> IMO, ship captain is a noble caste occupation and ship pilot is a
> wizard occupation.
Hmmm... this sounds like the start of something good. Of course, there won't be anything in Holy Writ about this (because, by the Book, *all* naval occupations are left to the bastard Waertagi "caste"/race). But Jean's suggestion *does* sound sensible and progressive, and could well be the Way Things Are in some parts of the West.
The Captain could be treated as a Lord, aye aye Sir!
The Pilot, I'd have said was a Peasant: it's a Crafter-type occupation, like steering other vehicles (which is done by other kinds of Peasant). Remember, a Peasant at the top of his caste deserves respect, but is still a Peasant.
The Navigator, now, would be a Wizard, as this is a knowledge-based skill -- and one where the ability to read the stars, comprehend the properties of lodestones and tin needles (and dried-up pieces of seaweed), and tamper if necessary with winds, waves and currents, etc. will be vital to the crew.
Of course, the various navies of Nolos, Pasos, Handra and Loskalm (to say nothing of the lake-bound fleets of the Safelstran city-states) could each have their own "take" on this sensible set-up. Handran ships might all be run by "peasant-caste traders", in the tradition of the Merchant Princes; Loskalmi vessels are unlikely to have a Lord or Wizard on-board, but very likely to be commanded by a Knight (seems to fit their world-view). The focus on Caste makes it likely this is the Nolos/Pasos Rokari POV, and also probably the way they'd treat the crews of foreign ships coming into Seshnegi harbours.
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Nick
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