[hider=Hertogin Elise van Rossum of the Duchy of Gelderecht]
[b]Name:[/b] Hertogin Elise van Rossum
[b]Titles:[/b] (This is where your character's official titles go as well as any positions on the council or commanders. Please leave this blank, you will be granted your title as part of having your sheet being accepted.)
[b]Description:[/b] 
[img]https://img-comment-fun.9cache.com/media/a7MZOgA/agxgkZno_700w_0.jpg[/img]
A popular local myth claims that the van Rossums are descendants of giants. While the validity of this statement is questionable, one look at a van Rossum might almost make one believe these stories are true. Towering almost a full head over the average Adanian, one would never mistake Elise’s van Rossum lineage. The years putting down peasant rebellions and noble discontent have also left their mark on the 29 year old Hertogin, with several scars covering her powerfully built frame. She keeps her auburn hair at shoulder length, so as to not have too much trouble with wearing a helmet. Her eyes are an icy shade of blue, yet they always seem to have a sparkle in them.

While Elise is very much at home in plate armor, she usually wears clothing usually associated with men, such as trousers and vests. This often results in mockery behind her back, but it never seems to bother Elise.

[b]Claimant:[/b] 
Elise supports Anyamara, for she seems like the claimant who will be most likely to condone the van Rossum way of governing their realm.

[b]House Info:[/b] House van Rossum
“A velvet gauntlet assures both friend and foe get their dues”
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/783825750045753366/925927143349813378/polotno.png[/img]

[b]Reputation:[/b] 
Elise’s reputation largely depends on whom you ask. Known as the “Butcher of Rotterhaag”, the smallfolk never forgave Elise’s order to sack the prosperous town for its revolt against the Mad King’s latest tax increase. Allowing her troops to ransack and pillage for two whole days to set an example for other would-be rebels, the smallfolk view Elise largely with fear and contempt.

Not so amongst her soldiers though, who see in her leader who lives, toils and fights amongst them during campaigns and looks out for them. The troops consider Elise a harsh but fair taskmaster, ready to enforce discipline whenever necessary, but always making sure that the needs of the troops are met. This has earned Elise the moniker of “the Steel Maiden” amongst her troops and loyal followers. It should also be noted that Elise is considered to be quite a rowdy drinker, as has often been witnessed by her troops when celebrating.

Amongst merchants and traders Elise’s reputation is a rather positive one. While the brutal suppression campaigns took their toll on Gelderecht, one can’t argue about its results. The roads and waterways are amongst the safest in all of Adanion. Elise seems also very interested in increasing infrastructure and productivity in the region, even going so far as using her troops to dig canals and pave roads.

Finally there is Elise’s reputation amongst the nobility. Having faithfully served Mad King Cloyt II, Elise is considered a staunch supporter of the king. The zealousness with which Elise seemed to serve King Cloyt II is largely because he was technically family. Elise’s aunt was married to the King in his younger years, as a wedding gift King Cloyt II merged the Counties of Gelde and Recht into the Duchy of Gelderecht and offered it to House van Rossum. The House has been serving the King faithfully ever after, even when the familial connection was severed with the death of his first wife. Elise did not break this bond of loyalty even as madness overtook King Cloyt II. 

The Great Houses do however view House van Rossum (and thus by extension Elise) as upstarts, having gotten their position through, in their eyes, obvious favoritism.

[b]Ambitions:[/b] 
Elise’s primary ambition is for House van Rossum to be recognized as a true equal amongst the Great Houses. Either by display of wealth and splendor or through force of arms, she will do whatever she can to increase the prestige of her House and assure that it will be more than a mere footnote in history.

[b]Aptitudes:[/b] 
Great physical size and strength: With only a handful of Adanians being able to match her in raw strength, it is no understatement to say that this is amongst Elise’s most obvious aptitudes.

Efficient organizer: Be it marshaling a marching column or managing the Duchy’s treasury, Elise seems to have a particular knack for organizational tasks.


[b]Vulnerabilities:[/b] 
Alcoholic: Elise is very fond of a good wine or a nice ale. Too fond. Being inebriated might lead her to undertake rash actions.
Reputation: While not all bad, Elise and her House’s reputation are not the most pristine and might lead to plots being more easily formed against her.


[b]Additional Info:[/b] While having originally been the Counts of Gelde, House van Rossum has been granted dominion over the newly created Duchy of Gelderecht by the grace of King Cloyt II. He granted this as a wedding gift to his 1st wife, who is Elise’s great aunt. House van Rossum has faithfully served the king’s will ever since. Many revolts in Crownmark ended up being crushed by the Velvet Gauntlet of House van Rossum. This almost zealous loyalty has been noted by the other noble houses as well, with some even referring to House van Rossum as the Hounds of Madness, in reference to King Cloyt II’s nickname. 

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[hider=The Duchy of Gelderecht]
[b]Domain Name:[/b] Gelderecht
[b]Domain Summary:[/b]
Gelderecht was formed a mere generation ago with the merger of Gelde and Recht. Both regions are located in the south of Crownmark, wedged in between the Westmarch and Arbormark. This region is ideally located as a tradehub, which is exactly what can be found here. Notable is the high level of urbanization in the region, with many major towns and several cities, most importantly of which is the major trade city of Anthagen, a city located where the Splitstream and Farwater rivers converge in the far south. Spread across the countryside are castles of different shapes and sizes. Most are nothing more than a glorified farmhouse, with the exception of the Gravenburg, a large fortress which used to be the seat of power for the counts of Gelde. 

The land itself is extremely flat, with only a sparse amount of hills in the north of the duchy. Dikes and levees are built to prevent the flooding of the lowlands in the south. The region itself has a temperate climate, with mild summers and winters. 

Gelderecht has been in constant turmoil ever since the merger of the two counties. The first uprising happened with the death of Duke Joris, brother-in-law to King Cloyt II. House Kampen, the former counts of Recht, tried to reclaim their independence, but their efforts proved to be in vain. Many of the duchy’s nobility were slain in this uprising however, which resulted in a breakdown of order. With some Kampen agitators stoking up the population of the former county, this would spell a great amount of trouble for House van Rossum, as they would have to deal with many revolts and uprisings. Duke Floris, son of Joris and father of Elise, would succeed in rooting out the final remnants of House Kampen, but the destruction of most of the Gelderecht nobility was a fact. 

The cities of the Gelderecht would fill this power vacuum, purchasing the lands of the destitute nobility. The cities tried exactly once to assert their dominance over the Duke and launched a major uprising. This was however violently crushed by Duke Floris, using a mercenary force he called the “Iron Regiments”. After the Uprising of the Cities failed, the mayors would swear the fealty of their city to the Duke and his House. The death of Duke Floris would coincide with a tax increase ordered by King Cloyt II, which the fresh Duchess Elise would be forced to institute. This would see a new wave of revolts in the duchy, which she crushed without mercy, culminating in the sack of Rotterhaag. 

Now 10 years into her reign, the duchy finally has a fragile peace between the remaining feudal nobility and the rising merchant elites in the cities.

[b]Major Holdings:[/b] 
-Gravenburg: The primary seat of power for House van Rossum. This fortress is built upon the largest hill in the entire duchy of Gelderecht. With the added benefit of the low ground level that surrounds it, this height advantage gives the fortress a wide view for miles surrounding it. If the need were to arise, levees could be ordered to be broken, flooding the surrounding land and making a siege of the fortress incredibly difficult. 

-Anthagen: The largest and most prosperous city of Gelderecht, Anthagen is the primary trade hub of the duchy and the main source of income for House van Rossum. The city bridges both the Splitstream and Farwater rivers, with a port located at the direct convergence point, allowing for the rarest of goods from both up-and downstream to find their way into the city. One of the most populous cities of the Crownmark, its wealth is famed across the land. Its cloth market is especially renowned. Almost all of the duchy’s guild houses are located in Anthagen, with the exception of the metal workers guild. Being located on the banks of 

-Middelwaarden: Located in the middle of the duchy, Middelwaarden is the second most populated city in Gelderecht. It is the oldest city of Gelderecht, having its origins in the time of the First Tribes. The city’s skyline is dominated by the Golden Mother and Golden Father, a large cathedral complex dedicated to the Twin Faith.

-Leeuwingen: The city closest to Gravenburg. Here is where House van Rossum finds its most loyal populace. Leeuwingen’s primary resource for the duchy is its manpower. Having almost unquestionable loyalty to House van Rossum, the Leeuwingers form the backbone for the Iron Regiments, the elite force of House van Rossum. This is also why the main encampment of the Iron Regiments is located on the outskirts of the city.

-Rotterhaag: A major town in the north of the duchy, famed for its metalworks. The town used to be the seat of the counts of Recht, and has yet to get used to the merger of the counties. This is the reason why in the last 10 years, Rotterhaag has revolted 6 times. The last attempt did not end well for the town however, as Elise van Rossum ordered a two day sacking of the city. The town has yet to recover from the aftermath, with much of its wealth lost and its artisans slain by the sword. Not even the famed metalworking district was spared, with the metal workers’ guild house completely put to the torch.

[b]Reputation:[/b]
Gelderecht is mostly known for its industrious people and sprawling markets. It’s reputation as a stable hub of trade and industry has however taken a dent in recent years due to numerous revolts and uprisings. This has given outsiders the impression that the people from Gelderecht are unruly and rebellious.

[b]Wealth:[/b]
A common saying amongst the people of Gelderecht is that every coin in the realm has at least passed through the duchy twice. This is in reference to the main source of wealth for Gelderecht, namely its many cities with their many markets and of course the port of Anthagen. The biggest boon of the duchy is its thriving cloth industry, being responsible for a significant amount of the realm’s cloth production. However, the duchy is also rich in artisans and artists, such as painters and sculptures. Being in the Crownmark, Gelderecht also has much fertile farmland which it uses to feed its cities and as a good to trade for wool from the North-West to fuel its budding clothiers.

There is however still  some devastation left from the many revolts, with many towns having been raided or sacked, most notable of all being the major town of Rotterhaag. Many of the cities have taken in refugees, which has caused a fair amount of civil strife and driven the destitute into a life of crime. While the wealth of Gelderecht might be plenty, it is clear that it is not equally shared.

[b]Strength:[/b] 
In the aftermath of the Kampen Rebellions, numerous peasants revolts and the Uprising of the Cities, the urbanized Duchy can no longer rely on a large nobility caste and their levies to form the backbone of their military forces, like so many others can. This results in the duchy having only a relatively tiny retinue of mounted knights and having no real levies to speak of during times of war. To compensate for this deficiency, House van Rossum has opted for the creation of the Iron Regiments; a well-paid, full-time standing army of mercenaries who are purely devoted to the art of war. 

Though relatively few in number compared to mass ranks of levies, the Iron Regiments pride themselves on their professionalism. With their few numbers making them hard to replace, much of the duchy’s wealth goes into equipping this force with the tools for them to accomplish their job. Equipped with long pikes, zweihanders, arbalists and (partial) plate armor, the soldiers of the Iron Regiments are amongst the most well equipped forces of the realm. They also tend to dress lavishly so as to show their status of being a member of the Iron Regiments.

However, if the need arises and the Iron Regiments are not able to accomplish their task on their own, the cities can be expected to raise their own regiments, referred to as Bronze Regiments. These are mostly consisting of whatever men the city militias can spare and who then get a crash course training in warfare by an Iron Regiment’s sergeant. The Bronze Regiments are often equiped with cheaper equipment and armor, like spears, shields and gambeson armor.
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