Shanties
A shanty (also spelled shantey, chanty or chantey) is a maritime work song used by sailors to coordinate their actions and maintain morale. Shanties generally have a call-and-response structure, with a "shantyman" calling out a line of verse and the other sailors responding as the chorus. Each shanty is suited to a particular task, which is performed to the rhythm of the song. Aboard sailing ships in the Skaugan Main, bards were in great demand as shantymen, especially because their shanties could be enhanced with magical energy. In addition to his own songs, Ka-Ess Lizardkin would have been familiar with many shanties and work songs of the period. Some of the most popular have been included in this index.
Capstan Shanties
A capstan is a large, horizontal windlass, used on ships to raise and lower sails and anchors. As sailors marched around the capstan, they would sing these shanties to maintain a steady pace.
Halyard Shanties
A halyard is a line used to hoist sails and yardarms, which requires a sustained effort by several sailors. The accented notes in halyard shanties indicate to the crew when to pull the line.
Pumping Shanties
Pumping shanties accompany the operation of the bilge pumps - grueling and unpleasant work.
Short Haul Shanties
Short haul shanties are sung for tasks that require short bursts of strength, designed around accents in the same manner as halyard shanties.