Alra

"Alra" means "ship captain" in the Selkie Language. In its original cultural context, it meant "navigator" rather than "authority," but the context has shifted over time to denote command and direct power over a ship.    What is means to be a Captain in selkie culture varies from ship to ship and from clan to clan. Some ships are more democratic than others and some clans are more fixated on hereditary succession than others. Oftentimes, captain selection is influenced by local cultural and religious practices where a selkie clan might roam.    Every captain has ship officers underneath them (Luka in traditional language). These are positions like the chartkeeper, who keeps the maps and helps the captain navigate while also acting as the sort of protected opposition who can always critique the captain freely. Others include the Bosun (ship maintenance master), carpenter, master gunner, quartermaster, purser (who handles budgeting and trade), and the First Mate (Hosa in traditional tongue).   Captains can vote for representatives representing their Pod in the Motosui Assembly. Captains typically interface with the greater Khilaia through a respected regional captain, known as the Alra-Lui or Grand Captain. Other Captains who have more direct connections to an Admiralty or greater clan work directly with a Halakam (or Admiral).    Many ships are manned by one to three extended family units, who live much of their lives on board as oceanic nomads. Sea nomad ships often make long stops along the way to fish, trade, forage, and work for stints before moving on down the line. Classic nomad Arlas tend to be family mediators, who provide gentle guidance looking after their families and who only exert absolute authority when making tough calls out at sea.   Other ship Alras operate ships that are more acutely business-oriented. These ships tend to leave family members at Selkie Ports or even operate as independent business ventures without any direct clan connections. These ships often have clear constitutions or business charters that outline on-board hierarchies: joint ventures often are more democratic, while top-down patronized ships often tend to be more autocratic.    Alras can also vary wildly in terms of wealth and status. Some operate poorly-armed ships that mostly fish and engage in low-level peddling and seasonal work, which are essential nomadic working-class family groups that happen to sail the open seas. Others operate wealthy merchant or mercenary ships, even sailing multiple ships together in focused paths of profit.    Alras are officially sanctified and approved by the Khilaia at a selkie-controlled port (a Selkie Port or a March-Kingdom port works as well as the sacred isles). If they make a major ship upgrade or commission a new ship, they will also typically have the ship and their captaincy approved and reaffirmed. This process typically involves an inspection to make sure that the ship is up to standards and seaworthy, as well as a brief affirmation that all of the crew is aboard voluntarily and accepts the captain's status. Given the laxness of this inspection, pirate captains end up just as sanctified as clan merchants.   During a ship sanctification, the Halakam (Admiral) of the port or their representative gives the Alra a symbolic cane with a threaded tassle attached to it. The styling of the cane and tassle correlates to a rank for the ship (which is also used as a tax bracket for those entering the sacred isles):

• Boats are the lowest form of vessel, typically not sanctified or granting captaincy
• First Degrees are ships that are small in size, typically a small catamaran, galley, or lateen-sailed ship. Typically a single-sailed ship
• Second Degrees are ships that are moderate in size, often with a top platform and a lower deck. Often two-sailed.
• Third Degrees are caravel-class ships. Often with three masts and two decks. 
• Fourth Degrees are what might be called 'Carracks' or 'Galleons': large ships with 3 or 4 masts. Imposing, effective, and grandiose - these are the ships that many people think of when they think "rich selkie merchant". 
• Fifth Degrees are the rarest and largest of ships, true behemoths often sporting 4 to 6 masts. Often called 'windjammers' or 'castle ships', they are true statements of power that require great skill to make without them falling apart during their first launch.

  Ships of higher degrees tend to attract more ambitious dealings but also tend to be called upon for greater tasks. A high degree is looked upon favorably as a sign of wealth, power, and even trustworthiness - that this is someone with ability who has the means for a grand or difficult voyage. At the same time, some clever captains look to convince the Admiralties that their ships are of a lower degree to avoid further obligations or taxation.