Far Singers

The Cantors or Far Singers is a secretive guild of navigators controlling the fabled floating air galleys that roam the skies over the known world. The art of flying is a rare secret in Cailorubia, and the Far Singers keep their knowledge hidden to unwanted competition. Rumour has it their Cantors are trained in various mystic arts using the power over sound to keep their ships floating, and to navigate over great distances. The guild have named this their Siren Call, and as each ship has a Far Singer steering it, the ship will navigate across the world using signals from other cantors stationed in tall slender stone towers called Nurn Towers. There are Nurn towers in most major cities of the civilized world, and the flight routes established by the Far Singers play a key role in trade, communication and general traffic.

The air galleys – which were invented by the Divaluans in the late 10th century – are now an important part of the Concordia as they allow merchants, diplomats and soldiers of The Radiant Scimitar to reach distant targets within a few days. Sea fare is still used especially to reach the smaller islands of the Inland Sea, but as the major sea routes are heavily plagued by pirates and enemy fleets more and more customers prefer to travel by air although the prices are sometimes staggering. Most far singers are Divaluans, but their natural talent for aviation and flight have drawn many Hvove mercenaries to join their ranks as flying escorts mounted on Auduons (a giant moth-like insect). One of the more dubious aspects of the far singer tradition is their close ties with insects. It is well known that they train Pinpinilpa (large cicada-like beetles) using their aggressive nature to keep the carnivorous Ithe swarms away from their ships – as well as having them as personal guardians.

It is said, that the pinpinilpa also play a supportive role in the flying of the air galleys, and some claim the far singers have power over various kinds of insects through their mastery of sound. Because of their mysterious cult-like behaviour and their bond with insects the Far Singers have occasionally been accused of dealing with the Gleyks and their scarab minions. Over the years the Cantors have done little to improve their reputation, and their open conflict with the Boiler’s Lodge – who’s content for insects have angered the far singers greatly – have lead to many complications within the Concordia. Nonetheless the Far Singers and their Divaluan members are the only foreigners allowed to enter the sealed blonian fluarcs, and their close relations with this powerful mystic people is said to keep many of their critics quiet. A Far Singer is easily recognized on his brown robes which they have a habit of wrapping around themselves in public making them appear even more mysterious shrouded in many layers of thin silk, hoods covering their heads and long embroidered capes resting on their shoulders.