Great Callers usually had a breakthrough during their test- that they had strengthened their connections with the sea when they were done.
The bow of the ship is the Storm Caller's position. It was said that the best Callers could call down lightning and hit a ship 1/4 mile away. (Dahlia)
