Emil Altherr

Emil Altherr, 201

> "Sometimes the mountain peak is also wiped away with the avalanche." - **Emil Altherr**
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**Emil Altherr** (b. 179) is the exiled head of the Altherr dynasty of Luschestein

## Biography

Emil Altherr was born in 179 to Balser Altherr, the heir to the Altherr dukedom of Luschestein. Balser was a weak individual, suffering from hemophilia and constant bouts of sickness; resulting in his bedridden state when Emil was only 3. In an effort to uphold the values of the family, Emil was thrust into the role of acting duke for the canton at a very young age, pressured by his own ailing grandfather. He studied swordplay and hiking as a young lad, though never ventured further into the Cannon Mountains due to his high priority as only heir.

When the Astarian War of Aggression broke out, Emil sought it was his duty for Luschestein to help defend the continent, however his family had other ideas and disallowed the idea. Only volunteering mercenaries ever saw the first few years of the conflict, a fact that angered a young Emil. Altherr's hatred of Pretzuntif forced him not to attend Martyr Varick's Military Academy and instead Emil sought action on his own terms. In 193, aged only 14, he enlisted as an ensign with an elite guard around him at all times.

When Emil was finally 16, he overruled his aged father and enlisted an entire division to the war of aggression that he personally led as Major-General of the 61st Rifle Corps. He had intended more to join up, however the opposing cantons did not consider Emil to be the true head of the family whilst Balser still lived and he adamantly refused the idea of further troops. Emil would earn the nickname the "Black Duke" due to the dark coloured uniform he would wear and personally oversaw the troops.

It was during his time serving that he fell in love with a local woman apart of the war-wives (women who were married by soldiers on conflict, fearing they would not live to return to their own family). By the time Emil's colonel told Balser, Emil and Eugenié were already married. According to one report, Balser said to suffer one of his worst seizures upon hearing the news while several cantons saw this as a fall from power. Eugenié would remain with Emil over the years, fathering two sons in 197 and 199. However Eugenié would suffer a serious hemorrhage later that year, though some theorize she was poisoned by Balser or canton loyalists.

In 198, Emil found a way to appease Balser and the other cantons into more drastic war measures by marrying his aunt, Etna Altherr, to Sir Henry von Rosengart. While Sir Henry was known to be reluctant to the idea, he was pressured by royal decree into marrying Etna; uniting the feuding Luschestein and Pretzuntif at long last. There was a brief mention of Emil marrying Erika von Rosengart but Eugenié stood in the way of that idea. From this union, over five thousand more Luschestein troops would enter the war, filling four divisions lead by other canton leaders.

However by 200, things were dire for Volkhard. Sir Henry von Rosengart would be slain during the Coronation of King Alexei and Balser would finally succumb to his weakness later that year, making the canton's question Emil's leadership role. Trying to appease the rebels, Emil would recall all of the Luschestein troops from the war, angering Volkhard and Emil himself. The Capital would have their revenge by pressuring Emil to abdicate or risk an invasion that would strip Altherr of it's power altogether, forcing his two year son Yvon to become ruler though some rallied around the bastard born son of Balser though no evidence supports his lineage.

Emil would find himself a stranger in his own home country, resorting to women and alcohol as an effort to soothe this worried soul. In 206, Emil loyalists would attempt a coup to reinstate him in power without Emil's consent, forcing the cantons to question Emil's right to live in Luschestein. Rather than face any more speculation and conspiracy, Emil would move to The Capital and retain his military duty, though more ceremonial than purposeful.