Adlerturm, Barony of
by Michael BerryArea:
392 square miles
Population:
AC 1000 - 3150
AC 1014 - 2835
Vilages: (population values are given for AC 1000 and AC 1014)
Adlerturm (630/575): is the commercial centre of the Barony and home to the Baron of Adlerturm. Schmeltsdab (150/140): is a thriving community of fishermen on the Southeast border of the Barony.
Nahendorf (130/110): is a farming community in the northern hills of the Barony.
Hochstberg (110/100): is a sheepherding community near the Northeastern border.
Ethnic groups:
Hattian 58%, Flaem 15%, Aalbanese 10%, Kaelic 10%, Alphatian 4%, Lupin 2%, Other 1%
Languages:
Thyatin (Hattian dialect), Flaemish, Kaelic
Ruler:
AC 1000 - Franz Lowenroth (born 967, M12, 3rd Circle Crypto, AL - Neutral)
AC 1014 - Julian Steurt (born 974, M13, 3rd Circle Alchemist, Al -Neutral)
House:
AC 1000 - Ritterburg
AC 1014 - Crownguard
Military:
A sheriff in assigned to every major village, and is in charge of keeping the order. The Baron also maintains the Wilderlands Wardens (40 F3, studded leather, spear and short sword or hand axe, with additional weapons fitting the tastes of individual wardens; heavier armor, plate, is used by Wardens on duty at the Barons tower. Additional weapons, the Adlerturm tower has 4 heavy ballistae built in on its four sides.
Adlerturm is also occasionally visited by patrols from Fort Nordling. Garrisons of the Aalbanese Armed Militia and Fort Nordling deployment heavily patrol the Western part of the Barony, since the Western Free Province has been home to several groups of anti- magocracy rebel groups.
Food:
Surplus. Food is exported to Nordling FP (Skipferry village) via Schmeltsdab village, to Black Mountains FP (Falkenberg-Habichthügel) via Adlerturm and to the Principality of Aalban.
Trails:
The Graustrail runs through Adlerturm, connecting the Barony to the neighboring dominions. It actually is not one trail actually but refers to the whole network of trails in Adlerturm. It is divided into four sections. The Northern Graustrail runs from the village of Adlerturm north through the village of Nahendorf and on into the Barony of Uigmuir. The Eastern Graustrail runs from Adlerturm east across the hills of the Barony reaching the village of Schmeltsdab before crossing the Aalban River into the Free Province of Nordling and continuing on the village of Skipferry, then ending at the town of Vorstadt. The Southern Graustrail leaves the village of Adlerturm due south and leads to the Principality of Aalban and the town of Leenz. Finally the Western Graustrail leaves Adlerturm and goes into the Black Mountains Free Province and to the mining village of Falkenberg-Habichthügel.
The Vesubian River is navigable for riverboat traffic between Adlerturm and Leenz. The River is not navigable above the village of Adlerturm.
Economics:
Due to good geographical location Adlerturm is undoubtedly the richest Glantrian Barony, even richer than many fiefs granting higher titles. Fishing and sheep herding (actually in decline) provides the Barony with a fair amount of exportable goods. Over the last decade there has been an attempt to convert some farming zones into woods, something that could result in the sharp decrease of the food surplus.
Adlerturm Monthly Financial Ledger (figures from AC1000)
Main resource: 1 animal, 1 mineral
4 hexes: hills, river; rural; pop. 1680; tax 168 dc
3 hexes: hills; rural; pop. 840; tax 84 dc
Adlerturm: village; pop. 630; tax 63 dc
Total Population: 3150 village/rural
Tax Income: 315 dc
Resource Income: 1575 dc
Standard Income: 2520 dc
Council Tax: 882 dc
Net Cash: 1008 dc
Overhead (50%): 504 dc
Available Cash: 504 dc
With 22,680 XP/year, in 10 years the Baron would gain 226,800 XP.
Alternate: 3780 XP/year.
History:
Barons of Adlerturm
Otto von Graustein 801-805
Heinz von Graustein 805-826
Mina von Graustein 829-862
Johann von Graustein 862-872
Kasper von Graustein 872-906
Harald von Graustein 906-933
Wilhelm von Graustein 933-951
Edward Hillsbury 951-956
Fernando de Casanegra 956-981
John Beaumarys-Moorkroft 981-984
Haak Krollnar 984-990
Rowena Krollnar 990-992
Fritz Lowenroth 992-997
Franz Lowenroth 997-1006
Walter von Lienitz 1006-1010
Julian Steurt 1010-
The Barony of Adlerturm was formed out of the ashes of the 40 Years War. Originally settled by the Flaem for centuries it was heavily and bloodily contested during the war when the Hattians settled the eastern slopes of the Black Mountains and pushed the Flaem out. The region that is now Adlerturm was prime territory given to the Von Graustein family and were given the title of Baron. They were given these prime lands since they willingly had given up prime lands (Silverston) in the south to the Hattians allies, the Alphatians. When the war ended and the Republic of Glantri was being drawn up, the Von Grausteins were given the area and the noble title of Baron to go with their lands.
For 150 years family Von Grausteins ruled Adlerturm, named after the frequent sights of raptors flying about the Tower built by von Grausteins. It took them little effort to have the community thriving: the abundance of water provided fishes for people and rich pastures for grazing herds. All the dominion needed was a good safe trail to connect it to the trading centre of Leenz; the building of Fort Nordling meant protection and another market to export its food surplus. In the years that followed the Barony grew to be one of the richest and most prosperous of all the lesser dominions.
The Von Graustein ruled Adlerturm until 951, when Wilhelm von Graustein reluctantly agreed to move to the Viscounty of Blofeld, where recently discovered iron veins could help the Principality of Aalban to replace the recent decrease of iron supply. After the hundred and fifty years of stable rule the von Graustein provided the people of Adlerturm the next decades saw a revolving door of Barons sitting upon the throne of Adlerturm. The richness of the Barony proved to be the best protection against the repeated assaults to its treasury brought by power-seeking Barons like Edward Hillsbury and John Beaumarys-Moorkroft, or uninterested barons like the Krollnar.
The traitorous Lowenroth family finally was able to overcome its black family history and made it back into the circles of Glantrian nobility in 992 and the joyous population of Adlerturm celebrated having a Hattian noble rule over them again. The Lowenroth ruled Adlerturm capably for a decade and a half before Franz Lowenroth won the new Viscounty of Ylourgne which was created in 1006 under the Council of Princes program of new dominion creations spearheaded by the war with Alphatia. An old Hattian wizard then ruled for 4 years before dying heirless thus opening the Barony to another Awards Festival again. A Kaelic military wizard, Julian Steurt, won the Awards Festival for the rich prize of Adlerturm in 1010 besting two opponents in a duel at the Great School. He has proved to be a careful, wise, and frugal ruler and is considered a good ruler by the people of Adlerturm. Even if he is not a Hattian, or even Aalbanese, they have recognized his service in the Glantrian Army and have found him to be a gifted leader. He has also proven to be a talented administrator of his dominion as well as well as a fair one ruling Adlerturm without any apparent ethnic bias.
Notable sites:
Franz's Hunting Reserve is a wooded area Franz Lowenroth was artificially repopulating with suited herbivore species. The Wilderness Wardens heavily patrol the area, and hunting or damaging the environment anyhow is considered a major crime. The new Baron, Julian Steurt, in honor of his predecessor and agreeing that more land should be converted to forest for economic benefit has kept the park and left it in Franz’s name. The park is along the Vesubian River approximately 8 miles north of Adlerturm tower.
The village of Adlerturm is a thriving community that is nestled between the Vesubian River and the Adlerturm hills. The tower of the Baron overlooks the village and sits high above the valley on a 500 foot high promontory. A stone bridge crosses over the River and leads to the mining communities of the Black Mountain Free Province. The village has a thriving market and large brewery that produces a locally famous Pilsner that is often exported to the Wendarian mountain Free Provinces from Adlerturm.
Coat of Arms:
Useful links:
The Economy of Adlerturm by Aleksei Andrievski
The Barony of Adlerturm by Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles
Julian Steurt by Michael Berry