Oberheim bears a red shield crossed diagonally by a white engrailed bend charged with three red hearts. The burning motif represents the unyielding strength and inner fire of its people, while the hearts symbolize loyalty, endurance, and love for the land and its traditions.
Nestled in the eastern lands of Steinau, Oberheim is a landlocked region of fertile fields, gentle rivers, and rolling hills. The region is home to the sacred Fussel River, which nourishes the land and flows through its capital. The terrain transitions from cultivated farmlands near Lundbach to rugged forests and fortified ridgelines along its northern borders, reflecting the dual nature of Oberheim: bountiful yet fortified.
Oberheim is a region steeped in tradition, discipline, and loyalty to the Crown. Formed from the northern half of the ancient realm of Heim, it remains deeply rooted in the old ways, resisting the tides of change embraced by its southern counterpart, Nederheim. The people of Oberheim are known for their hardworking spirit, martial resilience, and reverence for heritage. Its capital, Lundbach, stands as a bastion of strength and a symbol of Oberheim’s unbroken resolve.
The Early Roots of Heim
Long before the region bore the name Oberheim, the land was home to wandering tribes who revered its fertile soil and abundant rivers. The first permanent settlement, Lundbach, was founded near the Fussel River by a mysterious figure remembered only as The Founder. Over time, it grew into a thriving agricultural village, until internal tensions sparked ideological divides between those favouring tradition and those advocating for progress.
The Rise of Henrik the Elder
Henrik the Elder emerged as a unifying leader. Under his wise rule, Lundbach flourished into a model of order and self-sufficiency. Fields expanded, trade routes opened, and prosperity followed. But even as the region grew, the seeds of division were sown among Henrik’s sons.
Otmar and Leoric: The Brothers’ Feud
Henrik’s elder son, Otmar, upheld the values of tradition, believing in the strength of stability and hard work. The younger, Leoric, dreamed of innovation, exploration, and trade. When Henrik died, their conflicting visions erupted into civil strife. Raids, sabotage, and political division culminated in Leoric’s departure with his followers southward to form what would become Nederheim.
Otmar’s Rule and the Rise of Oberheim
Otmar remained and rebuilt. Under his leadership, Lundbach was fortified, and the northern half of Heim became known as Oberheim, “High Home.” It emerged as a stronghold of resilience and tradition. The schism between Otmar and Leoric would echo through the ages, defining two starkly different cultures.
The seat of power in Oberheim, Lundbach is a formidable stone town built atop ancient foundations beside the Fussel River. Originally a simple farming village, it was transformed by Otmar and later rulers into a fortress city. High walls, austere architecture, and watchful towers mark it as a symbol of Oberheim's vigilance. Its people are known for their discipline, piety, and fierce loyalty to the count.
Oberheim’s culture is defined by hard work, honour, and continuity. The people are deeply family-oriented, celebrating the strength of generational ties and land stewardship. Rural festivals revolve around the planting and harvest seasons, and tales of Otmar’s legacy are told by the hearth. Martial tradition is strong, boys and girls alike are trained in arms from a young age, and service to the count is regarded as the highest civic duty.
Oberheim is firmly aligned with the Royalist faction in the ongoing War of the Sceptre and the Crown. The region views the Anselm’s claim to secular power as a dangerous disruption of order. Duke Gerwald von Lundbach, a respected and austere ruler, was among the first to rally to King Heinrich’s banner when conflict broke out. Oberheim’s well-drilled levies and defensive prowess made it a crucial ally in the east, holding the line against buckethead forces such as Lunden.
Though the Siege of Lundbach ended in victory, Oberheim remains vigilant. The siege, led by the bishop’s personal forces and mercenaries under Konrad of Lunden, tested the region’s endurance. For six months, supplies were cut and water poisoned, yet the defenders held. The timely arrival of Nederheim’s navy forced the Church’s withdrawal. The siege became a defining moment known as Gerwald’s Stand, though it claimed the life of Duke Gerwald himself. Now led by his daughter Duchess Elsbeth von Lundbach, Oberheim continues to uphold its proud legacy. The region is scarred but unbroken, and while peace remains elusive, its people endure, unyielding in their loyalty to the Crown and the memory of their past.