Johannes Eltermann is very tall, and slightly more slender than average, and has a well-defined, delicate bone structure. His hair and eyes are dark brown. He keeps himself well-groomed and clean-shaven, and tends to dress in plain but well-tailored clothing in dark, formal colors. The lack of ostentation flaunts his taste. He currently wears good-quality traveling clothes with matching boots, a belt, from which a dagger hangs, and a cloak.

Johannes is twenty seven years old, six foot two and weighs one hundred and fifty pounds. Johannes travels with Mist, a gray mare of average quality and docile temperament, and an ill-tempered pack-mule.

Appeared in turns 42-57 and 75-91.

Herr Eltermann orignated in Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of, where he was the second son of a successful wholesaler dealing in various goods, but particularly luxury items in glass. He was sent to the university at Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

Overview

Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…, which he entered a year younger than they normally accept new students (while his older brother was groomed to assume the mantle of responsibility for the family business). He was diligent and remarkably successful in his studies, which included logic, rhetoric, literacy, metaphysics, natural philosophy, and comparative theology.

Johannes first became interested in the Cult of Jarramplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God, ironically enough, through one of his early theology classes. The Council of 637 was being discussed, and Johannes was intrigued by what was mentioned about the Jarramites, although this certainly wasn't the intent of the professor. When he signed up for his next set of classes, he was certain to include as one of them a class taught by a fairly vocal Jarramiteplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God professor of human philosophy. During this class, Johannes became thouroughly convinced of the value of Jarramiteplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God ideas in human philosophy, although he was, at the time, skeptical of Jarramiteplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God theology. He was drawn more heavily into studying in human philosophy, and over constant exposure to Jarramiteplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God ideas, eventually found himself actually listening when a Jarramiteplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God friend (Wilhelm Meyer, now a Master of Sciences and a junior professor of alchemy in the College of Natural Philosophy) was preaching theology at him. He started to read the Book of the Merchant God. Before long, he had approached the cult and was inducted as a member. Filled with a convert's fervor, he began studying the Procedures and Policies extensively when he wasn't involved in his school studies, and, after he earned the title of Master at age 25, he applied for a position in the priesthood. He easily proved his competence for the position. Over the next year or so, life proceeded relatively routinely, with Johannes competently performing his duties.

By this time, the Directors of the cult were growing increasing worried by the vague rumours of increasing disturbances and threats to the structure of civilization at the borders of Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

Overview

Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…. Various young operatives were chosen to observe, investigate, and, if possible, intervene insofar as was possible in these troubled regions. So as to avoid drawing unwanted attention, which could have proven detrimental to an information-gathering mission such as this, and because the cult could only spare so many people, these operatives were to operate alone, and not to go out of their way to publicize their affiliation with the cult.

Johannes was one of three chosen operatives for the Barony of Huerten. The other two will only be sent if Johannes isn't heard from by the first of Garinon, 1002. Johannes was to travel most of the way from Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of with Karl Steiner, the operative for Kalzen, who was much more equipped to handle any trouble they might encounter, and they were to seperate at the border of Huerten.

Johannes is serious-minded, honest, and precise. He has a sharp logical mind, and unconsciously tends to assume that others operate on the same level. The stupidity, emotionality, and general sloppiness that others so often display, undercutting these assumptions, tends to frustrate him. “Why don't people see what is rational and correct? It's so *obvious*…” Nonetheless, he attempts to restrain his impatience, believing that not doing so would lead him to the emotion-biased error he so despises. He is polite and can be quite persuasive when he attempts to be so, but he generally does not have the inclination or patience to engage in “unnecessary” socialization.

Very little knowledge of weapons. Can handle a dagger without *completely* embarrassing himself.

Does not drink ale or beer. He prefers water or tea, but will drink wine when none is available.

Johannes is a Master of Philosophy from the University of Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of, making him a certified philosopher and teacher in Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang

Overview

Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai….

1/19/00 From Nathan (with some changes, and editing by me):

The Elternmann family is a small family in Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of supported by the mercantile business of the head of the family, Gotthard Elternmann. Presently, Herr (recall that “Herr” is German for Mister )

Elternmann is a wealthy and successful wholesale dealer in glass, sand (sold to glaziers), and the occasional bit of odd equipment for the glazier's trade. This was not always the case. Gotthard was born the child of a common day-laborer in Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of, and his earliest recollections are of hard living and the edge of poverty. Gotthard, who was an unusually bright and strong-willed youth, found this situation intolerable, and from a very early age sought to figure out how to escape this life. He eventually determined (at about the age of 9) that the only way he would ever make his way out of poverty was to somehow get himself apprenticed in a skilled trade, and he determined to find himself a master tradesman who would take him on. To achieve this goal, he worked tirelessly as an errand boy in the artisan's quarters of the city, seeking to learn what he could of the rudiments of every trade he came in contact with, and always seeking to take on more responsibility for himself. After about two and a half years of this, fortune smiled upon young Gotthard, and an unmarried glazier of middling success and advancing years, Josef Pfarr, agreed to take Gotthard on as his apprentice. Gotthard applied himself wholeheartedly to learning his new trade, moving in with Pfarr within the year and soon thereafter permanently losing contact with his parents, who he had barely seen anyhow after he had determined to find a trade.

Pfarr was a fair master, and Gotthard rapidly took to him as a replacement “father figure”. At the age of 16, Gotthard became a journeyman, gradually taking over more and more of the responsibilities of Pfarr's business as Pfarr slowly moved into retirement, content to be supported by his “son” in his old age.

Within six months after earning the rank of journeyman, Gotthard married Pfarr's young (about a year older than himself) niece, Katarina Pfarr. Within a year their first son, Karl, was born. The next few years were busy ones for Gotthard, as he slowly increased the success of Pfarr's business.

Pfarr finally completely retired from his trade the year Gotthard turned 22, as Gotthard had then finally completed his master-piece, and earned full membership in Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of's Guild of Glaziers. This same year Katarina bore Gotthard's second child, Johannes. After this, Gotthard slowly did what he could to expand his operation, as his ambition and drive for succcess had not been lessened by his success. Through frugality, wise investment, and his skill in his trade, Gotthard earned ever-greater profits on his business, whose focus gradually began to change as he accumulated wealth. During this time, the Elternmann's third and final child, Rebekah, was born.

By the time Johannes turned 10 and “Grampa Josef” finally died a peaceful death of old age, Gotthard was no longer simply a glazier. Through a slow process of establishment of contracts and investment in cargoes in which his work was included, Gotthard was, by steps, becoming a merchant dealing in glasswares rather than a craftsman manufacturing glasswares, and he found that he enjoyed matters of commerce even more than his original trade.

After Karl earned his journeyman's rank as a glazier, Gotthard immediately shifted the focus of his instruction to his eldest son to matters of commerce.

Johannes, for his part, watched and learned. Johannes never learned more than the barest rudiments of glassmaking, as by the time he was of an age to start an apprenticeship, Gotthard was far enough in his transition away from being a glazier that the apprenticeship that he offered his son was a chance to learn about how goods, money, and profit work. Karl was groomed to assume the mantle of leadership of the business, while Johannes was more left to his own devices.

Gotthard Elternmann, age 49

Herr Elternmann is a industrious, practical, keenly intelligent man, who has proved to his own satisfaction that honest work is a joy to the heart and the key to success. The fact that his “rags-to-riches” success is profoundly unusual only leads him to believe that “most people aren't all they can be”. Although nominally a follower of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism

Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).

Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of, Herr Elternmann isn't particularly pious, believing that “an hour of work does more than a day of prayers”, and he was more bothered that Johannes chose to accept holy orders in *any* church than that the church he accepted them in is that of Jarramplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God. Nonetheless, “the boy has a good head on his shoulders”, and Gotthard holds out hope that one day Johannes will settle down with a nice girl and help his brother get the family even richer than it is now.

Gotthard is still quite vigourous, and doesn't intend on retiring any time soon. Physically, Gotthard is an imposing figure, standing 6'4“ and still showing evidence of his youth, when he must have been remarkably strong. His face is handsome and dignified, framed with a healthy growth of steel-gray hair and beard and with piercing blue eyes. In game terms:

STR: 14, DEX: 13, CON: 15, INT: 17, WIS: 16, CHA: 15

Yes, I *know* his stats are incredibly high. He's *meant* to be a figure of heroic proportions… definitely not a PC .

Gotthard's wife was, when she married him, a lovely girl dazzled by the sheer strength of the life in her uncle's apprentice. She is no longer a girl, but it is still clear that she was lovely in her youth, and she is still hopelessly in love with her husband. She is gentler and quieter than her husband, but she is no less strong-willed, and no less in love with life. She loves her children dearly, and is proud of how they have turned out. She has grown a love for music and literature over the years, as her husband's success bought her leisure and luxury, and is quite a good player of the harp. She is slim and of average height, with dark eyes and hair still mostly black. In game terms:

STR: 7, DEX: 14, CON: 8, INT: 15, WIS: 17, CHA: 16

Another exceptional person, yes- it's a big part of the reason Gotthard was drawn to her .

Karl resembles nothing so much as a younger, shorter, brown-haired version of his father, perhaps a little more serious and a little less wise. He wants nothing more than to live up to the expectations his father has of him. He is married to Sarah Elternmann (nee Britte), the daughter of a local cloth merchant, and has two young daughters, Katarina (5) and Elisabet (2).

Although Johannes inherited his father's height, much in his appearance speaks more of his mother than his father, as does much in his personality. He is perhaps the most intelligent of an extremely intelligent family, but did not inherit so much of the energy and drive so apparent in his father and brother. He is most content with the quiet, contemplative life, but idolizes his father and brother, who have accomplished so much more than him. Nonetheless, he has been happy with his studies, and grew convinced of the value of religion (at least the religion of Jarramplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Cult of Jarram

This mercantile religion is centered in Duerstadt, capitol of Rang, but Jarramites can be found in many major cities, where they focus their efforts on money-lending and trade. This is not just where opportunity has landed them; Jarram is known as the Merchant God ) in the course of his studies, which makes him unique in his family. One of these days, he intends to settle down, balancing the responsibilities of the priesthood with those of starting a family of his own and of helping with the family business, but at the moment, he really isn't ready to do that.

Rebekah is a lively, outgoing young woman with the beauty of her mother's youth. As she grew up, she was always closest to her older brother Johannes, and although she is an extrovert to his introvert, she shares his love for the world of ideas. As Johannes studied at the University, she helped him with his studies, even though not attending herself, and learned the material he studied nearly as well as he did (and would have learned it just as well, if she didn't have a far larger and more active circle of friends than he did ). Eventually, she entered into the university herself, although her entry required significant manipulations on the part of her father and Johannes, as women were not generally accepted. Her education is largely received from private tutors.

At some point during this, the two became each other's closest friends. She is active in the social life of her crust of society, and a shameless flirt with many of her male friends, but she hasn't really found anyone she intends to marry yet, and so, like her beloved elder brother, remains single. She was quite upset at the prospect of her favorite brother leaving on an extended journey, and mentioned something about just having to find him herself if he stays away too long…

Rebekah is hindered by her independence and a romantic streak. Because of those two things, she does not want to marry until she is sure she has found the person who naturally is the single other person most treasured in her mind and heart. This, unfortunately, presents a problem, as The only one she so completely loves is her older brother Johannes. No, not “in love” loves him, just “he's my older brother and about the coolest possible example of older-brother-ness possible” loves him (I don't mean to imply anything icky ), but this still is enough. She KNOWS complete love, she HAS someone else who is the single most important person to her. She, of course, doesn't consciously realize that this is the problem. All she realizes is that out of all the people she has ever considered, she has has measured them against the ideal of love she holds in her heart, and found them wanting, in whatever degree. Her mind does not, and probably never will, realize *where* her heart found this ideal.

Gotthard, being the sort who tends to respect independent-minded people, has been less aggressive about trying to get her to marry than one might expect.

In game terms: CG human female (bard)

STR 9, DEX 13, CON 8, INT 15, WIS 7, CHA 15

Actually, as far as the class goes, I had some ideas on how to fold, spindle, and mutilate the class to end up more as “dilettante extrovert student and socialite” rather than “dilettante extrovert musician and performer”, but I'd need some time to formally collect my thoughts before I presented them to you. The two changes that *immediately* come to mind from how it's shown in the PH are, obviously, that the class doesn't gain any magical capabilities without finding someone to train them… which could be tricky… and that I'm attaching that “fencing” style as a class power.