Círdan's Guide to sailing the Straight Road by daughterofshadows

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Chapter Three - Creatures of the Sea: Ainur

Yssion = Osse's Sindarin name

Plain text: Círdan's writing
Italics: Aerchen's commentary

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Yssion

When the Valar forbade our people from reaching the Undying Lands after the Darkening, it was Yssion who guarded their shores and sank our ships. Many died to his wrath in those years, but rest assured that your ships have little to fear from him now.

Though he remains temperamental, Yssion rarely seeks to harm elven ships deliberately.

It was Yssion who once taught my people about the sea and its music when we still thought we would soon join our siblings in the Blessed Realm. And it was from him that I learnt how to build boats.

Of course I have made many adjustments, improved and tinkered with the original design, but at the heart of it, my ships still look like those very first ones.

But I digress. I have spoken at length about the art of ship building, I shall not bore you with it again. There are other Ainur you should learn about that you might encounter on the Straight Road.

 

If you were hoping to learn more yet about the art of shipbuilding, I apologise, but I could not risk him writing yet another hundred pages on the matter. We have to finish this guide before we set sail ourselves, after all. Aerchen of Mithlond.

 

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Uinen

The Queen of Mermaids, some call her, though I personally have never seen one of these mysterious creatures.

She is the calm to Yssion’s storm, but don’t let that fool you. Should you dare to harm one of the creatures under her protection, her rage is just as terrible as her husband’s.

Stay clear of the coral reefs around Tol Eressëa. You wouldn’t want to invoke her wrath that close to your destination, would you?

Still, more often than not, Uinen quiets the seas instead of rousing them, and for that she is loved by mariners far and wide.

When Yssion’s temper flares and the waves crash across the deck, drenching all who make the mistake of staying up top, pray to Uinen and she will guide you to safer waters.

 

Often, Lady Uinen is accompanied by the sea people. She may only be called Queen of Mermaids, but Lady Uinen counts sea goblins and mermen amongst her followers just as much as mermaids. They are a tricksy, mischievous bunch, these merpeople, but they rarely mean any harm. Greet them politely when you meet them and treat them with respect, and they may very well agree to help you should you drift off-course.

 

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Salmar

You may not meet this particular maia until you reach the undying lands, but that is not to say that you will not hear his voice on the journey.

For it was Salmar who made the Horns of Ulmo, those wonderful, terrible conch shells that call all those who hear their voice westward.

Theirs is the music of the sea, and it is one that lingers deep in your bones long after you have left the sea behind. Once you have listened to it, you will never forget their voice again.

And so Salmar is a part of every journey west, even if you never meet him face to face.

 

It is hard to believe that after all these years, we will finally follow the call. Long have we waited on these shores. Steadfast, trusting that our time will come, too. I hope I will see my sister again when I at last reach the Blessed Realm. There are so many stories I wish to tell her…#

 

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Ulmo

You may not recognise the Lord of Waters when you meet him, for he rarely chooses to show himself with a body like you and I have. Instead, his consciousness is in the water, from the smallest stream to the wide, wide sea.

Even in the darkest years, he did not abandon us, and though his voice may have been quiet, he would lend his aid, if only you knew how to listen.

And so we still sing his praises and ask for his guidance before the beginning of any journey. I have included a few prayers and songs at the end of this book, but at the end of the day, Ulmo cares more about the intent behind your words than whether you adhere to long-established patterns. He knows many languages and will hear you no matter how you choose to speak to him.

 

We have done our best to translate our prayers into as many languages as we found speakers for, but I fear some words translate better than others, and we beg your forgiveness if our songs sound clumsy to your ears. Let me repeat what my lord already said: It matters little how you phrase your praises, as long as they are genuine.