Sailor's Rest

Overview

A Sailor's Rest is the traditional funerary rite performed for sailors who pass away. It is a deeply rooted practice amongst maritime cultures. It involves burial at sea, symbolising a return to the waters that shaped their life. The ritual is both a farewell and an offering to the sea. Variation of the Sailor's Rest exist around the world, reflecting the local cultures and beliefs of different seafaring peoples.

The Ritual

Despite the regional differences, several elements are nearly universal in the Sailor's Rest. The core element of what to do with the body is shared across all versions. The body is wrapped, taken out to sea, weighed down and pushed overboard. The details may vary from culture to culture but this is main procedure. The details may even vary depending on the individual. For instance, if the deceased was a captain, it is not unusual for the wrapping to be their sail. If no body is available, a symbolic replacement is used, such as a bundle of personal belongings, to allow the ritual to be done.

Variations

Isles of Ilhon

In the pirate nation, the entire crew of the fallen sailor accompanies the body out to sea. If the fallen is a renowned figure amongst the faction loyal to Pirate King or Queen, it is not unusual for other high ranking figures to attend, sometimes even the ruler themselves. The passing of the body overboard is typically accompanied with a rendition of Drink to the Deep.

Cosania

The ancestral home of the Altarans, the Sailor's Rest rite involves ceremonial chants believed to connect the spirit of the deceased with their ancestors, who are thought to dwell in the waters. The body is wrapped in specially woven cloth marked with family, and the individual's, symbols, ensuring the sailor is welcomed by their kin. Strangely, despite having entirely different origin locations in the world, Dwarvish Sailor's Rest rituals follow a similar process.

Sea Elf

In Sea Elf cultures, and in cases where the deceased is a Sea Elf and their request supercedes the local tradition, the rite includes blessings from Priests of the Tides, who invoke the protection and guidance of the sea gods and creatures to carry the decease safely to eternal rest. Offerings of coastal flowers and/or food are often scattered into the water as part of the ritual.

Essidon

In the frozen landscape of Essidon, the ritual includes a burning boat to carry the body first. This is to help melt the ice that would prevent the body being committed directly to the sea.

Beliefs

The Sailor's Rest rite is part of a wider set of beliefs for seafaring cultures, and often depends on their depiction of Tidur, the god of water. A lot of these cultures view Sailor's Rest as a means to interring their deceased into an underwater resting place, under the stewardship of Tidur himself, or a watchful caretaker created by Tidur. By doing so, this ensures the spirit of the decease is able to guide their relatives and friends' journeys across the ocean with helpful currents.