Riverman's Guild

The Rivermen
Almost a separate people to themselves, the Riverman's Guild of Karimas provides the majority of travel and trade shipping within the kingdom itself. Plying the waterways that both link and divide the Regencies, the Rivermen are quite simply, the glue that holds the nation together. Notable for their unique accent and steadfast ways, the Rivermen (sometimes also called Ferrymen) are highly respected within Karimas. Based in the town of Landsdown, on the eastern border of Drakes Regency, the Guild is responsible for making the yearly Wine Run, driving the wines down the Meltwash River, across Crossings Lake, and to the port on the southwestern shore, of the city of Wine Run. This takes about two weeks to accomplish, despite the heavy currents caused by the melting ice and spring rains.

The Rivermen have their own sets of laws in addition to Kariman law, and they are largely given this freedom. The Captain of a given vessel is always in charge, and if the captain is not a Riverman, by custom, the Riverman's authority takes precedence on the rivers. Rare is the captain who is not a riverman, although many nobles have private boats. A private vessel on the river must clear it with the local Guild Authority.

Rivermen begin their training at about the age of seven, and complete it around the age of fourteen. The graduation is a curious ceremony; they are given nothing to show they have completed years of grueling training, save a black coin etched with a representation of the Four Great Rivers and Crossings Lake. They take a knife and cut their hands, spilling their blood into the river, and make a vow, to protect their passengers from the moment their foot touches the deck, to the moment their foot reaches the shore. This includes protecting passengers from themselves, and Ferrymen have been known to drug, tie up, or otherwise incapacitate unruly passengers during their trip.

The Rivermen's Guild crest is a solid line, with two wavy lines stacked above it, in blue on a white background.