The Pre-History of Sonnefurt

The Prehistory of Sonnefurt

Report commissioned by Baron Max von Heisenberg, performed by Arthritiknes

Little is known of the tribal history of Southern Wissenland, for nothing was permanently recorded, and thus the pre-history of Sonnefurt cannot be accounted for hugely. Likewise, many records that have existed were destroyed in 1707, making it incredibly different for anyone to work out the history of those 1700 years. However, on your commission my noble lord von Heisenberg, I have studied to the surviving tomes in Nuln, Altdorf and Wissenburg’s archives and libraries, as well as any archaeological finds from the Barony. I hope this will give you a clearer guide as to your inherited Barony’s heritage.

Yours faithfully,

Arthritiknes

Of the Warring Kings

Records from Karak Hirn actually do show that these Kings of Sonnefurt legend did actually exist. They are the only Kings mentioned in the records, proving they must have made the notice of the Dwarfs, and other Kings must have been much more peaceful.

The Kings were all related, cousins via a paternal grandfather. It is thought that they split his once enormous kingdom between them in a civil war due to petty differences that became exacerbated and turned into an ongoing pointless three way feud.

King Sonne ruled the land that lies between the Sonne and Martin Rivers and some land across the Martin River’s banks, and stretching back all the way to the Bezau Hills. These hills were however heavily wooded, and patrolled regularly by Dwarf warriors, who were a much mightier power than they are presently.

King Aschen ruled beyond his namesake hills, to the borders of King Sonne , a hotly contested area.

King Eieten ruled across the banks of the Soll, around the Dieten Hills, stretching back into some of the moorland, and reaching beyond the Sonnefurt and Aschen forks.

King Sonne was the oldest had the mightiest army and the most strategic location. His fort overlooked the vantage point of the river fork and was protected on two sides by the river, making it easier to defend and keep watch from the dark beasts of the woodland that would regularly take advantage of the civil feud to raid and pillage. King Aschen was the second oldest and had his hill fort deep in the Aschen Hills, heavily fortified to protect his people as he had a smaller army that could not stand up to King Sonne’s in pitched battle. King Eieten was the youngest and the most hot-headed, his army wanting to prove themselves as they had drawn the poorest lot of land. He located his fort on the banks of the Soll at Strazen, a weak position but brilliant for fishing and its harbour fed a large population.

The three Kings would regularly besiege each others forts and pillage, causing mayhem just to spite their bitter rivals. The battles were fairly inconsequential and the stalemate continued.

However, the stalemate was broken when King Aschen supposedly met with god Taal, who gifted him with a prime fishing location on which to base a new settlement, in what is now Thalfang. The bountiful fishing opportunities have long dried up as you know and farming is now the main concern of Thalfang, but his population, once smaller than the others, boomed significantly due to the plentiful fish. Seeing this as a blessing from the gods themselves, King Aschen decided to redouble his efforts in conquering the lands of his cousins.

He launched a devastating attack on King Eieten’s settlement, razing it to the ground and forcing the refugees to hide in the barren Dieten Hills, living a nomadic life trying to lick their wounds and launch a counterattack. King Aschen then turned on the mighty King Sonne, hoping to seal his victory by smiting down his biggest contender for dominance. There are archaeological records of a large battle taking place at Ostrach, with many dying on each side, but no major headway being made. It is said the two Kings fought an epic duel, but neither could best the other and their armies began to disintegrate around them, forcing them to withdraw to fight another day.

With his two enemies weakened, King Eieten seized a very underhand chance, and launched an attack by boat on King Sonne’s fort at night. His vengeful army ravaged the fort, burning buildings and slaughtering unsuspecting innocents. The King himself found King Sonne asleep in his longhouse and butchered him there and then. He then tossed his mauled body into the River Sonne, which came to bear his name.

Enslaving the rest of the population, for they had no King, King Eieten became the most powerful King in the region, for King Aschen was still recovering from his battle with King Sonne and could not hope to rival the numbers Eieten had on his side. Eieten ruled both Kingdoms for several years, establishing Ertingen as its capital, a place for his tribe to call home with King Sonne’s people as their servants. This period was the only period of relative peace in their entire history, as King Aschen was too afraid to take on his youngest cousin and risk total annihilation.

Of Saint Martin of Sonnefurt

It was at this point that a man approached King Aschen bearing the word of the great chieftain, Sigmar, who was at that point unifying the tribes to fight to drive the Orcs out at what would become the Battle of Blackfire Pass. The King knew he could not pledge any men to the cause without his cousin taking his lands whilst he was gone, and asked the stranger for help. The stranger, the man who became Saint Martin of Sonnefurt, rallied a large army of Sigmar’s followers from further up the Soll and he and King Aschen turned on King Eieten.

The battle ended in a catastrophic defeat for the followers of King Eieten, his captured soldiers from King Sonne even turning on him mid battle. He retreated into the Dieten Hills, but was hounded by Saint Martin and eventually the Saint found him and was able to smite the cowardly King with his mighty hammer.

The armies of the two defeated Kings were assumed under King Aschen’s new mighty Kingdom and he ordered them to participate in the Battle of the Blackfire Pass. Many stories exist about Saint Martin’s role in this battle, many of which are just legend, but it is known he led the three Kings forces and aided in victory for Sigmar.

After the battle, King Aschen ruled for several years, and Martin stayed to help unite the region into the new Empire that Sigmar was forming. The Kingdom became the Barony of Aschen, its capital being at Thalfang, not Sonnefurt as it now is.

Saint Martin aided the King for many years in cleansing the Barony of foul creatures so it could prosper, and lead many excursions into the woodland to clear it of the goblins that dwelled within. However, when leading an excursion near what is now Sonnefurt, for the Martinswald stretched to only ten miles to the banks of the river before being cultivated for agriculture, Saint Martin was struck by a poisoned arrow.

He was carried back to the small village that had been established in the ruins of King Sonne’s fort, and succumbed to his poison whilst resting there. He was buried and a small shrine built to remember him. This was housed by small building, which would eventually become the Sanctuary of Sigmar.

The Formation of the Barony of Sonnefurt

Upon the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Saint Martin, the cult of Sigmar was just extending to the people of the Barony of Aschen. Feverous devotion was displayed by many, remembering the teachings of Saint Martin and all he did for the Barony. King Aschen had long died, and was succeeded by his son, a weak willed Baron who had none of the prowess of his father and lorded over his citizens.

As such the Baron could not stop the religious fever surrounding the cult of Sigmar and consequentially Saint Martin. People flocked to his shrine and quickly a large population sprung up around it. Over the years this would become the town of Sonnefurt, which came to rival Thalfang in size and power in the region.

Neither the Baron nor any of his successors were able to control the people, and they succeeded many years later, forming the Barony of Sonnefurt, which was incredibly small in comparison to today, only encompassing the lands between the Sonne and Martin Rivers.

Its succession was not well planned, and the new Baron was equally as weak as Baron Aschen. It was no surprise when the tiny Barony fell victim to an annexation by the Pfeifraucher family after it had failed to truly establish itself even after over two decades of independence.

Over time, the Pfeifraucher family would come to annex Thalfang too, and the whole area would fall under the Great Barony of Kreutzhofen, only to gain its independence once again in 1932 as you and the people of the Barony well know.

The Coming of the Dwarfs

During this period of turmoil the Dwarfs began to descend into the Empire, looking for work opportunities and teaching the fledgling communities their ways. Their skilled masons constructed the foundations and fortifications that can still be seen today, although many were ripped down as the towns expanded and used in the construction of new districts. Sonnefurt’s harbour and lighthouse were commissioned by the Pfeifraucher family to expand the river ports business, and this construction was to mark the start of extensive trade with Karak Hirn, contributing to a large influx of Dwarfs to the region.

On the one hundredth anniversary of Saint Martin’s death, the Pfeifrauchers also commissioned the Sanctuary of Sigmar, a huge church to house the shrine of Saint Martin and the focus place for the worship of Sigmar through the Saint.

Many archaeological findings show that the Dwarf population expanded increadibly slowly steadily after the influx for many centuries, and eventually seemed to cease, and the Dwarfs began to withdraw into their holds to fight their enemies within. As the ‘lowlanders’ became cast out by their holds, there are no records in Karak Hirn or surviving in Sonnefurt from these Dwarfs. Thus, a large section of history is left unknown until records started again in 1708.

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Here is where the conclusive records end, except for a few dates. Kreutzhofen was hid incredibly hard by the Orc invasion and their records of this period almost entirely obliterated. However, I hope this has shed some light on our unique heritage for you my lord.

I have also compiled a timeline on what I believe must be the dates for these events for your pleasure.

-37 The conflicts between the three cousins begin, with evidence of many battles from this period.

-22 King Aschen supposedly meets Taal, Thalfang is founded

-17 King Aschen attacks King Eieten, destroying his fort at Strazen. King Eieten becomes a nomad in the Dieten Hills

King Aschen attacks King Sonne in a huge battle. Many are killed and both sides suffer horrific casualties.

King Eieten kills King Sonne and destroys his settlement, enslaving his subjects.

-16 Ertingen is founded. King Eieten rules over the Eieten and Sonne tribes.

-2 Saint Martin arrives and seeks an audience with King Aschen

In an alliance with King Aschen, Saint Martin kills King Eieten in battle in the Dieten Hills. King Aschen assumes all of his grandfather’s lands for himself.

-1 The Battle of Blackfire Pass

1 The Barony of Aschen is formed.

19 King Aschen dies, his son inherits his position as Baron

25 Saint Martin dies in battle after being poisoned. A shrine is built to him in Sonnefurt.

73 Johann Helstrum arrives in Altdorf, preaching that he has received a vision of Sigmar ascending into Heaven to become a god, and crowned King of the Gods by Ulric himself. Although controversial at the time, the worship of Sigmar Divine takes strong roots in the lands of the Unberogi, and spreads throughout the Empire.

75 The Cult of Sigmar reaches the Barony of Aschen

87 Sonnefurt succeeds from Aschen

107 Sonnefurt is annexed by the Great-Barony of Kreutzhofen

126 Thalfang is annexed by the Great-Barony of Kreutzhofen

154 The first walls of Sonnefurt are built by Dwarf masons.

162 The Lighthouse and Harbour of Sonnefurt are built, increased Dwarf influx

173 The Sanctuary of Sigmar is consecrated on the anniversary of Saint Martin’s death. It is dedicated in his honour and houses his shrine. It is a site of pilgrimage and comes to include an alms house to cater for all the vagrants of the city and its many pilgrims.

173-1111 Little is known of these period except that the towns of the Barony expanded under Pfeifraucher influence and with the help of the lowland Dwarfs.

1111 Black Death sweeps the Empire, many die, although no records survive in the region of how many. Dwarfs withdraw from the Old World and Sonnefurt presumably becomes stagnant.

Records end until 1708