Rheinland Territorial Realms
The world of Rheinland began like many colonial ventures during the Third Expansion—founded through a combination of corporate investment and governmental ambition. Located in the Struve 2398 binary star system, the region was quickly recognized for its rich reserves of valuable resources spread across eight planets and planetoids.
Initial settlement efforts proved difficult. Frequent stellar flares from the binary pair emitted high levels of X-ray radiation, posing a severe risk to colonists on any planet too close to the stars. The harsh conditions led the sponsoring corporations to focus on terraforming one of the more stable, temperate worlds within the system.
The ideal candidate was the second planet orbiting Struve B. The company and its settlers—predominantly of Germanic descent—were struck by the planet’s raw, untamed beauty. Once the initial terraforming and radiation shielding took hold, they named the planet Rheinland, meaning "Rain Land," inspired by the now-frequent rainfall in many regions of the world.
The planet itself is small but geologically rich, with a large central landmass and numerous island-sized landforms scattered across its relatively shallow oceans. Rheinland’s climate trends colder than Earth’s; the far northern and southern regions see consistent snowfall, while the equatorial belt experiences temperate dry and wet seasons. The majority of the population resides in these equatorial regions.
The Renaming of the Stars
As Rheinland’s colonies expanded and the people began to develop a stronger cultural identity, the settlers turned their attention toward renaming the stars themselves. The scientific designation Struve 2398 had served its purpose during the exploratory and corporate phase, but it lacked soul and meaning to the people who now called this place home.
Drawing inspiration from the Nibelungenlied (pronounced NEE-beh-loong-en-leed), a 16th-century Germanic epic of myth and valor, the colonists renamed the stars to reflect their own growing mythology. The larger of the two stars, formerly Struve A, was renamed Gybich (pronounced GEE-bick), after the legendary Burgundian king. The smaller companion star, Struve B, was named Kriemhild (pronounced KREEM-hilt), after the king’s daughter, famed for her beauty and tragic story.
Collectively, the system became known as Nibelung, in reference to the mythical dwarves of legend who guarded great treasures. To the settlers, this was no longer just a star system—it was a modern saga of struggle, wealth, and transformation. The mineral-rich planetoids, once simple corporate assets, were now likened to the dwarves’ hidden hoards. The name stuck, and so did the mythology.
Note: While “Struve 2398” still appears in older Commonwealth registries, the term “Nibelung System” has become standard within local and regional charts—symbolizing the Rheinland people’s cultural independence and pride.
Rise of the Territorial Domain
The Nibelung system flourished. Industrialization accelerated at a remarkable pace, driven by the efficient exploitation of its vast natural resources. Rheinland’s central powers—particularly the original founding families—amassed great wealth and influence. As their fortunes grew, so did their political power.
Over time, the democratic institutions of the early settlement era gave way to an entrenched aristocracy. Most positions of authority were held by members of the founding families, creating a government in all but name run by those with the deepest coffers. The region formally restructured itself as the Rheinland Territorial Domain (RTD).
Seeking to further expand its influence, the RTD secured membership in the Commonwealth—a vast interstellar alliance of culturally diverse systems. Rheinland’s admission strengthened the Commonwealth significantly, allowing it to challenge even the Core Worlds Alliance in terms of industrial power and military potential.
When the Unification War broke out, many Commonwealth nations mobilized their economies for wartime production. Rheinland was at the center of this effort. Already home to immense manufacturing capacity, it received massive infusions of capital and resources, further enriching the elite. The Domain became an empire in all but name.
The Coronation of a Lord
Leadership within the RTD coalesced under its wealthiest and most powerful figure: Alfred Claus Vonberg, a direct descendant of Calvon Ercison Vonberg, the man credited with purchasing and founding Struve Planetoid C, the planetoid that would eventually become Rheinland’s capital world.
Alfred Claus Vonberg was crowned the first High Lord of Rheinland. With this act, the last vestiges of electoral governance were swept away. Rheinland had become a fully aristocratic state, with lords holding supreme authority. Though this internal power shift served to stabilize Rheinland under a singular vision, it sowed discord within the Commonwealth.
Fracture from the Commonwealth
As the Unification War reached its zenith, Rheinland began a quiet withdrawal from the Commonwealth’s political institutions. Its delegates stopped attending official meetings, leaving an empty chair and a cold void in the diplomatic chambers. The Domain then expanded its reach by annexing a neighboring star system, further reinforcing its independence.
With this new addition, the Rheinland Territorial Domain was restructured into the Rheinland Territorial Realms (RTR)—a symbolic elevation that mirrored its growing power.
However, as the war drew to a close after years of stalemate and destruction, tensions between Rheinland and the Commonwealth reached a breaking point. Trade sanctions and high tariffs were imposed on Rheinland exports, forcing its corporations to form shell companies in other systems to continue trading.
In response, Rheinland ramped up domestic arms production. Proprietary military technology began rolling off the production lines—designs that were increasingly advanced, rivaled only by the technological output of Horologiian and Procyan industry.
Though the Commonwealth attempted to stabilize relations through diplomacy, the damage was done. The RTR returned to the negotiating table, and sanctions were lifted, but the bitterness lingered.
Present Day
The Rheinland Territorial Realms now stand at a crossroads.
Internally, unrest grows. Political factions and civil movements are gaining momentum, and cracks have begun to form in the aristocratic unity that once defined the Realm. Chief among these factions is the Rheinland Republic, a rising populist movement responsible for attacks on RTR installations and steadily gaining support among the populace. Many within the RTR view the Republic as a proxy for the Commonwealth—an accusation that has only deepened the mutual animosity.
Externally, the situation is equally precarious. Some Commonwealth member states have launched limited attacks on Rheinland-aligned worlds, escalating tensions across the border. The RTR now finds itself besieged—squeezed between foreign pressure and internal rebellion.
Despite these challenges, the Realm endures, held together largely by the strength and charisma of the High Lord, whose genuine empathy for his people has maintained fragile cohesion. His leadership has not gone unnoticed.
While the RTR’s standing army remains technologically superior, it is primarily used for defense. For offensive operations, the High Lord turns to the mercenary market, spending enormous sums of CRID to hire seasoned freelance forces. This strategy has turned the Nibelung System into a magnet for mercenaries and private security companies. With generous contracts, ample pay, and a welcoming population, Rheinland has become a land of fortune and glory—for those bold enough to fight for it.