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: