Elsterholz's location in the southern Border Princes, renamed Yorckweg by the tyrannical Baron Albrecht Yorck.
Albrecht Yorck was a minor Border Prince who ruled the small settlement of Yorckweg with a despotic iron fist, holding the population under a reign of terror.[1a]
Accustomed to committing acts of treason, he seized control of the town several years ago after assassinating the previous ruler who, ironically, had hired him to defend it.[1a]
Yorck is a cruel and sadistic individual who enjoys punishing his fellow citizens at the slightest challenge or provocation to his authority. Often he needs nothing more than mere boredom as an excuse to take any wretch and entertain himself with them in his ruthless way. His favorite fun was to enjoy watching them in his little personal coliseum as his mastiffs tore their victim to pieces. Even his own troops were afraid to upset him, as Yorck had no qualms about including them on his dogs' menu.[1a]
History[]
Before becoming the Yorckweg tyrant, Albrecht Yorck was a citizen of the Empire. He had served in the Reiksguard in his youth before becoming the steward of Baron Von Drakenburg, the head of one of Reikland's most important noble families.[1a]
Baron Von Drakenburg had for years been faced with the Bretonnian Viscount Augustine de Chegney, who tried to extend his dominions at the expense of the Imperial nobleman, but was always rejected. After years of struggle, the viscount proposed to the baron that they sign a peace treaty and unite both their families in marriage, which the baron accepted. But it all turned out to be a trap.[1a]
Behind the back of the Imperial nobleman, de Chegney appreciated the treacherous nature of Albrecht Yorck, promising him rewards in exchange for his collaboration in his plan to overthrow the baron. As they had agreed, Yorck led the baron and a large part of his forces into an ambush from which almost none could escape, the baron being captured by the traitor himself.[1a]
However, even though his help was vital, de Chegney had no intention of fulfilling the bargain that he had agreed to with Yorck. The viscount had decided that a man who could betray a good lord would betray an evil one just as easily. As a result, Yorck fled the Empire, taking the von Drakenburg family treasure with him. De Chegney allowed him to escape because the hatred between him and his prisoner ran deep, and the fact that the viscount let him go would serve to further increase the baron's sense of martyrdom.[1a]
Following this, the renegade Imperial fled to the Border Kingdoms where he formed a band of mercenaries. One day they were hired by Earl Schlaesser, lord of the town of Elsterholz, because there were rumours about threats from savage tribes. But Yorck had no intention of protecting the earl and he took control of the town instead. Yorck's mercnearies killed the soldiers who were loyal to the earl, and then he hung Schlaesser from the town gate and proclaimed himself Baron Yorck, renaming Elsterholz as Yorckweg.[1a]
After years of fighting to secure his little domain situated in that lawless region, Albrecht Yorck was content to rule the swords of others; transforming into a petty hedonistic reptile, who enjoyed terrorising, subduing and torturing those under his rule. So hated had he become that the downtrodden people of Yorckweg risked hiring an assassin to finish off their baron. This man turned out to be Brunner the Bounty Hunter, who infiltrated the village, eliminated the baron's soldiers, and then killed Albrecht Yorck in the same way that he had killed many innocents: having him eaten alive by his own dogs.[1a]