Empire of Sonnstahl

*The article concerns the nation of Sonnstahl, not to be confused with The Sonnstahl, the sword wielded by Sunna.*

The **Empire of Sonnstahl** is a playable faction in the game The 9th Age: Fantasy Battle. **Sonnstahl** is also a human nation in central Vetia, ruled by Emperor Matthias the Pious.

The empire traces its history back 201 A.S., when it was founded by a union of tribes brought together by their worship of Sunna. The goddess' sword lent its name to the new nation.

Made up of eight regions or provinces, Sonnsthal is noted for having a turbulent political climate within its borders. The nation has a large standing army, bolstered by magic and technology from the colleges of the land.

## History

Sonnstahl traces its origin to a merger of the human tribes that followed Sunna in the transitional period between the Eighth and the Ninth Age - the Askar, the Breidar, the Gjothar, and a dozen smaller groups.

Named after the sword wielded by Sunna, the Empire of Sonnstahl was founded by Leopold Truehearted on November 4th 201 A.S, upon the conclusion of the war against Dathen. On that day, Leopold is said to have given the following speech:

> "Brothers and Sisters of the Goddess
>
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> I salute you in victory!
>
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> Today the work of Sunna is renewed. The enemies of humanity are vanquished . the first of many to fall before her bright flame. Long have heroes among us searched for the Sonnstahl that was lost to us, but today I tell you truly: it is no longer a sword! We are the Sonnstahl - humanity united, the great arm of the Goddess herself! Today the people of Vetia have stood and declared their ascendancy and the intention to drive back the darkness and rule this world. Today our nation came together to forge the true Empire of Sonnstahl.
>
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> Today we become Sunna's righteous army!"
>
>

## Geography

### Regions

The Empire of Sonnstahl is divided into eight regions. These are political entities, provinces, whose rulers bear titles such as Count or Prince. Some regions are ruled by high-ranking officials of the Church of Sunna.

The regions are, in alphabetical order:

* Aschen
* Breidmark
* Göthen
* Kölen
* Narrenwald
* Scharland
* Ullsberg
* Vosenland

### Cities

There are several cities in the Empire of Sonnstahl, among them are, in alphabetical order:

* Alfhaven
* Aschau
* Narrenwald
* Ullsberg

### Colony

The Empire of Sonnstahl has a colony, called Fredericksberg, set up in Virentia.

### Other

* Börnichen, a small village once burned for harbouring Dark God followers.
* Vollergrad, a bordertown
* Seelow and Golzow, small villages on the North-Eastern Highway

Sonnstahl also has influence on the southern point of Taphria.

## Government

Sonnstahl is an empire, ruled by an emperor. The regions of Sonnstahl are in turn each ruled by a count, prelate or prince.

### Empire

The current Emperor of Sonnstahl is Matthias the Pious. He succeeded the throne after his father, Frederick the Great, because his older sister, Josefa, was given into service of the Church of Sunna as a child. *This means that the laws of succession in Sonnstahl are gender neutral*.

### Council of Electors

In Sonnstahl there are all those known as Electors , who make up the Council of Electors. The Electors wield great political power, and among other things they elect the Emperor.  *However, this purpose seems infringed upon, given that the current Emperor inherited the throne from his father*.

Landowners can be appointed Electors by the Emperor. There are many Electors from the League of Cogs, local mayoralties and with military background. Prelates can also be appointed Electors.

There is no fixed number of how many Electors there are, but supposedly there exists records of them in Aschau. *This suggests that Aschau might be the capital of Sonnstahl*.

## Politics

Sonnstahl is a place of much internal conflict, with rival family houses, religious leaders and military generals each engaging in the political arena. It is the job of the emperor to unite the nation against its enemies, and often it is not enough to be a master of conquest. The emperor must be able to navigate the political landscape as well.

### Alliances

The Empire of Sonnstahl is part of an alliance with Destria, which is strongly reinforced by the marriage of Emperor Matthias and Empress Sophia of Destria  . If the two spouses share in some of each other's responsibilities of governing their respective empires, Destria and Sonnstahl could be considered forming a personal union. This would most certainly become true if the two thrones were inherited by a prospective mutual heir of Sophia and Matthias.

Lady Annelie, the daughter of the count of Breidmark, is married to Prince Olvir Hrogtharson.

## Culture

Sonnstahl has a lot of shared culture with Åskland, for they have the same roots. Much of the history and culture of the tribes that later formed Sonnstahl is collated in the Sunna Cycle.

Sonnstahl is known for its many colleges, that have long sought to codify knowledge in their libraries.

The language spoken in Sonnstahl, known as Sonnsprache, is of the Karin language family. There are a number of variants and dialects spoken within its borders, which trace back to the many tribes that once formed the nation.

In the The Empire of Sonnstahl, women hold equal rights as men. They are known to rise to the highest positions in all parts of the society. *Even the laws of succession for the throne of the emperor seems to allow women.*. Women are also common in Sonnstahl's military, and although far fewer in number than the men, they often manage to rise to high ranks.

## Religion

The Church of Sunna is widespread in Sonnstahl. The Supreme Prelate of the church used to hold office in Sonnstahl, though today resides in Reva, Arcalea. Worship of Sunna and her pantheon is still common though   .

## Magic Use

Wizardry in Sonnstahl is an academic endeavour, bolstered by faith. Magic use is a skill taught at universities and studies academically. One such institution is the Imperial Society of Eichtal.

The wizards of Sonnstahl do also employ their abilities in battle, with devastating effect.  There, they use the following paths:

* Alchemy
* Cosmology
* Divination
* Pyromancy

Sonnstahl also has Thaumaturges of Sunna, although the path is not commonly used in the military.

## Military

The Empire of Sonnstahl is said to have the largest standing army in all of Vetia, and is well known around the world for its discipline and vigour. A large part of its military is stationed on its eastern border, along The Beacons.

The military of the empire has the support of the colleges of Sonnstahl, providing the armies with advanced technologies and magical aid.

The armies of the Empire of Sonnstahl use a large variety of units, the following are among them.

### Characters

* Marshal
	+ Imperial Prince
	+ Great Tactician
* Knight Commander
* Prelate
* Wizard
* Inquisitor
* Artificers

### Mounts

* Horses
* Pegasi
* Young Griffons
* Great Griffons
* Altars of Battle

### Core

* Heavy Infantry
* Light Infantry
* State Militia
* Electoral Cavalry
	+ Knightly Orders

### Special

* Imperial Guard
* Knights of the Sun Griffon

### Imperial Auxiliaries

* Imperial Rangers
* Reiters

### Imperial Armoury

* Mortars
* Volley Guns
* Imperial Rocketeers
* Cannons

### Sunna's Fury

* Arcane Engines
* Flagellants

* Steam Tanks

## Sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, second session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 4, p20*)
2. ↑ The Book of Askar: chapter 14, Sunna Cycle (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p146-147*)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jorge Zamoran; An account of the peoples, nations and monsters which inhabit the world: Empire of Sonnstahl (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p141*)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Informative text about the Empire of Sonnstahl (*The* *9th Scroll, issue 5**, p36***)**
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, fifth session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 14, p52*)
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Diary of Lady Annelie, daughter of the Count of Breidmark (*The 9th Scroll, issue 7, p5*)
7. ↑ Letter from Werner Geetz (*The 9th Scroll, issue 5, p37*)
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Letter from famed explorer and missionary Erik Tombstone (*The 9th Scroll, issue 7, p4*)
 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name ":10" defined multiple times with different content
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Meradus Gercator (962 A.S.) Map of the Lands and People of the 9th Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p125*)
10. ↑ Johannes Strabo; A New Atlas for the Ninth Age (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p124*)
11. ↑ Letter from Sigmund to Fabian (*The 9th Scroll, issue 4, p18*)
12. ↑ Letter undelivered by Sonnstahl Postmaster; recipient deceased (*T9A:FB Rulebook, v1.3.5, p16*)
13. ↑ Six Seized in Sacrilegious Scheme (*The 9th Scroll, issue 5, p37*)
14. ↑ Empire Court Martial Reports (962 A.S.) The Empire vs Sgt Ekkehard Metzmann: Cowardice, Desertion and Dereliction of Duty (*T9A:FB Warriors of the Dark Gods, v0204.2, p66-67*)
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Empire of Sonnstahl info from T9A webpage 2020-09-03
16. ↑ Grünberg Brothers, Literature of the Thrymland: Introduction (*T9A:FB Åsklanders, v2.1.5, p2*)
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, sixth session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 16, p20*)
18. ↑ Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, tenth session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 22, p20*)
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, seventh session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 17, p10*)
20. ↑ Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, first session (*The 9th Scroll, Issue 3, p13*)
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 On races and their magic (*The 9th Scroll, issue 5, p8*)
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22. ↑ Interview with Sigmund Selig, the Great Sage, fourth session (*The 9th Scroll, issue 10, p12*)
23. ↑ Diary of Vladimir Efimovič (*T9A:FB Paths of Magic, v1.3.1 , p26*)