The League of Ostermark
The League of Ostermark occupies the eastern edge of the Empire with Sylvania to the south and the World's Edge Mountains further to the east. It is attached to Talabecland and is responsible to its ruling Elector Count, Grand Duke Gustav von Krieglitz. The governor of Ostermark is Chancellor Maximillian Dachs and he lives in the provincial capital of Bechafen to the north. Also in the capital is the sorcerous Fire College (see Realms of Sorcery.)
The League of Ostermark is an unremarkable region of the Empire but it does produce some good fighting men. The World's Edge Mountains is a hotbed for trouble and adventurers come from miles around to sample its 'delights'. There are some mines which belong to Ostermark located in the mountains and sometimes they are the target for attack by bandits and goblinoids. Then there is the ruined former capital of Ostermark: Mordheim. It lies near the border with Sylvania and is a place of ill omen and only heavily armed and well equipped groups of adventurers and treasure hunters ever dare to venture into its dark ruins. Folklore over the centuries has produced fanciful tales that Mordheim is paved with gold but the truth is it isn't: only beasts haunt the burnt site and dark magicians looking for ingredients for their magic.
Roots: Both the tribes of the Talabec and Fennones settled in the Ostermark region one way or another during and after Sigmar's time. In fact it was the Fennones who first began to settle in its southern regions but the tribes of the Talabec, who viewed them as degenerate scum, pushed them back. Over time it would be the Talabec tribe who would begin to settle the area.
Historical Notes: The most notable battle in the region came in 2145 IC when an Imperial army, containing many Ostermark troops, defeated the Undead horde of Mannfred von Carstein at the Battle of Hel Fenn. Hel Fenn is a dreadful stretch of marshland which penetrates into Sylvania to the south. When the Vampire Counts were at their height, at the turn of the millennium, Ostermark was almost completely devastated. This is one of the reasons why there are few settlements to the south. In the Age of Three Emperors, Ostermark took advantage of the anarchy and invaded Talabecland but with no conclusive outcome; the goblins of the Red Face tribe began to invade Ostermark's eastern border ending the invasion of Talabecland. Another threat to Ostermark was around the mid 18th Century when Ungol horsemen raided its border settlements.
Regional Saints and Heroes: One name springs from the Age of Vampire Counts when Ostermark was invaded by the Undead legions: Adam von Steinwitz. This young man was the leader of a small infantry unit tasked with the defence of the village of Steinwitz. The village would be attacked several times over several nights until Adam devised a bold plan: to attack the Undead on their ground with the day as their ally. Adam found that the Undead were attacking from the foothills of the Worlds Edge Mountains and that the insane, but brilliant, Necromancer Ludwig was guiding the attacks. Through much daring and heroism Adam and his unit annihilated many Undead foes and it was von Steinwitz himself, alone after his unit finally perished, who killed the foul Necromancer in his tower. Adam never returned from the foothills. It is said that just after he left Ludwig's tower he was cut down by a goblin arrow, others say that he is still in the tower, trapped in the fabled Labyrinth of Ludwig, forever to wonder its dark passages. Whatever the scenario, Adam von Steinwitz is heralded as a local saint (even if the priesthood doesn't) by the people of the village; his statue stands proudly in the village square, sword in one hand while his other rests on the shoulder of a gaunt peasant. Even though the village is impoverished the villagers manage to ensure that the statue is well maintained; sometimes at their own personal expense.
Military Colours: Purple and yellow or purple and white.
| Settlement Name | Size | Pop | Wealth | Source of Wealth | Garrison/Militia | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BECHAFEN | T | 4,112 | 3 | Fishing, Timber, Trade | 75b/300c | Capital of Ostermark. Ferry |
| Breghoven | ST | 455 | 3 | Prospecting, Mining | 30b | Mining settlement near mountains |
| Krieghorst | V | 78 | 2 | Agriculture, Fishing | 5b | |
| Kuntheim | V | 101 | 1 | Subsistence | 10c | |
| Reinzfeld | V | 66 | 1 | Subsistence | - | |
| Steinwitz | V | 48 | 1 | Agriculture, Fishing | - | |
| Weinholtz | V | 57 | 1 | Agriculture | - | |
| Mordheim | - | - | - | - | - | Former ruined capital of Ostermark, flattened by warpstone |
CHARACTERS FROM THE LEAGUE OF OSTERMARK
People from Ostermark are largely treated as second-class citizens by their more affluent neighbours from Talabecland. But Ostermarkers have always maintained a great spirit and camaraderie that largely began when the small settlements of Ostermark were invaded by the armies of the Vampire Counts. Tales tell of small groups of soldiers, sometimes even peasants, fighting off large numbers of Undead creatures. While some of these stories are true many have been altered to give them a more 'heroic feel'.
OSTERMARKER WARRIOR BASIC CAREER CHART
| Human | Elf | Dwarf | Halfling | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-10 | 01-10 | 01-15 | 01-10 | Bodyguard |
| 11-20 | - | 16-20 | 11-15 | Labourer |
| - | - | - | - | Marine |
| 21-40 | 11-40 | 21-45 | - | Mercenary |
| 41-50 | 41-50 | 46-50 | 16-40 | Militiaman |
| 51-55 | 51-55 | 51-55 | 41-45 | Noble |
| 56-65 | 56-65 | 56-60 | 46-55 | Outlaw |
| 66-70 | - | 61-65 | - | Pit Fighter |
| 71-75 | 66-70 | 66-70 | - | Protagonist |
| - | - | - | - | Seaman |
| 76-84 | 71-75 | - | 56-72 | Servant |
| 85-91 | 76-90 | 71-80 | 73-85 | Soldier |
| 92-95 | 91-95 | - | - | Squire |
| - | - | 81-90 | - | Troll Slayer |
| - | - | 91-95 | - | Tunnel Fighter |
| 96-00 | 96-00 | 96-00 | 86-00 | Watchman |
OSTERMARKER RANGER BASIC CAREER CHART
| Human | Elf | Dwarf | Halfling | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-10 | 01-10 | - | - | Boatman |
| 11-20 | 11-20 | 06-15 | - | Bounty Hunter |
| 21-25 | 21-25 | 16-20 | 06-10 | Coachman |
| 26-30 | - | - | 11-15 | Farmer |
| 31-35 | 26-30 | - | 16-25 | Fisherman |
| 36-45 | 31-45 | 21-25 | 26-35 | Gamekeeper |
| 46-55 | 46-55 | - | 36-45 | Herdsman |
| 56-65 | 56-70 | 26-30 | 46-55 | Hunter |
| 66-70 | 71-75 | 31-35 | 56-65 | Muleskinner |
| 71-75 | 76-80 | - | - | Outrider |
| - | - | - | - | Pilot |
| 76-80 | - | 36-65 | 66-70 | Prospector |
| - | - | - | - | Rat Catcher |
| 81-85 | - | 66-70 | 71-75 | Roadwarden |
| - | - | 71-80 | - | Runner |
| 86-90 | - | 81-85 | 76-80 | Toll-Keeper |
| 91-95 | 81-95 | 86-00 | 81-95 | Trapper |
| 96-00 | 96-00 | - | 96-00 | Woodsman |
OSTERMARKER ROGUE BASIC CAREER CHART
| Human | Elf | Dwarf | Halfling | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-05 | - | - | 01-10 | Agitator |
| 06-10 | - | 01-05 | 11-15 | Bawd |
| 11-15 | - | 06-10 | 16-20 | Beggar |
| 16-20 | 01-20 | 11-15 | 21-30 | Entertainer |
| 21-25 | - | 16-20 | 31-35 | Footpad |
| 26-35 | 21-30 | 21-25 | 36-50 | Gambler |
| 36-40 | - | 26-35 | 51-55 | Grave Robber |
| 41-45 | - | 36-40 | - | Jailer |
| - | 31-60 | - | - | Minstrel |
| 46-55 | 61-70 | 41-50 | 56-60 | Pedlar |
| 56-60 | 71-80 | 51-55 | 61-70 | Raconteur |
| 61-75 | 81-85 | 56-65 | 71-75 | Rustler |
| 76-80 | 86-97 | 66-75 | 76-80 | Smuggler |
| 81-90 | - | 76-80 | 81-95 | Thief |
| 91-00 | 98-00 | 81-00 | 96-00 | Tomb Robber |
OSTERMARKER ACADEMIC BASIC CAREER CHART
| Human | Elf | Dwarf | Halfling | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-05 | 01-05 | 01-10 | 01-10 | Alchemist's Apprentice |
| 06-15 | 11-15 | 11-25 | 11-20 | Artisan's Apprentice |
| 16-25 | - | - | - | Druid |
| - | - | 26-35 | - | Engineer |
| 26-30 | - | 36-40 | 21-25 | Exciseman |
| 31-45 | 16-40 | 41-45 | 26-45 | Herbalist |
| 46-50 | 41-45 | - | - | Hypnotist |
| 51-55 | 46-50 | 46-55 | 46-50 | Initiate |
| 56-60 | 51-60 | 56-60 | 51-60 | Pharmacist |
| 61-65 | 61-65 | 61-65 | 61-65 | Physician's Student |
| 66-70 | 66-70 | 66-70 | 66-70 | Scribe |
| 71-75 | 71-75 | 71-75 | 71-75 | Seer |
| 76-80 | 76-80 | 76-80 | 76-80 | Student |
| 81-97 | 81-90 | 81-97 | 81-95 | Trader |
| 98-00 | 91-00 | 99-00 | 99-00 | Wizard's Apprentice |