Politics

Politics of Sonnefurt

The politics in Sonnefurt are a varied and complicated thing. Politics is rarely considered by the peasantry of the Barony, although many do have their own ideas and causes which they follow. It is mainly the rich merchant class of the town of Sonnefurt itself that form the political factions. Due to the vast amounts of money within the town, these factions are backed with serious wealth and contacts.

There are several key factions who lobby the Baroness to pursue their causes. However, many people subscribe to more than one of these factions, making the political background hard to negotiate and often fragmented and tumultuous.

Roseists

The Roseists are the pro-von Heisenberg faction in the Barony, so called for the heraldry of the Baroness and her family, the crimson rose and briars.

Ideology: Roseists desire the furthering of the Baroness’ influence in Wissenland and Nuln and the securing of further power for her. This is often confused with pro-Sonnefurt sentiments, as the two factions share the desire for Sonnefurt to prosper, but many who support Sonnefurt’s expansion would prefer it without her renewed links to Nuln, or even the northern cities of Wissenland.
Supporters: The Baroness, The Sonnefurt Military, The Baroness’ Court and close friends, some merchants and citizens.
Popularity: Relatively low, but enjoys an elite following. Is the predominant faction due to its support for the Baroness and her ultimate power in the Barony.
Key Support Bases: Sonnefurt (Upper River Side)
Important Subscribers: Marshal Richter Eichhorn, Lord Hermann Zell, Lady Frederica Zell, Father Josef Schmidt
Allies: Merchant Venturers
Neutral: Wissenlanders, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Tolists, Solland Separatists, Sonnefurt Traditionalists

Tolists

The Tolists are the pro-Sonnefurt but anti-von Heisenberg faction in the Barony, named after Herman Tol, the leader of the Barony prior to the Von Heisenberg family, who earned his position through dedication to the town and its people.

Ideology: Tolists support the expansion of the towns influence and the incoming prosperity. They are however against the leadership of an aristocracy and prefer a meritocracy, with leaders appointed after years of service on the Council and voted by their peers. They are fairly radical in their ideas and as such many are scared to admit to subscribing to the faction for fear of being reprimanded.
Supporters: Limited open support, but suspected amongst many merchants and Solland sympathisers
Popularity: Unsurprisingly very low, entertains an underground following.
Important Subscribers: Supposedly Lord Herwin Augustus (unconfirmed)
Key Support Bases: Unknown
Allies: Solland Separatists
Neutral: Sonnefurt Traditionalists, Merchant Venturers, Wissenlanders, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Roseists

Wissenlanders

Wissenlanders are the pro-Sonnefurt but anti-Nuln and anti-Solland faction in the Barony.

Ideology: Wissenlanders prioritise trade and expansion of Sonnefurt through Wissenland, forsaking Nuln in favour of Wissenburg and the other larger northern cities. They wish for Sonnefurt to become a great city of Wissenland rather than a distant town linked to Nuln as is the route it is heading. The support the Baroness’ links with Meissen and Heisenberg but dislike her reliance on Nuln.
Supporters: Many peasants of the Barony and towns people from outside Sonnefurt who see the influence of Nuln eating away their Barony’s values. Does not see much favour from the merchants however.
Popularity: Relatively strong
Important Subscribers: Mayor Willi Vogt, Dominik Beckenbauer (CEO of the South Wissenland Trade Federation)
Key Support Bases: Thalfang, Ostrach
Allies: Merchant Venturers
Neutral: Roseists, Tolists, Sonnefurt Traditionalists, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Solland Separatists

Sonnefurt Traditionalists

Sonnefurt Traditionalists are the most ardently pro-Sonnefurt faction, and are also incredibly conservative in their outlook.

Ideology: Sonnefurt Traditionalists desire to return to the humble beginnings of the Barony before there was too much interference from the Northern towns and Nuln. For this reason they can be considered moderately anti-von Heisenberg, but are not strongly associated with this camp. They praise the Baroness’ expansion of the Barony but want to cease her dealings with Nuln and Wissenland to cleanse the Barony of the taint of the city.
Supporters: Peasants, established landowners, farmers
Popularity: Moderately popular, support matched by severe unpopularity amongst merchants
Important Subscribers: Lord Herwin Augustus, Mayor Willi Vogt, Mayor Gunter Funk, Chief Sepp Sydow, Elder Maggie Gaffwiger
Key Support Bases: Thalfang, Ostrach, Bezeinhof, Martinskorf
Allies:
Neutral: Wissenlanders, Tolists, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Solland Separatists, Roseists, Merchant Venturers

Solland Separatists

Solland Separatists are the Barony’s pro-Solland faction. They are the only faction who takes the cause militantly.

Ideology: Solland Separatists want to oust the Baroness in favour of a Solland supporter. They wish to cut ties with both Wissenland and Nuln and join forces with other Solland towns in the South.
Supporters: Unknown, the cause is considered treason and punishable by death
Popularity: Gained some popularity during the War with Kroppenleben, but currently unknown.
Important Subscribers: No one has confessed
Key Support Bases: Sonnefurt
Allies: Tolists
Neutral: Merchant Venturers, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Roseists, Wissenlanders, Sonnefurt Traditionalists

Merchant Venturers

Merchant Venturers are a self interested faction, unconcerned with the political direction of the Barony and more concerned with lining their coin purses.

Ideology:Merchant Venturers desire the expansion of Sonnefurt at any cost. They are open to trade with anyone, including Nuln and even much further afield as long as it brings wealth to the region. Thus they support the Baroness in any decision to open trade with a new town, but will lobby against the closing of trade routes.
Supporters: On some level, most of the merchants of the Barony
Popularity: Strong.
Important Subscribers: Aldred Guttmann, Miengot Elzacher, Mayor Walter Heim, Mayor Gunter Funk, Marius Blech, almost every single CEO of companies based in Sonnefurt.
Key Support Bases: Sonnefurt
Allies: Wissenlanders, Roseists
Neutral: Solland Separatists, Lowland Dwarfs
Enemies: Sonnefurt Traditionalists, Tolists

Lowland Dwarfs

The Lowland Dwarfs are a self interested faction, unconcerned with the politics of the humans they live with, but interested in protecting their assets, interests and way of life.

Ideology: Lowland Dwarfs want Sonnefurt to be affluent as it gives them a way to sell their wares and make their fortunes. They support trade with everyone, but would prefer it if trade with Karak Hirn were limited, allowing the Dwarfs to sell their goods for a higher price.
Supporters: The Guild of Dwarfs
Popularity: Very strong but limited to Dwarfs
Important Subscribers: Jusk Stromsson
Key Support Bases: Sonnefurt (Dwarfen Quarter)
Allies:
Neutral: Roseists, Tolists, Wissenlanders, Sonnefurt Traditionalists, Solland Separatists, Merchant Venturers.
Enemies:

The Council of Sonnefurt

The Council of the Towns and Villages of Sonnefurt

The Council itself has a long history, established first in the wake of the invasion of Gorbad Ironclaw and standing as a representation of the long resistance towards the Pfeifraucher family of Kreutzhofen. Originally the Council was a Council of Nine, and then Strazen, Martinskorf and Bezeinhof were recognised. Later the religious leader was permitted entry. In recent years the Council, strapped for money, has allowed members who have lived in the town for over twenty five years and have the right amount of money to buy their way into the council. So far only two people have achieved their positions this way.

The Council’s duties are now fairly administrative, but they have the power to vote on certain decisions proposed to them by the ruling Baron or Baroness. In the meantime, they run the Judicial Court of Sonnefurt and run administrative tasks, compiling censuses, tax records, procuring trade deals and monitoring dealings within the town and the Barony. They can also decide on whether the Barony sends troops outside of its jurisdiction to aid anyone else in Wissenland or the Empire.

Each meeting is chaired by a different Councillor, but often this responsibility falls on Lord Augustus as others try and avoid the responsibility by feigning absence. As such it is normally just accepted he will chair, even if it is not his appointed turn.

Mayors and Town Leaders

Mayor Günter Fink

Gunter Funk is the Mayor of the regions second largest town, Thalfang. Mr Fink is a portly gentleman, and very typically a noble man. He is not particularly liked within the region, but he pays a lot of money to the Baroness to keep his position as Mayor, earned through his large vineyard on the Aschen Hills. This is where he lives for the most part, distancing himself from the people of his town, for they too do not particularly like him. He makes the most of his position on the Council, and often over asserts himself, far beyond that which his position warrants. However, under his leadership, Thalfang has actually grown in size, and this means he will maintain his position until someone better is found to replace him.

Mayor Walter Heim

Walter Heim is the Mayor of the regions third largest town, Ertingen. Mr Heim is fairly young, having only just inherited the position from his father, Ewald Heim, a close friend of Baron Max von Heisenberg. Lacking in confidence of his position, Walter rarely attends the Council meetings, and only attends when the Baroness insists. The reaction to his leadership has not yet sunk in, but there is a spirit of hope that Ertingen will become the second most dominant town in the region under him, so long as he truly represents them on the Council and does not shirk his responsibilities.

Mayoress Elinor Helemburtus

Elinor is the Mayoress of Strazen, widow of the former Mayor Tomas Helemburtus. After the wake of his death, she has assumed his role with great popularity within the small community. She is said to be fairly attractive, but aging severely with the stress of her new found position. On the Council she does not have a great deal of influence or sway but is renowned for her logical and level headed views. Mrs Helemburtus has close relations with Walter Heim of Ertingen and the two settlements often lobby in favour of the Dieten Hills Townships, the name of the alliance between them.

Mayor Willi Vogt

Willi Vogt is the Mayor of Ostrach. His family is well established in the area and can trace their roots back far before the devastation of Gorbad Ironclaw. For this reason, Willi Vogt is regarded as fairly arrogant, claiming superiority in decisions over even the Baroness as his family have been in Ostrach longer than her family has been in South Wissenland. Mr Vogt was known to have disagreed strongly with the decision to stay neutral in the Solland Effort, proclaiming that as proud Wissenlanders they should fight any Solland insurrection wherever it may appear. On the Council, his forceful approach renders some negotiation difficult as it often turns to a shouting match, especially with Mr Fink of Thalfang

Elder Maggie Gaffwiger

Maggie Gaffwiger is the village elder of Bezeinhof. She is an old, frail woman, but has a great knowledge of the history of the region and despite her peasant background, has learned to read and record the Barony’s history. She rarely makes appearances at the Council unless absolutely necessary due to her age but when she attends she is a useful asset, using mistakes of past decisions to influence the present decisions.

Chief Sepp Sydow

Sepp Sydow is the village leader of Martinskorf. He is respected in his town as an excellent hunter and woodsman, and is a celebrated hero of the Sonnefurt resistance during the War with Kroppenleben. On the Council he is regarded by others, particularly Fink and Guttmann as a simpleton for he will often resort to bellowing to get his point across. However, no one is likely to disagree with him

Other Important Figures

Marshal Richter Eichhorn

As Supreme Commander of the Sonnefurt Military, the Marshal takes a prominent role in the Council, and is often considered its leader, particularly as he is second in command to the Baroness herself and the closest to her. His military expertise means he is only really concerned with the running of the towns militias, military spending and military crises. In all other affairs he defers to the superior knowledge of the other Councillors. The Council will often also call upon him if they need a favour from his former employers, the Soll River Patrol.

Father Josef Schmidt

Father Schmidt is the newest Abbot of the Sanctuary of Sigmar in Sonnefurt and is the leading religious figure in the region. He is also a trusted advisor of the Baroness and has offered her spiritual guidance for several years. He is relatively young and charismatic and on the Council his calm and collected logic often calms the more rash members from becoming too irate.

Jusk Stromsson

Jusk Stromsson is the Elder of the small Dwarf population that have established themselves in Sonnefurt after migrating from Karak Hirn. The Dwarfs are mainly stonemasons, and have helped with the expansion of the town and its surrounding villages and boost the economy of Sonnefurt greatly and are a huge asset to the Barony. On the Council Jusk only seems to care about the interests of his community and doesn't take part in many other discussions. When he does however he is stubborn as any Dwarf should be, and is often rude and abrasive.

Aldred Guttmann

Aldred is a prominent merchant in Sonnefurt, running the human side of the Hirn-Sonnefurt Banking Corporation. As such his relations with the Dwarfs of Karak Hirn are excellent. He is a stuffy and boring man, wearing small pince-nez spectacles. His knowledge of mathematics and excellent record of study at the University of Nuln make him a useful asset to the Council. He is not well liked however for his pedantic, laboured approach to negotiations, but apparently, this is why the Dwarf negotiators admire him.

Miengot Elzacher

Miengot is the youngest man to have been known to run the Chamber of Customs and Commerce. Like Aldred Guttmann he has an excellent record from the University of Nuln and a great command of mathematics. Unlike Guttmann however, Miengot is an amiable man and is apparently fairly funny. He is commonly found at the Von Heisenberg theatre and holds a large stake in its business, paying an annual donation to the upkeep and hiring of actors. On the Council he is well liked, and will often be the only one able to handle Guttmann’s approach to mathematical ideas.

Lady Frederica Zell

Lady Frederica Zell is the heiress of Lord Hermann Zell, an important merchant within Sonnefurt. Due to him being bed stricken with a disease that will prove fatal, she represents the interests of the Zell family on the Council. The Zell family are a well established name in Sonnefurt and have been for many years. Their interests mainly lie with the keeping of the trade routes with the Border Princes open, as the Zell family have links there and strong trade ties. Lady Frederica is among the most eligible women in Sonnefurt, and it is said Captain Strotmann of the Soll River Patrol has been courting this beauty. On the Council her youth makes her inexperienced in debates and her relative stupidity renders her almost entirely useless and easily manipulated.

Marius Blech

Marius Blech is the richest person in the Barony of Sonnefurt bar the Baroness herself. Not much is known about his past, except that he rose from the depths of the Dockyards to come to prominence just before the Baroness came to power. He is said to have criminal connections and running a smuggling business from the Border Princes, but nothing has been proven. He represents the interests of the working Sonnefurt men in the Council. His sly personality makes it difficult to trust him, and the only reason he gets his way is due to his reputation of using his Ogre bodyguards to devastating effect.

Newer Additions

Lord Herwin Augustus

Lord Herwin Augustus is a wealthy lawyer who has risen to prestige in Sonnefurt, allowing him to buy his way into the Council many years ago to the disdain of the town leaders, already upset with the mercantile influence. Lord Herwin is a modest man, not dressing as befits his money and rank, but instead he refuses to drink, party of indulge, making him appear a very boring man. As a lawyer, Lord Herwin is an adept debater and often manages to secure his desires within the Council. However, he is obviously used by the Council, for he enjoys being a lawyer, and is often told to preside over the Judicial Court, meaning the other councillors can avoid the task.

Prince Imre Lank

Prince Lank was formerly King of a small Border Princedom over the mountains. He was thrown out in a coup by his rebellious army and fled with all his wealth, finding a home in Sonnefurt. Like Lord Augustus, he used this wealth to buy his influence in the town and buy himself a position on the Council. His thick accent makes it hard to understand him and no one takes his views on Sonnefurt seriously, seeing him still as an outsider. His contributions to the Sonnefurt Barracks have, however, earned him the respect of Marshall Eichhorn.