But...what of Nordland sir?

[Ealdwulf]

So it's that time of year again, what time you ask? The time to paint my empire miniatures that have been lying in the closet for months on end!

As I sit in my study going over the various Imperial Provinces from the last two Empire Army books I realize something. There is scant written about the province that is seat to the Imperial Navy!

I have the book "Heraldry of the Empire" where once again, like Wissenland, Nordland, a province ripe for a background gets snubbed with a measly 2 pages of generic nautical heraldry and 1 small paragraph.

What do we know?

- Nordland is the seat of the Imperial Navy (well most of it, the rest is down river in Altdorf).

- Nordland is frequently raided by Dark Elves, and Norse.

- They have toll-roads to tax the caravans moving through the region to Marienburg. A much preferred route over the the forest of Middenland.

- The Laurelorn forest has an enclave of very territorial wood elves. Aside from that background, there is not much else written. (I may be forgetting a few things)

- Seems to be based on Denmark/Sweden during the same time as its Holy Roman Empire counterparts


It is certainly not as well written about as Middenland/Middenheim, Altdorf, or Nuln. Which is why it appeals to me, but at the same time, I'd like to know more!

While this is definitely enough to get someone going on making their own army based around this nautical province,

I'm curious if anyone has some other source of information regarding Nordland? Perhaps one of the Warhammer RPG books?

[Tayrod]

The province is ruled by Count Theoderic Gausser. Previous background had "Baron Werner Nikse" as the ruler of the Nordland. The Nikse noble family was closely tied to the Todbrigner family of Middenheim through intermarriage. Nordland's border encompass the Laurelorn Forest, home to one of the few communities of Wood Elves The Old World.

Source Wikipedia.

Nordland is the starting Zone for Order of the Griffon players, and one of the electoral provinces of the Empire; as the name would suggest, Nordland is the province on the Empire's northern edge. Mostly dangerous forest, Nordland becomes more flat and meadow-like towards the coast, where most of the population lives, though the capital Salzenmund is inland. In the Age of Reckoning, the area is under attack from followers of Chaos from Norsca.

The Barony of Nordland is a province on the northern coast of the Empire. The wild land of Norsca lies a short sail across the Sea of Claws, and the Chaos-aligned Northmen who live there carry out regular raids on the coastal settlements of Nordland. The people of the province, known as Nordlanders, are a tough, uncompromising lot, who have been in the first line of defense for the Empire for centuries. To the more gentle folk of the southern Empire they can seem gruff and quick to anger, with primitive or quaint traditions, and they would rather get to the point directly rather than bother with the intricacies of diplomacy, preferring action over words.

As Tchar'zanek's Raven Host sweeps into Nordland, it is met by a defense organized by emissaries of the Order of the Griffon, an elite order sent directly by the Emperor to prevent Nordland from collapsing in the face of the Chaos invasion. In villages and fields across the area a struggle is being fought against an implacable horde of barbarians bent on total conquest. The people of the Empire must find the courage to face a deadly foe, for if the people of Nordland should lose heart and give in to their fear, the Empire may be doomed before the war has even begun.

The forests of Nordland have long been home to creatures both benign and deadly, though traditionally the majority of these have been natural in origin. However, with the coming of the servants of Chaos from the north, mutated and demonic beasts have begun to prowl the land and prey upon those weaker than themselves.

Source, warhammer online wiki.

http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum...?topic=16087.0
^^ Some similair stuff in this thread

[Ealdwulf]

The province is ruled by Count Theoderic Gausser. Previous background had "Baron Werner Nikse" as the ruler of the Nordland. The Nikse noble family was closely tied to the Todbrigner family of Middenheim through intermarriage. Nordland's border encompass the Laurelorn Forest, home to one of the few communities of Wood Elves The Old World.

Source Wikipedia.

Nordland is the starting Zone for Order of the Griffon players, and one of the electoral provinces of the Empire; as the name would suggest, Nordland is the province on the Empire's northern edge. Mostly dangerous forest, Nordland becomes more flat and meadow-like towards the coast, where most of the population lives, though the capital Salzenmund is inland. In the Age of Reckoning, the area is under attack from followers of Chaos from Norsca.

The Barony of Nordland is a province on the northern coast of the Empire. The wild land of Norsca lies a short sail across the Sea of Claws, and the Chaos-aligned Northmen who live there carry out regular raids on the coastal settlements of Nordland. The people of the province, known as Nordlanders, are a tough, uncompromising lot, who have been in the first line of defense for the Empire for centuries. To the more gentle folk of the southern Empire they can seem gruff and quick to anger, with primitive or quaint traditions, and they would rather get to the point directly rather than bother with the intricacies of diplomacy, preferring action over words.

As Tchar'zanek's Raven Host sweeps into Nordland, it is met by a defense organized by emissaries of the Order of the Griffon, an elite order sent directly by the Emperor to prevent Nordland from collapsing in the face of the Chaos invasion. In villages and fields across the area a struggle is being fought against an implacable horde of barbarians bent on total conquest. The people of the Empire must find the courage to face a deadly foe, for if the people of Nordland should lose heart and give in to their fear, the Empire may be doomed before the war has even begun.

The forests of Nordland have long been home to creatures both benign and deadly, though traditionally the majority of these have been natural in origin. However, with the coming of the servants of Chaos from the north, mutated and demonic beasts have begun to prowl the land and prey upon those weaker than themselves.

Source, warhammer online wiki.

http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum...?topic=16087.0
^^ Some similair stuff in this thread

Very nice!

I recently picked up the old WHRPG book for Bretonnia, Knights of the Grail, and it has listed in extreme detail each province! I'm wondering if their is an Empire counter part, I find it hard to believe there is not.

Maybe Sigmar's Heirs?

[spetswalshe]

I recently picked up the old WHRPG book for Bretonnia, Knights of the Grail, and it has listed in extreme detail each province! I'm wondering if their is an Empire counter part, I find it hard to believe there is not.

Maybe Sigmar's Heirs?

Yes. Six pages, going into some pretty good detail on geography, people, and towns. Interestingly, the fact that it's got a coastline and is home to the fleet is pretty much a footnote there - apparently it's too inhospitable for much in the way of fishing and sea trade (plus you're in grabbing distance of the Norse) so SH focuses on the fact that it's almost entirely woodland. You know, like half the other provinces, just with added Elves.

[Alluminas]

I recently picked up the old WHRPG book for Bretonnia, Knights of the Grail, and it has listed in extreme detail each province! I'm wondering if their is an Empire counter part, I find it hard to believe there is not.

Maybe Sigmar's Heirs?

Yes, that's it.

You should be able to pick up a copy relatively cheaply on ebay.

[Ealdwulf]

Yes. Six pages, going into some pretty good detail on geography, people, and towns. Interestingly, the fact that it's got a coastline and is home to the fleet is pretty much a footnote there - apparently it's too inhospitable for much in the way of fishing and sea trade (plus you're in grabbing distance of the Norse) so SH focuses on the fact that it's almost entirely woodland. You know, like half the other provinces, just with added Elves.

I picked up the Heirs of Sigmar just a few moments ago from Amazon. So hopefully that gives a bit more fluff, for those of us who enjoy such things.

Some things can be surmised just from the little bit of information GW does give us.

I would think that Nordland would have the ability to forge and maintain cannons and firearms for their ships, and thus for their land garrisons. I would also think that mercenary groups from Marienburg would not be uncommon within a Nordland army.

As far as the wealth of province is concerned, I would imagine it would be fairly wealthy in comparison to some of the more eastern provinces, maybe not Averland or Altdorf level wealth, but with all those toll roads and merchant fleets docking in Nordland, they'd have to bring some considerable wealth.

I could see this wealth, combined with the constant need to guard from raiders (norse and dark elf) that Nordland would boast some fairly robust coastal defensive structures, and probably a few big castles along the toll-roads.

The case could be made for shiny well equipped looking troops based upon that, or ragged sea-dog type units as well. I would think a mix of both.

Having mentioned that they are close to Middenheim/Middenland through marriage of nobles would make sense and give you a reason to throw in a few Middenland themed units.

Just my take on the area, it's curious that around here nobody runs Nordland themes, I usually see the ubiquitous Nuln (primer black) uniforms, or the studio-style Talabheim.

[AlphariusOmegon20]

Just my take on the area, it's curious that around here nobody runs Nordland themes, I usually see the ubiquitous Nuln (primer black) uniforms, or the studio-style Talabheim.

In my area, Talabheim is about as rare as Nordland is.

We have the majority of Empire armies rocking Nuln's colors, with Averheim a solid second, and we also have a smattering of Hochland, Ostland, Wissenland, Altdorf, Marienburg, and Stirland running about. There's more Sylvanian Empire armies running about in my area than there are Talabheim ones.



I was the lone Middenheimer in the stores I frequent until I sold the bulk of the army ( I did keep the Middenheim specific unit models though, in case I wanted to restart the army again in the future. I'm glad I did, because I'm starting to get the itch to rebuild the army after I finish the few projects I'm currently working on.)

[Arnizipal]

As far as the wealth of province is concerned, I would imagine it would be fairly wealthy in comparison to some of the more eastern provinces, maybe not Averland or Altdorf level wealth, but with all those toll roads and merchant fleets docking in Nordland, they'd have to bring some considerable wealth.

Actually IIRC Nordland is quite poor. The Empire based its main fleets and trading posts there when Marieburg seceded, but due to the inhospitable, rocky coast and the politicing of powerful Marienburg merchants the harbour in Salkalten remains nothing but a military port.
Most trade ships still prefer Marienburg as a docking place over the ill-equiped and dangerous harbours of Nordland.

[EddieJA]

Actually IIRC Nordland is quite poor. The Empire based its main fleets and trading posts there when Marieburg seceded, but due to the inhospitable, rocky coast and the politicing of powerful Marienburg merchants the harbour in Salkalten remains nothing but a military port.
Most trade ships still prefer Marienburg as a docking place over the ill-equiped and dangerous harbours of Nordland.

I'm pretty sure you're a little incorrect there. Every bit of fluff I've been able to find says that Nordland has a reasonable amount of wealth because of the expensive toll roads that cross it's territory. I'm not sure about how much more money it gets from its harbors, but it brings in a good deal of income on account of those roads. I have a Nordland army, and try to find every bit of fluff I can.

[Arnizipal]

I just looked it up and it seems I was indeed mistaken.
The "failed" merchant harbour is Neues Emskrank but the rest of the prvince is fairly wealthy. The good they trade with the Elves of Laurelorn are especially in demand.