The Damien

A Proud Heritage

"The Damien" is the title of the leader of the Steelsong Dwarves. Titled after the dwarven leader who was rejected from his hereditary right to succeed to the Stone Throne in Uftlon, the original Damien Steelsong led his followers on a cross country oddessey to settle in the South Spiral Mountain Range near Steelsong Mountain. They then declared their national identity and became the nation of Steelsong. Damien Steelsong led his clan through the initial settlement of a difficult land, and his people chose to honor him by referring to the Clan Chief of the Steelsong by his name.
As is normal for dwarves, the Clan Chief is a position declared by popular acclaim, and holders of this office retain the rights and responsibilities of the office for their lifetime. The leader of the Steelsong does not rule as a despot, his or her power is balanced with the power of the Steelsong High Council of which there are five seats and the House of Lesser Clans in which the clan chiefs of all the clans participate. The Damien presides over the High Council where he presides over deliberations and casts the deciding vote in matters where the vote is evenly spilt amongst the present and voting members. He also appoints the High Court members from qualified and trained legal experts (subject to confirmation by the High Council and House of Lesser Clans) and presides over High Court deliberations which decides matters of legal presedence in accordance with the legal rights established in the country's constitution.
The Damien is the titular Head of State for the Steelsong and negotiates treaties on behalf of the nation in international forums, though for all practical purposes, appointed and confirmed ambassadors do the actual work of international relations, carrying out the policy esstablished byt the Damien. In the same way, the Damien is the titular head of the Steelsong military such as it is, though this is typically a figurehead position as there is not required training in military matters required to hold the position.