Ehrenfest (Duchy)



The Duchy of Ehrenfest is a region on the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Yurgenschmidt. It is currently governed by Sylvester Ehrenfest, holding the position of Aub (indicating that he governs the area with the full authority and trust of the Sovereignty) and the title of the Archduke (indicating that, among duchies, this one is particularly powerful and likely has special trust and confidence of the Sovereign).

The capital of the territory is the City of Ehrenfest.

The territory is bordered by the following other territories:
 * The duchy of Ahrensbach to the South
 * The duchy of Klassenberg to the North
 * The duchy of Frenbeltag to the Southwest
 * The duchy of Zausengas to the Northwest
 * An unnamed other nation to the East/Northeast

The duchy of Ehrenfests consists of 28 provinces plus the central district:


 * Central District
 * Asmann
 * Bauer
 * Bessel
 * Blon
 * Buers
 * Cremer
 * Dahldolf
 * Forst
 * Garduhn
 * Gerlach
 * Glaz
 * Griebel
 * Groschel
 * Haldenzel
 * Haseney
 * Herzfeld
 * Hirsch
 * Huber
 * Illgner
 * Joisontak
 * Kark
 * Khune
 * Kirnberger
 * Lancelle
 * Lehde
 * Leisegang
 * Reunwalt
 * Wilford

Ehrenfest stretches far enough north to south that there is a noticable difference in climate between the tips of the duchy. The nothernmost province of Haldenzel has significantly harsher winters in which even the fastest flowing rivers freeze over, while in the southern provinces at least some of the rivers remain unfrozen throughout most of the winter.

Apart from the generally already warmer climate, the southernmost province of Griebel is further heated by the presence of the active volcano Mount Lohenberg, which is only kept from erupting by the local feybeast draining significant amounts of fire-related mana. If too many of the beasts are slayn or too many of their eggs are stolen, the mountain will errupt.

Several years ago there was a coup within the Sovereignty. Though Ehrenfest formally stayed neutral in the conflict and thus didn't suffer any losses in the fighting, many nobles from the region died and others moved to other territories. Furthermore the new king also enacted a purge of anyone believed to be affiliated with the brothers he had been fighting, even in the neutral duchies. Due to this, Ehrenfest, like all duchiers of the Sovereignty, is suffering a severe shortage of mana, causing much difficultty. Many nobles who had been sent to the temple were called back to their families and many of those remaining were called to the main temple in the Sovereignty, in turn causing a secondary mana shortage in the temple.

Spoiler from Part 4 Volume 2 While Ehrenfest had several outstanding nobles in the past, almost all of their accomplishments stayed on an individual level and failed to raise the the duchy as a whole. Some of the individuals mentioned are Professor Hirschur who's scientific discoveries baffled even Professor Gundolf and the former blue shrine maiden Christine, who's incredible skill with the harspiel left an eternal impression on those who heard her play, including Prince Anastasius.


 * Nobles of Ehrenfest receive an ocher/yellow cloak when they go to the Royal Academy. The ocher colour is the Ehrenfest ducal colour.
 * The banner animal of the Duchy is the lion. Only members of the Archducal family are allowed to use a winged lion as their Highbeast and only the Aub may use a three-headed, winged lion.