Lord Protectorate
The title of Lord (or Lady) Protectorate is simply one attached to the leader of a ruling clan within each of Suranth's six provinces, referencing that they are the direct individual entrusted, ultimately, to keep things running smoothly in the region, and to organize and maintain the safety of the land and its people, within reasonable amounts, whilst insuring commerce, and therefore taxes, keep moving and flowing.
Qualifications
Born the heir of the right Clan, though dwarves hold their chiefs to high standards. You need to be a damn good fighter or military leader, have some good understanding of the politics of the society within Suranth, and be on good terms and liked by the clan. But the title and position is one of a hereditary nature.
Requirements
You need to be of the clan in question, clearly of course.
Appointment
Every clan differs in the nuances of the ceremony, but yes, a ritual of sorts always precedes such a position. A religious ceremony and feast, honoring the chief whom was before you, likely your father, offering praise and song of his deeds and prayers to Sir Kartheart to receive him with glory. But also a welcome ceremony of merriment, feasting, and likely more than a few friendly brawls from your predecessors trusted brothers in arms, folk who would have been like uncles and aunts to you. They challenge you on ceremony, more to make a show of it than anything, in most cases. Arm wrestling, boxing, wrestling matches, that sort of thing. Making a show out of insuring that a strong and worth successor you will make. It isn't about winning, necessarily. Its about showing toughness, perseverance and fearlessness, the sorts of traits dwarves value highly.
Duties
Your duty, as it were, is to guide the use of resources, be they coin, food, goods, labor and military might, within the province to best protect, aid with, and grow the prosperity and productivity of the people you watch over, whilst insuring they have as adequate protection as possible from things that would threaten them.
Responsibilities
Governance pure and simple. Be it taxes, handling how to enact legislative edicts, economic policy, infrastructure such as roads or bridges or other such things. Insuring taxes are collected properly, and the necessary cuts are sent to the national treasury.
Benefits
Monetary of course, you are expected to maintain connection to your business interests and are expected to pay yourself as befits such a station, along with your various councilors and advisors out of the gross tax collected every three months, then the provincial treasury takes 1/4 of what's left to hold and use as your council decides, 1/2 of what was left gets sent to Geata-Iarainn (though some of this will inevitably not really be leaving as the money to pay military stationed in your province comes from taxes, and as such though you are sending that money away, money from the previous taxes collected has been used to pay those military personal stationed in the lands you collect taxes within.) The final 1/4 is to be spread out amongst the estates which you hold sway over, for them to utilize as best they feel fits their needs. This includes of course the estate you live in and likely hold sway over besides being Lord Protectorate of the province, though you've likely appointed a trusted warden to handle those lesser affairs with your promotion and increased responsibilities.
Accoutrements & Equipment
One must be well dressed, of course, and well spoken. You will have offices, naturally, and a parliament style building to work from. Naturally one would expect all manner of paperwork and necessary filings of course. Besides this, you will have your own lands and estate, and besides any personal guard and aids, considered militia of a kind, you will have a unit of Storm Lancers (10) garrisoned on your land whom answer to you, and are your personal protective detail and bodyguard, along with being troubleshooter's and general military aid. They will protect you and your family with their lives and anyone else you order some of them too. Your political allies, friends within the nobility, etc. You will also have a seat on the Conclave of the Clans, a powerful and enviable tool indeed, though the Conclave meets in person rarely, each content enough to run their own affairs mostly, and send a chosen representative to attend the High King's court and represent them.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Again such things are rare, unheard of in modern times, in the idea of dismissal. Removal however, has happened a small handful of times in recent history. Illness twice, assassination once, loss of mental capacity and competency once, and one was killed in battle.
History
Many, but one that offends the cultural collective memory the most, the one that has led to the relatively recent addition to holding such a title that is the assignment of an appointed unit of Storm Lancers to act as your personal guard and elite military escort and bodyguards for you and your family. That event was the Storm-Born Butchering, when Kurzan the Butcher's warband nearly wiped out the entirety of the Storm-Born family line. Only by Sir Kartheart's mercy did the family line survive, though they would not return to take back their title until three human generations later, with the current Lady Protectorate, whom took power when her second cousin tied of the Black Death in an outbreak but three years ago. His heir stepped aside, accepting that the long term trust that his grandfather (the brother to Roxanne Storm-Born, the mother of the child whom survived the slaughter) was finally over.
Cultural Significance
You govern a province, and will at times be entertaining diplomats from your fellow clans and provinces, as well as even foreign diplomatic envoys, most often from the other member nations of the NPA though on occasion you may even receive guests from beyond that.
Notable Holders
There are six of course, and each well known;
Lord Protectorate Joakim Ironcliffe of the Ironcliffe Province. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tariek-rough-collection-twaren-stormborn/a/lord-protectorate-joakim-ironcliffe-person?preview=true?
Lord Protectorate Azulron Rikkazmac Vithang of the Durin Province
Lady Protectorate Kassandra Romain of the Foljeim Province
Lord Protectorate Gnolundi Gormniade Barazbarak of the Broken Fang Province
Lord Protectorate Lamhghlas Marthanoirmac Feirmecliste of the Icevale Province
Lady Protectorate Giselle Storm-Born of the Stormlands Province.
Lord Protectorate Joakim Ironcliffe of the Ironcliffe Province. https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tariek-rough-collection-twaren-stormborn/a/lord-protectorate-joakim-ironcliffe-person?preview=true?
Lord Protectorate Azulron Rikkazmac Vithang of the Durin Province
Lady Protectorate Kassandra Romain of the Foljeim Province
Lord Protectorate Gnolundi Gormniade Barazbarak of the Broken Fang Province
Lord Protectorate Lamhghlas Marthanoirmac Feirmecliste of the Icevale Province
Lady Protectorate Giselle Storm-Born of the Stormlands Province.
Type
Nobility, Hereditary
Status
It is still an effective and true title
Creation
It is not known when the clans came into this alliance officially, or if the current system or something similar was in use before the Sundering. But it is codified in the Cód Dlí
Form of Address
Milord, Milady,
Alternative Naming
Duke/Duchess is acceptable for southerners though they are actually higher in rank. 'My liege' is also accepted. Lord Protector or Lady Protector are also acceptable.
Equates to
A true Lord, one holding so much sway and land they sit above any such titles in a way. They outrank chiefs, barons and baronesses, dukes and duchesses, the whole bunch. Only second, politically, to the High King himself, the High Priest and the First Knight of Sir Kartheart, along with the Lord Commander of Suranth's armed forces and the Lord Admiral of her Navy.
Source of Authority
Your birthright and Clan of course, but also the High King and his advisors can, with at least 3/4 vote (12 of 16) strip you and your clan of your position and titles. Only happened perhaps twice, limited historical sources suggest, Pre-Sundering.
Length of Term
Life, unless of course you are pushed out by your own clan (more likely than the above loss of total authority), or are voted into the seat of High King.
Current Holders
Reports directly to
Related Locations
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