Pilots’ Guild
Pilots are navigators who direct ships from one port
to another. While the captain decides on the
destination, it is the pilot who actually navigates the
vessel, decides how much sail to hoist, calculates
position, and lays courses. All seagoing vessels
over 30 feet in length, except for locally registered
fishing vessels, and Ivinian vessels which have
somewhat different requirements, are required to
carry pilots.
Every master pilot compiles a private rutter, a book that contains his accumulated
knowledge of the sea. This item is carefully guarded for its loss could easily bring
disaster. The unauthorized possession of a rutter often carries the death penalty, but
their high value is an enormous temptation to thieves. A sizeable reward is available
for turning in a lost rutter at any Pilot’s Guildhall.
Master pilots have wide discretion with regard to taking on apprentices. Most
apprentices are former seamen who have demonstrated an aptitude for learning.
Apprenticeship generally takes nine years – the longest of any guild. There are no
journeymen in this guild.