Wave Riders are exceptional warriors among the Skyre Folk who form reciprocal bonds with enormous marine creatures and travel with them through the waters around the Skyre Islands. The tradition requires both martial excellence and the acceptance of the creature itself. A skilled warrior cannot simply claim a suitable animal, compel it into service, or complete a rite that guarantees a bond.
Known Wave Riders have traveled with whales, though the Skyre Folk do not publicly explain the full range of creatures with which such relationships may be formed. The creatures are real living beings rather than conjured servants, and Wave Riders do not create, summon, or transform into them. Outsider stories—particularly Asnor accounts—often describe summoned leviathans or krakens because the practice is poorly understood outside the Cains.
The rites and training associated with Wave Riding are closely guarded. Whatever spiritual or magical practices accompany them, the relationship depends upon mutual recognition rather than domination. A prospective rider must prove capable of surviving and fighting in the dangerous environments where Wave Riders operate, but the bond remains incomplete unless a creature willingly accepts that individual.
Wave Riders remain members of particular Cains rather than belonging to a centralized Skyre military. Their mobility makes them valuable during travel, communication, and conflict, and accomplished riders often possess considerable prestige within their communities. They may also attend a Moot when matters involving the sea, distant Cains, or military movement make their experience relevant.