Crestwood

The town harbors several hundred family members of 11 lesser houses. Over time, the number of families has shifted as lords rise and fall. At the beginning of its founding, the town consisted of only the four original founding lords and steadily grew as more lord built their manors in Crestwood. As a strictly high-class society, Crestwood prides itself on the housing of lesser lords, primarily of human and harengon citizens of the Kingdom of Owenar. Their status as lords makes them the wealthiest community on the continent of Westenra. A concentration of wealth that benefits their town with a high standard of living. Apart from the wealthy class of lordship, the only other class in the town consists of humans and harengon servants of the manors. For each of the lesser houses, there exists a variety of professions that have earned them their status as lesser lords. Primarily, there are artisan craftsmen from House Cinema, butlership from House Crozier, accounting & finance from House Celevar, musicians from House Rose, infantry officers from House Cromwell, naval officers from House Strommoon, alchemy & magecraft from House Astavau, weather forecasting from House Nelbos, farm merchants from House Westerling, medical practitioners from House Zain, and tribal merchants from House Nerethier. While their professions are focused on the Southern Valley where Crestwood resides, their trade and talents are used throughout the Kingdom of Owenar.   Since the Kingdom of Owenar separates itself from religion in government, each house follows a variety of faiths based on those who reside in the capital. They are divided by their faith in the celestial gods Ehdea, Gajeel, Breyta, Daphine, Behlios, Malthael, and the minor gods that serve them. Cultural differences, apart from religious ones, stem from the culture of allied tribes and the common folk. However, special privileges have been known to encourage disrespectful or malicious behavior toward commoners who arrive in Crestwood under special permissions. In one instance, a butler from House Crozier failed to feed a lost soul, discriminating against him for being a poor traveler from Valentoise. While the common folk are not entirely welcome in such high standards, it remains necessary for the town to stay connected with the rest of the kingdom to sustain itself. Ironically, discrimination against other races is nearly absent, as the relationship between humans and harengon is crucial to the social etiquette of high society. House Crozier, in particular, is a family of harengon descended from one of the founders of Crestwood. Their expertise in high society and butlering makes them vital in maintaining the health and status quo of both lesser and greater lords throughout the kingdom. High society traditions such as hygiene, discipline, and political loyalty are prominent.

According to the founding of the town, the system of government is currently managed by the four most powerful lesser lords among the residency. Every quarter of the month, they gather at the council chamber of the central manor to discuss political matters and policies the town must follow. As part of the Kingdom of Owenar, their policies must align with Parliament and the binding constitution that enforces its rule. Nonetheless, the town establishes its own set of policies focused on standards of living. By law, only a lesser lord may have permanent residency. Common folk are only allowed to visit for tasks like importing goods or with special permission from a lord residing in Crestwood. Social policies emphasize high society culture, including personal hygiene, strict discipline, and political loyalty. From birth, family members are expected to be educated in traditional lordship and skills related to the house's professions or other talents that can benefit the family. Violations of the law are strictly enforced, to the extent that they can threaten the family's integrity, sometimes leading to the ostracism of entire houses. For example, when the monarchy shunned the House Erin for advocating slave labor, their charges resulted in the dissolution of their family’s power, turning members into commoners and exiles. Their manor was then abandoned and repurposed for future families, as has been the case for previous fallen houses.

To protect the town from pillagers and outlying threats, the lesser lord funded and installed a small militia called "The Crestwood Guard." A small mercenary force of over 100 soldiers hired by the four lords in control of the town's government. Their funds come from the taxation of the estates. Providing them with the resources to equip themselves with Owenarian infantry weapons and armor. While not as skilled and organized as the kingdom's military, they establish order and control under the command of the town's government. However, they have been known to take bribes as their high-class wages alone do not deter unlawful behavior.

Crestwood is an exclusive and opulent town in the Kingdom of Owenar, designed as a secure haven for the lesser lords. Its infrastructure showcases a commitment to both grandeur and function, with 11 meticulously crafted manors built from high-quality stone and timber, each reflecting the unique identity of its noble family. These grand estates are interconnected by well-maintained, wide stone roadways, ensuring smooth passage for carriages and providing a sense of order and prestige throughout the settlement. The town's dedication to its high society is evident in every architectural detail, from ornate windows to heraldic crests adorning the facades. At the heart of Crestwood stands the central manor, a robust and imposing structure that serves as the administrative and logistical hub. This building not only houses the council chambers where the four governing lords convene, but also provides militia housing for the Crestwood Guard and secure warehousing for essential imports. Adjacent to this central hub is the magnificent fountain courtyard, a true centerpiece of the town. With its intricately paved surfaces and the striking sculpture of a sea dragon, it functions as the primary communal space for social gatherings, embodying the town's dedication to aesthetic beauty and a refined lifestyle.   Beyond the visible structures, Crestwood's infrastructure implicitly includes advanced utilities for its time, such as sophisticated water systems for hygiene and consumption, and efficient waste management. The town's strategic location on the Silvervein River not only adds to its picturesque setting but also provides a natural defensive barrier. This blend of luxurious living, practical functionality, and strategic placement firmly establishes Crestwood as the pinnacle of residency for the lesser lordships of the Kingdom of Owenar, a place where wealth, status, and security converge.

The town is a culmination of the wealth and imported resources of several lesser lords. As such, it houses one of the largest collections of valuables in the kingdom. The only possible rival storage sites are Port-au-Belles and the Iron Paladin Vault in the kingdom's capital, Arcshire. It holds high-value items such as high society clothing, rare specimens, unique artifacts, substantial armaments, exemplary housing structures, and vaults filled with countless coins. A treasure trove of wealth from a long history of lordship is stored in the manor houses of exquisite detail.

Source: Kingdom of Ownear Royal Records (KORR) Title: 1000 A.D.A - Crestwood Caucus Committee Conclusion for Guild and/or Tribe Allegiance Report                                                    

Name	Occupation	Leader
House Crozier	Butlership	Evan Crozier (1st Councilor)
House Rose	Musician	Melody Rose VIII (2nd Councilor)
House Cromwell	Military	Oliver Cromwell (3rd Councilor)
House Astavau	Alchemist / Magecrafter	Francois Astavau II (4th Councilor)
House Cinema	Artisan	Nicole Cinema
House Westerling	Farmer / Crop Marketing	Ardbert Westerling
House Zain	Medicine	Nathan Zain
House Stormmoon	Military	Elbion Stormmoon
House Nerethier	Tribal Trade	Mathis Nerethier
House Celevar	Accounting / Finance	Roger Celevar III
House Nelbos	Weather Forecast	Sylvia Nelbos
The Crestwood Guard	Mercenary	Captain Davros

Back when House Alban founded Port-au-Belles, the commonwealth achieved a trade route outside the kingdom's main route going through the capital. Subduing the illegal drug market from the Hollow Syndicate, the Southern Valley became more open to settlements for the kingdom's citizens. Adding to context, four of the lesser lords sought a unique opportunity to develop a settlement solely for the lords of the kingdom. In the many centuries before this concept, the lesser were vulnerable to constantly rising and falling houses. Primarily, this was due to a lack of housing capacity. Families of merchants, military officers, professionals, and old bloodlines were scattered across the known settlements of the continent of Westenra. Making it difficult to allocate resources and ensure the protection of family members from everyday contrivances. That all changed in 625 ADA when Jerome Dior, Rachel Crozier, Varian Atkinson, and Lauren Rose built the central manor on the curving side of the Silvervein River. Under the permission of the Southern Valley Tribe, they began the construction of manors for their families and invited the other lesser lords to do the same. It would be many decades, but by 698 ADA, there were 11 entirely constructed manors for the wealthiest lesser lords of the kingdom. Naming their town under the analogical meaning of "Crestwood"   Over time, the loss of lords dramatically decreased thanks to this town and its proximity to the House Alban trade route. However, houses have still had their moments of falling due to more external faults such as the fall of House Atkinson and House Dior, who lost their wealth in an attempt to recreate the dream magic og House Aranieros. House Celevar and House Nerethier would reoccupy their manors in 799 ADA. House Quincy would suffer a similar fate in 811 ADA when its slave labor practices would result in their prosecution. The increasing fame of House Stormmoon, a family of naval officers, would take over their manor many years later.   The stability and safety of Crestwood would be tested in 979 ADA when the Salted Steel Tribe invaded the western half of the continent, starting the Second Salted Steel War. The kingdom's defenses, combined with the fortifications along the riverside, prevented the tribe's siege tactics from reaching the town. While they were eventually liberated by the heir to House Stormmoon, Mavis Stormmoon, the town had suffered many damages that it sprouted fear of further threats. Thus did the council of the four lords hire the mercenary protection by the Crestwood Guard in 990 ADA.   In the present day, 10 years of reconstruction have not fully restored the war damages, but the residents continue to push forward to see their town restored to its illustrious glory. Restricting the invitation of commoners to a minimum and cycling their funds to import resources to rebuild their manors to their full capacity. Regardless, the town of Crstwood stands as the pinnacle of residency for the lordships of the Kingdom of Owenar.