Sea Queen

They don't rule us. We owe them nothing, just as they owe us nothing. But equally, we respect them. Their lineage and their knowledge is wider than ours. To ignore that knowledge? Pointless. And so we allow them to lead.

Requirements

The role of a sea queen is hereditary, passed down through the generations since the beginning of their reign at the end of the precentury.  In order to become one, therefore, someone must be part of a sea queen family.  This can be by birth or by adoption.  Although this is one requirement for taking the role, there are many others.  A sea queen must be a figure who is respected by her community, as without the respect of her community she cannot wield any power in her role.  Additionally, she must have been a good candidate before her mother died if possible, showing promise with the tasks of captaincy, commerce, and making good connections with the other established sea queen families where feasible.  Sea queens are exclusively female.  In order to begin their service, a sea queen must be of age to command a fleet.  This is typically 20 years old, but can vary depending on the family.

Appointment

After the death of the last queen of her family, a sea queen is allowed a period of mourning of one week before assuming her duties.  Provided that the peoples that she has command over are happy with her assuming the position, she is then formally recognised aboard her ancestral ship.  Where possible, this is launched over the ocean, and accompanied by her new fleet.  Often, other sea queen families will attend the inauguration as well, although they take care to maintain a respectful distance.
Once aboard her ship, the new sea queen raises her flag for the first time, signalling that she now has command of her area and her fleet.  Typically, other ships of her fleet follow suit, before a short coastal voyage and then a return to port.

Duties

Sea queens are the representatives of the people of their fleet.  They are expected to negotiate with the other fleets and families, as well as with other nations and ethnicities outside their domain.  Additionally, sea queens are responsible for selling the various products that their fleets catch and produce, overseeing all interfleet and international trade.
Sea queens are also expected to step in to resolve disputes between captains in their fleet.  Any captain can claim the right to an audience with a sea queen, which is granted either when asked or when her ship returns to port.  Any delay on the part of the sea queen is frowned upon, even under exceptional circumstances.  The sea queen acts as the sole arbiter in this case, and is expected to weigh both sides of the argument carefully in her decision.
Sea queens are also expected to be able to defend their territories and fleets when necessary, and are typically on the front line of any offense or defence.

Benefits

Sea queens gain access to all trade within their fleet, and often take a hefty cut of any profits made.  This is limited by their need to retain the respect of the captains under them, of course.    Additionally, they are afforded the flagship of the fleet, which has been crewed by every sea queen of that fleet before them.  This flagship, while old, is typically in good order and one of the better-equipped vessels in a fleet.  In the case that the flagship is unable to sail, they are granted possession of it and of another, similar sized and equipped ship, in order to carry out their duties.
Sea queens also occupy their ancestral house, from which they conduct business that must be done on shore.  This house is typically small, no more than three or four rooms, but serves for the purposes to which the sea queen puts it.  Sea queens are expected to spend most of their lives aboard their ships.

Accoutrements & Equipment

The dress code of sea queens varies across the fleets, but some families have particular items that the sea queen wears in public.  These include the blue circlet of the Sessin, and the seaboots passed down in the Washar family.  Most sea queens also own the various items needed for long-distance navigation, although they seldom venture far from the coast, such as telescopes, sextants, and maps, all of which are conferred to them upon their assuming of the role.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

Sea queens can be removed from their position via mutiny.  Should the fleet that she commands find a sea queen unworthy of her responsibilities, they mutiny and often board the flagship.  Depending on the severity of the anger of the fleet, the sea queen may either be summarily executed, or be spared until a formal trial occurs.  It is unusual, however, for death not to be the fate of the queen.

History

The title of sea queen was first instituted when the first fleet began to ply the waters of the coast of Mythia.  As disagreements fractured the fleet, more and more queens sprang up, until the seven fleets that are present today came to be.

Cultural Significance

Within the fleets, sea queens are treated with suppressed reverence due to the fact that they typically have a direct line of descent to the founders of the fleets.  They are the people who lead the fleets, and who are held responsible by them.

Type

Nobility, Hereditary

Form of Address

Commodore, Lady, Queen (or any combination of these)

Source of Authority

Their crew and, more widely, the other people of their domain.

Length of Term

Life

Related Locations

• The Sea Barrows

Related Organizations

• The Sea Queens

Mutiny

"Carina Sessis!  The captains hold you in contempt of the fleet."
The voice was quiet but distinct, and at any rate Carina could see where it came from.  Her fleet of traitors was gathered around her ship, like scavengers around the corpse of a shark.  The man calling the charge was at the prow of his ship.  She struggled to remember his name, then gave up - he wasn't one of her chosen captains.  She looked around for those captains who she had placed in their roles, who she had showered with gifts and praise so she could keep a support base throughout her reign, and did not find them.  She cursed.  Cowards, the lot of them.
"Should you attempt to resist, the fleet will have no mercy.  If you come quietly, we may be able to restrain ourselves for a trial."
Carina drew herself up tall, the blue circlet of the Sessis family proud on her head.  She nodded to her crew, loyal still to her despite the betrayal orchestrated by their peers.
"Have you anything to say before we board, as is your accursed right?"
Carina smiled.  "Only this."  She turned to the flagstaff and hauled.  The proud bluebird of the Sessis fell, and equally quickly was replaced with Carina's new flag.  Black, with the cetana in red.
A roar went up from the fleet, and the sails of the twenty boats clacked and rattled as their crews scrambled into action.  Carina gestured to her helmsman and the great flagship spun under her feet, the sails catching the wind to escape the ships that now pursued her.  A smile spread across her face.   "Well, I'd say that went rather well."  She strode to the poop deck, and stood as the wind blew past her.  "They shouldn't give you any trouble, Berk.  You know where to go."  She turned to face the ships giving chase.  None were close, but one was moving strangely, bearing away from the course of the Sessia.  Carina cursed.  "Berk!  Turn the ship!"  She felt Sessia turn, all too slowly, as a plume of smoke erupted from the other ship.  With a scream, she raised her face to the sky as the cannonball plunged into the stern.