Bergmenschen

## The Bergmenschen

The Territories of the Bergmenschen are highlighted in red.

The Bergmenschen are light skinned, short, stocky people. Berglander craftsmanship is known throughout the world, items of the highest quality are manufactured by Berlander guilds. Apprentices train to be journeymen and eventually masters as they hone their skills over many years. Over the last few centuries through trade and proximity, pro-dominion sentiment is stronger in Bergland than in any other polity.

### Food

Bergmenschen are fond of fermenting grain along with hops, fruits and other flavourings to create a great variety of unique beers. They eat sourdough bread and vegetables that grow in such a climate like cabbages, carrots and leeks.

### Recreation

Bergland is known for its musicians, the College of Music in Ludvigbronn is a hub for the arts.  The most common instruments are the lute, the fife and the bagpipes.

Though religion is not a large part of the life of your average Berglander, there are still some who maintain the traditions of their ancestors.

### History

Long ago a people inhabiting the northern tail of Reichlichia, now the homeland of the United Wuster Tribes, split off seeking better lands after the climate in the region turned arid. In 720 BT some headed south into Reichlichia, settling its fertile bays, rivers and meadows. They quickly found they were not the only people to inhabit this landmass however, first meeting the Rotu in the west, the Kokoru in the east and the hostile and warlike Ngahere Motu to the south. With a common enemy and some very wise and tolerant leadership in those early days the settlers managed to form peaceful relationships with the Rotu and especially the Kokoru.

Even with assistance from their new allies, raids from the frenzied Ngahere Motu still proved an existential threat to the menschen, forcing them into the protection of the largely uninhabited Wirbelsäule mountain range where they were finally able to put down permanent roots. Settling much of the eastern coast of Reichlichia the people of the mountains (Berglanders) became rich, finding their new home to be bursting with rare and useful minerals, not least of which being their large deposits of iron.

With these advantages the Berglanders were soon able to push the warmongering Ngahere Motu from the forests where they had first attempted to settle, an expansion and imbalance of power that worried the Rotu. In 630 BT relations were strained even further when the Skärgåd, closely related to the Berglanders, began raiding Rotu settlements. Many Rotu believed the Berglanders were responsible for these attacks, some thinking they had sent for their cousins in the north and others believing they were directly involved. Though the official story of the Berglanders paints them as innocent bystanders it must be noted how much they stood to gain from a destabilization of their largest and most powerful rivals.

Regardless of who was truly at fault, after nearly a decade of enduring the Skärgåd raids in 621 BT a Rotu army numbering in the tens of thousands descended on the unprepared Berglanders, dislodging them from the eastern coast of the Great Lakes they had recently occupied. After a devastating conflict in which the Rotu took the upper hand, Bergland managed to strike a deal, leveraging their wealth and positive relation with the Kokoru. With clear borders in place Reichlichia enjoyed an enduring peace between its people’s that endured for centuries, interrupted with brief uprisings, Skärgåd and Ngahere Motu raids, and in 443 BT the Civil war.

Cultural differences had begun to emerge in the forest-dwelling menschen shortly after their settling. Over the centuries the people of the forest (Walder) did not share the industrious nature of their mountain dwelling progenitors, preferring instead subsistence level farming, fishing and a focus on creating great works of art. Walder culture would become renowned across the world. Also, an exodus of Rischnoy faithful into the Kingdom was not successful in converting the locals, eventually being relegated to the undesireable southernmost reaches of Berglander territory. These Rischnoy would go on to intermarry with the natives, primarily the Kokoru, adopting many of their ways. This fusion of Whanau and puritan menschen people and customs would become the Bergland province of Grenzeland.

In 443 BT the Kingdom of Walder would rebel against Bergland, hoping to gain their independence. Most assumed this to be a futile effort, expecting Bergland to quickly crush this uprising. However, the Berglander military had lost its edge over centuries of peace and the Walder managed to easily brush aside the force sent to subdue it. Over the next four bloody years the Rotu would send aid to the Walder and Grenzeland would join the rebellion, wishing to create their own Church-controlled government. Forced to accept these new states, Bergland was greatly weakened, having to import much of its food from these new semi-hostile rebel neighbours.

In 298 BT the Berglanders were given a chance to regain their superiority when they settled the newly discovered Continent, draining much of the resources left in their coffers to guarantee a strong presence there. With all their eggs in the Continental basket the Berglanders made sure to establish peaceful relations with its neighbours, especially the preeminent Dominion. Over the centuries Berglander-Dominion relations would improve, sharing their cultures and establishing strong trade routes and economic ties. In 260 BT the Berglanders would assist the Rischnoy in the century long task of pushing the Göçebe from their territory.

Then a tapestry of dozens of feudal counties and territories, the Kingdom of Bergland officially and peacefully added their holdings on the Continent into their borders. Four generations later, the Continent would become separated from the rest of the world, cutting the Kingdom of Bergland in half. Driven to starvation after the temperature on the Continent plummeted, a short war would break out between the Rischnoy and Bergland, securing themselves a patch of fertile ground on their coastline. Berglanders are now an insular and paranoid people with enemies everywhere. Living high up in their mountain fortresses they keep themselves busy in their dusty workshops.

### Combat

Berglanders are not partial to fighting, preferring diplomatic solutions to issues of state, however when all else fails the bulk of Berglander armies is hired ad hoc from local mercenaries, the rest being levied from town garrisons and in emergencies the conscription of single men of over 17. However, mercenaries of late have grown weary of serving under Berglander command as they tend to be deployed with total disregard for their wellbeing; a dead mercenary need not be paid. Berglanders fight very strategically. Known for their chicanery in battle, many kingdoms now elect to kill Berglander messengers on sight.

### Governance

Berglanders believe in the equality of the sexes, with women possessing equal rights to land, assets and familial authority. This policy was enacted when after the death of every male heir to the throne, Queen Hilde took power and went on to lead Bergland to victory over the attacking Rischnoy, solidifying the Kingdoms’ modern day borders.

### Contemporary Issues

Many of the actions and policies of the Kingdom of Bergland are related to money and one's place in society is largely tied to their economic use to the Kingdom. With few rules in place to curtail inflation, monopolisation and worker exploitation, life in Bergland is often a stressful one.

Though the invasion of their territory was the event that necessitated the forming of a coalition, some Berglanders think a peaceful annexation into Rellas is preferable to the bloody war that is consuming the best of their manhood. Old men and boys now fill the holes in Berlander lines.

Soon after Bergland’s entry into the war against the Dominion, a large-scale slave revolt which began outside Darmfort has displayed considerable resistance, forcing valuable fighting men off the frontlines. The leader of this rebellion seeks to overthrow the king and abolish the practice of slavery forever. However, no monarch in the realm would ever acknowledge the sovereignty of this new state.

Related topics

* Settlements
* Buildings
* People
* Homelands