Nordland

The Barony of Nordland is the northernmost provinces of The Empire, and is the only province to have a direct access to the sea. It is located between the Wasteland (to the west), Middenland (to the south) and Ostland (to the east). The symbol of the state is a sea eagle holding a shield displaying a ship.

Geography

The southern parts of Nordland consist mostly of rough terrain and large forest, with the Drakwald being the largest of them all. Because of this, it is mostly uninhabitated but for a few villages and heavily fortified inns along the Great Northern Road. This road is the main route between the Nordland capital of Salzenmund, and the great city of Middenheim to the south.

Further north the terrain becomes more flat, and it is here that the larger towns and villages appear. It is also where the capital of Salzenmund is located, where the provincial Elector Count resides.

In the northernmost part is a long coastline, where many fishing villages can be located. These villages are under constant threat from raiders such as Dark Elves and Norsca, and it is a common sight to find soldiers on patrol or large fortresses and watchtowers along the coast.

The Nordland army

The people of Nordland are often viewed by their southern cousins as gruff and quick to anger, but also as though and uncomprimising soldiers. This is mainly because of the constant attacks from raiders along the coast, and beastmen attacks from the Drakwald, which means the soldiers of the province is one of the Empires first lines of defence.

The state colors of Nordland are blue and yellow and, because of the provinces link to the sea, most of the symbols that appear on the regimental banners are nautical. As mentioned, most of the soldier are tasked with patrolling the coastline, or man one of several fortresses along it. These jobs are most often given to the state troops, such as halbeirdiers and spearmen, while the more experienced troops, such as knightly orders, are located back in the capital, along with the counts greatswords.

Nordland is also home of parts of the Imperial Navy, and it is common for army recruits to have some form of nautical training and experience. Infact one of the states most famous regiments, the Nordland Mariners, consists of veteran sailors.

Elector Count

The current elector count is Theoderic Gausser, a man who by many is described as hungry for glory and power. He has several times tried to increase his standing and position through acts such as declaring himself Prince of Marienburg (because of a distant ancestor on his mothers side who lived in the city once), for which the Burgomeisters of Marienburg have forbidden him to enter the city, under pain of death. Gausser also tried to provoke an attack on Hochland, which was only averted when the great wizard Balthasar Gelt transformed the gold bars, ment as payment to mercenary forces, into lead (to which the Elector Count declared to avenge if he was given the chance).

Theoderic Gausser was one of the few electors that disagreed with the coronation of Karl Franz as Emperor, and he once declared that Karl Franz was not "his emperor" to Reiksmarshall Kurt Helborg.

Despite these actions, Gausser is still a respected general and it is not uncommon to hear him command armies in defence of his province. Several foes, from orcs and beastmen to dark elves, have fallen beneath his blade, the Runefang called "Crow feeder".