Norward

Norward is an independent city-state that lies in northwestern West Karmithia at the crossroads of Old St., Ever St., and Never St. on the south shores of the Fern Maer. This state’s unparalleled access by sea and road make it a real prize, but its national borders fluctuate as power dynamics shift in the region. Old Norward’s Doge (Sovereign Duke) is Eldric Kolthen, a younger brother to the High King of Arlium. High King Eldorn of Arlium has not attempted to incorporate Norward into Arlium, choosing instead to honor Eldric’s goal of establishing his own dynasty. The mercenary Company of the Black Lance is headquartered here, and they are involved in the local power dynamic, too. This cities ideal location has made it very wealthy. Norward natives speak Neuvo Karmithian, but Osrick Aenglic is often used as well. This city-state belongs to the Universal Faith. Norward’s climate is on the borderline between steppe and temperate.

It serves as an economic land bridge between Aorlis and the Holy Karmithian Empire. For centuries the Audovora dynasty held Norward, although a new Eldric Kolthen seeks to establish himself as a dynast. Norward was part of the Karmithian Empire until that country’s collapse in the 5th century. It remained independent until the Holy Karmithian Empire conquered Norward in 757, and remained an HKE client state until the HKE vs. Kirth wars of 872 to 889, during which Noward was abandoned and became independent again. Meanwhile, in 820 Saint Frippen converted Norward to the Universal Faith. Around 999 the Duke Walther I Warnulf, called the Hammer, seized Norward, and this state remained a client till 1051 when it brutally reclaimed its independence. In 1238, Eldric Kolthen married the last Audovora, Heloise, and he made himself the Doge (Sovereign Duke).