Government of Dutoria
Overall Ruler
The divine rulers of Dutoria are known as High-Lady or High-Lord of the North. They have sovereignty over all of Dutoria and rule as such. The current rulers are High-Lady Verda Primrose II and Lady-regent Hilda Primrose.
Regional Rulers
Rulers of the individual provinces are known as the Count or Countess. the hereditary leaders who govern the overall cities of the regions. Counts or Countesses give minor help to the Lady/Lord of Dutora by making sure all cities are running smoothly and that city leaders such as the Viceroys or Vicereines are not abusing their power. There are only two Counts/Countesses at a time and neither have more power than the other. The current Counts/Countesses are Lady-Commander Runa Rose (Polar) and Count Aron Dahlia (Forest).
Rulers of Towns & Cities
Individual cities/towns are usually ruled by a Viceroy or Vicereine. They are tasked with ruling cities and governing large towns under the leadership of the Counts/Countesses. As a form of checks and balances, the Viceroys and Vicereines are also tasked with making sure that the Count/Countess of their province is not trying to overstep their boundaries.
Depending on how big the town/village is, citizens can usually govern themselves, making small councils to discuss the well-being of the people. The leaders of these councils are known as Viscount and Viscountess. They have the ability to personally bring public issues to both the Viceroys and the Counts.
Depending on how big the town/village is, citizens can usually govern themselves, making small councils to discuss the well-being of the people. The leaders of these councils are known as Viscount and Viscountess. They have the ability to personally bring public issues to both the Viceroys and the Counts.
Other Positions of Power
High Queens/Kings; The title given to the spouse of the current Lord/Lady.
Dukes/Duchesses; A title given to the siblings of the current Lord/Lady. This title can also be used by relatives of the current Lord/Lady within a select number of generations.
Skalds: Advisors who get their title if the current Lord/Lady was in a previous Game of Conquest and they were chosen.
Lady and Lord; Used for as a general title when speaking to or about a person of the Nobility.
Lady-regent and Lord-regent; Regents place to help when a person under age is put at the throne.
Dukes/Duchesses; A title given to the siblings of the current Lord/Lady. This title can also be used by relatives of the current Lord/Lady within a select number of generations.
Skalds: Advisors who get their title if the current Lord/Lady was in a previous Game of Conquest and they were chosen.
Lady and Lord; Used for as a general title when speaking to or about a person of the Nobility.
Lady-regent and Lord-regent; Regents place to help when a person under age is put at the throne.
Inheritance
To become the lord/lady of Dutoria, there are three ways to gain the throne.
The first way is for the current monarch to have passed (or have been killed), allowing for the eldest of their children to take their place. This is in fact the easiest way to gain the throne.
The second way is for the current monarch to surrender their crown to a challenger (usually being one of their own heirs or someone of the royal family).
If the monarch refuses to surrender, this leads to the last option of taking the throne: The Game of Conquest. The game of conquest is simple to most: You and the Monarch are given the chance to pick two Marquesses/Marchionesses (Being close associates of the challegerner or monarch). You and your companions (And the Monarch with their companions) must travel through the shard forest and find a bush of white primroses and take one flower back to the capital, the first making it there is crowned the new monarch of Dutoria. This may seem easy but there is a catch: There are no rules in this game. If the challenger kills the monarch before they make it back, they are instantly crowned the ruler, the same goes for the monarch if they kill the challenger.
Like flowers, the Game of Conquest is symbolic to the people of Dutoria (for the most part since it has been in their history since Regent William). To be able to travel through that frozen forest with those flowers and come back proudly is seen as holy by Dutorians. In their history, only six heirs have been able to best the monarchs and escape with the flowers. The fate of the ones who didn’t kill the monarch and didn't come back are unknown. Now under the rule of Lady Verda, scholars and advisors are now studying what happens in the forest during the game.
While there is no rule against it, it is frowned upon to kill competitors but usually Dutorians will forgive them if they are doing excellent in their leadership. As stated, it is symbolic to bring the roses and win the game itself. People here don't like the easy way out.
To become a Count/Countess (Or Baron/Baroness), there is only only way the title is passed on; it simply is handed down to their eldest child/closest relative after the last title holder's death.
To become a Commander, the title is given to soldiers by the current Lord/Lady when they have proven themselves worthy.
The first way is for the current monarch to have passed (or have been killed), allowing for the eldest of their children to take their place. This is in fact the easiest way to gain the throne.
The second way is for the current monarch to surrender their crown to a challenger (usually being one of their own heirs or someone of the royal family).
If the monarch refuses to surrender, this leads to the last option of taking the throne: The Game of Conquest. The game of conquest is simple to most: You and the Monarch are given the chance to pick two Marquesses/Marchionesses (Being close associates of the challegerner or monarch). You and your companions (And the Monarch with their companions) must travel through the shard forest and find a bush of white primroses and take one flower back to the capital, the first making it there is crowned the new monarch of Dutoria. This may seem easy but there is a catch: There are no rules in this game. If the challenger kills the monarch before they make it back, they are instantly crowned the ruler, the same goes for the monarch if they kill the challenger.
- The journey from the border of the forest and the center (Where the flowers are found most) will take a week itself while the journey to the forest lasts three days (Along the way and at the border, there are camps sent up that are filled with supplies that will last them the journey: Horses, a single carriage, etc.).
- All heirs and royal family members can only challenge the monarch once in the monarch's reign (After the current is replaced, they get another chance again).
Like flowers, the Game of Conquest is symbolic to the people of Dutoria (for the most part since it has been in their history since Regent William). To be able to travel through that frozen forest with those flowers and come back proudly is seen as holy by Dutorians. In their history, only six heirs have been able to best the monarchs and escape with the flowers. The fate of the ones who didn’t kill the monarch and didn't come back are unknown. Now under the rule of Lady Verda, scholars and advisors are now studying what happens in the forest during the game.
While there is no rule against it, it is frowned upon to kill competitors but usually Dutorians will forgive them if they are doing excellent in their leadership. As stated, it is symbolic to bring the roses and win the game itself. People here don't like the easy way out.
To become a Count/Countess (Or Baron/Baroness), there is only only way the title is passed on; it simply is handed down to their eldest child/closest relative after the last title holder's death.
To become a Commander, the title is given to soldiers by the current Lord/Lady when they have proven themselves worthy.