Alra-Lui

"Alra-Lui" means Grand Captain in the traditional Selkie Language. It is a position of local authority within the selkie Khilaia.   An Alra-Lui leads a Flotilla, a cluster of two to twenty crews (each with their own Alra or captain). An Alra-Lui serves as a point of contact between the Khilaia and the crews assigned to them, coordinating communications, deliveries, and transfers of funds. Not all crews have a Flotilla, but many sea nomads do. An Alra-Lui doesn't hold direct and constant authority over the captains under them, but they do have a lot of situational authority. They mediate disputes, punish captains who go violate agreements, and marshal their Flotilla into action for big assignments from above (or against sudden local threats).    In ancient times, an Alra-Lui was a position dictated by popular respect. It indicated that a captain-navigator was skilled, followed the Hamekun way, and brought prosperity to those that followed them. It wasn't a title granted from some top-down bureaucracy but one that was generated by accumulating mocho - power, authority, legitimacy, public respect. This could be gained through successful raids, battle, public mediation, acts of justice, elaborate ceremonies, public debate, displays of craft excellency, displays of deep knowledge, or wise administrative decisions. These ancient Alra-Lui were not Halak, members of the ancient noble or chiefly class that controlled the most fertile lands and headed the great clans, but common men and women who earned respect through deeds.    Many centuries ago, this old definition began to be replaced with a formalized and bureaucratic version of the title that was given by the Khilaian bureaucrats and who reported in a grand chain of command back to the sacred isles. This transformation was never entirely complete, though. While higher ranks than the Alra-Lui hold their title by assignment alone, the Alra-Lui is much more dependent on group respect for maintaining their legitimacy. A Flotilla that finds their Alra-Lui to be illegitimate or unpopular will often vote them out, and that vote is almost always respected by the broader structure.