Other Key Players in the Reich

Rupert Delatz, Herzog von Bremen, Reichsführer-SS

Rupert Delatz prefers to keep to the background, dealing with his security responsibilities, although he is normally seen at the side of the Kaiser at important state occasions, and is acknowledged as the second most important individual in the Reich. He is also probably the most feared man in the Fatherland, which in itself is no mean achievement. It is even said that he has murdered his own children in the past, begging the question if he does not respect his own blood, where will he stop? Thus the appearance on the scene of twin sons, Stefan and Berthold, to his then-mistress, Annifrid Ragnarsian, and their chances of survival, were watched with interest in certain quarters when they were made public. The tragic death of Stefan, the elder boy, was noted in similar circles, but speculation has generally been kept to a minimum, at least in public.

In appearance, he bears a resemblance to King Robert of Sable, although Rupert's features are somewhat harsher and since early April RY153, his left cheek has been marked by a distinct scar. However, unsurprisingly, they have a somewhat colourful relationship, given that their philosophies are diametrically opposed, as is their practice of magic. Rupert stands about 5'10", is of light to medium build, and despite his title, he speaks English with a perfect public school accent. When he chooses, he can be very charming, which bolsters his hitherto successful reputation as a ladies man. It was therefore somewhat surprising when he married Annifrid in an SS ceremony, at the spring equinox RY153. The jury is out on whether there is any intention of fidelity on the part of the groom.

He is a licensed pilot, both civilian and military; enjoys hunting; and has been accused of being something of a daredevil and adventurer. However, he also has a love of classical music, especially Wagner, Beethoven and Schubert, and is an accomplished pianist and violinist, regularly attending concerts in Berlin and occasionally performing. He is also a talented artist. He has his primary residence at Panenske Brezany, a fortified manor house about five miles outside Berlin, and he also holds title to the ducal seat at Schloß Bremen, where he spends some of his time; and the Wewelsburg, a gothic castle on his ducal lands which is the focus of the SS training complex.

He shares his residences with Herzogin Annifrid; their daughter, Isabelle; their granddaughter, Kristina; another son named Josef ; and a foster son named Wolfram Bergen, who is in his early teens. As far as Josef, the newest member of the household, is concerned, while he is recorded as being the RFSS's son, his mother's name isn't in the records, so it is unlikely he is the Herzogin's. It would appear that Rupert and his family recently spent some time away, as the younger children are now all around eight or nine.

Annifrid Ragnarsian Delatz, Herzogin von Bremen

With her marriage to Rupert Delatz, Annifrid now officially holds the title of Herzogin von Bremen, although she had been referred to by that title unofficially while she was still his favourite mistress. Before her marriage she was able to wield considerable influence with those who wished communication with the Reichsführer-SS, and this certainly hasn't lessened since she became his wife. This, in turn, means that she is treated with considerable deference among the higher-ups of Reich society.

She is a tall, beautiful woman, standing around 5'9", and when she and her husband are seen together - usually informally in the evenings, at concerts or having dinner, although she does occasionally accompany him to formal Reich events - they make a very handsome couple. Her origins aren't commonly known within the Reich, although the rumour is that she is a Viking Princess who her lover brought home to the Fatherland after one of his trips abroad. Whatever the truth of her origins, however, she is the mother of his sons, Berthold and the ill-starred Stefan, and his daughter, Isabelle, which has given her still more influence with him .

Like the Kaiserin, she has been known to be involved in morale-boosting visits to Reich organisations and forces throughout the Fatherland's sphere of influence, often visiting the ordinary Reich Citizens and soldiers when Rupert has business with their leaders. On such occasions, she comes across as warm, and supportive to the Reich's aims and beliefs, and is a popular figure with the common people.

Berthold Delatz, Erbherzog von Bremen

Stefan and Berthold were the teenage, twin sons of the Herzog and Herzogin von Bremen. Both were Talented, but that was one of the few things they had in common. In nature, interests and beliefs they were very different to each other, like chalk and cheese: whereas Stefan was somewhat studious and thoughtful, even quiet, Berthold was and remains by far the more boisterous of the two. With his elder brother's untimely death, Berthold has been confirmed as the Reichsführer's heir by the Imperial Council.

Berthold excels at sports although academically, he is less gifted than his late brother. He was very involved with his local Reichsjugend chapter, where he became a platoon leader relatively early and proved himself to be a natural leader. With the completion of his formal education (which appears to have been done outside the Reich, although his graduation qualifications have been confirmed by the Reich Board of Education), he is undertaking officer training at the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz.  He is Talented, and has been given a grounding in magic to bachelor level, and once he has spent some time with the Reich forces, it is believed that he will study further at the mage college at the SS-Schule Haus.

He has taken after his father in that he is a talented artist for a young man of his age. However, he seems to have little musical ability and at this time seems uninterested in concerts, the theatre, etc, preferring more active pursuits like riding, especially hunting, and atheletics. He has also taken after his father in other areas, and despite his own youth, he has a young, illegitimate daughter, Kristina, who is being brought up by her grandparents (particularly her grandmother) at Panenske Brezany.

General Conrad Berthelmes, Herzog von Nürnberg, Chairman of the NSRAP, KSS (Winter Circle)

Conrad Berthelmes, aka the Grey Eminence, is one of the few people in the Reich who maintains a good relationship with both the Kaiser and the Reichsführer-SS, often acting as a liaison between them. Despite being one of the Higher Nobility titleholders, his background is as both lawyer and soldier, although he is also Talented and holds a Doctorate in Magic. In the early days of the Reich he served in the Armed Forces, specifically the Auslands-Heer, where his skill as a strategist, as well as his abilities as a soldier and a battle mage, raised him to the rank of Generalleutnant.

After a distinguished career, the still-youthful Berthelmes left the Army and returned to university to study law. After graduation, he went into practice, where he excelled in the same way as he had the military, and quickly made a name for himself - largely because of his involvement with drafting the current Shape Shifter Laws. Within rather fewer years than might have been expected, he was invited by the Kaiser to become Chairman of the NSRAP, replacing Erwin von Geert. During his tenure he has become the architect of Reich policy, as well as being a trusted adviser to both Kaiser Wilhelm and Rupert Delatz. In the latter context, despite having never served with the SS, he holds the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, and was made a Knight of the SS in RY142.

His recent appointment as Reichsprotektor of the new Außenhandel Group of Westphalia, along with his return to active duty with the Auslands-Heer at the increased rank of General, has raised a lot of eyebrows in Berlin. The announcement of his new appointment, issued by the Imperial Palace, also publicly acknowledged General Berthelmes' fraternal relationship to the Kaiser for the first time. At this time he maintains his position as Chairman of the NSRAP, although rumours abound that he is beginning to consider an exit from this position.

Having been widowed comparatively young, he is now happily remarried and splits his time between Berlin and Westphalia. When he can, he visits his family's ancestral lands near Nürnberg and his wife Gabriele, and his teenage son Xavier, are often to be found there, especially in the summer. He is thought to have few hobbies outside of work, except for riding and hunting, although he is known to play a mean game of chess. He has recently acknowledged an older son from a prior marriage, Jackson, who has been confirmed as Erbherzog von Nürnberg by the Imperial Council.

Oberstleutnant Eva Berthelmes

Eva Berthelmes is Conrad's daughter by his first wife, Mathilde. Despite being identified as Talented at an early age, she decided to do her State Service with the Wehrmacht, before going to mage school in Berlin. After graduating top of her class, she rejoined the Wehrmacht, and had a successful career with the Auslands-Heer as a communications specialist, during which time she was sponsored by the army to do first her Masters and then her Doctorate in magic. She finally left the service at the end of her contract at the rank of Oberstleutnant, and followed her father's footsteps to Law School.

She had a successful second career as a specialist in criminal and international law, working in the Department of Legal Affairs, and was expected to be appointed to the Judiciary (specifically the Berlin HöherGericht). It therefore came as a surprise when she replaced Adalheid Ansgar as Imperial Chief of Staff in RY152. A further move from that position was undertaken in April RY155, when she joined the office of the Chairman of the NSRAP, and the smart money is currently on the likelihood that she will replace her father in due course.

She has been married once, to a fellow officer in the Auslands-Heer, but he was killed in action about two years later. Since then, her love life has occasionally made the Court and Social pages, but for the most part, she avoids the limelight in that regard. She is known to be a skilled pianist, and is also a decent watercolour artist. She lives in Berlin.

Georg Emmerich, Reichskanzler

Georg Emmerich is a former Naval officer who later became a career politician. He did his State Service within the Heimat-Kriegsmarine, re-enlisting for a further twenty years, during which he gained the rank of Kapitän zur See. After leaving the Navy, he turned his significant talents to politics. He spent nearly twenty years as a Lower House representative for the Province of Wilhelmsburg, before becoming an active member of the Berlin City Council. He was first appointed to the Upper House of the Reichstag, representing Berlin, about sixteen years ago, and by dint of dedicated networking and friends in high places, he moved quickly up the NSRAP hierarchy in the Senate.

When he was reappointed to the Senate, he quickly gained enough support to become the leader of the NSRAP in the Upper House. Since then he has served as Reichskanzler, making him the most senior elected politician within the Reichstag, and giving him a seat on the Imperial Council. He is the political face of the Reich, acting as host for state visits to Berlin from the Außenhandel and other nations with diplomatic relations with the Fatherland. He also travels abroad as the Reich's senior politician, often accompanying the Kaiser or the Kaiserin on state visits, as well as embarking on many of his own.

He is a dedicated family man, having been married to Franziska for about thirty-five years, and they have two sons in the Navy and a daughter who has recently been elected as Lower House member for her father's old constituency