Norland

The Fallen Empire

The mighty empire has crumbled, leaving a fractured landscape of petty kingdoms vying for power. Lords and ladies scheme with cloaks and daggers or swords and shields, as noble families feud amongst themselves and against their rivals. Greater threats loom as famines ravage the peasantry, warfare and disunity threaten the social order, noble houses succumb to decadence and hedonism, and beyond the empire's borders, ruthless invader-kings raise vast pillaging armies.

In these uncertain times, you must lead your small kingdom to greatness – and ensure your noble family's survival – in this medieval colony sim that generates stories of valor and treachery.

Dynastic Ambition  

Your family rules from on high, members working together or against each other to control the city, kingdom, and political intrigues. Each noble has unique strengths, weaknesses, and ambitions driving complex relationships amongst themselves and foreign rulers. Witness blossoming friendships, drunken misadventures, and brutal assassinations as your nobles command peasants, lead armies, and study ancient texts of knowledge.

A range of skills determines each noble's prowess at various tasks – who will be the greatest warrior, taskmaster, scribe, or negotiator? Seize opportunities to further hone their talents, educating the next generation to secure your dynasty's future while unlocking greater potential.

Beyond skills, each family member's personality, cultural background, needs, and desires influence their actions. Dissatisfaction breeds resentment, envy, and disloyalty – the spark for drawn daggers. Will you soothe tensions with gifts and camaraderie, or eliminate threats to your favored nobles?

Kin Against Kin

Sometimes the blood spilled belongs to your own family – driven by ambition, greed, and opportunism, your nobles may turn on each other given the circumstances. From scorned lovers and power-hungry siblings to those influenced by foreign rulers, trust is scarce.  

The Pursuit of Knowledge

Your kingdom's capabilities stem from your nobles' knowledge – they study ancient texts to unlock new technologies, and that wisdom is lost if they perish without passing it on. Acquire books in different tongues and have your nobles translate and record the secrets to new buildings, tools, and opportunities. But will you hoard that power or transcribe the writings to trade for wealth and resources? For knowledge is power itself...

The Restless Peasantry  

The common folk of your lands are the backbone of any kingdom, serving their noble lords in war and peace with deference – until their bellies are empty or the ale runs dry. With diverse backgrounds, needs, and thoughts of their own, the peasants are hard to please and easily swayed toward rebellion, crime, and controversy. Will you address their grievances as a benevolent ruler or answer with the executioner's axe?

Through your nobles, direct the peasants' labor, priorities, and military service, though you lack direct control over this lower class with their own hopes, dreams, and relationships. Careful management is key, as they maintain your city's production chains, harvest resources, and produce the goods that keep them satisfied.

Wages and Migration

Your peasants rely on their daily wages to lead fulfilling lives. Adjust wages and market prices for food and ale to keep the populace motivated and encourage or discourage migration. But be wary of who you welcome, as different cultures often clash.  You can leverage this friction to your advantage at times, but if the masses take issue with your family's heritage, hiring more guards may ensure your longevity.