Luschestein

Luschestein mountains

**Luschestein** is a county in the central Volkhard Confederacy and is the home to the Altherr family. Throughout it's history, it has a long bitter rivalry with it's southern neighbour: Pretzuntif.

## History

#### Barbarians

Before Mordus' arrival, the area now known of Luschestein was only the southern ridge of mountains run by tribals who worshipped a pantheon of cat-like Gods. These barbarians spent summers in the mountains and winters on the northern plateau, raiding villages and taking what they wanted. However, once Mordus landed, he set up a heavy garrison in the plateau to prevent invaders from Luschestein's mountains.

Without the northern plateau to spend their summers, they turned their attention to their southern neighbours past the Dueling Peaks; Pretzuntif. Invasions were swift and fast, grabbing what they needed before leaving as quickly as they arrived. Baron Heriberaht von Rosengart I was the first to assemble an army against the northern invaders, pushing them back to the Dueling Peaks but not without casualty. Heriberaht's first born son was killed in the conflict, leaving Heriberaht von Rosengart II as next in line. Fearing another bloody invasion, he married his second daughter to the tribal leader Uhtred. However Uhtred was murdered in 65 and the brief alliance was destroyed.

Several more invasions fought their way into Pretzuntif but none more important than the Bloody Wind. During one of the worst winters in living memory,

#### Rise of Altherr

One of the invasions many prizes were women and children brought to the mountains, sometimes as sacrifices or foot soldiers. One child, of small noble birth from the northern plateau, was a boy called Yvon Altherr who watched as the tribe destroyed what little of his life he had. Aged seven, he was cast out from the tribe and, in retaliation, proved his worth by joining another tribe after witnessing him fight a wolf single-handedly. Impressed, the leader adopted Yvon as his own and, when his eldest son died of a supposed infection in 106, Yvon became heir. Through the years he watched as many more invasions past the Bloody Wind tried and failed, some not even leaving the ridge between the two mountains. Knowing that change had to come, Yvon seduced the garrison's captain's daughter and, in the middle of the night, took control over the camp.

Yvon knew that Luschestein's tribal society was doomed to repeat bloody conflict after bloody conflict, so placed his own men in charge and adapted the soldiers to his own army. Yvon's forces assumed power and headed once more to the mountains, eliminating the other tribals as, to Yvon, progress had to come first. Once the mountains were under his control, he returned to the plateau where his society grew and a standing army properly conscripted.

Over time, a sense of aristocracy similar to that all around the Volkhard Confederacy began to take root in Luschestein thanks to Yvon who became known as the General Chieftain. The tribal religion was slowly phased out despite a few insurrections who were no match for the rifles of Yvon against spears of the natives.

By 123, Yvon was attacked by Pretzuntif, intending to wipe out the insurrectionists as they deemed Yvon as a threat. After a fierce war, envoys from The Capital came and, in what is known as the Treaty of the Dueling Peaks, Luschestein became it's own county with several cantons in an effort to lessen Yvon's power while granting its own sovereignty. However despite the laws, Altherr still controlled the fort at the mouth of the Dueling Peaks known as Kastle Kavenhofer as well as the largest and most sophisticated army of the county. Yvon began the Altherr dynasty that holds as the true leader of Luschestein. Yvon would die in 159 shortly before the birth of his grand-daughter, Etna Altherr.

As the Astarian War of Aggression entered it's twelve year, the Confederacy was keen to enlist further Luschestein officers into the war. Emil Altherr, Yvon's great-grandson, led the 61st Rifle Corps into war and repeatedly noted that Luschestein would provide more troops than two thirds that comprised of the 61st Rifle Corps if stronger ties were made to the Confederacy. On personal request, Emil offered his unmarried aunt Etna Altherr in return for around 25k troops. By royal degree, an unwilling Sir Henry von Rosengart was set to marry Etna in an effort to boost Volkhard favour in the ensuing conflict. Emil was as good as his word and the troops joined the conflict by summer 198 offering a brief boost in morale. In 200, Sir Henry von Rosengart would be slain in the Coronation of the King Alexei and Etna would give birth to Immanuel von Rosengart.

Emil's father, the incapacitated Balser Altherr, would die later that year and the power of the Altherr would wain slightly. Trying to maintain his position as the hidden true leader of the country, over half the 25k troops given to the Volkhard army were recalled to appease the other cantons. Despite this however, The Capital quietly forced Emil to abdicate or risk an invasion, offering the title to his 2 year old son, Yvon. By 207, Emil would move to The Capital whilst still retaining his military position, though more ceremonial than professional.