Augsburg - medieval

The Holy Roman Empire during the High Middle Ages

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Augsburg by Day

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History

The city was founded in 15 BC by Drusus and Tiberius as Augusta Vindelicorum, on the orders of their stepfather Emperor Augustus. The name means "Augusta of the Vindelici". This garrison camp soon became the capital of the Roman province of Raetia.

Early development was due to a 400-year affiliation with the Roman Empire, especially because of its excellent military, economic and geographic position at the convergence of the Alpine rivers Lech and Wertach, and with direct access to most important Alpine passes. Thus, Augsburg was the intersection of many important European east-west and north-south connections, which later evolved as major trade routes of the Middle Ages.

Around 120 AD Augsburg became the capital of the Roman province Raetia. Augsburg was sacked by the Huns in the 5th century AD, by Charlemagne in the 8th century, and by Welf of Bavaria in the 11th century, but arose each time to greater prosperity.

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Current Events

The Spring Tourney of 1094 exploded into all-out civil war. During the night of May 22nd, the four primary houses of Bavaria battled it out for the city. The seven lesser houses quickly chose sides based on fealty or opportunity. The result is that for the moment the House of Berengar hold Augsburg with the support of the houses of Adler and Katze.

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Citizens of Augsburg

• -- City (20,681) - Imperial Census 1094 A.D.
• -- Ansgar -- A guardsman's son from Augsburg.
• -- Ramirus -- A member of the Night Watch assigned to observe and protect Rambert.

Guilds

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Coin Changers

• -- Emmerich -- Guildmaster

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Weavers

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Berahthraban

Noble Houses & Alliances

Northern Alliance: The Bear & The Cat

Berengar - A Greater House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Berengar is a Bear with crossed Spears.

History: For over two centuries the House of Berengar has had strong ties to the kings of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire. The founder of the house, Unruoch II of Friuli, was a close friend of Charlemagne during the 7th century. Over the following two centuries the family continued to acquire with, power and allies. In the 10th century, this rise culminated initially with the ascension of Berengar I to the kingship of Italy and later to the imperial throne. While the Ottonian and Salian dynasties have supplanted the Berengar family, this house seeks once more to place a member of the family upon the imperial throne, and their first step in reacquiring the leadership of the Holy Roman Empire is by gaining the dukedom of Bavaria. As such, they are politically opposed to the House of Falkenrath.

• -- Chlothar, Count of Berengar

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Katze - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Katze is a brindled house Cat.

History: The House of Katze has existed since the 8th century, its founder Engel, was a warrior in the armies of Charlemagne when that emperor laid siege to Augsburg in the late 7th century. Rewarded by his liege for loyal service, Engel was granted a title of nobility and estates adjoining the city of Augsburg. His descendants have acted as guardians and patrons to the city for centuries. Despite this, the House of Katze is still only a barony and its current head Norbert, seeks to remedy this by supporting the claim of Eadburga of Nordheim to become the new Duchess of Bavaria. Baron Norbert hopes that Eadburga, once raised to the position of duchess will reward his house with a new county, that of Augsburg. As such, the House of Katze has found itself in a political alliance with the House of Falkenrath, an alliance based on the promise of mutual benefit, a shared history and a vision of Augsburg as the permanent capital of the duchy.

• -- Norbert, Baron of Katze

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Northern Alliance Scions

• -- Albert of Berengar -- Heir Apparent and Political Savant
• -- Leopold of Katze -- A noble rapscallion.

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Southern Alliance: The Boar -- The Eagle -- and the Five Hares

Everard - A Greater House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Everard is a pair of Wild Boars.

History: Over the last century, House Everard has risen to prominence after capturing the fortifications that guard the entrance the Alpine pass and the southern trade route. Seen as somewhat underhanded, uncouth, and extravagant due to their relatively new wealth. Their family name is often mispronounced as Ever-hard in reference equally to their virile men, prolific women and willingness to engage in personal or familial conflicts.

• -- Audamar, Count of Everard

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Adler - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Adler is a Eagle.

History: House Adler is neither the most politically powerful, nor the wealthiest of the noble families of Bavaria. But, what they lack in other areas, they make up for in heritage, for their family is the oldest in souther Germania, and its members can trace their linage back to Rome itself. As such the Adler are a proud family that never miss an opportunity to prove their superiority to the members of noble houses and to anyone who will listen of course.

• -- Leudoberct, Baron of Adler

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Hasek - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Hasek is five brown Hares, as such, members of the House of Hasek are often called quincunx or five-spots.

History: Two centuries ago, the House of Hasek was originally allied with the House of Habicht, but a disastrous attempt at alliance through intermarriage resulted in centuries of bad-blood and perpetual feuding. The Hasek are best known for their penchant for political maneuvering and their stopgap solution for most problems, marital alliances. Because the Hasek take so readily to politics, they have become quite good at it and have contacts throughout Germania and beyond. The constant use of marital alliances has allowed their family to form useful links to all the noble families of Bavaria save for the House of Habicht. As such, the Hasek are numerous, well connected and rarely have to wage war except against their arch-rivals the Habicht. But, while their holdings and alliances have made them rich, the Hasek have a fairly weak warrior tradition which leaves them vulnerable should their alliances fail. Due to the resemblance between the house's heraldic symbol and the quincunx dice or five-spot, the family is well known for the inborn vice of gambling. The centuries old feud between the Hasek and Habicht has led to local proverbs about hawks and hares that is slowly spreading to the rest of Europe.

• -- Veremund, Baron of Hasek

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Scions of the Southern Alliance

• -- Kuno of Everard -- Guardian of the Southern Pass
• -- Wazo of Adler -- Knight of Augsburg
• -- Gerlach of Hasek -- House Hasek's weapons master

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Western Alliance: The Fox -- The Falcon -- and The Stag

Voss - A Greater House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Voss is a red Fox.

History:

• -- Reinhard, Count of Voss

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Falkenrath - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Falkenrath is a Falcon clinging to a Gauntlet.

History: For the last few centuries, the wisest member of the family was selected to serve as advisor to the Dukes of Bavaria. But with the fall of the last duke, the family has lost much of historical prominence and seeks to restore their lost position. As such, they are strong supporters of Eadburga of Nordheim to become the new Duchess of Bavaria. While the Barony of Falkenrath is far from the wealthiest in Bavaria, it is the most politically connected and plays a central role in the power games of the nobility.

• -- Wendelin, Baron of Falkenrath

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Hirsch - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Hirsch is a red Stag.

History: Originating as a house of common hunters, the House of Hirsch has earned a place among the noble houses of Bavaria. While their climb has been slow, the Hirsch are most skilled in the management of their lands and as such their wealth is significant. Most recently the Hirsch have turned significant profits through selective lumbering and the furrier trades. Despite having a decidedly mercantile leaning, the House of Hirsch has a strong warrior tradition which exhorts its men to be both brave and steadfast. Once drawn into a conflict, members of House Hirsch will fight to the death and are loyal friends and allies.

• -- Altwidus, Baron of Hirsch

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Scions of the Western Alliance

• -- Walherich of Voss -- Knight & Tactician
• -- Hubertus of Falkenrath -- Master scholar and Hermetic magus.
• -- Athanaric of Hirsch -- The First Ranger

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Eastern Alliance: The Wolf -- The Hawk -- and the Vulture

Wolff - A Greater House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Wolff is a silver Wolf.

History:

• -- Blanchard, Count of Wolff

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Geier - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Geier is a Vulture.

History: As the previous guardians of the Alpine passes and the most popular trade route to northern Italy, their family amassed great wealth by controlling the chain of fortresses that guarded the southern trade routes and the wealth that flowed through it. A century ago, a large force of bandits wrested control of the Alpine pass from House Geier's control. The bandit leader, a man named Sigiheri was able to purchase titles of nobility from the then emperor and House Geier was reduced to the status of a mere barony. While the house remains wealthy, its various members are known for being a grasping and vindictive lot whose deepest desire is to bring down the Everard family and resume control of the Alpine pass. These circumstances have fueled a long standing blood feud that erupts again with each new generation.

• -- Giselbert, Baron of Geier

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Habicht - A Lesser House

Device: The heraldic symbol of House Habicht is a brown Goshawk.

History: House Habicht has a long and proud history that traces itself to chieftains of the Celtic tribes before the arrival of the legions of Rome. The family is widespread throughout the southern Alps and regularly wages war on its neighbors. Within the family Habicht, honor and prowess at arms are the two most important manly characteristics and as such war is their favorite pastime. Two centuries ago, a alliance with the lesser House of Hasek failed disastrously and the two have been enemies since. Members of House Habicht despise the descendants of House Hasek for their reliance on political maneuvering and marital alliances rather than on the sport of war.

• -- Ferdinand, Baron of Habicht

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Scions of the Eastern Alliance

• -- Radulf of Wolff -- The First Son of House Wolff
• -- Odoacer of Geier -- The noble opportunist.
• -- Adalwin of Habicht -- Lord of Theudhar Hall

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Visitors

• -- Meinrad -- Knight of Prague
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• -- Jelena -- Baroness of Vidin

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Holy Ground

Churches

• -- Augsburg Cathedral
  • -- Crypt of Saints (located beneath the cathedral)
    • -- Lich Yard (surrounding the cathedral)

Synagogues

• -- Bet Kenesset
  • -- Beit Kvarot (located just beyond the western walls)

Convents

• -- Nunnery of St. Margaret
  • -- Crypt of St. Margaret (located below the nunnery)

Potter's Field

The Potter's Field of Augsburg is a sad place, located outside the walls along the Eastern Road. It occupies a region where nothing but weeds will grow. Old tombstones stick up out of the dark soil, some are actually stone with a name and date chiseled upon them by the local stonecutter or more likely just a wooden cross crafted by the deceased person's loved ones. Four types of people are buried here in shallow graves, convicted criminals, those too poor to afford a church funeral, non-Christians (excepting Jews, they have their own graveyard outside the Western walls), and Gypsies (that would be the Roma, a group rather new to Europe and any nameless, classless wanderer). By day the place has forlorn air, by night, with the rising of a noxious ground fog (probably from all those rotting remains), the place is truly a place of mortal terror.

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Augsburg by Night

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Fortifications

• -- Augsburn Walls
  • -- Perlachturm -- The Watchtower
• -- Gaol

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Inns

• -- Der weiße Hirschhof -- Augsburg's most prestigious hostel, its accommodations and comestibles are famous throughout southern Germania.

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Law & Lawlessness

Imperial Authorities: Lord Carolus -- Imperial Seneschal, Lady Gisila & Lord Hardwin -- Imperial Magister

Imperial Guards

[[]] -- Burkhart -- Captain of the Imperial Guards

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Ecclesiastical Authorities

-- Ansobert -- Prince-Bishop of Augsburg

Prince-Bishop's Guards

[[]] -- Leonard -- Captain of the Bishop's Guard

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Secular Authorities

-- Reinald -- Bürgermeister (Mayor)

Night Watch

-- Alfher -- Captain of the Night Watch

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Monuments

• -- Town Hall
• -- Three Classical Fountains (Agustus, Mercury and Hercules fountains)

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Night Folk

• -- Hardestadt the Elder -- Current Prince of Augsburg
  • -- Oldrich of Serdica -- Cappadocian advisor to Hardestadt
    • -- Pietro Giovanni -- Giovanni apprentice to Oldrich

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Private Residences

• -- Bishop's Residence
• -- Imperial Palace
• -- Mayor's Manse

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