Eastmarch

The cold decides everything here. Distances are long and snow costs wind. The eastern mountains give ore, the snowfields give game, and the cooking of Eastmarch exists because hot food stops being a luxury when the journey is long.

The Palace of the Kings held the body of Ulfric Stormcloak before it held nothing at all. He fell in the snow, among his own, and the chair stayed. It is the heaviest throne in Skyrim to take, because half the continent will have an opinion about whoever takes it.

Citizenship is requested one hold at a time, and only the Jarl, the Hand and the Chancellor can approve who comes in. You can renounce and hold no citizenship at all, and request another one later.

Offices run from the Jarl to the garrison in six tiers: Jarl, Hand, Chancellor, nobility, command and garrison. Whoever stands above promotes, demotes, dismisses and hands out written titles to those below.

The treasury takes tax on everything traded inside the hold, at a rate of up to 25% set by the top offices. The treasury ledger records every collection, every change of rate and every withdrawal, with the name of whoever did it.