The men of Torvaldsland sometimes guide their vessels by noting the directions of the waves, breaking against the prow, these correlated with prevailing winds. Sometimes they use the shadows of the gunwales, falling across the thwarts, judging their angles. The sun, too, is used, and, at night, the stars give them suitable compass, even in the open sea.

It is a matter of tradition not to rely on the needle compass, as is done in the south. The Gorean compass points to the Sardar, the home of the Priest-Kings.

The men of Torvaldsland do not use it. They do not need it.

The sextant, however, correlated with sun and stars, is not unknown to them. It is commonly relied upon, however, only in unfamiliar waters.

Even fog banks, and the feeding grounds of whales, and ice floes, in given seasons, in their waters, give the men of Torvaldsland information as to their whereabouts, they utilizing such things as easily, as unconsciously, as a peasant might a mountain, or a hunter a river.

Signal horns are often used for communication during times of peace and war. They are commonly curved, bronzed horns and there are about basic forty messages used. These messages include such matters as "attack," "heave to," "regroup," and "communication desired." Shields may also be used for signaling though their use is much more limited. Two common ones are a red shield denoting war and a white one denoting peace