Navigator's Code
"The best navigator will get you to where you need to go."
There are many things expected from a Navigator, but good navigators tend to follow the rules of the Navigator's Code. It is not a legal document, but is considered part of the navigation culture. The code has spread far and wide, and most navigators try to follow the guidance of the Code as much as possible.
As it is mainly spread by word of mouth, there is no official document of the Code. People have added their own interpretations of the Code, and it is highly dependent on the person, culture and region. Many navigation guilds use the most well-known variant of the Code. However, the first two lines of the code remain the most important ones for most navigators, and have remained relatively unchanged.
Contents
The Navigator's Code came from a set of values that some navigators had about their craft, which spread far and wide. These include safety, geographical knowledge and a desire to help others on their travels. Many of the lines in the code have their own stories behind them, and it is hard to tell what is true and what is not. However, the Navigator's Code inspires people to become navigators, travel the world and help others on their journeys as well.The Navigator's Code
The First Code
In the past, guides had a bad name, because many used to scam tourists out of their money. During holiday seasons, there used to be a bunch of local guides who would force tourists to take the longer routes so they could hike their prices. Some weren't even guides at all, and were posing as guides to steal from unsuspecting travellers.Despite the reputation, some guides enjoyed their work and were appalled by their peers. In the northern lands, two local guides came together and decided to create a new reputation for themselves and other guides. Indira Versdóttir and Tauno Niskanen created a small school and trained people in cartography, geography and navigational skills. The hope was that a majority of their students would go on to be better guides than the locals who simply stole.
When they had their first students, Tauno and Indira created the first rules of the job:
The students that agreed with these agreed to be taught by the two navigators, and they embodied these rules as they grew into the craft. When they graduated, the rules followed the students wherever they went and became famous in the region. At some point, Indira and Tauno wanted to travel further and pass on their knowledge to more people, in the hopes of inspiring more people.
The Next Line
One line of code are said to have come from the cartographer Yasumichi Toki. The two navigators met him in a small town while they were on their journey. At the time, the town was separated by a dangerous river, and to cross it, most people used the wooden bridge. However, the bridge had weakened from decades of use, and so people tried to cross the river by boat.When a group of travellers got stuck in the river, the trio helped them cross it, despite their fears. Their feats were recorded in books and sung in many nearby taverns. In one version of the legend, someone had asked Toki what he valued in a guide. He said that they should know the road and their surroundings well, otherwise they would find themselves unable to help themselves or others if trouble came.
"The best navigator is the one who knows the road."
Additional Lines
At the height of the Age of Triumph, these three rules were well-known to the general public in many countries. They inspired people to become navigators, and some had their own ideas on what made a good navigator. Some of their ideals ended up being spread across the world over time as well. It is not known which lines belong to which person, but there are many lines that were added simply by being spread by travellers and storytellers who wanted to tell the stories of the navigators.
Type
Manual, Professional Skills
Medium
Oral Tradition / Word of Mouth
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