The Coldsea Guards are a private group organized by Vrethan, the Novel Dawn. They are compromised of a Military Division, a Logistics Divison, and a Research Division. Each division is further broken into branches, with different focuses. Internally, the Military Division is referred to as Ry Flin. The Logistics and Research division have similar names of Ry Tline and Ry Thern. If it pleases your Majesty, I will continue to use the Common terms for each division, to prevent confusion.

The Military Division is the biggest single group of the Coldsea Guards. Several thousand members are enlisted in the Military Division. To a man, they are armed and highly dangerous, and small teams of the Military Division are capable of damage that rival the small, private armies of Nobility. It is led by the Vrethanites Lord Ororn Renath and the Lady Sahariel Westfall.

The Research Division is the smallest division of the Coldsea Guards, with about a thousand members. Cartographers, experimental sorcerers and wizards, historians, and more are all joined to the Research Division. Vrethan himself heads this division, with a variety of lieutenants such as Solin Carn Althus. Notably, no Vrethanites are included in the Research Division, for reasons only Vrethan himself knows.

The final division of the Coldsea Guards is the Logistics Division, and perhaps the most important. An army requires feeding, and research teams require complex magical reagents. The Logistics Division supports the workings of the other two wings and ensures they are in optimal condition. It is headed by the Lady Thylias, although she is rarely seen, and prefers to communicate through her subordinates.

Each wing of the Coldsea Guards is interlocked with the other wings in an efficient manner. An easy example of this inter-wing support is found in Ring 1. Logistics is in charge of growing crops which have been specifically created by the Research Division. The Military Division provides support for these crops by eliminating threats in Ring 1 and preventing damage. I have seen these fields myself, and I am frankly impressed. Farmers in Ethurun could not have managed the sheer bulk of grain grown by the Logistics Division in such a small area. I was privileged to witness an attack by Folger Bears on the Logistics division, large monstrosities that would easily threaten an entire town in Ethurun. The Military Division swiftly and decisively targeted their weak points (the axilla region of their forelimbs), a weak area no doubt discovered due to the Research Division. I was later informed that despite this being a common occurence, and the fact that a single Folger bear could challenge a mob of common folks, no fatalities had been recorded in years. I find this to be a testament to both the effectiveness of the Military Division and a credit to the Research Division.

I was also able to visit Doomfront, Vrethan's foremost base of operations. It lies on the border between Ring 6 and Ring 7, and the Logistics Division is as of yet unable to make regular caravans to support Doomfront. Instead, they farm in Ring 7! Your Majesty, it is hard to describe the sheer foolhardiness of this venture. Each ring closer to the center of Shallorin becomes exponentially more dangerous. In Ring 7, The very air will poison a common man. The simple laborers in the fields are stronger than five men, and hardier. The men of the Military Division could rightfully challenge a Master of Ravens, and possibly win in their own right. The members of the Research Division that venture out this far are on par with our highest echelons of wizards and druids, a fact that would offend them if it were not plainly true. It is sheer foolishness to do something as mundane as farm in that region, and yet they do it. I was later informed that the reason they farmed in Ring 7 instead of in the (exponentially safer) Ring 6 is because Ring 7 has far more productive soil. To the Coldsea Guards, the risk of being killed and mutilated is worth the better food supply. I was awestruck, and also struck with fear.

Your Majesty, Vrethan has assembled an extremely coherent and capable force. I don't believe Crow, or your father, knew the extent of his capabilities. In fairness to them, Vrethan seems to be content with his own projects and schemes, isolated away from the wider world. However, I am concerned. Should Vrethan turn his eyes north, I fear that we may not be capable of sustaining a war. Despite being far outnumbered, the Coldsea Guards are extremely efficient and extremely dangerous, owing to the artifacts that they have excavated and recreated. A prolonged battle with Vrethan would certainly destabilize Ethurun, and it is for this reason that I recommend diplomacy.

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