The undulating realm of the Stormlands
House: Steinland (The Stormlands)
Location: Bordered to the West by the Dragons Graveyard, the North by Westmarch and Abormark, the East by Wildwood, and the South by the Starry Sea.
A Description of Steinland:
Stormlands - Named for the seaborn storms that routinely wash over the land or even flood it, the Stormlands can flip between a beautifully sunny coast to a terrifying thunderous storm in minutes, it is also picture of ancient rounded mountains, lush river valleys, endless castles and stunning vistas. Bordered to the West by the Dragons Graveyard, the North by Westmarch and Abormark, the East by Wildwood, and the South by the Starry Sea.
Deep and wide rivers snake down from the Dragon Mountains where soaring peaks of the quickly give way to rolling hills, rounded ancient mountains, and a certain sense of walking into antiquity. The mountains here are old, far older than those of the north, and thousands of years of rain and wind have battered them into a pleasing undulating landscape.
Deep forests are common here, but unlike the marshy forest of Wildwood or Abormark, they are filled with mighty oaks, colourful maples, and delicate aspens. This is a land poets and bards sing of when they wish to conjure forth songs of beauty and prosperity.
To the south lies the Starry Sea where long coastlines of jagged rocks are broken by countless bays that boast beautiful white sand and excellent anchorages. Fishing is plentiful and the marine life a wonder to behold.
Castles dot the landscape from small strategic holdings to the massive citadel at Steinbach. The Nobles here fight each other as often as they have external enemies and no lord is to be caught without a formidable redoubt to call home.
The People of Steinland:
Steinlanders are a fair folk, tall, well fed, and great fans of ales, meads, and violent sport. Often considered dour and studious by their neighbours, that is a reputation gained from those who have come from behind the natural barriers that protect these fine people.
Those in Steinland love as much as they fight and the population has remained strong for many years. The abundance of water and resources has allowed for a comfortable lifestyle, even for the peasant classes. It is no surprise then that Steinland considers itself the true heart of the nation.
The Economy of Steinland:
Steinland draws much of its wealth and strength from the Dragon Mountains, and the ancient mineral deposits found throughout the land. High quality coal and plentiful iron have allowed Steinlanders to make their mark as the finest blacksmiths in the land, producing incredible armour and weapons. It is a true status symbol to be equipped with Steinland plate.
Two major ports, Steinbach and Ostfelsen, allow a steady flow of trade with the rest of the continent, as well as those across the sea. Not lacking for agricultural goods or the bounty of the sea, Steinland is loath to part with much of its homegrown wealth.
The names and locations of fortresses are to many to count, but the major citadels are listed below:
Steinbach:
Steinbach is an ancient and soaring city that has spread across the mouth of Splistream River and up the sides of the hills that embrace it. Stunning architecture, powerful industry, and a studious, if at times ridiculous people, make this city a true powerhouse in the realm. The finest swordsmen and armour come from this region.
Unlike the frozen hellhole of Frostmark, Steinbach enjoys a mild year round climate with the temperature rarely dropping below freezing while the summers are pleasant and most desirable.
Ostfelsen:
Ostfelsen lies to the West of Steinbach along the coastline and straddles a series of rivers and canals that make it a wonder to visit. Unlike Steinbach, with its heavy industry and love of weaponry, Ostfelsen is popular with craftsman and makers of liquor.
The architecture here is less brutal and formal, allowing it to attract folk from far across the seas as a place of learning and study.
Reputation:
Steinland is known for its martial and civilized folk.
Strength:
Steinland fields armies of mounted knights supported by infantry and archers drawn from the peasant classes. Knightly Orders are common here and can range from being largely helpful, to a downright pain in the keister. They have a siege train second to none.
Please enjoy this marching song of Steinland.
Further Information:
It is an open secret that Steinland considers itself the best part of Adanion. With the death of both the King and the Crown Prince, the Arch Duke is widely known to favour the Princess Anyamara but there are rumours he may simply declare independence and shun any holder of the Crown completely. Any faction that counts the Arch Duke among its allies would surely take the Crown.
Character: Karl Müller-Hohenstein
Title: High Lord of the Stormlands, Archduke of Steinland, and Lord of House Muller-Hohenstein.
Claimant: Princess Anyamara
Reputation: Known for being brutally honest and to the point.
Age: 25
Height: 5’8
Description:
Karl was once a tall and proud young man but the injuries he suffered at the hands of pirates has left him bent and twisted. His shaves his head completely, and never permits himself to grow any stubble on his face. His teeth are either gone or broken, painful to the touch. His right leg is bent and gnarled, forcing him to use a cane. Both his feet are badly mangled and angle inward causing him to walk duck footed. His once broad shoulders have shrunk to little more than the that of a youth. His fingers, all broken before healing into a gnarled mess, had to be rebroken when he was rescued, healing again into some approximation of claws.
It is his eyes that still give life to an otherwise piteous being. They are a pure and hate filled black. Like two pools of evil that try to draw you in and drown you.
Notable Traits:
Spymaster: Spies, assassins, subterfuge, all of it falls into Karl's purview and he wields those resources with terrifying skill, both within Steinland and abroad.
Cunning: Those who cannot wield swords, wield words, and Karl has proven himself time and time again to be a skilled negotiator. To those paying any attention, a sudden cessation of local feuds hints at a unification within Steinland.
Strategic Thinker: While he cannot fight in a war anymore, Karl has proved adept at waging them from a leadership perspective.
Useless fighter: Karl couldn't fend off a child.
Personality:
Karl is cunning and cruel on a level that very few people can imagine. The cruelty that he suffered at the hands of pirates following his capture at eighteen left him scared and vengeful. The once handsome and confident young Prince has become a twisted and evil person, driven only be the desire for revenge and to make his enemies suffer as he suffered. Many of those in Steinland, where martial prowess is so highly valued, have come to respect him for his intelligence and common sense. Among the cheerful folk of Steinland, Karl is considered a serious person. He rarely smiles, never laughs, and is known to enjoy inflicting pain on others.
Karl loves one person, his twin sister Michaela. To what extent this love goes is anyones guess, but he dotes on her and she has forever accepted him.
Character: Michaela Müller-Hohenstein
Title: Duchess of Steinland
Claimant: Michaela stands with her family’s backing of Anyamara.
Age: 25
Height: 5’10
Reputation: Michaela is known to carry herself with dignity, to treat people with respect, and expects the same to be given to her. She is beloved by the people of Steinland.
Description:
Michaela stands taller than most women of Steinland with a height of 5'10, has youthful pale skin, and thick wavy hair as red as the fires of the setting sun with ends that sway across her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build that shows that she maintains an active lifestyle. Her bust is of a medium size, full and seemingly nice to look at when others think that she will not notice. They are accompanied by a small waistline and hips slightly wider than her under-bust. Michaela is happy with how she developed as a woman in which, despite her slender frame, she looks good enough to not be a heavy topic of discussion with the other court women. Her breasts are agreeable in that they are not so large that they hinder her when she trains or provide her with back-ache and hips wide enough for child baring. She cannot stand their useless chitchat and if she is not the subject of their folly, all the better. She is fully aware of her duties as Dutchess and is not looking to be reminded by upper society gossips.
As cultural standard demands, Michaela is often playing the graceful and polite hostess. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. Outside of social events, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do.
After her brothers horrific capture, she began to train for combat and will wear a longsword accompanied with a short stabbing dagger strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a Knight. The only time she is without her longsword is when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a flowing dress of green or blue, but she will always have the dagger on her person for protection.
Notable Traits:
Artist - Michaela is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail.
Socialite - As a daughter of a Duke, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people.
Average Swordswoman - Michaela had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.
Skilled Archer - Where she lacks in swordplay, she makes up for with deadly accuracy with a bow. She hits her targets more often than she misses them and will often help to bring in fresh meat from the forests.
Poor Strategist - While on the field - Michaela understands the basics of the battle in front of her, but doesn’t always see the bigger picture of what is worth fighting for and what is worth loosing when it comes to war.
Adept equestrian - Michaela has a love for horses and rides well. Her skill in fighting from the saddle is well known.
Personality:
Michaela is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes.
However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father or brother’s orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.
Michaela is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Michaela is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits. She hopes to one day meet a man that will no only match her intellect, but also respect her as the person she is and not try to force her to be something she is not. She also hopes to have twin children to carry her family’s name.
Important Note:
It is largely believed that any future heir to Steinland will come from Michaela. Rumours circulate suggesting that Karl cannot produce any children following his torture.
Title: Duchess of Steinland
Claimant: Michaela stands with her family’s backing of Anyamara.
Age: 25
Height: 5’10
Reputation: Michaela is known to carry herself with dignity, to treat people with respect, and expects the same to be given to her. She is beloved by the people of Steinland.
Description:
Michaela stands taller than most women of Steinland with a height of 5'10, has youthful pale skin, and thick wavy hair as red as the fires of the setting sun with ends that sway across her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build that shows that she maintains an active lifestyle. Her bust is of a medium size, full and seemingly nice to look at when others think that she will not notice. They are accompanied by a small waistline and hips slightly wider than her under-bust. Michaela is happy with how she developed as a woman in which, despite her slender frame, she looks good enough to not be a heavy topic of discussion with the other court women. Her breasts are agreeable in that they are not so large that they hinder her when she trains or provide her with back-ache and hips wide enough for child baring. She cannot stand their useless chitchat and if she is not the subject of their folly, all the better. She is fully aware of her duties as Dutchess and is not looking to be reminded by upper society gossips.
As cultural standard demands, Michaela is often playing the graceful and polite hostess. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. Outside of social events, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do.
After her brothers horrific capture, she began to train for combat and will wear a longsword accompanied with a short stabbing dagger strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a Knight. The only time she is without her longsword is when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a flowing dress of green or blue, but she will always have the dagger on her person for protection.
Notable Traits:
Artist - Michaela is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail.
Socialite - As a daughter of a Duke, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people.
Average Swordswoman - Michaela had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.
Skilled Archer - Where she lacks in swordplay, she makes up for with deadly accuracy with a bow. She hits her targets more often than she misses them and will often help to bring in fresh meat from the forests.
Poor Strategist - While on the field - Michaela understands the basics of the battle in front of her, but doesn’t always see the bigger picture of what is worth fighting for and what is worth loosing when it comes to war.
Adept equestrian - Michaela has a love for horses and rides well. Her skill in fighting from the saddle is well known.
Personality:
Michaela is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes.
However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father or brother’s orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.
Michaela is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Michaela is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits. She hopes to one day meet a man that will no only match her intellect, but also respect her as the person she is and not try to force her to be something she is not. She also hopes to have twin children to carry her family’s name.
Important Note:
It is largely believed that any future heir to Steinland will come from Michaela. Rumours circulate suggesting that Karl cannot produce any children following his torture.
