Machteld - Extended Background

Machteld Karlburgher of Grevesmuhl (born 01/04/608)

Father: Alardus (deceased) 
Mother: Margarethe Karlburgher

Husband: Bernhard Blumenthal, (born 602 - died 635)

Daughter: Ottilie Karlburgher, born 627
Son: Gerold Karlburgher, born 629
Daughter: Beate Karlburgher, born 631

Note: Matrilineal marriage, meaning children belong to the house of the wife, due to Blumenthal of being very small house and at Duke Shaemes' insistence.

2nd Husband: Luther, priest or Ruornil

Sons (twins): Sigismund and Arnulf, born 644

The Duke's sister was infatuated with a Mercenary Captain at the service of Lord Shaemes: Machteld was born from this love-story, but the duke did not approve, and he sent the Captain on a suicide mission.

Grevesmuhl is not a good place to grow up for anyone who dislikes bribes, sycophants or pirates
Already at a young age Machteld was known as a bit of an outsider, as everyone in her uncle’s court was a sycophant, a coward, liar or thief, or any and all of the former. With a few exceptions ofcourse. Machteld’s stubbornness came from her father. Born out of a match frowned upon by the lord, yet favoured because she represented new hope for the line of the Karlburghers. Heavy expectations were placed on her at an early age. Steaming her ready for a life of rulership, or atleast stewardship.
She quickly picked up training of weapons from her father, the argument being that most of the usual 'visitors' could not be trusted with a girl. She used to skip away from the castle often to visit the Wulf's Myrmidons, her fathers' unit.

Pirates being a regular occurence in the domain, the lord made frequent use of mercenaries. Still incensed at how Machteld had been conceived, he hired the Wulf's myrmidons and sent them into the field against a prepared ambush. Only a few ever returned. The gloating comments of her uncle were enough to confirm his guilt, even for a girl of 12. What got her attention were the stories that the mercenaries told of her father. Even outnumbered he kept his people from breaking. He led the last stand so that as many of the others could get away. The story served as an inspiration for Machteld. Her father had always been strict on her and others. Harsh but fair and kept to his word even if it would him to ruin. On the other hand he had been a bit of of a practical person, not one to let somethings keep him from victory, although he did draw the line at cruelty and overt violence.

As the years passed, she was further groomed to be married to further the house. Out of all the suitors, and after a lot of pressure from her uncle to settle for someone, she chose Bernhard Blumenthal. Fourth son of house barely able to be called noble, his chance of inheriting were small. She didn't marry him out of love but because he seemed to have the most integrity of the lot and because she had been able to convince him to train her further in fighting.

It didn't take long before the signs of the first child started. Eventually Machteld started to like Bernhard for who he was, again no love, but comfortable warmth in the marriage. Her children she named Ottiele after her grandmother, then her son Gerold came, and  then her youngest, Beate.
A few years after her third child had been born, a number of assasinations unsettled the nobility.  A large house had also been courting her uncle with bribes. Then her husband was seemingly killed in a robbery. Shortly after that rumors abounded that some had been clamoring to the lord in an effort to win machtelds hand. After the grief settled, she entrusted her children in the care of her mother, trusting her to keep them safe and raising them.

She joined the Wulf's Myrmidons in 636, quickly proving her use talent at quartermastering. They often left on assignments, the mercenaries themselves not being completely convinced the lord was behind it, but still wary. Between assignments she would return home and spend time with her children, making time to regale them with tales. One thing she tried to impress upon them was values, she did not want her children to turn out as her uncle.

In 638 a wealthy anuirean noble passed through Brecht and hired number of mercenaries. Since then Machteld had been in the employ of lord Thalion, this particular lord seemed to be more of the kind her uncle was supposed to be.