Ulrichstein

The Barony of Ulrichstein is located on the Bornheim trade road along the Aland River at the eastern edge of the Elfe Wald forest. Although settlements were built as early as 408, it was not until the arrival of Tobias Kuhn, now the Baron of Ulrichstein, in 437 that the land was recognized as settled by the crown.

Ulrichstein is a walled town of nearly 2000 people that controls the crossing of the Bornheim trade road over the Aland River. The town is the seat of the Baron of Ulrichstein, who is currently Lord Tobias. Ulrichstein is the last sizable holding along the Bornheim trade road until it ends at the great city of Bornheim on the western coast. Merchant caravans will stop here and gather over several weeks before journeying west as a group.

The town itself is surrounded by a stout wooden wall just over 10 feet in height. There is a second interior wall 14 feet tall that surrounds the lord's manor, courtyard, and outbuildings. The eastern commons is northeast of the town, while the western commons is along the west bank and prone to flooding.

The bridge over the Aland River is of wooden construction and protected by the town's defenders on the east bank and a wooden tower on the west. There are at least 3 guards stationed at this tower to defend the west bank and collect the tolls.

• Name: Barony of Ulrichstein
• Location: Kingdom of Dakar

  • Founded: Dakarians 437 ah
• Holder: | Sir Tobias Kuhn
• Liege: Queen Aurora I of the Kingdom of Dakar
• Land Area: 15,000 acres (60 km²)

  • Woods: 9000 acres (36 km²)
  • Cleared: 6000 acres (24 km²), 3400 acres cultivated
  • Tenant:
  • Demesne:
• Population: 1800

  • Ethnicity: Human
• Holdings

  • Ulrichstein, Sir Tobias Kuhn, Baron Ulrichstein
  • Luckau, Sir Kaufmann Bailiff
• Subinfeudation:

  • Prinz, Sir Himmel
  • Salenhof, Sir Brandt
• Military:

  • Berchtwald, Captain of the guard
  • Tendler, Reeve
  • 15 guardsmen

The current town is actually the third settlement built upon the banks of the Aland River. The Bornheim trade route had been used for over a two decades before the founding of the first settlement on the banks of the river.

The first settlement was built by Ulrich, a merchant dealing in leather and cloth, in 408. He paid for the construction of a wooden bridge over the Aland where a common trading trail passed. Soon an inn and sawmill were built to support the merchants that stopped on the eastern bank. While the caravans could travel north to find a fordable crossing, Ulrich kept his toll low enough that it was far easier to cross here. In the winter of 416 the town was ransacked by Brund warriors raiding deep within Dakar.

The settlement was rebuilt in 421 when the bridge began to deteriorate enough that passage became treacherous. Elsler, a mercenary from the northern mining villages of Dakar, built an inn and repaired the bridge. Over the years a small logging community grew up and in 431 a tower was built on the western shore. Sometime during early summer of 433 the inhabitants were killed by unknown raiders.

The area remained empty except for a few trappers until 437 when Tobias Kuhn and his men arrived with a writ from King Reiner IV for the establishment of a barony. In three years a keep surrounded by a wooden wall was rebuilt as was the western tower. By 454 the town had expanded enough to build an outer wall and expand the central well. Ulrichstein is the most western town and borders the Elfe Wald, which makes it the last civilized land before reaching the western coast.

Main Article: Sir Tobias Kuhn

Tobias is the unrecognized bastard son of Thadeus Hausser, Lord of Plaue. One day his father gave him a small bit of coin, a horse, and told to leave. Eventually he worked his way west along the villages and mining camps at the base of the Iron Mountains. Though a combination of luck and skill he saved enough money to form a mercenary company. In the last waning months of the reign of Reiner IV he saved enough money to buy a small barony along the Bornheim trade road.

Tobias has yet to marry; although he is still young enough to sire children should an opportunity present itself. Several of his men have presented their daughters to him in the hopes of securing a marriage, but to date he has remained a bachelor-knight.

Bernahard served as Tobias' shieldman when he was a mercenary captain. When Tobias became the Baron of Ulrichstein, Bernahard was knighted and now serves as his seneschal. Sir Bernahard has become an able steward who enjoys the goodwill of the men and women that work in the household. Given Tibias' dislike for pomp and finery that is not a difficult task.

He is most vexed that Tobias has yet to take a wife. While Baronies revert to the crown after the death of the current Baron, tradition holds that any eligible sons be given deference when choosing a new Baron. Given the location of Ulrichstein there are many wealthy eastern families that would love to secure these lands.

Main Article: Sir Gerhard Sattler

A young knight newly arrived from Celinus that hopes to make a name for himself fighting back the monsters that infest the western lands of Dakar. He is full of spit and vinegar, ready to take the fight to anything that threatens the land or its people. He has recently gained the favor of Baron Ulrichstein who gave him a sum of money from his privy purse to raise a company of mercenaries and attempt to secure the lands to the south along the Aland River. Sir Sattler will lead these mercenaries in their task, a worthy challenge for the young buck.

Bailiff of Luckau

Lord of Salenhof

Lord of Prinz

Main Article: Siguard the Storm

A powerful and mercurial storm wizard that lives in a stone tower 35 miles north of the town. He tolerates the people of Ulrichstein, but does not care for them. He is more like a force of nature than simply anyone that you would see around ton.

Accolyte in the Temple of Light