Kingmakers - Holswig-Schliestein
The family of the late Emperor, Karl-Franz. Various branches of house Holswig have dominated Reikland politics for years. So then, why is it that they are unable to produce Karl-Franz's Runefang, or a suitable heir to his Electorship? And what exactly happened to decimate the entire senior leadership of the family?
Contents
Family Branches
Harkonnen-Schliestein
Charged with Rottfurt and its surrounds, the Harkonnen-Schliesteins are little respected amongst cultured families. Graf Mueller von Harkonnen-Schliestein is a fat, intemperate man whose opinion of his own military worth far exceeds the truth.
Holswig-Kohl
Sigmund Holswig-Kohl was one of Karl-Franz's trusted advisors. He, like Karl-Franz, is now dead. The lands around Dunkelburg have been thrown into disarray by his death, and there are rumors that Nuln has an interest in expanding its holdings there.
Holswig-Abenauer
Keepers of Castle Reikguard, and the family of Karl-Franz's sister. Certainly secondmost in Holswig prominence.
Of course, today, Castle Reikguard is curiously abandoned and the people of the towns nearby cower in their homes. Rumors say Beastmen or worse have taken residence there.
Holswig-Schliestein
The Holswig-Schliesteins are the formerly royal house, consisting of Karl Franz and his children. Karl Franz is dead, and his daughters (he had no male children) are too young to effectively head a family. So, the house has fallen into dispute between the sisters' advisors. There are five daughters, and perhaps seven separate influencing factions within the family - Altdorf politics are a habit that dies hard.
Those that remain in Grunburg, the lands held by the Schliestein family for some time, are at odds with their cousins the Harkonnen-Schliesteins.
Holswig
Karl-Franz' mother, Ursula, was the Graf of the Holswig family and ran their ancestral lands around Osburg. The matriarch was a towering figure in Reikland politics, and her absence has left a considerable void. The people around Osburg, however, are used to a firm hand and will likely brook little in the way of occupiers unless well-convinced.
Holswig-Dienstein
Staunch, loyal defenders of Reikland honor, the Diensteins generally despise politics, with the execption of Karhart Holswig-Dunkelstein, who married into the family from the Holswigs, and sought to use the lands of Dunkelburg as a career platform. The people here little mourn his death.
Assets
The Emperor's former holdings, united, are the most fearsome and wealthy lands in Reikland. Riven by war, they are little more than backwoods principalities. Note that support from the remaining Holswig-Schliesteins does not guarantee control of Altdorf.
Wealth
The united families of the Emperor, when taken together, are certainly wealthy.
- Wealth Rating: 15 in aggregate, or 150,000 crowns in assets
Military
The Emperor's military strength came mostly from his economic and dealmaking prowess; however, the Reikguard serve the Elector of Reikland - technically they are bound to follow whoever holds the Reiklander Runefang, but in times when this weapon falls into enemy hands, this rule is ignored. The Reikguard, it should be noted, have no desire to shed Reiklander blood, but are duty bound to protect their liege.
- Military Strength, families in total: 4, or 2,000 troops
- Military Strength, Reikguard: 5, or 1,000 terrifyingly elite soldiers
The Reiklander Runefang
The Runefangs are Dwarf-forged weapons of great power that signify the Imperial office of Elector. There are only 10 in all of the world. Karl-Franz's Runefang is missing, but would go a great ways towards legitmizing whoever held it as a candidate for Electorship.
