Kemperbad, formally the Grand Freistadt of Kemperbad, is an Imperial town within the province of Reikland, said to make the finest brandy in the Empire, while holding freistadt (free city) status.[1c][2a]
The only portion of the Reikland on the east bank of the River Reik (other than Castle Reikguard, which remains controlled by the Reikland by means of a treaty of ancient origin), Kemperbad is an old town with roots dating back to the reigns of the early emperors. Valued for its commanding position overlooking the Reik, Kemperbad has been ruled at times by the nobles of Reikland, Stirland, and Talabecland,[1a][1b] through a series of marriages, treaties, and conquests.[2a] The town finally came under the rule of the Reikland Elector Counts during the first millennium IC, but gained its charter and self-rule from Emperor Boris Goldgather in 1066 IC. Since then, a Council of Thirteen, representing the largest merchants in town plus the temples of Sigmar and Shallya, has governed the city as a Free City.[1b]
Its position on the Reik and ability to retain its tax money for itself have made Kemperbad quite a wealthy town.[1b][2a] However, this wealth has brought ill to Kemperbad as well. As inevitably happens, organised crime has been attracted to the wealthy town. In addition to the standard array of footpads, burglars and assorted con-men, Kemperbad is home to the sinister Belladonna gang, a group of Tileans who make their money through extortion, thuggery, smuggling, and a vast array of other unsavoury activities. The Belladonna family "protection" racket preys on much of the trade between Altdorf and Nuln.[1b] In addition, nearby nobles look upon Kemperbad with envy, in some cases going so far as to send agents and agitators into Kemperbad, hoping to destabilise the town.[2a]
The merchants of Kemperbad are legendary for dressing ostentatiously to an absurd degree,[2a] never more so than during Stilwoche, the city's Fashion Week.[3a]
Geography[]
Kemperbad sits atop a 500-foot cliff overlooking the River Reik, just north of its confluence with the River Stir. The Stir originally plunged over a mighty waterfall into the Reik, but the river has cut a narrow gorge into the cliffs. The waterfall has slowly moved upstream to its present location at the confluence of the Stir and River Narn. The gorge of the Stir is crossed by a narrow rope bridge, and this makes the town all but inaccessible to southern road traffic.[4a]
Kemperbad as seen from the River Reik.
Fortunately for commerce, a dock has been built on the Reik at the base of the cliffs. This is connected to the town by an ingenious system of lifts. There are baskets and platforms of varying sizes, suspended from huge block and tackle sets on Elven ropes, and all raised and lowered by counterbalances. The system is maintained and operated by Dwarf engineers. Remarkably, there has been only one fatal accident in the last fifty years. Some drunken young nobles tried to race each other to the bottom. The winner was too unwell to claim his prize.[4a]
Use of the lifts costs two brass pennies per person on the passenger platforms (holding up to four average-sized individuals), and two brass pennies per ten baskets or sacks of bulk cargo. For the poor, the miserly, and the athletic, 1,111 steps are cut into the cliff in a zig-zag staircase to the town.[4a]
A ferry service at the docks provides the safest way to cross the Reik between Nuln and Altdorf. It connects the Great Northern Road to Grünburg and Altdorf. The ferry costs two brass pennies per passenger, and four brass pennies for a horse. The locals joke that this is a foot tax. The Four Seasons Coaching Line maintains a large coaching inn and staging post at the nearby village of Jungbach.[4a]
Government[]
Thanks to the grant of the Imperial Charter from Emperor Boris I Hohenbach in 1066 IC, Kemperbad is an autonomous trading town or "freiburg." This means it is independent of the Reikland's feudal lords and answerable only to the emperor himself. A Council of Thirteen governs the town. Its members are elected by the most influential guilds and families of the town. The emperor retains the right to appoint or dismiss any of the town's councillors, but has never done so.[4a]
Kemperbad has become very wealthy through trade, and all kinds of goods may be found here. In theory, the removal of any liege lord, and their accompanying tax demands, should reduce the cost of living in the town. In practice everything costs about as much as elsewhere, as the town's council has simply increased the local taxes and tolls. Therefore, Kemperbad is cleaner and better maintained than some other Imperial towns, as the council can afford to keep the streets in good order.[4a]
Sources[]
- 1:Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Sigmar's Heirs (RPG)
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 282
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Adventures Afoot in the Reikland (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 7
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Death on the Reik (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 33