Aaronev Wilhelm Sturmvoraus
Name	Prince Aaronev VI, "Wilhelm"
Occupation	Prince of Sturmhalten
Residence	Sturmhalten
First Appearance	A malign presence in the backstory ✣
Death	Volume V, page 64 ✣
Children	Tarvek Sturmvoraus, Anevka Sturmvoraus

Aaronev Wilhelm Sturmvoraus, sixth Prince of Sturmhalten of that name, was a major Spark, father of two, a Knight of Jove, and devoted to Lucrezia Mongfish.

Prince Aaronev VI and his town of Sturmhalten on Balan's Gap submitted quietly when Baron Wulfenbach came with his troops on his initial pacification mission, and had since served as a "good little vassal" ✣ , taking travelers for all they would bear on one of the few good passes through the mountains, and maintaining the peace overall.

Earlier, he had been a "major player as a Spark", possibly of biological sciences, judging by a specimen spotted on his examining table and the creatures in his sewers. This might have made him a natural to be drawn to Lucrezia Mongfish's style of invention, as her interest in organic forms ✣ would be compatible and harmonic.

His methodology was described as "meticulous" ✣ , which is borne out by his determination to find the Holy Child no matter the cost -- even his own daughter. He allied with the Geisterdamen and accepted their mission as his own, likely since it would let him see Lucrezia again in some way, though his motives are never made entirely clear. He apparently helped Vrin and the other priestesses set up the rebuilt Summoning Machine in the Lady's Chapel, and their "Shadow World" temple reconstruction in the vast chthonic system beneath his castle.

He was the father of two children; Lady Anevka; and Master Tarvek, who according to local tradition was also his heir. These worthies are fated to have significant (to understate it severely) encounters with Agatha and Master Payne's Circus of Adventure, due in part to Aaronev's greed: some time in the past, he'd made off with the Muse, Tinka, and the Circus is crossing the Carpathians(?) unusually early in the year to get Tinka's bereaved "sister" Moxana in for some repair by Tarsus Beetle. (Master Payne is quite disappointed when Agatha tells him that's no longer an option, what with Beetle being dead and all.) Since there aren't many passes through the mountains open this early in the year, their route takes them first to the horrors of Passholdt, and when that doesn't work out(!), over Balan's Gap -- and right back to Sturmhalten, Aaronev, and the other Sturmvorausen, after which all kinds of important stuff happens.

Possibly relevant outside informationEdit

A curious fact about Aaronev is that his retinue contains clever references to the "Nodwick" webcomic. Minions Artacz and Nod both have physical features mimicking the characters in "Nodwick" with similar names (tall and skinny with a long, scraggly moustache, and real honker of a nose, respectively). Artacz even speaks with some of the mannerisms of the "Nodwick" character Artax. Better yet, the creator of "Nodwick" is Aaron Williams, and Aaronev's own name obviously connects to Mr. Williams'. This bit of professional courtesy foreshadows the much more numerous references to other webcomics that will appear later on the outskirts of Mechanicsburg.

Of course, in the other direction, Aaron Williams' comic, PS238 includes the villianous mad scientist, Phillip Von Fogg and his son, Victor, who Williams has confirmed are direct homages to Prof Foglio and his young son.

See also Edit

The Storm King conspiracy