Principality of Reikland

Reikland Council

  Reikland has a feudal government. Its ruler is the Grand Prince of Reikland, an Elector Count of the Empire. The current Grand Prince is Karl Franz, who is also currently Emperor. His powers as Grand Prince of Reikland include the ability to raise emergency taxes in times of crisis, the authority to mint coins, the right to call a High Steward's Court, and the position as commander-in-chief of Reiklands armies. Any decree outside of these powers must be ratified by the Reikland Diet, an assembly of the Grand Prince's vassals. The lands ruled by these vassals are known as the Reikland Estates. Meanwhile, many of the day-to-day duties of the Grand Prince are handled by the members of the Reikland Council.  

Reikland Council

The Reikland Council is composed of ten members, known as the High Lords of the Reikland. They are appointed by the Grand Prince, and each one handles a specific field.   The Reikland Council meets in the Wilhelm Chamber of the Volkshalle. However, it's unlikely that more than six high lords to be at any particular meeting. The Grand Prince seldom attends.

Reikland Diet

The Reikland Diet is composed of all of the Grand Prince's direct vassals. Whenever he wishes to make a decree, they look it over, and either pass it, or return to him with suggested amendments.[2f]   Most lords of the Reikland are too busy handling affairs at home to attend the meetings of the Reikland Diet, which are held in the Holzkrug Chamber of the Volkshalle. Instead, the send representatives to most sessions. These may be children, spouses, or particularly trusted minions.  

Reikland Estates

The Reikland Estates are the parcels of land that have been granted to the Grand Prince's vassals. The precise nature of the feudal contract varies from estate to estate, but all are required to maintain at least one regiment for Reikland's state armies. Most vassals have further subinfeuded their land, carving out new fiefs and granting them to family or allies. The creation of a new hereditary title requires the consent of the Reikland Diet, but non-hereditary positions may be created at the estate holder's discretion.

Westernmost of the Empire's Great Provinces, Reikland is the seat of Imperial Power and the richest, most cosmopolitan province in all the Empire- and not just because the Reiklanders claim thus.   The Reikland can be roughly divided into three regions: the towering Grey Mountains that form the province's southwestern border, the fertile foothill region of the Vorbergland, and the dense Reikwald Forest.  

Grey Mountains

The Grey Mountains are an enormous range of mountains, so high and rugged that only a few passes cross them. The mountains are riddled with dwarfen tunnels, many of which are abandoned. Some holds still exist in the highlands above Reikland, but these are islands in a sea of orcs, goblins, Skaven, and Mountain Trolls.   For the lords of the Reikland, the lower slopes of the Grey Mountains are an important resource. Here they have sunk many mines, extracting minerals such as iron, gold, marble, and precious gems.   The two main passes over the Grey Mountains are Axe Bite Pass and Grey Lady Pass. The passes are guarded by Imperial Fortresses of Helmgart and Ubersreik respectively, both built as defences against both human and nonhuman raiders living in the mountains, as well as to keep an eye on the Bretonnians, with whom relations have not always been friendly. The snows of the winter close both passages regularly, and travellers are advised to cross them only well after the spring thaws. Because they are so heavily tolled, some merchants attempt to take more rugged routes, such as the Crooked Corridor or Durak Way. However, such an undertaking is very dangerous.  

Vorbergland

Located between the Reikwald and the Grey Mountains is a region of rolling hills and fertile valleys, known as the Vorbergland, meaning "foothills country." The southeastern part of this region, known as "Suden Vorbergland," is the most fertile region in Reikland. Market towns such as Ubersreik, Stimmigen, and Dunkelberg have grown up around the plentiful agricultural areas. Suden Vorbergland is also called "Ranald's Garden" because of the large amount of wine it produces.   However, the western end of the Vorbergland is much less densely populated, and suffers from frequent greenskin raids. Inhabited by many animals and monsters, it is a popular destination for big game hunters, and scholars from the Imperial Zoo.   The many rivers that flow from the Grey Mountains into the Reik are very important for agriculture in the Vorbergland. The Dwarfs of the Grey Mountains have in the past used this to their advantage, damming the rivers during a serious dispute with the Elector Counts over mining rights of 2211 IC. This led to the infamous "runtwater" march of the peasants on Altdorf. Since then, the Electors and Emperors have been ever careful to keep the Dwarfs of the Grey Mountain kingdoms happy.  

Reikwald

Although Reikland's forests are generally safer than those in other provinces, it is still unwise to travel far from the rivers and roads that cut into the forest. Groups of bandits and wild animals make their home beneath the Reikwald's boughs, and the deeper one goes into the forest, the viler the creatures that may be found…   Reikland's forests are predominantly populated by oak, pine, elm, and beech trees. In most places, the canopy is not so thick as to block out the sun. The woods are dotted with ancient stone circles known as oghams, thought to be monuments from the Unberogen era. Their precise purpose is unknown, but it's rumoured that isolated communities exist in the deepest parts of the Reikwald that hold these sites sacred, conducting rituals older than Sigmar himself. Magisters tend to be interested in these monuments also. Some postulate that they were the fields of ancient battles.   Within the Reikwald Forest are two sets of hill country, the Hägercrybs and the Skaag Hills. Both are used for sheep herding and mining, and the Hagercrybs are also popular with tomb robbers and other adventurers looking for burial of the Pre-Imperial Unberogens. There are reports of ghost hauntings in the Hägercrybs, but these are usually dismissed as the ravings of shepherds enjoying an excess of hard cider.

The mines of the Grey Mountains yield valuable ores ranging from iron to gold, as well as marble and precious gems, whilst the Reikwald Forest, generally considered safer than woods in other parts of the Empire, yields valuable timber that supports a thriving boat-building industry. Government's patronage helps as well. The Emperors, who have also been the Elector Counts of the Reikland ever since Wilhelm overthrew Dieter in the 25th century, have lavished Imperial largesse on their home province. Canals, road-building, programs to improve the farming output, encouragement of the development of free towns and the mercantile classes - all these have served to make Reikland a gem among the Imperial Provinces.

River travel is the most common way to get around Reikland, since the majority of the settlements are along the river Reik itself. Several tributaries flow from the Grey Mountains to add their waters to the Reik, which carries commerce from the interior of the Empire to Marienburg and beyond, and back again.   Travel in the Old World is very hazardous. Wanderers face hazards ranging from nasty weather to brigands to the worst predations of Chaos. In the Reikland, travel is a bit safer than average. Transport through the Reikland generally takes place by road or river.   Although they're crude, Reikland's roads are more reliable than most. The major routes between cities are safe and well-maintained, but the byways can be spottier. However, roads don't maintain themselves, so almost all charge some kind of toll.   Several coaching lines run routes across the Reikland. These companies are locked in fierce competition, so travellers can expect reasonable safety, reliability, and pricing. The biggest coaching line is Four Seasons, which seems to compete for every route in the province.   Roadside inns are fairly common in the Reikland, but their spacing is based on coach travel times, meaning that someone travelling on foot may not reach another one by nightfall.   River travel is safer than road travel, but less flexible. There are dedicated runs of passenger barges, but these only travel between major cities. Smaller villages are usually only served by cargo boats, which can sometimes also be persuaded to carry passengers.   A down-on-their-luck adventurer may only be able to secure river travel by getting hired as a hand on a cargo ship headed to their destination. On the other hand, wealthy nobles can travel in style on luxurious vessels, such as the famous Emperor Luitpold that runs between Altdorf and Talabheim.