Winterhold

It is the poorest hold and the most extreme: ice, wind and little solid ground. Almost nothing grows, which pushes whoever lives here towards the mine, the hunt, and whatever the College has to say about rare ingredients. Crossing Winterhold is one of the longest journeys in Skyrim with nowhere to stop.

The Winterhold longhouse governs ruins and a College that never accepted being governed. It is the cheapest chair to take and the hardest to justify, and its treasury will only fill if someone gives this hold a reason to exist again.

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.