Hochland

Hochland is located in the north.

Hochland is a northern province of The Empire, being the homeland of the ancients Cherusens . Its symbol is a white imperial cross upon a red field and its colours are red and green. Worship of Taal is particularly prevalent in the almost entirely forested area. Other dieties worshipped would be Rhya, Ulric and Sigmar. .

The province is located between Ostland (to the north, north-east), Middenland (to the west) and Talabecland (to the south) . Large parts are covered by dark forests and many Hochlanders are accomplished hunters and marksmen, giving precedence to armies filled with many huntsmen, archers, handgunners and individuals wielding Hochland's famous weapon, the Hochland Long Rifle.

The forests are natural hideouts for bandits, mutants, Forest Goblins and Beastmen, who pose a constant threat to travellers and vulnerable villages and towns. Hochland had to endure the terrible ravages of Gorthor ; some devasted areas were never reclaimed.

Notable People

• The current Elector Count of Hochland is Aldebrand Ludenhof , who lives in a palace outside Hergig. He has a son and heir named Konrad Ludenhof . A previous Count was Mikael who was slain by Gorthor, but not before dealing the beastlord a mortal blow. Another previous Elector Count was the Baroness Hildegarde Tussen-Hochen

• The Hochland Long Rifle, also known as Leon Todmeister's Fantabulously Far-reaching Harquebus of Unforeseeable and Unperceived Bereavement is an experimental weapon designed by the Engineer Leon Todmeister.

• The notorious outlaw Jurgen Muntz leads a band of outlaws, all of which were once highly trained swordsmen. Whilst they wear black over grey, brown and chainmail, their banner still bears the colours of Hochland and we can assume they originated here. Muntz may be an outlaw but he and his band of wanted men are happy to work for gold as mercenaries. Muntz has been known to use the Spelleater Shield, which explains why his group of outlaws have survived so long in the chaos and undead infested forests.

• Stefan von Brichtoff is a general of Hochland, and is skilled with the long rifle.

• The Khorne worshipping cult The Crimson Skulls has infiltrated many proud Empire military organisations with intention of corrupting them from within. There is evidence that individuals within some of Hochland's State Troops may have been compromised.

Heraldry

Hochland troops wear distinctive and contrasting red and green, although the tone, shade and quality of colour varies greatly. Drakwald patrols are known to have a much more subtle natural green to their uniforms. The hunting horn is a common emblem amongst the nobles of Hochland although it is contested with the nobles of Stirland. Both provinces remember the "Battles of the Horn". The Imperial Cross is especially prevalent amongst Hochland regiments and the cross is keenly added wherever possible. This can be found in the crossed straps of a hunting horn, crossed keys, crossed swords, daggers and arrows, the icons sometimes alone, but often accompanied by the Imperial Cross. Hochland's banner is a field of red with a white imperial cross over it. Crosses may be especially prevalent as many regiments are responsible for crossroads, or their territories are often centered around important crossroads. In 2510 Karl Franz added his emblem to the centre of Hochland's state banner in thanks for being rescued by a forest patrol from Beastmen ambushers.

Military Organisation

• As mentioned, Hochland forces are home to a number of very skilled Handgunner regiments, as well as Huntsmen and Archers. In addition Drakwald Patrols rotate along major routes between forts, fortified inns, watchtowers and looking after isolated villages settlements and townships. Patrols are usually made up of State Troops organised into a large close combat orientated regiment led by a Captain of the Empire and one or two complimentary detachments. Unusually the detachments will often be led by a sergeant or marksman.

• When Huntsmen and the Jaegerkorps have located a large settlement of Beastmen, usually around a herdstone, or Goblins or other unwanted denizens, a number of patrols will form together and attack the enemy. Mortars are often used in such operations.

• In previous editions it has been hinted that Hochland also has the unique regiment of Jaegerkorps- elite marksmen armed with the signature Hochland Long Rifle, possibly a hunting societies replacement for Greatswords. However we now know that there is a garrison of Greatswords at Hergig.

• The Knights of the Broken Sword are said to have their chapter keep within Hochland.

Known Features

• Hergig :Hochland's capital and home of the court of Aldebrand Ludenhof, elector count of Hochland. Ludenhof's court includes the Bright wizard Hermann Feuer and his two apprentices

• A part of the Old Forest Road crosses Hochland.
• Hochland is entirely covered in the Drakwald Forest and the Forest of Shadows.
• To the western border with Middenland, close to Middenheim are two fortified coaching inns named "The Emperor's Hammer" and south east on the same road "The Red Bear".
• To the western border with Middenland, there is a large commercial town known as Krudenwald. Krudenwald is on a major trade route with Middenland, Middenheim, Nordland and Ostland, not to mention into the mountians and Brass Keep which is there.
• The western border with Middenland is guarded by Fort Schippel, a keep which provides a home, supplies and a staging point for Drakwald Patrols.
• North West of Krudenwald is the town of Holzbeck, known for its handgunners and Selmigerholz, know for its spearmen.
• The Weeping Glen is sung about in many songs and tales and it is the location the Emperor Karl Franz was attacked by Beastmen and a heroic Hochland forest patrol saved his life.
• The South Road is guarded by the Katzbulger Patrol. The patrol is garrisoned at Fort Defiant and the patrol reaches as far as the Cup and Horn Inn. It was on this route that Captain Katzbulger singlehandedly slew a Minotaur in close combat
• Esk is a heavily fortified town that grew up around the military watchtowers that guard the central pass into the Middle Mountains.

The provinces & city-states of The Empire
Provinces	Reikland - Middenland - Nordland - Ostland - Hochland - Talabecland - Ostermark - Stirland - Averland - Wissenland - The Moot
City-states	Altdorf - Nuln - Middenheim - Talabheim
Lost provinces	Drakwald - Solland - Westerland - Sylvania