A New Neighbor to the North

Greetings from the Margraviate of Ost-Pommern and the Court of Ludwig V. Ludwig IV "the rotund," having recently been gathered unto the Lord, has passed his mantle on to his 7 year old heir. Daily administration of the realm has devolved upon the regent Baroness Liesel von Schroeder, mistress to the late Ludwig IV. The Baroness it would seem has scant regard for young Ludwig V and intends to hold onto power even after he attains his majority. The Baroness's daughter Katerina has ambitions of her own and is the object of dozens of suitors and a number of scandalous rumors.

The Margraviate of Ost-Pommern is situated on the Baltic coast between Pomerania and East Prussia. The Ost-Pommern army is small but well administered, consisting of four regiments of foot and two of horse. A number of foreign officers serve in the army and the recent intrigues in the court seem to attract even more. Notable among the foreign officers is the noted French architect, rake and adventurer, the Marquis d'Façade. The civil administration has also fallen under the sway of the Baroness's foreigners especially the new Finance Minister, le Comte de Monet. Fops and scoundrels of every stripe have ingratiated themselves with the Baroness and infested the court to the detriment of young Ludwig's fortunes.

Retired General-Leutnant Albert von Krause, loyal servant to the old Margrave has taken the Ludwig V under his tutelage. The native officers of the Army, at least those not trying to bed the Baroness's daughter Katerina, zealously guard the lad. They are constantly on guard against any plot hatched by the Marquis d'Façade and the other foreigners loyal to the Baroness. Young Ludwig is safe for now, but as the heroes who carried his father's standards to victory in the last war pass on, the clique of officers in the Baroness's camp grows stronger.