Nuln, jewel of the Empire

Nuln, the so-called Bastion of the South and the Jewel of the Empire, is the second-largest Imperial city and the largest manufacturer and exporter of munitions and black powder within the entire Empire, earning itself the title as the Armory of the Empire. Sitting at the heart of the Old World's southern trade routes, it stands as an imposing bastion, its fortified walls bristling with enough heavy artillery emplacements to arm a fleet of war galleons. In previous times, Nuln was home to the court of the Emperor and today it remains Altdorf's largest rival, both politically and economically. North of Nuln, the River Reik is too wide to bridge, and the great bridge at Nuln, whose central section can be raised and lowered through an ingenious mechanism, is one of the great marvels of the Old World. Though there are bridges at Altdorf, where the Reik divides into a number of lesser channels, it is a point of some pride in Nuln that none of the capital's bridges can be said to span the entire width of the mighty Reik.

The University of Nuln is an ancient institution, far older than the Univerity of Altdorf, dating back to the earliest days of the Empire. Though its prominence has waned somewhat, especially in the face of the "progressive" colleges in Altdorf, the University is respected and regarded as one of the finest in the world. Part of Nuln's cosmopolitan nature stems from the diverse student body that comes to study here, for wealthy parents send their children from as far away as Araby to study here. The university specializes in mathematics, philosophy, theology, and literature. Of late, the classical sciences have been expanded to include many disciplines considered false or dangerous elsewhere in the Old World. Magic is not taught in Nuln. A student studying in Nuln (as long as he avoids the sciences) receives a fine, classical education, with attention to becoming a good imperial citizen. The student body is predominantly noble, but with an increasing number of the sons of the merchant class in attendance—tuition is high indeed.

Emmanuelle von Liebwitz, Grand Countess of Wissenland, Countess of Nuln and Duchess of Meissen, is the Elector Countess of the Grand Province of Wissenland. By 2498 she's ruled Nuln for nearly twenty years. As the younger daughter of the late Elector Count of Wissenland, she was not considered a likely heir. Two things conspired to put a Runefang in her hands: she had the support of Emperor Lutipold (who they say was more interested in women than gold in his younger years) and the support of the (rich) people of Nuln. Shortly after the ascension Nuln was ceded from Wissenland and became an independent county and free city.

Emmanuelle is probably in her forties but like all the vainglorious rich (and she truly is both extremely vain and very rich) she has the time and means needed to look younger than her true age. It's said that she's personally responsible for the scandalous cut of women's garments in Nuln and the decadent lifestyle of the rich and powerful. She is not married and has no children.

Emperor Lutipold I and his forebears

 

The Elected Emperors

Magnus the Pious (2304-2369, Nuln): Reunited a fractured Empire. Victor at the battle at the gates of Kislev. Founded the Colleges of Magic. Reaffirmed the ancient "Emperor Elect" tradition.

Leopold (2369-2411, Stirland): Grandfather of Dieter IV. A great administrator and innovator who was responsible for much of the groundwork that made the modern Empire possible.

Dieter IV (2411-2429, Stirland): Wildly obese and incompetent Emperor who sold Marienburg's independence. Universally despised, he effectively ended any hope of Stirland being reelected.

Wilhelm III (2429-2432, Reikland): The elderly and effete Wilhelm was elected either because he was a canny politician or because he was perceived as weak, depending on who you ask. His reign was short but effectively established the current royal line. 

Matthias IV (2432-2438, Reikland): Wilhelm III's nehpew. Father of Mattheus II. A fine knight and commander, he spent a lot of money on the palace in Altdorf and other Imperial properties, from Castle Reikdorff to various pleasure palaces. Disappeared without a trace six years after his coronation after mingling with the people in disguise to learn their true feelings about their Emperor.

Mattheus II (2438-2470, Reikland): Father of Luitpold I. Mattheus II is the archetypical Empire Emperor: martially inclined, personally courageous, a fine battlefield commander, a patron of the arts, and more. It's perhaps hard to believe that one man could be so blessed by the gods but the troubadours still sign his praise nearly 30 years after his death, and the commoners swear by his name.

Luitpold (2470-present, Reikland): Father of Karl Franz. An intensely private person, Lutipod and the rest of the Imperial family rarely appear in public. He's maintained peace and order in the Empire for nearly three decades, which is no mean feat, but he's nowhere near as popular as his father was. In fact, the many new taxes that have been made law during his reign have earned him a nickname: Lutipold the Dragon (a reference to his lust for gold).

Karl Franz: Imperial Crown Prince. He has a sister, Isadora.

Ankh-akh, the Man and the God

 

Ankh-akh is an obscure god of the sun. So obscure that Ankh-akh (the man) is the only source of information about this deity. He's also the only worshiper Wigmar has heard about. The way Ankh-akh speaks, Wigmar gets the impression that might be the last priest of the sun god. He also gets the impression Ankh-akh didn't originate in the Empire, but someplace far away and long ago.

Ankh-akh (the god) is, according to his priest, an all-powerful all-seeing god - but only during the daytime (and especially when the rays of the sun touch the ground). In his ankh aspect, he's both a life-giver and a merciless destroyer, distant and uncaring, but also prone to interfering with the lives of men. During the night his akh aspect is ascendant and he transforms from sun god to protector of the souls of the deceased.

There are a lot of rules and taboos associated with the worship of Ankh-akh, many seemingly in conflict with each other or just incomprehensible. For example, followers of Ankh-akh can only sleep with their wives during the daytime - but are allowed to fornicate with others during the night. Both men and women are also free to take multiple wives/husbands.

Ankh-akh (the man) is equally enigmatic. He's easily the biggest man Wigmar has ever laid eyes on, a head taller than Ulfberth (who isn't exactly small) and built like a bull. But he's neither a half-ogre nor a mutant. His skin is a shade darker than Anna's and his hair is jet black. Eyes a pale blue, always bloodshot. 

Of late he's taken to shaving his face and head - claiming his god likes bald people and abhors beards (so not a god for dwarves then). He also talks more freely - and coherently - about his god and beliefs. Where before he seemed a very simple man it's clear that he's nothing of the sort.

Oh, and his divine blessings have actual power. He can call forth daylight during darkest night and the words of Ankh-akh hold power enough to harm the daemons of Chaos. Or is the man a sorcerer of some kind?

Kemperbad

 

The Grand Freistadt of Kemperbad is a  trading town on the confluence of the rivers Reik and Stir. A large percentage of all river trade passes through Kemperbad. It's the sixth-largest city in the Empire, after Altdorf, Nuln, Talabheim, Middenheim, and Averheim. 

The only portion of the Reikland on the east bank of the Reik river (other than Castle Reikguard, which remains controlled by the Reikland by means of a treaty of ancient origin), Kemperbad is an old town with roots dating back to the early Empire. Valued for its commanding position overlooking the Reik, Kemperbad has been ruled at times by the nobles of Reikland, Stirland, and Talabecland, through a series of marriages, treaties, and conquests. The town finally came under the rule of the Reikland Counts during the First Millennium but gained its charter and self-rule from Emperor Boris the Incompetent in 1066 IC. Since then, a Council of Thirteen, representing the largest merchants in town plus the temples of Sigmar and Shallya, has governed the city as a Free City.

Its position on the Reik and ability to retain its tax money for itself have made Kemperbad quite a wealthy town. The merchants of Kemperbad are legendary for dressing ostentatiously to an absurd degree, never more so than during the annual Stilwoche. However, this wealth has brought ill to Kemperbad as well. As inevitably happens, organized crime has been attracted to the wealthy town. Kemperbad is said to make the finest brandy east of the Grey Mountains. 

Grissenwald

 

Grissenwald is the name of both a stretch of the Reikwald forest and a trading town at the confluence of the rivers Reik and Grissen.

The forest

The south-westernmost end of the Reikwald branches southwards along the Stirland border and thins out as it heads upriver towards the City-State of Nuln. This wide section of the forest is known locally as the Grissenwald, a tight woodland packed with distorted trees and twisted undergrowth, the depths of which are said to be swarming with beastmen, witches, mutants, and the occasional goblin tribe. Because of this, most local woodsmen travel in groups and seldom stay outdoors come nightfall, and it's commonplace to find fluttering bills posted on roadside trees offering rewards for the retrieval of lost family and friends from the bowels of the forest.

The town

Grissenwald is a large trading town, not quite as populous as say, Übersreik, but still significant. It sits right on the Reik, sixty or so Imperial Miles to the north of Nuln. It is the last major settlement before Kemperbad, a further 160 miles downriver. The river Grissen is navigable all the way up to Dunkelberg by small and medium-sized barges. Grissenwald is entirely reliant on the rivers for trade and transportation. No one wants to go there overland as you'd have to brave both the Grissenwald forest and the ill-omened Black Hills (so named because of the ample coal deposits). Of late the town has become something of a backwater. The Countess Emmanuelle canal (which runs from Nuln and into the Grissen) has become the favored route of trading barges, having been built to accommodate large barges.

The Great Northern Wall

 

The Great Northern Wall is a seemingly endless series of mutually supporting strongpoints and shield walls that guard the northern reaches of Naggaroth. The fortifications cunningly use the rugged terrain to maximum effect, augmenting the already formidable natural obstacles. Countless tunnels and subterranean chambers are part of the defensive complex. Millions of slaves toil without rest to build the walls ever higher and the redoubts stronger. The Wall is manned by legions of elves, the fearless and ever-vigilant men and women of Malekith's great domain.

Should the Wall fall to Chaos, it will herald the end not only of Naggaroth but of Ulthuan and indeed the rest of the world. Without the Wall, the Darkness in the North will spill across all the lands and swallow up every living thing, from the greatest dragon to the tiniest gnat and staw of grass. All of Malekith's subjects know this and it is for this reason alone they serve with unflinching devolution and unbreakable zeal.

Thus it is in the "dark" elves of Naggaroth that the kingdoms of men owe thanks, not their petty mortal rulers and false idols...

From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 19 (Home, sweet home)

Hugg

29 Sommerzeit

After a night of song, dance - and too much strigany brew - I woke up earlier than I should have. I went into the woods to have a good piss and there he was, Hugg the goblin, Master Halmstad's servant, waiting for me in the misty morning woods.

The master was concerned, he said. We'd been gone a long time. Maybe we were lost and needed a guide to get back home? We were technically a bit lost but the strigany knew where we were and had promised to take us back home. But they had said weeks or more and Hugg said he knew a shortcut or two. 

And what a shortcut it was. Scarcely a day and we came over a ridge and saw the wizard's tower, just as we had left it.

We talked a bit about this and that. The prince. The stone. And more. I invited my good friend to the wedding but he declined, claiming not to care much for city life. I also got the impression he didn't want to meet Fräulein Nacht. He did, however, again promise to come and visit. I think Jürgen can do great things for my garden and my fields. 

Oh, and I gave him the stone. I had thought a lot about whether to keep it or not, but no. A baronet doesn't keep such gems. It would attract unwanted attention. From dwarfs and thieves and others. And besides, it's definitely magical. I don't need Ulfberths hairs to stand to know that. Just holding it, looking at it, is enough to know it's not a natural thing. Didn't know that dwarfs were magicians. I must ask Jürgen about that when he visits.

30 Sommerzeit

The next morning we set out for home. I cannot wait to see my lands and my darling wife again. I wonder how much work has been done. Hopefully a lot. But knowing how things work, I'll probably be disappointed. But no matter, I'll set things straight in no order.

Only a month left until the wedding. I wonder if I should send out invitations to special guests. Or is it too late?