Version 2.0
As days and weeks passed, a sudden unexpected calmness settled over the North, despite the ongoing conflict between the Ryder King and the Fisher King. The war remained relatively light, as the kings of the Fisher, Warg, and Greenwood kings all entered a defensive alliance, ensuring that any aggressive moves by the Ryder King would be opposed by the other king ravaging the Ryder kings' lands if he moved out of them.
With a surprising peace in much of the land, traders were quick to move, and the realm experienced a flourishing of trade and commerce. The emergence of new coins, coupled with the opening of larger markets by the three largest kingdoms, created opportunities for merchants to expand and seek greater profits. It was during this rise in trading that some traders questioned coins these coins, with profits on the line they wanted to make sure they were getting the best deal for their coins.
Merchants devised a system to safeguard against potential scams of ill-quality coins and ensure fair transactions. They began to weigh the coins to try and help assess their purity, determining the composition of silver and copper in each currency. This concept of "purity of coins" quickly gained traction among traders, who wanted purer coins for their higher value and greater worth that people started placing on them.
Merchants were quick to discreetly question mint workers about the composition of the metals used in coinage, asking how much copper and silver were in coins and what other metals were put in. Soon, word spread among the trading community, revealing that Winter Coins boasted the highest purity of silver coins, while the Ryder and Red coins had the same purity in copper coins but lagged in silver coins.
Armed with this information, demand for Winter Coins surged, as merchants sought to acquire the most reliable and valuable currency for their transactions. Meanwhile, confidence in the Ryder and Red coins waned in foreign markets but still kept their strength in their home markets where kings could more easily influence the people and coins. So the Winter coins spread into the markets of kings without their cons such as Umbar, Slate, and such lands.
However, fortune smiled upon the Red and Ryder Kings as the demand for silver soared and the price of the precious metal skyrocketed. Eager to capitalize on this lucrative opportunity, people across the North hastily sought out silver deposits in their lands, driven by the promise of wealth and prosperity. In the south, within the domain of the Flink King, a new mine was discovered.
Word of the newfound silver deposit spread like wildfire, attracting metal traders from far and wide who clamoured to gain access to this valuable commodity in high demand. With remarkable speed, the mine was opened and operationalized, unleashing a steady stream of silver into the market.
Sensing an opportunity to further solidify their power and influence, the Red and Ryder Kings wasted no time in securing as much of the newly minted silver as they could, offering generous prices to the Flint King. However, as profits flowed, so too did greed, and the two kings soon instead sought to gain direct access to the silver mine, hoping to monopolize its output for their gain.
Their attempts to strong-arm the Flink King, however, were met with defiance and resistance. The Flink King, far from being a coward, ruled over a kingdom with natural defences that rendered direct invasion all but impossible. Surrounded by water and protected by dense forests and marshlands, his realm would be incredibly difficult to invade and he cared little for the other king's interests.
Undeterred by the threats of the Red and Ryder Kings, the Flink King stood firm, refusing to yield to their demands. Instead, he capitalized on their desperation, extracting favourable terms and reaping enormous profits from the sale of silver to the highest bidder. As the Red and Ryder Kings grappled with their failed attempts at coercion, the Flink King emerged as the true victor, his kingdom enriched by the fruits of their greed and ambition.
They tried their best to close the distance with the Winter King, trying to influence and spread the claim over the newly growing trade spreading across the north.
Amidst the prevailing calm that settled over the North, each kingdom embarked on internal developments to strengthen their realms and consolidate their power. With a burgeoning population in the three major Kingdoms, it led to the emergence of new villages, connected by expanding networks of trade and communication.
With the Winter Kingdom's influence growing through both economic prowess and military conquests, other realms looked to emulate their success. And titles started to become the new interest and crazy among the Northan people.
News of the titles granted by Brandon, primarily that of Jarls and Thanes, spread swiftly throughout the North, sparking a wave of emulation and ambition among the populace. Inspired by the example set by Brandon, individuals of prominence and influence eagerly sought after titles akin to that of kings.
The concept of Jarls gained traction beyond the Winter Kingdom, with the Red Kingdom also witnessing the rise of its own Jarl Overton, as lands previously held by the Widower King were granted to him. Being one of the local village chiefs who were quick to jump on the bandwagon of the Red King he was rewarded with the title of Jarl and given the right to rule by their new king.
Furthermore, the proliferation of Thanes across the North reflected the practice of kings rewarding loyal followers and allies with titles of honour and status. These Thanes, lough lower in standing than a Jarl, still played an important role in the administration and defence of their kingdoms.
As the North underwent a period of transformation and consolidation, the landscape of power shifted, with titles of nobility becoming increasingly coveted and influential. With each kingdom striving to strengthen its position and assert its dominance, in the realm.
With the Winter Kingdom enjoying a period of relative tranquillity, his friends took the chance to settle their titles and take on their rights as Thanes to take family names. Thane Edric and Thane Lyanna chose to embrace the family name of Cerwyn, with the family words of 'Honed and Ready'. Opting to remain close to their familial roots, they accepted Brandon's offer to rule lands not far from Winterfell, where they could maintain ties with their loved ones while overseeing their newfound domains.
Meanwhile, Thane Jon, ever an astute trader, adopted the family name of Lightfoot but opted not to claim any lands for himself just keeping the family name and title whilst taking the family words of 'coins like footsteps'. Instead, he and his family retained their holdings in Winterfell village, keeping their inn and the market stalls they had along with their farmland. Remaining true to their entrepreneurial spirit, they continued their trading ventures, capitalizing on the bustling activity within the Winter Kingdom.
Thane Theon chose to honour his lineage by adopting the family name of Poole and the family words 'always loyal, always strong'. Theon instead of asking for land outside he asked for lands inside the village which he would use to establish a training centre in Winterfell for all men who wish to learn of battle and war. Here, he dedicated himself to honing the combat skills of aspiring warriors, imparting his knowledge and expertise to all who sought it from mercenaries to villagers and kings guards.
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Trade flourished, villages thrived, and the lands seemed to bask in a newfound sense of harmony. As the days stretched into a few months, a very subtle tinge in the air lingered, like static before the rising of a mighty storm, set to pulverise.
It was as Brandon was working in his Solar dealing with the running of the Kingdom, that Halvar barged in.
"Brandon," Halvar pannted. "I have some bad news for you."
"Well don't beat around the bush lay it out," Brandon said.
"Elder Oak is asking for help, not but a few moons ago a massive battle took place between the two Groves, there were large casualties on both sides but Elder Oak says they took the brunt of it. At the same time that this battle was happening their grove was attacked, no one was harmed but they said some of their ritual items were stolen and he also said that Aloe was spotted leading this attack on the grove." Halvar said.
"Looks like a new hunt for Aloe is going to start." Brandon smiled. "Tell Elder Oak that we will help, what does he need," Brandon said.