The Grand Barony of Nordland
Elector: Theodoric Gausser
State Livery: Blue and Yellow
Heraldic Devices: Galleons and Anchors
Geography
Much like the rest of the northern Empire, Nordland is dominated by forests. In the eastern half of the province, the Forest of Shadows covers the land from the Salzenmund-Middenheim Road to the Ostland border. This region is sparsely populated and home to a multitude of Forest Goblin and Beastmen tribes. The western portion of the province lies under the eaves of the fey Laurelorn Forest. Though much fairer than the neighboring Drakwald and Forest of Shadows, Laurelorn has its perils. The forest is home to the only known community of Wood Elves outside the borders of Loren and its borders are jealously guarded. All attempts conquer these Elves have failed and the Counts of Nordland are content to sit at uneasy peace with them. The Elves put a strict limit on the amount of lumbering that may go on in the Laurelorn, but timber from the region is prized for its beauty and durability. Nordland’s coastline is dotted with small fishing villages though only in the Drosselpule Bay are catches abundant. Competition with Marienburg has increased the hardship along the western portions of the coast and villages there sometimes turn to wrecking in order to supplement their income. Nordland is not rich in arable and what crops are grown are consumed locally. Besides a handful of specialty cheeses, salted fish is Nordland’s only food stuff export. Nordland has benefited from the creation of the Imperial Second Fleet, both the form of government and mercantile contracts which have been greatly expanded local boatbuilding and the timber industry in the last fifteen years. Though portions of the Middle Mountains are under the control of Nordland, there is little mineral wealth in that part of the range. The Silver Hills, which occupy the land from Salzenmund north to the Sea of Claws, do have some larger deposits of silver and Nordland produces some of the finest quality silver work in the Empire.
The People
At the time of Sigmar, the land that now comprises the province of Nordland was not controlled by a single tribe. In the decades previous to Sigmar’s efforts at unification, the region was in constant turmoil. The Jutone tribe, which had called the coastline home since the migration into the Reik River basin, was driven from their lands by Norsii raiders and the belligerent Teutogens. After Sigmar brought the Teutogens to heel and drove the Norsii into the sea, the region was largely uninhabited. Faced with the great army of greenskins to the south, Sigmar called upon all the tribes of men to aid in the war to which the bitter Jutones refused to answer. After the victory at Black Fire Pass and his coronation as Emperor, Sigmar set about bringing the Jutones into the Imperial fold. This was only achieved through a costly siege of the Jutone capital, Jutonsryk. Though initially viewed with suspicion and contempt by his peers, the Jutone King Marius eventually won acceptance through his heroic efforts during the Norsii and Undead invasions. All final doubts were quelled when Marius wed the Endal Princess Mirska, uniting the Jutones and Endals under one line of Counts.
As the line of the Endals and Jutones were heavily tied with the city of Marburg, later Marienburg, and the Wasteland, those that reside within the current borders of Nordland enjoy little of the tribal heritage remembered in all of the other provinces of the Empire. Following the expulsion of the Norsii, the woodlands from the Wasteland marshes to the Udose settlements in the eastern Forest of Shadows were largely devoid of human inhabitants. In the years of prosperity that the early Empire enjoyed, many Jutones returned to these lands after the destruction of Jutonsryk. Marburg however attracted far more of these refugees and the depopulated territory drew settlers from among many of the tribes of the Empire seeking new lives in unsettled lands. A land of mixed Imperial ancestry was further confused thanks to heavy colonization by Norscan tribes in the years following the disintegration of Imperial authority in the aftermath of the Black Plague of 1115.
Nordlanders are accorded by most fellow Imperials as loud, blunt, pseudo-savages and as Nordlanders tend to be a larger physically than other Imperials, it only helps to further these notions. On a whole, Nordlanders are rather touchy about the subject of their ancestry and are often eager to prove they are just as Imperial, if not more so, than their peers of other provinces. Despite their best efforts, Norse influences are still readily detected in Nordland from some architectural styles to Nordland’s customary laws on trial by combat.
The Ruling House
House of Gausser Coat of Arms: A white galley on a red field.
Though the Gausser line has been an eminent family in Nordland for generations, it is only recently that they have come to the Electoral throne. The previous dynasty, the House of Niske, alienated a great part of Nordland’s nobility through their close ties with the Todbringers of Middenland which many felt had reduced Nordland to more a vassal of the Counts of Middenland rather than a Grand Province in its own right. Scandal and disputed succession were all that was needed for Nordland’s nobles to look elsewhere and Theodoric Gausser was more than happy to take the mantle of Elector Count for himself and his family.
Theodoric is a very proud man and suffers much like other Nordlanders from an inferiority complex. He is particularly obstinate when second guessed by those of lesser rank and particularly when they are not fellow Nordlanders. Even if Gausser is flawed in his planning helpful suggestions from advisors from more ‘civilized’ portions of the Empire, Nuln or Reikland in particular, are viewed as a slight on himself as well as all other Nordlanders. Theodoric is above all an ambitious man, it is how he maneuvered into his Electoral seat and it is how he plans to maintain it for his family line. Gausser is getting on in years and his son faces serious challenges in gaining the Electoral seat upon Theodoric’s death. He needs to prove that Nordland with a Gausser at the helm is a strong one and neutralize the House of Niske, who are undoubtedly moving to recover their position. Rumors abound that Theodoric plans nothing short of recovering Marienburg for the Empire and Nordland. If he were able to achieve such a coup he would not only solidify his place as one of the greatest Electors of Nordland but also show those southerners the worth of good Nordland warriors. In addition, securing Marienburg would also allow Gausser to return the Salzenmund to the House of Niske and hopefully turn his greatest opponents into staunch allies.
Religion
Nordlanders are reasonably pious people but attitudes of many cult hierarchies are quite problematic to the Nordland psyche. The Cult of Sigmar is influential but is seen as a condescending religious extension of Reikland policy. Regarded as such a back-water during the area of Three Emperors, Nordland still has not been properly integrated into the Sigmarite diocese system and the High Capitular of Nordland actually sits in Middenheim rather than Salzenmund. The Cult of Ulric has always been strong in Nordland but its priests and followers chaff at the often similarly patronizing outlook of the Cult leadership. The close ties between the Ar-Ulric and the Grafs of Middenheim lead many Nordlanders, even Salzenmund’s own High Priest of Ulric, to the conclusion that the Cult leadership would be perfectly content having Nordland made subservient to the interests of Middenheim and Middenland. Nordlander fishing communities are likewise on ill terms with the Cult of Manann, the Sea God. As Marienburg is the heart of Manann’s worship, the poor relations between Nordland and Marienburg has left most of the province’s shrines and temples dependent on their local congregations for maintenance rather than money from the coffers in Marienburg. A handful of Manannite Templars have their headquarters in Nordland but most have been reduced to near penury condition for the last century. Cult leadership has reduced these Orders to almost excommunicatus status and created new more politically viable Orders to replace them. Only the Cult of Taal and Rhya is not tainted by political issues though there are concerns over the practices of folk adjacent to Laurelorn incorporating too many ‘elven’ influences into their worship.
Important Towns
Built on the site of the ancient meeting hall of the Jutones, Salzenmund is the oldest most revered city in a province that is otherwise devoid of ancestral links. A chartered town and provincial capital, Salzenmund enjoys the steady stream of commerce that flows along the Erengrad-Middenheim road. In addition Salzenmund is a hub for silver smithing based on ores drawn from the nearby Silver Hills. Salzenmund’s Silversmiths Guild is quite powerful and the work of it members is admired by merchants throughout the Empire and beyond. Salzenmund is also one of the few cities where one can find elven goods for sale. Few in number, some of the folk of Laurelorn do travel to the cities of men and their goods command high prices. The city’s most famous building is its imposing Temple of Ulric. Unlike the fortified chapel style indicative of most Ulrican temples, the Salzenmund Temple is constructed entirely of giant timbers in a manner more akin to southern Norsca than the Empire. The building is quite ancient, dating from the latter half of the first millennium, and mirrors the Great Temple of Ulric with its own eternal flame supposedly started with holy fire brought from Middenheim.
Up until only a decade ago, Dietershafen was an unremarkable small village on the coast of the Sea of Claws scrapping in a living from fishing and a very small boatbuilding industry. Faced with increased raids by the Norse and political tensions with Marienburg, the Emperor, in conjunction with Count Gausser and Dietershafen’s Baron Kohler, recommissioned the defunct Imperial Second Fleet stationing it in the town. Following significant grants from the Imperial treasury, Dietershafen has expanded rapidly to accommodate the new fleet along with the booming shipbuilding and timber industry. The Count’s constant rotation of State Troops through the navy has also brought the town a small industry focused on supply military stores for when regiments return to land based actions as well as the production of naval stores.
On the eastern end of Drosselpule Bay sits the city of Norden. After the secession of Marienburg, the town became the most important port for those looking to avoid the often exorbitant tolls and mooring fees charged to enter the Empire via the Reik. Though not officially associated with the Imperial Fleet, Norden became the home for any Imperial Naval vessels charged with transporting goods to the Empire’s few foreign colonies, such as the infamous Leopoldsheim prison. This in turn attracted many private entrepreneurs who wished to set out for Lustria and the Southlands without having to pay healthy commissions to the greedy burghers of Marienburg. The taverns of the Empire are filled with types that boast about their adventures in the new world but in Norden, there is at least a chance they might be true.
Military
Militarily, Nordland is finally overcoming the shadows of its more prominent neighbors. Years as the lesser vassal of the Princes of Marienburg gave Nordland regiments a reputation as unkempt, undisciplined, but enthusiastic soldiers. During the years of the Imperial Civil Wars and Age of Three Emperors, Nordland was a rich recruiting ground for mercenaries which served throughout the Empire. After the Electorship passed from the Princes of Marienburg to the Princes of Salzenmund, Nordland’s military received more attention and prestige. Unfortunately for Nordland generals, no matter the number of imported drillmasters Nordland regiments have never been entirely broken of all their bad habits, chief among them impetuous advances. Nordland troops mustered in a multi-state force are often given special attention by commanding officers to keep them in line.
Nordland’s ambitious Count has been improving his military through regular service within the Imperial Second Fleet as marines. In addition rather than combating the fiery spirit of Nordland troops, Gausser and his Marshalls have embraced it and have worked at implementing new aggressive infantry tactics on the battlefield. Most other Imperial generals are shocked to see handgunners fire only a single volley before charging head long into the enemy or huntsmen closing with hand axes on enemy artillery but in Nordland these are quite common practices.
Famous Regiments
Nordland Marines
While it has been the Count’s policy to rotate as many of his state regiments through the Imperial Second Fleet with stints as marines, Nordland does have several regiments dedicated to such duty. In addition to serving with the fleet, marine detachments are garrisoned throughout a series of forts that guard Nordland’s coastline. The regularity of Norscan raids means that Nordland’s marines rarely have time to grow soft and complacent during these terra firma postings. Crossbows are their preferred weapon as they are more reliable at sea than handguns or bows though pistols are quite popular. For close combat, Nordland Marines favor cutlasses and falchions and are as eager get to grips with the enemy as all other Nordland regiments.
Attached from section on Knightly Orders
Sons of Manann
Religious Affiliation: Manann
Headquarters: Salzenmund
Grandmaster (Grand Admiral): Hrofil Halfdane
Livery: Light Blue and White
Heraldic Designs: Tridents and Manann’s Crown
The Sons of Manann represent one of the Empire’s most unorthodox Knightly Orders. Originally drawn from the nobility of coastal Nordland and Ostland, the Order has for centuries operated a number of fortress monasteries along the coast of the northern Empire. Before the advent of the Nordland (Imperial) Second Fleet, the Order was responsible for protecting much of the Empire’s northern coast from pirates, wreckers, and Norscan raiders. With Marienburg’s secession from the Empire a century ago, the Order was put in the difficult position of either supporting their Cult leaders in Marienburg or remaining true to the Empire. Ultimately the Order chose to back the Empire and has been diminishing since. Angry at their disloyalty, the Cult of Manaan expelled the Order from Marienburg and supplanted their position as the preeminent Order of Manaan’s Templars with the Knights Mariner. Separated from the wealth and prestige of the Cult, the Order soon found it harder to maintain the Order’s estates and find new squires. Once the Imperial Navy commissioned a second fleet to be stationed in Nordland new initiate numbers dropped even further. Today advancement in the Order is easy when compared to other Orders even among those of low birth. Provided the initiate exhibits a sincere and deep held piety, even the highest echelons of the Order are within reach, case in point, the Order’s current Grand Admiral, Hrofil Halfdane. A Norscan by birth, Hrofil joined the Order after a storied career as a mercenary. Shipwrecked in the midst of the Sea of Claws, Hrofil pledged himself to whatever deity would spare him the inglorious death of drowning. Days later, he washed up in front of one the Sons of Manaan’s Chapter Houses. Seeing it as a sign from his new patron, Hrofil promptly joined the Order. In the twenty years since, Hrofil has proven, through both his considerable martial talent and ardent faith in Manaan, himself worthy of election to the Order’s highest rank.
The Sons of Manann predominantly serve as marines aboard the vessels of the Order’s modest navy. In order to supplement their income, some Order ships have taken to attaching themselves to Imperial and take shares from any collected prize money or seized cargo. This concerns many of the older Knights in the order since such actions are at times more akin to piracy then the policing role to which the Order is dedicated. Close ties with the Count of Nordland also mean the Order is often called upon to aid the Count in various conflicts. When fighting on land, the Knights still carry cutlasses to represent their naval heritage and are mounted upon white horses in armor with strong sea motifs. The Knights strive to appear as the unbridled force of one of Manann’s great tidal waves an effect often not lost on opponents. In keeping with their Gods imagery, the Sons of Manann are known to alter their lances by adding trident heads in honor of Manann’s own mighty trident, Sea Reaper.