The Duchy of Austria is ruled by the Babenberg family, who have presided over the land since 776 AD. Since the land of Steiermark (Styria) was attached to the Duchy of Austria in 1192, the Babenbergs rule it as well. Their seat resides in the great city of Wien on the Danube. Their family also currently occupies the Bishoprics of Passau, and Freising. They have previously been enemies of the Welf family.
Duke Leopold VII - The leader of the Babenberg family, who enjoys the luxuries of courtly life. He ascended to his rank with the death of his older brother, Fredrick in 1194 (when he was thrown from a horse). Although his influence is relatively minor in Steiermark, where local nobles and the Bishop of Seckau reign, the Duke is gaining in popularity for his imperialist stance and generous personality. In 1211 the conjurers of Rabenstein met the Duke at his temporary court in Graz. Their status as sorcerers was debated before the Duke, and they were venerated by Sir Gottfried von Strassburg who compared them to Arthur's Merlin. Duke Leopold's thoughts or comments about Rabenstein were not revealed, but he keeps a French court wizard named Marbode of Rennes, whose powers and political influence also remain unclear.
Sir Wifred von Regensberg - The Butler of Duke Leopold's forces. A hearty German who administers to the Duke's fortress in Wien. His military valor is rather limited, but he possesses a keen political sense and his family is quite close to the Babenbergs.
Sir Wilfsted von Passau - A courtier of Duke Leopold who observed the sorcerers of Rabenstein during their stay at the Manor of Lady Balara near Passau. He voiced disgust and anger over the sorcerer's diabolical powers.
The Hohenstaufen - Although this powerful Swabian family has little direct influence in Austria, they are widely supported by both the Babenbergs and knights of Steiermark. This Imperial family is currently out-of-office with the reign of the Papist Otto IV, and even though their candidate Duke Philip of Swabia was assassinated in 1208, they continue to battle the papist Otto for the crown. Young prince Fredrick II is widely regarded as the King of Romans (heir to the Empire). Knights loyal to them are called the Imperial Ministeriales , and are the most numerous in all of Germany (though they are not as prevalent in Bavaria, Saxony, or Austria). Their rivals, the Welf family of Bavaria, have recently thrown their support to prince Frederick II.
The Esterhazy - A noble family from the wine valleys south of Vienna. Their folk administer the town of Wiener Neustadt, and are known to Rabenstein for one of their kin's involvement with an ancient Jewish spell. This family will prosper in the coming centuries, and go on to be the patrons of the great classical composer Haydn.
Steiermark was elevated from a March to a Duchy shortly before the death of their first Duke, Ottokar, in 1192. Since the Duke died without an heir, rather than establish a new ruling family, Emporer Fredrick Barbarossa absorbed the Duchy of Steiermark within the Grand Duchy of Austria (effectively dissolving the rank of 'Duke of Steiermark'). Despite the incorporation, many Styrian knights remain relatively autonomous, struggling against any authority exerted by the Babenbergs of Vienna.
Sir Otto von Volkensdorf - The Castellan of Graz, one of the principal ministeriales of the former Duke of Steiermark, Otto (who died in 1192 of leprosy), and the most powerful noble in Steiermark. A staunch Imperialist, he has dealt with the Magi of Rabenstein on many occasions, and considers them a valuable ally when he needs their magical services. He commands at least 200 Rittern from the Schlossburg in Graz. Several of his knights are known to Rabenstein (including several who have died under Otto's command), and relations with Otto have chilled since Rabenstein's fealty to Seckau has become clear.
Seneschal Herrand von Wildon - The right-hand man of Sir Otto at Graz, a former ministeriales of the Duke of Steiermark. A quiet man with sharp wit and many friends, he now swears fealty to the Archbishop, and has kept his distance from the mystics of Rabenstein.
Sir Gozwin von Bruck - The Master of Landskron castle, which defends Bruck-an-der-Mür. He assumed the title when he married the previous lord's daughter, Josephine. Rabenstein's two Rittern have hunted with Gozwin (the former Butler of the castle), and he is a friend of the Covenant. His marshal, John (a retired English crusading knight) resides in Bruck, and good feelings exist between he and the Covenfolk as well. Gozwin's step-mother, Imágina, is also known to Rabenstein for her precocious gift of nagging.
Sir Bedegund - Chamberlain of Seckau, the military leader of the Bishop's forces. A gaunt, sedentary man with an astute sense of strategy and impecable piety. He has interacted little with Rabenstein, and never visited the Covenant.
Naughty Lady Liesel - The noble liege of Riegersburg castle along the Hungarian border in the Styrian hills. This historical 13th century lady was famous for her hedonistic lifestyle, and entertained several folk from Rabenstein at the Red Ox Inn in Graz during the Duke's Court. She evoked a display of magic from Cynric to entertain her courtiers, and has offered to provide Rabenstein with horses, silver, or political aid if they assist her. Several of Liesel's knights and courtiers are known to Rabenstein.
Sir Gilgen - The Butler of Riegersburg, a mighty fortress along the Hungarian border. His master, the infamous Naughty Lady Liesl, generally leaves the daily administration of the castle to the level-headed Sir Gilgen.
Sir Joachim von Radkersburg - A knight that joined the Magi of Rabenstein in a hunt for the wolf Baras in the Styrian foothills. Transformed into a tree by a strange regio, he was rescued by the Magi and has expressed both fright and excitement about their powers.
Sir Hartwig - The Chamberlain of Unterzeiring Priory, who protects the mountain pass from the priory to the Enns, and is loyal to Admont Abbey. His marshal defends the nearby town of Öberzeiring, where Hartwig makes his residence.
Sir Ladewig von Frauenberg - A knight of the Bishop of Seckau, who is stationed in the village of Frohnleiten where he defends the town with Marshal Hammond. He has been fair-minded to the strange mystics, and is betrothed to young Tatyana of Rabenstein. He is served by squire Repgen, a pompous, arrogant young man.
Marshal Hammond von Braunschweig - The former sergeant of Rabenstein, who was knighted by Seckau in 1207 to defend the town of Fröhnleiten. He knows much of the sorcerer's powers, and the existence of the Order of Hermes. His transition from a member of the Covenant to a landed knight has been abrupt and the ramifications remain to be seen. The former marshal, Sir Hedwig, has retired to his family's estates near Linz.
Sir Guenther von Ehrenhausen - A knight and spokesman of the castle Ehrenhausen along the Mür river south of Graz. The castle itself is ruled by Baron Reginaud (a former ministeriales of the Duke of Steiermark) and his demanding wife, Alexia. Ehrenhausen commands about 10 knights, and in 1208 one of their number was slain in battle with socii from Rabenstein. The grievance between Ehrenhausen and Rabenstein was settled at the Court of Duke Leopold of Austria in 1211 when Sir Erik slew Ehrenhausen's champion Sir Bedemer.
Sir Utrecht von Moosham - An elder knight of the Canon of Moosham castle along the western Mür river. His son's correspondence with strange spirits led him to invite the mystics of Rabenstein to investigate the matter in 1209, and their deference to the castle's eccesiastical authorities angered Utrecht.
The Raubritter - Illustrious 'robber-knights' who reside in Kapfenstein castle just east of the hot springs of Bad Gleichenberg. These independent-minded, cruel soldier-nobles have taken advantage of the dissolution of the Dukedom of Steiermark to prosper by preying upon merchants and other passersby. Merchants in the nearby town of Feldkirch fear the Raubritter. Rabenstein met several of these knights (Tobias, Godric, and Lutz) near Bad Gleichenberg and learned of their cautious relations with Valcum Covenant.
Rabenstein's incursions into the neighboring Duchy of Carinthia have been relatively rare in its Spring (as this begins to encroach upon potential territory of the Tribunal of the Greater Alps). The Duchy's seat lies at Klagenfurt and St. Veit, and the road to Venice passes through this land, so surely the Covenant will visit the Duchies' lands in the future.
Duke Friedrich - An aloof, handsome man who rules from Hochsterwitz castle near the town of Klagenfurt. Several men from Rabenstein stayed at Hochsterwitz to recuperate after injury upon the nearby Magdalensberg. His Butler Agobard is known to the covenfolk; a stern, serious-minded if not cruel man who was dedicated to his sense of protocol. The Duke however, has not interacted with Rabenstein yet.
Castellan Renard - The Lord of Strassburg Castle, summer residence of the Bishop of Gurk. He owes his ascendancy to the intrigue of Rabenstein's Magi in 1206, and has largely ignored them since.
Castellan Demel - The former Lord of Strassburg Castle. He was discredited when knights of the castle confessed to sins of the flesh with the handsome Castellan, and at last report was hiding within the cavern of the Lindwurm with his former seer, Engelbert. Demel sent a friend-knight, Sir Uwe von Passau, to Rabenstein to enact vengeance for his fall from grace, but Uwe was slain in the attempt.
Sir Heinrich von Dürnstein - One of the knights of Strassburg, who is indebted to the Magi of Rabenstein for acquitting his fiancé Loretta of murder.
Sir Gottfried von Strassburg - A famous knight-poet, who composed the legendary ballad of Tristan & Isolt. He befriended folk from Rabenstein during their stay at Strassburg in 1206, and has maintained amicable relations with the mystics ever since. Most recently, Gottfried recited his song for the Duke of Austria, and has gained favor with his Court.
Count Gebhard von Salzburg - The Count of Friesach, one of the ministeriales of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Little is known of his mannerism or power since Rabenstein has avoided dealings with him so far, though he is said to be fair-minded.
This page last modified on 6/13/98.
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