Norlund
The Basics
Norlund was formerly a vassal state controlled by the Kingdom of Fraine. They've always been an independently-minded group, however, and while the Queen of Fraine was dealing with challenges to her trade supremacy and supporting the Order of the Pine Cross against the Furies, Norlund and the Vales took the opportunity to sever ties with the Crown. They've been able to make it stick mostly on account of the fact that they've got exceptional military leadership. While they lack the numbers to resist a serious invasion by Fraine, the much larger Kingdom has too many other pressing concerns at the moment to commit the number of troops that would be needed to bring Norlund to heel. Thus, a key plank in Norlund's survival strategy is to help ensure that Fraine remains politically off-balance because if they ever improve relations with their main rivals, they could easily take Norlund back by force.Political Situation
Norlund’s political situation is…tenuous. The Grand Dutchy is rather thinly populated and finding it a struggle to stem the tide against the dark forces surging southward, and yet, given their geography, they serve as a bulwark. They pay the price, in blood, of keeping the Loch region safe from incursions from the north. While the Council of Seven has their own problems with their southern border, they have a significantly higher population, and a standing alliance with the Holy Church. Norlund is largely alone, her lands coveted by both the Council of Seven and the Kingdom of Fraine. Her one steadfast ally is the Vales, which are similarly thinly populated and facing even more dire troubles as they have a longer border with the Wild Lands to defend. Long term, this situation will not hold, and the Grand Duke is desperate for allies or for anything that will change the political landscape. A formal alliance with Kell (whom they are on good terms with) would be a fantastic insurance policy, but the Kellens are still weak and recovering from the Great War which nearly destroyed them as a People. Like the Furies, the Grand Dutchy is a traditional Feudal society, but they are rather cool to one another, politically, though they do share an imortant thing in common. Both Duchies loathe the Kingdom of Fraine.
Capital
Power Structure
Feudal state
Judicial Body
The Justicaari
Neighboring Nations
Towns of Note
Villages & Hamlets
Landmarks of Interest
Lakes & Rivers
Loch Laern
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