Torias Kane

A Collection of Shanties and Other Sea-Songs Transcribed by Krais Rogan, Master Sailor Notes on the Collection: The shanties and other songs contained in this journal were compiled over a career of 20 years before the mast. Many were first learned on the pirate vessel Proud Bismarck, with others from ships of various sizes operating in southern waters. Those labeled as traditional have believed to have originated with the fisherfolk and other northern clans of the Sea Wolf Roegadyn, of which I count myself a proud member. However, since these clans are far removed from "proper" civilization, and no records of same were maintained to any great length, any such label is tenuous at best. Many also refer to the city-state of Limsa Lominsa, which is not surprising due to it being a major maritime power and supplying both crews and ships to many of the cargo and ferry lines in southern waters. Notes on the type of shanty and conjectured background will be added where appropriate. Weigh Hey Ya - Halyard shanty A halyard or long-haul shanty is used when a given hauling job (hoisting a topsail, for example) is expected to last a long time. Usually, there are multiple pulls with each response, evenly spaced; Weigh and Ya in this case. The ship mentioned in this song could be one of any number of cargo vessels lost to violent storms in the northern seas. I first heard it as a youth aboard the pirate vessel Proud Bismarck, and have since heard several variations of the main shanty on passenger vessels out of ports as far south as Limsa Lominsa. The version recorded here is the one I remember from my youth. Clear Away the Track - Capstan Shanty A capstan shanty is used when weighing anchor; this is done by winding the anchor rope around a giant winch, usually turned by sailors walking around it. This results in a smoother call and response, and usually full choruses in addition to several verses. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to sail aboard the Vagabond mentioned in this song, which was understandably a favorite amongst its crew (it's where I learned it). Curiously, none aboard could say who "Liza Lee" was, or if she ever existed.

I agree completely on avoiding sweeping pronouncements for the entire race. I don't think I meant to imply that all female Sea Wolf casters were Sea Witches, but the idea could stand some clarification. It makes far more sense to say that it's one path of many, and that they can be found wherever the Wolves tend to be truer to their viking forebears and keep to more primal beliefs. With the Twelve being revered as they are, I think it would be safe to say that these enclaves would be few and far spread, and a callback to the Wolves of old: bloodthirsty pirates who took every opportunity to cut and rip. I get the feeling that it may be easier to introduce other materials to hint at the culture: "traditional" Roegadyn sea shanties or ballads, or myths and legends from the days of high adventure. Does that seem a better way to introduce an idea? It strikes me that a people with such a strong maritime tradition would have some version of Sindbad or Erik the Red, with different groups of Roegadyn telling different versions of the tales, or claiming that the character was based on an ancestor's exploits, or some such. With the current lore being as wide-open as it is now, it seems a safe way to go, especially if the lore changes: turns out no one has the story right at all, which is bound to happen after handing it down through countless generations.

I have a weird sort of question and wanted to get the community's thoughts on making additions to the lore. When writing a background for a character, how acceptable is it to make assumptions about a race's culture by adding elements to it? A personal example would be Sea Wolf spirituality: the character I'm developing has a healthy fear of a certain group of female Roegadyn magic-users (helpfully called Sea Witches). This assumes that the Sea Wolves' culture (or parts of it) reveres the sea, and that there would be a line of mystics who draw their power from it. Since female Roegadyn are NPC-only, it made sense to me that these mystics might all be women. (It's probably also hugely cliche, but that's a discussion for a different time.) I'd like to develop the culture, or at least my character's exposure to it, as far as possible, but there isn't a lot of information to work with. At the very least, having elements like this would make for interesting conversation, but I don't know how kindly others would take to the additions. Of course, it goes without saying that when canon lore is made available, I'd stick to that, but until then, I'd like to make things as colorful as possible. That, and start learning Welsh. I'd appreciate any comments or insight on this, as would my highly overactive imagination.