Halakam-Lui

Halakam-Lui means "Grand Admiral" in the Selkie Language. It is a position of significant authority within the selkie Khilaia.   A Halakam-Lui/Grand Admiral leads a Pod or Armada, a grouping of around 100 to 200 crews. Often, a Halakam-Lui will preside over several Halakam, or Admirals. Grand Admirals operate miniature bureaucracies, often based partially in a favored and wealthy Selkie Port, to manage their area's affairs. Each Armada acts as a voting bloc with a single Motosui Representative, with whom the Halakam-Lui is expected to regularly correspond with and coordinate with. Where lesser officials primarily focus on regional or local affairs, the Grand Admiral has significant responsibilities and connections upward to the Viceroy, the Selkie Great Clans, and the Khilaian government.   Where the Halakam represents the Khilaia in a local and practical way, the Halakam-Lui represents the Khilaia as a grand institution and political force. They can easily call on warships or magicians to combat threats to their authority, and even the poorest Grand Admiral wields power well beyond a petty small-time king. Most Grand Admirals are discouraged from using this force, though, unless they are combatting pirates or some other threat to trade.    The Halakam-Lui began as "greater lords" given favorable positions by the ancient selkie clan council, in exchange for their obedience. These greater lords were generals, emissaries, and eventually powerful merchants able to negotiate favorably for their clans. These ancient lords carried decorated staffs, which were ceremonial spears that had their spear-heads ritually cut off (as if executed). Modern Grand Admirals still carry these staves when engaging in formal ceremony.