Pronunciation: ah-thah-AHN mee-EHR 
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aka: Sea Folk

The Atha'an Miere or Sea Folk spend their entire lives on their ships. In particular, they consider it important to be born and to die on the water. This is tied into the [Jendai Prophecies]. They have very dark skin, straight black hair and black eyes. Men and women have tattoos and piercings. The tattoos identify their Clan. The number of piercings identify their rank. Men are clean shaven.

The ruler of the Sea Folk is the Mistress of Ships, currently [Nesta din Reas Two Moons]. The Mistress of Ships holds as much power as many queens. The Master of the Blades, currently [Baroc], is sometimes married to the Mistress of Ships and is responsible for trade and defense of the Sea Folk. The First Twelve Wavemistresses elect the Mistress of the Ships ([WH,Ch24]).

Like the [Aiel], the Sea Folk are divided into numerous clans each headed by a Wavemistress. Her Swordmaster serves the same role within the clan as the Master of the Blades. Within a clan, each ship is captained by a Sailmistress. Her Cargomaster is responsible for the trade and defense of the ship. The Wavemistress of a clan is also the Sailmistress of her ship. The First Twelve Sailmistresses of a Clan chose the Wavemistress ([WH,Ch24]).

Each ship also has a Windfinder. Windfinders are able to [channel|True Source] and are highly skilled in [Cloud Dancing|Weaves] which they call Weaving of Winds. ([ACoS,Ch13])

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! All

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! Clans

# Catelar
# Dacan
# Rossaine
# Shodein
# Somarin
# Takana

! Wavemistresses

%%columns
* Catelar - [Zaida din Parede Blackwing]
* Dacan
* Rossaine
* Shodein - [Harine din Togara Two Winds]
* Somarin - [Malin din Toral Breaking Wave]
* Takana
----
* ? - [Lacine]
* ?- [Lincora]
* ? - [Mareil]
* ? - [Niolle]
* ? - [Pelanna]
* ? - [Wallein]
%%

! Sailmistresses

* [Cemeille din Selaan Long Eyes] - ''[Wind Racer]''
* [Coine din Jubai Wild Winds] - ''[Wavedancer]''
* [Malin din Toral Breaking Wave] - ''[Windrunner]''
* [Milis din Shalada Three Stars] - ''[Whitecap]''
* [Derah din Selaan Rising Wave] - ''[White Spray]'', Sailmistress to [Harine din Togara Two Winds]
* [Turane]

! Windfinders

%%columns
* [Renaile din Calon Blue Star] - Windfinder to the Mistress of the Ships
* [Caire din Gelyn Running Wave] - Windfinder to [Pelanna]
* [Dorile din Eiran Long Feather] - ''[Windrunner]'', Windfinder to [Malin din Toral Breaking Wave] and Clan Somarin
* [Shielyn din Sabura Night Waters] - Windfinder to [Zaida din Parede Blackwing] and Clan Catelar
* [Shalon din Togara Morning Tide] - Windfinder to [Harine din Togara Two Winds] and Clan Shodein
* [Tebreille din Gelyn South Wind] - Windfinder to [Mareil]
* [Ehvon]
* [Jorin din Jubai White Wing] - ''[Wavedancer]''
* [Kurin]
* [Metarra din Junalle] - apprentice
----
* [Naime]
* [Nestelle din Sakura South Star]
* [Niolle]
* [Rainyn]
* [Rysael]
* [Senine din Ryal]
* [Serile] - Windfinder to [Turane]
* [Talaan din Gelyn] - apprentice
* [Taval din Chanai Nine Gulls] - ''[White Spray]''
* [Zushi]
%%

! Swordmaster

* [Amel] - to [Zaida din Parede Blackwing] and Clan Catelar
* [Moad] - to [Harine din Togara Two Winds] and Clan Shodein

! Cargomaster

* [Toram] - ''[Wavedancer]''

! Crew

* [Dorele] on ''[Wavedancer]''

! Ships

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! Gift of Passage

"Let us talk, Sailmistress, of sailings and ports, and the gift of passage."

The Sea Folk do not charge for passage. It is a gift, which just coincidentally is exchanged for a gift of equal value.

! References (Possible Spoilers)

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# In the [Guide] - A great deal of basic information on the Sea Folk.
# In [New Spring]
## [NS,Ch3] - There are only four Sea Folk [Aes Sedai] and two of them are quite old.
# In [The Eye of the World]
## [TEotW,Ch24] - [Bayle Domon] notes that the Sea Folk only seem interested in searching for their [Coramoor|Jendai Prophecies].
# In [The Great Hunt]
## [TGH,Prologue] - Sea Folk men wear tattoos on their hands, a six-pointed star on the right and symbols of his clan and line on the left.
## [TGH,Ch4] - There are very few [Aes Sedai] from the Sea Folk. Those few say that their [Coramoor|Jendai Prophecies]. is coming.
## [TGH,Ch4] - The Sea Folk refuse to cross the [Aryth Ocean]. They say the Isles of the Dead lie on the other side.
## [TGH,Ch26] - [Thom] and [Dena] plan to visit the Sea Folk islands.
## [TGH,Ch31] - [Jain Farstrider|Jain Charin] recounts his visit to the Sea Folk in ''The Travels of [Jain Farstrider|Jain Charin]''.
# In [The Dragon Reborn]
## [TDR,Ch48] - When [Nynaeve] asks Mother [Guenna|Ailhuin Guenna] about the weather, she answers that she is no Sea Folk Windfinder. First mention of Windfinders.
# In [The Shadow Rising]
## [TSR,Ch1] - The Sea Folk of the islands around [Cantorin] have been subdued by the [Seanchan (People)].
## [TSR,Ch2] - A Sea Folk raker, the ''[Wavedancer]'', arrives at [Tear|Tear (City)].
## [TSR,Ch19] - A great deal of basic information on the Sea Folk.
## [TSR,Ch21] - [Moiraine] hopes that [Elayne] and [Nynaeve] will be able to confirm her suspicion that that Windfinders can [channel|True Source].
# In [Lord of Chaos]
## [LoC,Ch5] - A Sea Folk ship, the ''[White Spray]'', docks at [Aringill] and Wavemistress [Zaida din Parede Blackwing] and her Swordmaster disembark.
## [LoC,Ch9] - [Balwer|Sebban Balwer] reports to [Pedron Niall] that many Sea Folk ships are congregating in southern ports.
## [LoC,Ch17] - A Sea Folk ship, the ''[White Spray]'', docks at [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)].
## [LoC,Ch26] - Wavemistress [Zaida din Parede Blackwing] and her retinue arrive in [Caemlyn] and request an audience with [Rand].
## [LoC,Ch27] - [Erian|Erian Boroleos] tries to visit the Sea Folk ship at [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] but she is refused boarding.
## [LoC,Ch28] - The Wavemistresses both write to [Rand] requesting audiences. They address him as the [Coramoor|Jendai Prophecies]. and seal their letters with a symbol, two things like flattened bowls with a thick, ornate line running from one through the other.
## [LoC,Ch32] - [Egwene] tries to visit the Sea Folk ship at the [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] docks but the Windfinder detects her [channeling|True Source] ability and drops her overboard.
## [LoC,Ch48] - [Tylin] asks [Elayne] and [Nynaeve] if they know why there are so many Sea Folk ships gathered in the [Ebou Dar] harbor.
# In [A Crown of Swords]
## [ACoS,Ch6] - When [Rand] returns to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)], [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] is staying on the Sea Folk ship.
## [ACoS,Ch13] - [Elayne], [Nynaeve], [Aviendha] and [Birgitte] meet with the Sea Folk to ask for the assistance of Windfinders in using the [Bowl of the Winds].
## [ACoS,Ch18] - [Rand] is crucial in Sea Folk prophecies but they will not say how. 
## [ACoS,Ch23] - [Elayne] is worried what [Egwene] will say about the bad bargain they made yesterday with the Sea Folk.
## [ACoS,Ch37] - [Nynaeve] and [Lan] are married by the Mistress of the Ships
## [ACoS,Ch37] - Twenty Windfinders return to the [Tarasin Palace] with [Nynaeve] and [Lan] to complete their bargain.
## [ACoS,Ch39] - Because of [Mat]'s %%ot ta'veren%% influence, the Windfinders agree to accompany [Elayne] and [Nynaeve] to a place of their choice, the [farm|Farm], to use the [Bowl of the Winds].
# In [The Path of Daggers]
## [TPoD,Ch2] - The smallest and least important Sea Folk ships are called darters.
## [TPoD,Ch6] - [Caire|Caire din Gelyn Running Wave] leads the circle of thirteen that uses the [Bowl of the Winds] to fix the weather.
## [TPoD,Ch20] - When it begins to snow [Renaile|Renaile din Calon Blue Star] claims the [Bowl of the Winds] and [Merilille Ceandevin] as a teacher to complete their bargain.
## [TPoD,Ch20] - In a Sea Folk marriage, when one spouse must obey the other in public, it is the reverse in private.
# In [Winter's Heart|Winters Heart]
## [WH,Ch11] - According to Sea Folk protocol, when a Wavemistress or Mistress of the Ships dies or retires, her Windfinder is demoted to the lowest rank and must start over.
## [WH,Ch11] - There are only three Sea Folk [Aes Sedai] and they are weak. The [Aes Sedai] believe that [channeling|True Source] is rarely found in the Sea Folk.
## [WH,Ch11] - Showing any sign of family favoritism in public is a serious crime.
## [WH,Ch11] - Three of the Sea Folk clans are Clan Dacan, Clan Rossaine and Clan Takana.
## [WH,Ch17] - Half the %%ot [damane|Seanchan (People)]%% in [Ebou Dar] are captured Windfinders.
## [WH,Ch23] - The Sea Folk use sextants to navigate, but they keep them a closely guarded secret. The shorebound are never allowed to even see them.
## [WH,Ch24] - The First Twelve Sailmistresses of a Clan chose the Wavemistress. The First Twelve Wavemistresses elect the Mistress of the Ships.
## [WH,Ch31] - [Mat] remembers taking a Sea Folk ship from [Allorallen|Jaramide] to [Barashta].
## [WH,Ch35] - Even the Sea Folk governors have left [Tremalking] to search for the [Coramoor|Jendai Prophecies]..
# In [Crossroads of Twilight]
## [CoT,Ch1] - The captive Windfinders jump the gun and escape before [Mat] expected. In the battle that follows, hundreds of Windfinders die and many ships, both Sea Folk and [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)], are destroyed.
## [CoT,Ch11] - The Windfinders and the [Kin] are seriously agitated by the powerful [channeling|True Source].
## [CoT,Ch12] - The Wavemistresses of the Sea Folk will hold a conclave in [Illian|Illian (City)] to elect a new Mistress of the Ships.
## [CoT,Ch12] - The Windfinders who lost their ships at [Ebou Dar] are now something of second class citizens.
## [CoT,Ch18] - The [Salidar Aes Sedai] learn that there are hundreds of [Sea Folk] [Windfinders|Sea Folk] in [Illian|Illian (Country)].
## [CoT,Ch23] - There are nearly as many Sea Folk as [Tairens|Tear (Country)] in [Tear|Tear (City)] for the conclave to elect a new Mistress of the Ships.
# In [Knife of Dreams]
## [KoD,Ch22] - The Sea Folk meet in [Illian|Illian (Country)] and elect [Zaida din Parede Blackwing] the new Mistress of the Ships.
## [KoD,Ch22] - Shortly after the [Breaking], the Sea Folk pledge to protect the [Amayar|Tremalking]. They take the mass suicide as a failure on their part.
## [KoD,Ch22] - [Rand] sends [Logain Ablar] to call on the Bargain. The Sea Folks are to put all their efforts into shipping food to [Arad Doman].
# In [The Gathering Storm]
## [TGS,Ch5] - [Harine] and several other Sea Folk arrive in [Arad Doman] via gateway. [Rand] is angry that so few ships have arrived in [Bandar Eban]. [Harine] counters that the [Seanchan (People)] are harassing them.
## [TGS,Ch29] - There are still only a few Sea Folk rakers in the port of [Bandar Eban].
# In [Towers of Midnight]
## [ToM,Ch25] - There are Sea Folk ships in the port of [Bandar Eban], but the dockmaster [Iralin] will not let them unload until [Rand] returns, purifying the foodstuffs.
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