« back to archives

Social Hierarchy

The Atha'an Miere follow a strict system of social ranking to an exacting level beyond that of even the Aes Sedai. To represent these positions of social power, the Atha'an Miere have a complex system off adornments and markings.
 

Rulers


The Atha'an Miere are ruled by the Mistress of Ships, a woman who possesses as much power as many queens, and the Master of Blades, sometimes married to the Mistress of Ships, who is responsible for defence of the Atha'an Miere and trade.
 

Clans


The Atha'an Miere are divided, as are the Aiel, into numerous clans, listed below:

  • Catelar
  • Dacan
  • Rossaine
  • Shoidein
  • Takana

 


The Wavemistress and Swordmaster


Each clan is headed by a Wavemistress and Swordmaster who perform the same function as the Mistress of Ships and Master of Blades on a more localised scale.
 

The Sailmistress


The Sailmistress captains an Atha'an Miere vessel.

She is equal in rank to the Cargomaster and the Windfinder to the Wavemistress of a clan.
 

The Cargomaster


The Cargomaster keeps an itinerary of all cargo on his ship. As is typical of the Atha'an Miere, this job falls soley to men, as it is related to trading and commerce.

He is equal in rank to the Cargomaster and the Windfinder to the Wavemistress of a clan.
 

The Windfinder


Every Atha'an Miere ship has a windfinder. The function of the Windfinder is to produce favourable conditions for sailing, and all Windfinders are talented in both Cloud Dancing and the "Weaving of Winds", a weave unknown to the Aes Sedai which allows the weaver produce and control air movements.

While Windfinders in general are typically lesser in rank to the Sailmistress or Cargomaster, a Windfinder to the Wavemistress of a clan is equal in rank to both the Sailmistress and Cargomaster.
 

The Deckmaster or Deckmistress


The Deckmaster or Deckmistress of an Atha'an Miere ship disciplines and co-ordinates the crew of the vessel, often using a flail to punish or bring to attention a member of the ships crew.
Though given a position of authority, there may be some Atha'an Miere who possess adornments that place them at an equal social standing with the Deckmaster or Deckmistress.
 

The Ship's Crew


The ships crew follow orders from above and possess authority over only those crew members of lesser social standing and Atha'an Miere who have only a single ring in each ear.
 

Serving Crew


There are those who possess no social standing at all to whom the job of performing menial tasks falls, such as the serving of tea at ceremonial or administrative occasions.


There are currently 0 users and 2 guests online

The 'Wheel of Time' is © Robert Jordan and Tor books. World of the Wheel does not make any profits from its use of these materials. The views of the writers here may not necessarily be those of the site creators.

Dragonmount Dragonmount Dragonmount The White Tower The White Tower The White Tower