“By the Stars We Travel, By the Light We Know the Way”
Long before roads were cobbled or maps were inked, the mariners and land-wanderers of Eyehasseen looked skyward to find their bearing. That legacy endures in the noble tradition of the Celestial Navigation Guild—the sworn custodians of starlight, sextants, and sensible shoes.
Founded in Year 641 by the poet-navigator Elric of Aurell, the Guild maintains the highest standards of orientation, spatial dignity, and stellar etiquette.
🌠 The Work of the Guild
Members of the Celestial Navigation Guild are trained not merely in direction-finding, but in the art of movement through meaning. Their domains include:
- Stellar Cartography – Charting the skies over Eyehasseen and producing the annual Guide to Practically Useful Stars
- Mariner’s Astronomy – Assisting the Royal Navy and merchant vessels in navigating via the heavens (or clouds, when necessary)
- Ceremonial Bearings – Determining symbolic directions for parades, dedications, and flag placements at state funerals
📚 The Navigator’s School
Located on the high bluff of Windspire Hollow, the Guild’s training hall teaches:
- The use of quadrant, compass, and The Great Folding Map of the West
- Emergency orientation by marmot burrow shadow
- The philosophical discipline of “wherever you are, be certain you intended it”
Graduates are awarded a Navigator’s Cord, a brass-accented woolen braid indicating proficiency, discretion, and moderate patience.
🗺️ Public Services
The Guild welcomes inquiries from pilgrims, travelers, and moderately confused day-trippers.
Services include:
- Personal direction-setting ceremonies (“Where Next?” rituals)
- Star chart personalization (now with bunting)
- Interpretive walkabouts with meaningfully slow pointing
🌌 Symbolism
In Eyehasseen, navigation is more than mechanics—it is a metaphor, a ritual, and occasionally a cautionary tale. The Guild’s crest features a five-pointed star above a winding path, accompanied by the motto:
“If Lost, Sing Briefly and Begin Again.”
Membership in the Guild is by training, trial, and trial again. All members must be able to draw a circle without complaint and recite the five cardinal virtues: Patience, Precision, Posture, Politeness, and Knowing When to Stop Walking.