Aneke Talhein

Merchant Prince Aneke Talhein (a.k.a. The Iron Prince)

Everyone who has spent some time in the Federation has heard about Aneke Talhein. The Iron Prince of Eisenburg. I've never met her myself, but I have worked for both merchants who praised her to the sky and dammed her to hell, and some who did both in the same sentence.

— from "Memories of a Caravan Guard" by Clais Hiltprandt

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Despite her short stature and skinny body, Aneke carries herself in a way that makes her seem taller than most. When she enters a room she quickly dominates it by sheer force of personality. When encountering new people she will sometimes adopt a different posture, slumping slightly and speaking more slowly in order to make them underestimate her. A mistake she will then quickly make use of.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Aneke was born as the second child of Nolthe Talhein, who was at the time the Merchant Prince of Eisenburg, which meant that she wasn't met with big expectations but rather allowed to do as she pleased. Growing up she idolized her five year older big brother and often spent a lot of time with him, including sitting in on many of the lessons on statecraft and economics he was forces to attend. Always a quiet child nobody paid her much attention, including her father.

Then in 297 her brother was killed as he tried to defend their mother when cultists of Asmodeus attacked the summer residence. Their mother was kidnapped and later killed by the cultists. The death of both his wife and only son sent Nolthe into a deep depression. Aneke tried to help him, but as he grew more despondent Aneke started to take more control of the day to day running of the family affairs. At first she ruled in her father's name, but soon she stepped into the role as Merchant Prince herself. At first the other merchant princes as well as many in the city dismissed the quiet girl and refused to deal with her, but she soon proved to be very adept at politics.

When the Graslendi Empire collapsed in 303 Aneke was a respected leader of Eisenburg and had made many alliances. She was the one who gathered the other Merchant Princes in Eisenburg and convinced them that reforming the Eisenburg Federation was the best course of action.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Aneke was instrumental in convincing the other Merchant Princes that they should reform the Eisenburg Federation. She did this in large part because she realized that Eisenburg doesn't have many natural resources to draw from but instead relied on being the center of the Federation to keep its prosperity. Due to her sharp wits, deft political maneuvering and many alliances she was elected Chancellor for three periods in a row before declining a fourth period with the explanation that others should also be given the chance to lead the Federation.

Prior to this Aneke had managed to bolster the dwindling family fortune by making shrewd investments and eventually buy a number of central properties around the town. After her time as Chancellor she has continued making effective investments and the Talhein family is now the backer of several successful merchant companies in different parts of the Federation.

Morality & Philosophy

Aneke is known to be a devout follower of both the God of Justice and the God of Wealth. While she believes that each person can forge their own fate she also understands that a little help from the gods is useful at the right time.

Current Location

Eisenburg

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Merchant Prince of Eisenburg

Year of Birth

281 AtB 738 Years old

Gender

Female

Eyes

Hazel brown

Hair

Dark brown with grey streaks

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale

Height

1.64 m

Weight

53 kg

Aligned Organization

The Eisenburg Federation