The Empire has fallen, leaving in its place multiple successor kingdoms. The lords and ladies of these petty kingdoms squabble for control and influence – whether with cloak and dagger or sword and shield, families feud amongst themselves and against each other as greater threats cast a shadow across the land. Famines wreak havoc on the lives of the peasantry, warfare and disunity threaten the social order, noble families fall to decadence and hedonism, and beyond the borders of the old Empire, great armies of pillage and destruction form under the banners of invader-kings.

In these uncertain times, you must lead your small kingdom to greatness – and the members of your noble family to survival – in this medieval colony sim focussed on generating stories of great valor and vile treachery.

The Noble Privilege

Your family rules from on high, navigating alliances and rivalries to control your city, kingdom, and political strategies. Each member has unique strengths, weaknesses, and ambitions, shaping their relationships with each other and foreign rulers. Experience friendships, escapades, and assassinations as your nobles command peasants, lead armies, and study ancient texts.

Various skills determine which family members excel in different roles – as warriors, taskmasters, scribes, or negotiators. Train them to enhance their strengths and prepare future generations by educating children.

Family members also possess traits influencing their personalities and capabilities, cultural backgrounds affecting perceptions, and diverse needs and desires. Dissatisfaction breeds resentment and disloyalty, leading to potential violence. Will you calm tensions with gifts or eliminate threats swiftly?

Ambition, greed, and opportunism can drive family members to conflict. Trust is scarce among scorned lovers, power-hungry siblings, and those swayed by foreign influence.

Your kingdom's progress relies on your nobles' knowledge. They study ancient texts to learn new technologies, risking loss of knowledge if they perish without passing it on. Acquire and translate books to unlock new opportunities, deciding whether to keep this knowledge or trade it for wealth and resources. After all, knowledge is power.

Powered by Peasants

The common folk of Norland are the backbone of any kingdom, serving loyally until hunger or discontent sparks rebellion. Manage their diverse needs and complaints either benevolently or with force. Direct your nobles to instruct the peasants in work and battle, balancing wages and costs to keep them satisfied. Different cultural backgrounds and factions among peasants add complexity, with shifting alliances and potential unrest. Address tensions through patrols or executions to maintain order, but remember, even a great lord is one mob away from downfall.

A Living World

Norland is a rich world with diverse cultures and a turbulent history following the Empire's collapse. An Unholy Horde threatens from afar while the Church of Saint Sophia maintains control through faith. Successor kingdoms vie for power, each with unique resources and challenges.

Send skilled nobles to forge alliances, trade, plot, and incite rebellions. Choose between espionage or open warfare, and prepare for enemies infiltrating your ranks. Historical events, calamities, and external threats will test your family. The world is dynamic, with traveling nobles, bandits, and other kingdoms pursuing their own agendas.

 A Time for War

When disputes turn bloody, raise a militia, motivate prisoners, and command your nobles to lead. Crush dissent and rebellion, but beware well-armed foes and power-hungry relatives. Your warriors, essential to your economy, are not to be risked lightly. Equip your army wisely, balancing imports and local production. Defend against invaders or march to battle, relying on morale, combat skills, and tactics. Norland offers numerous scenarios and options, allowing you to shape your society’s unique story, whether through war, faith, knowledge, or intrigue.