Lighthouse Signaling

The lighthouse-monks of the Order of the Lightkeepers have long had a system of communication for passing messages around the Great Ring. It depends on relaying messages from lighthouse to lighthouse, using a combination of different mechanisms, depending on the exact distances and conditions when the message is being sent.

The primary method, used when visibility permits, is the use of a torch matrix. This is an arrangement of up to nine large torches (typically placed in windows built for this purpose) to indicate a message. The matrix is a three by three arrangement, and the contents of the message are indicated by which windows in the grid are lit, vs which are dark. This system can be used to communication nearly anything, as there are configurations that can indicate individual letters - a sender will set a configuration announcing an extended sequence, and once they receive a confirmation that they are being observed, they open and close shutters for each window to indicate all the letters in the message. There are also several configurations that bear more complex meaning, and sailors will frequently learn many of the most significant, such as the configuration for 'All is Well', or the one indicating 'Plague'.

However, there are many instances where visibility does not permit the use of a torch matrix. In some cases, mirrors and lenses can be employed to make the signal more obvious, but this does not always suffice. It is difficult to see during daylight hours, and some lighthouses are placed so distant from each other that distinguishing the individual windows in the grid can be difficult. Other times, weather conditions can obscure the signal, sometimes completely. There are a few fallback methods the lighthouse-monks employ in these circumstances.

The most common one used during the day is the use of smoke signals. By varying the length and color of smoke columns, many messages can be conveyed from tower to tower. Another fallback is to vary the color of the torch flames, which can be done with specially treated torches - the differing colors can be easier to distinguish at distance. In extreme cases, the lighthouse beacon fire itself may be used, either varying its color, or obscuring it deliberately with a barrier raised and lowered in a particular sequence.

This system of signaling has been used for centuries between the lighthouses. More recently, they have accepted some messages from outside the Order, transmitted in return for a small donation to the upkeep of the lighthouses. The most frequent donor are the Kendari Couriers, who utilize this system to enhance their own messaging service. However, it can only be used for information that is acceptable to release publicly, as anyone could be watching the lighthouse beacons.