It helps to know where you are going in the Corners of Khorvaire.
Soaring above the land is an exhilarating experience, but after the first few days I finally “came down” and began to really investigate my surroundings on board. As my company of dwarven employers was being standoffish and most of the crew busy with their duties (you'd be surprised how much cleaning a vessel surrounded by a ring of fire needs) I found myself lingering quietly near the helm of our transport where I overheard a very informative lesson.
Rhordan, our First Mate and chief navigator, was speaking with a young khoravar who I surmised to be his apprentice.
“Listen, kid,” he said, leaning on the railing as he gestured to the expanse of sky before us, “see all that out there? It's ours. No other House is up here. Unless that little fella with the pointy hat starts getting Messages, there ain't no one up here to tell us what to do or where to go 'cept the Cap'n. From horizon to horizon, to the Ring and back, we're the masters of our own destiny. So the question is 'how do we know where to go?'
“You see, we got the sun. We got twelve moons. We got the Ring. We got more stars than a person can count in a lifetime, for Host's sake. Knowing where to go is easy, once you know how.
“And the how is right there in that armpit you're scratching. Yeah, I noticed that. Unfortunate, but no one gets to choose where their 'mark shows up. Now listen up, because these are the most important words you'll ever hear on this ship: Trust. Your. 'Mark. That's what makes us...us. Compasses, sextants, those weird little crystals the longboaters use, those are all fine. But, when in doubt, close your eyes. Stop scratching at it and trust your 'mark to tell you where north is and find your bearing. If you're ever drinking in Stormhome and someone bangs their mug on the bar five times, everyone there will close their eyes and point north. It's in your blood, newbie. It's all in your 'mark.”
I decided to leave the lesson there, lest I accidentally overhear any more trade secrets. To be honest, dear readers, I did try to trust my 'mark to show me where north is. According to our heading, I was woefully inaccurate but I did remember the definition of “syzygy” for some reason.
Onward to the horizon in the Corners of Khorvaire!
Genbo Santor d'Sivis.
