From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 69 (Third wedding)

 

Erentzeit 12, 2500

Salzenmund, Nordland

Married for the third time to the same woman, this time before the assembled priests of the North. It has to be some kind of record. I cherish my wife, but I hope this is the last time. At least for a long while.

All my troops, artillery, and support are now in Salzenmund. All working hard to make sure we get through winter. Purchasing those ships and extra supplies was a stroke of genius. Otherwise, I suspect that come spring, we would have been as hated as the Todbringers.

At any rate, there are too many men to be hanging out in Salzenmund. I will dispatch one regiment to the coast, one company each to Dietershafen, Neues Emskrank (perhaps I'll rename it Neue Liberungen), and Norden. Smaller mounted detachments to patrol and garrison lesser watchtowers and forts.

No sign of Ulfberth, Thesalva, and Anna.

I will now go to the coast to inspect my holdings there.

From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 58 (Ill met in Salzenmund)

 

27 Jahrdrung, 2500

Salzenmund, Nordland

We are finally here, in my future capital of Salzenmund, the city of Silver and Salt.

I had not planned on going north before the marriage, and the appointments were in order, but I grew impatient, so here I am.

There is another purpose as well: I've summed my elite regiment and supporting troops to the north, and I must pave the way for them, so to speak. Make sure they are welcomed properly. I don't want to find my own men at war with my own domain. That would be silly!

Speaking of roads, the Nordland roads are atrocious, barely usable outside the dry season. In that, they are not unlike the roads of Middenland, only worse.

The trip to Salzenmund was interesting: mud, a ruined bridge, more mud, a keep filled with lazy soldiers, mud, beastmen having pillaged several villages, lax defenses at Beekerhoven, yet more mud, and finally a warm welcome before the Crimson Gate of Salzenmund. Captain Sigrun of the Salzenmund Greatswords, I think, shall be a welcome addition to my little flock. She's only got one eye, but a lot of big swords.

I shall not bore you with little details. Suffice to say that we are well-established at the castle. Baron Werner von Nikse, uncle to the late Annika-Elise of Middenheim, proved far more agreeable than I have dared hope.

I also made contact with the guilds, temples, and other key institutions, such as the city council. I think we shall all be splendid friends. They are understandably a bit apprehensive, especially with Katarina being a Todbringer and all, but my first act was to LOWER taxes from crippling to merely high. I think that has brought us both time and goodwill.

I have so many plans for Salzenmund - and Nordland.

But now we must leave again. The local - and quite eccentric - lady wizard invited us to witness another strike on Morrslieb last night. I say strike, because, looking through her massive telescope, I saw it for way it was. An attack from the earth on the moon. The same as this winter, but much greater in magnitude. Huge chunks of rock - warpstone - are hurtling towards the ground as I write this. They will be scattered, of course, but the epicenter will be the Middle Mountains.

That is where I must go now.

Characters of Nordland and Middenland

 

MIDDENHEIM/MIDDENLAND

Boris X Todbringer: Elector-Count. Lord of Middenheim and Middenland. De-facto ruler of Nordland. In his 50s (same generation as the Emperor and von Liebwitz). Married twice, plenty of mistresses and dalliances. Could very well have more children than those known.

(Maria von Richthoven): Boris' first wife. Died in childbirth with Stefan.

(Annike-Elise Nikse): Boris' second wife. Died young in 2498. No children. Niece of Baron Werner Nikse of Nordland. Claimed to be a Slaaneshi cultist (no proof, but she may have been associated with von Wittgenstein, which would warrant some questioning if she was alive). 

Stefan Todbringer (b. 2470): Boris' oldest son and heir. Around 30 y/o at present. Sickly and sometimes simple-minded, but has improved somewhat under Doctor Luigi Pavarotti's care.

Katarina Todbringer (b. 2479): Boris' second (recognized) child. Born out of wedlock to an unnamed lady at court but raised as Boris' own from an early age. Often called the Princess of Middenheim. Engaged to Wigmar. Future Princess of Nordland. 

Baron Heinrich "Todbringer" (b. 2470): Widely assumed to be Boris' illegitimate son. Why else would he be given the title of Baron? He has no right to the family name, however, as he is not formally recognized. A fine warrior with experience fighting greenskins in the Middle Mountains, Skaven, and now also Chaos. He may (or may not) be the oldest child of Boris, born out of wedlock right before Stefan, depending on what sources you believe.

Uther: Venerable Knight of the White Wolf. Accompanies Wigmar to Nordland.

Baron Emil Kärzburdgers Responsible for maintaining and manning the Brass Keep wall and the picket. Considerable gunpowder production (sells to both Middenland and Hochland). Very impressive - and very red - beard.

Emilline Kärzburdger: Baron Emil's twn sister. Quite attractive - if you like gingers.

NORDLAND

NOBLES

Baron Werner von Nikse: Cheerful and sociable man in his 40s. Uncle of Annike-Elise Nikse. Married for the 5th(?) time to a very young lady. The last in a long line of "Princes" from House Nikse to rule Nordland in the name of the Todbringers. Rather gracefully stepped down from his position to become Wigmar's Chancellor.

Dowager Baroness Ingrid Gausser (the elder): The matriarch of the Gausser family. Quite elderly but energetic. One of the few who can credibly trace her lineage back to the Jutones tribe (almost all nobles claim descent from the old tribes, but few have proof as good as this). Despite this, the Gaussers have been a marginalized House during the 2209-2500 Nikse era. Ingrid and her late husband (and later her son) have done much to reverse the Gausser fortunes, to the point where they are quite wealthy and well-connected both inside and outside of Nordland.

Baron Theoderic Gausser: The current Lord Gausser. Son of Ingrid. Spends much of his time outside Nordland.

Ostwind Gausser: Theoderic's son and heir. Apparently, the man is a fine sea captain that was ventured the width and breadth of the world. As such, he's rarely at home.

Ingrid Gausser (the younger): Theoderic's daughter/Ostwind's sister. Lady in waiting for Katerina. One of the most attractive young noblewomen in the Empire.

Baron(ett) Goderic Tant "von Beeckerhoven": Self-proclaimed lord of Beeckerhoven. Tries to pass as a Reiklander, but is probably from the hill country of southern Averland or Stirland. Rode to war with Wigmar. Missing a few fingers after Brass Keep.

PRIESTS, WIZARDS & SUCH

Magister Sabine Flamius: Magister extraordinaire. Originally a gold wizard, this weird lady has an interest in heavenly phenomena, including the Chaos moon. The only wizard of note in Salzenmund.

Wolf Lord Erich Granholm: High Priest of Ulric.

Wave Lord Otto Sider: High Priest of Mannan. Currently on a journey to Norsca. Mentioned only.

Wave Rider Aelfric Kalt: Acting High Priest of Mannan.

Lector Germund Vorstell: High Priest of Sigmar. A Southerner that tries to apply Southern logic to Northern peoples. Sigmar's temple hasn't really grown much on his watch.

Agata von Durch: High Priestess of Shallya. 

POLITICAL & MILITARY

Burgomeister Maximilian "Max" von Kirscheschlage: Mayor of Salzenmund.

Herr Antal von Rammel: The Silversmiths' Guild representative to the City Council. Which probably makes him the most powerful person in Salzenmund. 

Captain Sigrid Neiding: Commander of the Salzenmund Greatswords and Protector of the Crimson Gate. Owner of an eye patch. Quite fierce. Not corrupt, just dedicated to her job of collecting coins.

Grandmaster Artur von Pretzer: Leader of the Knights of the North Star, the only local order of (secular) knights. Their primary sponsors include the Silversmith's Guild and House Gausser.

OTHERS

Piotr Wagner: A peddler of mixed ancestry. Now a trader and spy for Wigmar in Salzenmund.

Ulli Jenk: An engineer encountered in Südtor. Well schooled in Altdorf, but too young to be very experienced. Recruited into Wigmar's service. If he can build a stone arc bridge, maybe he can build the largest canal project in Empire history?

Sister Superior Frobel: Head of the Adler Academy of Fine Learning. Mentioned only.

Sister Tennetz: Senior teacher at the academy and "envoy" to the new Prince.

Chancellor Otto Krogh: Headmaster of the University. Mentioned only.

Professor Stefan Elledan: A teacher at the Salzenmund University and "envoy" to Wigmar.

Dag Olhauser: Upstanding Salzenmund trader (and perhaps sometimes smuggler) in his 50s. A staunch supporter of Ulric's temple.

Khulnan: Male wood elf. Leader of the band of "wild" elves that kidnapped Rallane. Currently accompanies Wigmar.

Uysha: Female wood elf. A devotee of Atharti, the dark elven goddess of lust and revelry (totally not Slaanesh). With Wigmar.