Concerning Hexenheim

[Lovejoy]

Concerning Hexenheim, and its founder -

The city-port of Hexenheim sits on the far western coast of Nordland, beyond Wreckers's Point, and near to the border of The Wasteland. From its humble beginnings as a miserable coastal hamlet some two decades ago, Hexenheim has grown rapidly over the last 20 years into one of the finest towns in this (admittedly misbegotten) region. Among the common folk thereabouts, nobody is quite sure how this change has been effected - given that Hexenheim is so isolated from the rest of Nordland and receives precious little assistance or interest from the more powerful cities or nobility of that province.

Yet the place has indeed thrived. There are occasional rumours that what was once a scruffy place of lean-to hovels has expanded by means of plunder from overseas ventures. For once, the rumours are correct. Its patron and founder, Ruprecht Von Hexen, made a fortune as an Empire sanctioned privateer and explorer (some would say `thief`). He poured gold into Hexenheim, raising spires and walls. Altdorf too, has done very well out of this mariner's exploits.

In recent times, the reputation of Hexenheim as a point to which many disparate and desperate individuals flock has solidified, as befits a place that has been built on piracy. There is, it is said, a whiff of brimstone about the town..something is not quite right, yet no one can pinpoint what, and why..

As you have read, it was Ruprecht Von Hexen, the current Baron of the region (more correctly, a Baronet - but in Ruprecht's eyes this is as near a Baron as makes no odds) - who founded Hexenheim, and named it as a living monument to his own ego. Now, this unique individual seeks for new ways to further expand his beloved city. Some say he dreams for Hexenheim to become a city-state, self-governing and free of Nordland. Others suggest darkly that he is hoping to do what Marienburg did, and leave the Empire altogether. Altdorf is listening, perhaps. But Altdorf knows too how it profits from the Baron's rash ventures, and so, turns a blind eye to the occasional stories that drunken coachmen or beggars tell.

Some weeks past, The Hexenheim Expeditionskorp (H.E.K.) set sail from the city once more.
The private army of Baron Ruprecht Von Hexen, this latest incarnation of the H.E.K. is comprised of able men (dwarfs, halflings, it doesn't much matter to the Baron) willing to prosecute a dangerous jaunt in the Border Princes to secure the further resources that could set Hexenheim on the path to becoming a major imperial city - on a par with Bogenhafen, Talabheim, or even Nuln. Travelling by sea, The Baron saw no reason to obtain any Imperial edict to launch his latest outing - since the H.E.K. has been packed aboard a fleet of ships which the Baron owns, the need for certain dull niceties (such as having to actually secure Imperial permission to trudge through dreary neighbouring states) has been thankfully, unnecessary.

More anon...

[Tenorikuma]

Very cool and well thought out.

[kojibear]

I like this Baron Ruprecht Von Hexen character already Quite a crafty and self assured fellow. Well done M'Lord!

(Ruprecht...reminds me of one of the personalities of Steve Martin in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels )

[ashmie]

Cool story and dark background. I had no idea Marienburg was separate to The Empire. Is that new fluff post 1990?

[YellowStreak]

Cool story and dark background. I had no idea Marienburg was separate to The Empire. Is that new fluff post 1990?

I thought Marienburg was always an independent entity?

[me_in_japan]

Independent city-state, innit? My Old World lore is a bit rusty, but iirc it has always been independent. Just, not very different.

[ashmie]

Yes I should have known that but I didn't. Shameful as a warhammer fantasy GM. I need to read more source books. Actually I don't have any Marienburg source books in my collection.

[Lovejoy]

Thanks for the kind words gents! Many more ideas peculating which I hope to add to very soon.

Marienburg used to be part of the Empire (it still is in the Mordheim timeline), but bought its independence from the Empire in suitably shady fashion during the reign of corrupt Emperor Dieter IV (I knew the gist of it, but confess I had to dig up those details from good old wikipedia).

Nordland has had designs on reintegrating Marienburg into the Empire ever since, but it's not going to happen.

Clearly the Baron feels that what's good enough for Marienburg is good enough for Hexenheim.