The Admiral

“Let the waves crash and the wind howl. My orders come from stone, not salt.”

— Harvek Bronzebraid, Admiral of Seastone

Introduction

The title of Admiral is a political innovation, forged from necessity as dwarves sought dominion over the unfamiliar sea. It was the dwarven Kingdom of Louthiran's answer to assert its influence over the relatively new coastal outpost of Seastone. Unlike traditional dwarven titles rooted in stonecraft, mining, and martial command, Admiral was borrowed from foreign tongues; an imported concept meant to signal a new era of dwarven expansion and maritime exploration.

The Admiral is the highest-ranking official in Seastone, charged with overseeing governance, enforcing royal directives, and maintaining order in a city whose culture grows increasingly independent. Though the word suggests naval command, the role is more bureaucratic than martial, acting as a royal steward, political mediator, and reluctant symbol of the sea.

Origins & Meaning

In old dwarvish, the sea has no name, only warnings.

When the dwarven kingdom chose to assert authority over the newly founded surface settlement of Seastone, its officials faced an unfamiliar challenge: how to govern a coastal city with ambitions rooted not in stone, but in salt, steam, and sails. No traditional title from the dwarven lexicon could suit this new context. The sea was alien, unpredictable, and unanchored in dwarven tradition.

Thus, the term Admiral was adopted. It was a foreign word, used by surface-folk to denote naval leadership, but reinterpreted to suit dwarven authority. The official dwarvish rendering is Thalrund - a compound of thal (deep sea) and rund (lord or warden). Though rarely used outside ceremonial contexts, Thalrund signifies the kingdom’s intent: to master the sea as it once mastered the mountain.

Duties & Power

The Admiral serves as the king’s representative in Seastone, overseeing city operations, safeguarding royal interests, and maintaining political order. Unlike a military commander, the Admiral holds no direct authority over the harbor or its ships. Their power lies instead in governance, diplomacy, and administration. They preside over councils, approve city-wide initiatives, and serve as the arbiter in disputes between citizens and guilds.

But as Seastone grows, so does its spirit of independence. Entrepreneurs, inventors, and outsiders have turned it into a crucible of innovation; often at odds with the Admiral’s authority. Visionaries like Thormir Stoneshaper push for progress that defies royal policy. The Admiral must constantly balance loyalty to the crown with the city’s need for flexibility and evolution. It is a role defined by negotiation, restraint, and endurance.

“The Admiral wears his title like a crown, but here, crowns rust in salt.”

— Zac Coaststone, Captain of Wavebrave