"They’re a rough crew alright, with salt in their beard and rope burns on their hands. But they’re always there when you need them, facing the waves and shouting prayers to the winds"
- —Baron von Wolder, Ostland noble[1a]
Sailor-priests of Manann often wear vestments and weapons associated with the sea, such as seashells, fish-hooks and tridents.
A sailor-priest of Manann is an official priest of the Cult of Manann, the god of the sea, typically found working and ministering on board seagoing vessels, such as fleets of the Imperial Navy, or else in temples and shrines located near coastal or river communities.[1a]
Manann is a fickle and moody god, but he seems to respect a degree of practical ability and experience of the seas in his priests, and most of them spend a part of their career at sea. As such, priests of Manann are very competent sailors and navigators, and in times of need, tenacious fighters.[1a]
Role[]
"He's a moody sod, is Father Tangbart. Always jumping on us for little things like whistling or scratching your arse on the wrong day. Still, we put up with 'im because we all want to come back with full nets and none drowned"
- —Edla Weiss, Fisherwoman[1a]
Those who minister for Manann, the god of the sea, are drawn to their calling by a deep affinity for the sea god and a profound respect for the sea. The people who live by the whims of wave and storm look to their priests to beseech the capricious Lord of the Oceans for clemency and bring them protection from his moods.[1a]
Most priests come from coastal or river communities where the Cult of Manann is part of daily life. A minority are born inland and feel drawn to the sea by a strange pull, as if their destiny was always to venerate Manann. Settled priests minister to sailors in port and local congregations where followers are prevalent. Others sail with merchant fleets, explorers, and naval vessels as a valued member of the crew.[1a]
High priests and Wave Lords oversee major Cult of Manann centres or naval or mercantile fleets. Within the nautical sphere they are powerful individuals in their own right and relatively independent from one another.[1a]
Ship Priest[]
A sailor-priest of Manann is a great asset to a crew. They lead prayers at each watch, implore their god to favour the vessel, and ensure the crew show him respect. Several times a week they deliver sermons from the poop deck or crow's nest, leading hymns and accompanying the chantyman in their songs. They also perform rituals to mark the passing of time, significant landmarks on a journey, or to influence the weather.[1a]
A priest of Manann should always get involved when it's all hands on deck. Most are former sailors, so sailing and rowing comes naturally to them. That said, a captain wouldn't usually expect a priest to swab the deck or perform truly menial tasks. During difficult times, a priest of Manann might command or discipline the crew on behalf of the captain, to stave off mutiny or bring unruly sailors in line. For an unpopular captain, it can be more effective and less risky to put the fear of Manann into an unsettled crew.[1a]
Initiates[]
An initiate of the Cult of Manann accompanies an established sailor-priest, learning from them by observation, listening to their stories, and performing an endless, exhausting list of chores in the temple or on board a ship. They do little formal learning, and face continuous questioning by their priest to sharpen their understanding of Manann and his cult.[1a]
When they are deemed ready for ordination as a full-fledged priest of the sea god, the initiate undergoes an ordeal where they show their face to Manann for his judgement. This involves exposure to the ferocity of the sea, storm, or flood, such as spending the night on a wave-lashed rock or enduring a stormy journey strapped to the mast of a small boat.[1a]
Once ordained, the daily life of a settled priest involves leading prayers in a temple, on board ships, or at the water's edge. They bless ships heading out to sea and sanctify new vessels. Other priests spend their lives travelling on ships and from port to port, tending to the spiritual needs of the crews and nautical types around them.[1a]
Wargear[]
Sailor-priests of Manann wear robes in blue-green, turquoise, or some other colour reminiscent of water, trimmed with white wave patterns.[1a]
They wear talismans shaped like shells, fish, seabirds, anchors, and Manann's crown, along with scrimshawed bones and other maritime gewgaws. Strapping ship's paraphernalia and bits of sea creatures to their bodies is a favoured sartorial choice.[1a]