In the first week of February 1524, the Kingdom of Frostmarch, led by Queen Eveline de Snowmere, declared war on the Kingdom of Unified Crowns. This declaration was based on a misunderstanding that led Frostmarch to believe that the Unified Crowns had attacked their merchant fleet, specifically a cargo ship transporting valuable goods. This incident became even more personal for Queen Eveline, as her younger brother was aboard that ship and was either presumed dead or missing, with no evidence of his fate.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Unified Crowns perceived this misunderstanding as a deliberate provocation against them. As both kingdoms prepared for war, the Royal Capital of the Unified Crowns ordered the Marquis and lower noble households to dispatch scouts to investigate the situation and uncover the truth. Their goal was to prevent the conflict from escalating into an all-out war between the two kingdoms.
Count Rowan de Ashbourne is part of the search party, while his soon-to-be wife, Elira de Brightmoor, will remain at Wintermere. As she prepares to become Rowan's wife, she will begin her training in managing the territory of Wintermere. This training will be unique, as Wintermere consists of snowy mountain ranges and vast snow-covered land. Before Rowan sets out with his commanding force, he has started to create his own noble council and peacekeeping forces.
The noble council comprises individuals from his commanding team, including some soldiers who hold Baron, Baronet, and Knight status. These members, representing the vassal states, have been assigned to five different roles.
The first role focuses on military service; these members will train and oversee the military, acting as instructors and receiving compensation for their efforts. The second role involves Taxes and Tribute, but Rowan has chosen a different approach. Instead of traditional taxes, he has decided that tribute will consist solely of resources. Since Rowan's territory is primarily located in the snowy mountains, some of the lands he has acquired through territorial warfare, such as Frostvale and Northreach, are rich in resources like wheat and other food supplies, despite their names suggesting otherwise.
The third role involves establishing a counsel, which includes creating courtrooms and parliaments. This initiative allows knowledgeable common people to become advisors and representatives in the decision-making process. Rowan introduced an additional nobility system called the Noble Officer, which consists of two different rankings. However, the Noble Officer system is separate from the official nobility system of the Cradle of Crowns. It was created to help common people understand how nobility functions and the responsibilities associated with it.
The Noble Officer ranks are as follows: Noble Officer Rank 6 is (☆), Rank 5 is (☆☆), and Rank 4 is (☆☆☆). These ranks enable common individuals to apply for positions in local government or counseling roles. The ranks continue with Noble Officer Rank 3 (★), Rank 2 (★★), and Rank 1 (★★★), where the latter ranks serve as representatives on the noble council, overseeing the territories to which they are assigned.
The fourth role is Justice and Governance. Rowan established a peacekeeping force as a non-military structure designed to protect peace within the territory. This force operates independently of the official military structure of the Cradle of Crowns. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the common people and citizens within the territory. In addition to maintaining safety, the peacekeeping force is tasked with apprehending individuals who disrupt peace and cause trouble for the community. Rowan created a ranking system consisting of ten non-military ranks, with promotions awarded based on the deeds and accomplishments of each individual.
The hierarchy of the peacekeeping force begins with the Peacekeeper Cadet, who are recruits undergoing evaluation. They receive training in both civil conduct and defensive techniques before earning full status. Their training focuses on how to detain hostile forces and capture them without causing harm. Peacekeeper Cadets wear basic protective gear that reduces small physical damage and use gauntlets as their primary weapon.
The next rank after the Peacekeeper Cadet is the Deputy Officer. These are newly inducted members who are typically assigned to assist senior officers. They are still in field training and wear the same gear as the Peacekeeper Cadets. To distinguish between the two ranks, the uniforms have a badge on the shoulder: Peacekeeper Cadets display a (✯) badge, while Deputy Officers wear a (✯✯) badge.
Following the Deputy Officer is the Peace Officer, identifiable by their (✯✯✯) badge. Peace Officers are standard enforcers trained in both physical and aura restraint. They handle patrols, arrests, and mediation between citizens. Peace Officers are equipped with enhanced body armor for protection against physical attacks and carry three potions: one for healing, one for stamina, and one for mana.
After the Peace Officer, the next rank is the Sergeant of Watch, who holds a badge of (✯✯✯✯). They are responsible for commanding a squad or patrol team. Serving as a bridge between officers and command ranks, the Sergeant is equipped with body armor and a whistle, which enhances the abilities of individuals specifically within the Peacekeeping Force. This buff temporarily increases their speed, power, and energy.
When the Sergeant blows the whistle, they become temporarily invulnerable, which also makes them an easy target for a few minutes. Alternatively, instead of using the whistle, the Sergeant can opt to use gauntlets as an option that does not grant invulnerability but may provide other benefits.
Next in rank after the Sergeant of Watch is the Lieutenant of Order, who has a badge of (✯✯✯✯✯). The Lieutenant serves as the second-in-command under a Captain and is responsible for handling reports, scheduling, and logistics related to patrol routes and investigations. They also have the option to participate in patrols, arrests, and mediation between citizens.
The Lieutenant is well-equipped with body armor that offers resistance against both physical and magical attacks. Additionally, they are equipped with enhanced gauntlets that can emit shock attacks, allowing them to easily knock down opponents.
After the Lieutenant of Order comes the Captain of Peace, who holds a badge marked with (✮). The Captain's role is to lead field operations and oversee specialized units such as investigators, trackers, and peace enforcers. They are equipped with enhanced body armor that is resistant to both physical and magical attacks, and they carry red and blue flags that grant them the ability to command and control their teams. They can mobilize between three and six platoons, and at least three District Majors can oversee a Baron Rank territory with a minimum of eight to twelve positions.