Northern Tribune/Issue 3

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Printed in Icegate	The Voice of the Vikings (We're Back! [Again!])	Editor: Hang

War between Norland and Minas Ithil Continues (January 23) Let me introduce myself: I am Golrug, your reporter on the front-line of the Norland-Minas Ithil war. I just got back from traveling through Minas Ithil and Norland, where I interviewed nobles on both sides. Lets start with interviews with Prime Minister Peny of Norland and King Dead Angel3 of Minas Ithil: Letter from Peny Estrall Message sent to Golrug The war had been started by the Republic of Norland, I think there is no disagreement over that. Taking Winwich several months ago showed to the continent that Norland wants land. It's not just any land Norland wishes for herself though. The city of York and the regions linking our lands to the city used to be a part of Norland before Minas Ithil first got hold of them. One of the original aims of this war was to take it back, and even though Norland is currently defending her own lands the objective remains. Another less known reason is that most vikings have a deep and unexplainable dislike for the Sun-lovers (meaning the followers of Athonlaurism)... there's just something about them that doesn't match quite well with our culture. Their preachings later on (during the war) have brought us to like them even less. We understand that not all Ithilians are followers of Athonlaurism, but having been originated from there and it being the main religion of Minas Ithil associates it with the kingdom. A third reason... or more likely a goal in this war is to get King Dead Angel3 abdicate or thrown over. This had not been emphasized enough outside Norland when the war started, but I intend to focus a great deal more on this quest, as I do not think long-term peace with Minas Ithil is possible as long as he controls Minas Ithil. 4. What do you think the goals of Minas Ithil are? I believe Minas Ithil's objective is to weaken Norland enough for it not to be a threat to them in the future. But obviously their main goal is to prevent us from reaching our goals, as it is with most wars in history. 5. What would make you consider this war to be a success? Accomplishing either of the following would make me consider this war a success: - Converting the north of Minas Ithil to The Way of the Hammer - Receiving York from Minas Ithil as part of the peace treaty - Significant decrease in King Dead Angel3's influence in Minas Ithil and Atamara 6. Has this war been hard on your nobles? How many dead?, We've lost many great heroes to this war, including Derack the Daring who was Prime Minister when the war started, Balian, who was our general, Maximus, the Baron of Moramroth, Dagg, Olaf, Arctus, telepinu, and I think there are still some whom I can't remember on the spot. As you can see we've lost important nobles, and I don't mean by positions, these people were full of the Norland spirit. Minas Ithil also had some unfortunate losses, we hope they joined our deceased comrades in Valhalla. 7. Has this war been hard on your peasants? Any mass slaughters? There have been no mindless slaughter of peasants as far as I know. Several hundred peasants have died due to the processes of taking regions in both Minas Ithil and Norland. Minas Ithil had most of her casualties in Winwich, we had them in Elost and Mansbridge, as one would expect. 8. Who is winning? Right now I'd say it's rather balanced. Not many weeks ago I'd have said Minas Ithil is, and many weeks ago I'd have said Norland is. Right now we're just pushing the front-lines back and forth. Peny Estrall (Prime Minister of Norland) And how do Peny's warriors feel about the war? Letter from Gunner 'Serpent' Message sent to Golrug Greetings Golrug! I hope you enjoy your time here in Norland, now lets go to your questions: 1. What are your personal goals in this war? Kill, drink, get some new spoons, drink some more, and destroy those ithilians bastards oh and get Melmoor back of course. 2. Who is winning? The spoon 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? I feel great, I can drink, I can kill, I´m living the dream! 4. Anything else you'd like to add? Watch out for the squirrels, if you see Princess Lucky, well you´re dead. Don´t forget your war tutu when you go to the battlefield and we have a law that you must be drunk when you enter Norland, so start drinking! Gunner 'Serpent' (Knight) Letter from Shandra Grimstone Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? We are Vikings do we need one? 2. Who is winning? We are Vikings, of course we are winning. 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? We are Vikings. Vikings don't have time for emontions we are to busy crushing skulls. 4. Anything else you'd like to add? Yes, you do know we are vikings right? Also be kind and see the light of the Hammer. My arm is starting to get tired from bringing all this enlightenment to the Pagans of the North. Shandra Grimstone (Priestess of The Way of the Hammer) Letter from Ceowfyr the Brave Andrasta Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? I don't really have a personal goal. I want to do my part, nothing more. 2. Who is winning? Hard to say. Looking at the borders, you could say that Minas Ithil has the upper hand, but that is simply because they like to hide behind their walls. Most battles they fought on our own turf were defeats. It was one little mistake that cost us Mansbridge. Sooner or later, Minas Ithil will make a mistake as well, and then we will drive them back over the bridge and go back to what we do best: Leaving a trail of corpses and destruction as we make our way through their lands. Furthermore, considering that they have about twice the income and a military that is nearly twice as strong as our own, you could ask yourself why they haven't completely destroyed us already. That alone makes us winners. 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? More determined than ever. That is the strength of Norland, and Vikings as a whole. A defeat only makes us more determined to fight. We have shown that even in our darkest hour, we will not yield, and we will fight like wolves for every inch of land. 4. Anything else you'd like to add? One thing: Vinnie Van Eylen, if you read this, know that there is still a tall pike outside the gates of Brackhead, waiting for your head. Ceowfyr the Brave Andrasta (Royal) Roleplay from Gimlack the Grizzly Grandrith Message sent to Golrug Ah yes Fine Golrug, I have heard of your Northern Tribune, I have even read a snippet or two while attending to my morning constitutional Har har har, no disrepect young lad, that is the time of day I enjoy the most and very valuable to me. Gimlack pours Golrug a tankard of Moramrothian Monk Meade, very rare and hard to find since their Monastery was destroyed and they took to almost complete seclusion What are my personal goals in this war? Well see my family has been around a long long time, we have spent time in Cagilan Empire back when Herodotis was a young King. We even had a member of Halsand who came about just after Norland began her retribution and took the lands of Hasland. I have a Brother who was in York the day it fell to Norland. The day Hasland ceased to be. A day in fact when Minas Ithil did not even exist, Shanandoah belonged to Southasland and was given to Eston because their stupid ruler attempted to assassinate the Eston ruler, DA was given title to the city and almost immediately seceeded it and began his personal War to steal all of Norlands land. Land he never held claim to. I also have a brother who was elected as the 3rd Judge of Minas Ithil when it was in it's infancy. Elcrys entered what is still the most valuable tourny ever on Beluaterra. It was put on by Falasan and was over 3000 gold to the winner. Elcrys won, but instead of sharing the gold as he knew DA would demand he instead headed South to Tucha and distributed it amongst the last remaining nobles of Southasland to defend the city. Elcrys died there. So to make a long answer a bit shorter, I personally will not stop until York and everything around it once again flies the Norland banner. Who is winning? The tides of War change constantly, they are perpetually in flux, the tide ebbs and flows, the Moon waxes and wanes, the Sun rises and falls, men live and die. The pendulum swings back and forth and at this moment in time it has been swining towards M.I. Most recently it has once again began it's ascent towards Norland. The next few months will certainly tell. On paper M.I. has gained more ground. But Vikings never stop. It's that simple I know you understand, it is Valhalla I shall stand in one day and if it is a Minas Ithilian who sends me there then he had a better sword hand then mine. How do I feel? I think you can answer that already. given the two choices, I would answer determined. Gimlack the Grizzly Grandrith (Grand Justiciar of Norland, Duke of Brackhead) Letter from Aric Grimstone Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? To crush Minas Ithil, See Minas Ithil driven before us back to the seas, To listen to the lamentation of their women. 2. Who is winning? We are of course. 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? I feel strong in the conviction of Norland. We have never faltered and we shall never do so. Like the Titans of old we shall rise again and woe to those who stand before us as enemies. 4. Anything else you'd like to add? No, though you should stick around the front for then you can revel in the battle with your fellow vikings. Though you are not here to war we still carry your spirits with us into battle for all Vikings are brothers and you fight by our sides in spirit if not in the flesh. Aric Grimstone (Lord) Letter from R'guard Da Hadez Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? My personal goals are the same as the goals Norland stated when this war began; to reduce the threat posed to Norland and her allies by Dead Angel3's perfidious regime and to free as many of our viking kin from living under it's shadow as we can. 2. Who is winning? The sides are quite equally matched in battle and though Minas Ithil has a significant advantage in resources Norland compensates for this with fury, courage and determination. We are regaining lost territory now but there will certainly be many more gains and losses on both sides before it's end. 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? Determined. Norland has sacrificed much to this war and I have sacrificed more than anyone can know but Norlanders live to fight and we know that this fight is honourable and that it's goals are vital for our own future and the stability of the northern half of Atamarra. 4. Anything else you'd like to add? No. I have a war to win. R'guard Da Hadez (Minister of Defense of Norland, Count of Shvierwood) Letter from Evil dead person Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? To make as many Ithilians as possible die for their country 2. Who is winning? Well...we are...we're vikings...you should know that! 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? I feel like a large barrel of VSV if you're paying! oh and I'm feeling bloodthirsty too 4. Anything else you'd like to add? Dead Angel3 is going to die, either by my hand, or with me as a witness! Evil dead person (Knight of Belegrond) And now let's hear from Minas Ithil! Letter from Pieter Noorderlicht Message sent to Golrug 1. Who started the war? Norland 2.Why did Norland start the war? We received a thousand reasons. First they claimed they wanted old territory back. When we gave it they found other excuses. (We have an 'evil' king, or they just look for a chance to gain honor in a fight, or their gods forced them to do so...) 3.What are your goals for this war? Defend our land and people, take back our lands, and make sure Norland will never invade our borders again. 4.What do you think the goals of Norland are? Beeing landlocked by only allies, gain land from one of them. MI beeing the logic way of expantion, they first stepped out of the alliance we where in, and attacked us soon after. 5.What would make you consider this war to be a success? We defended our lands with succes and drivven the Nords to the other side of the river again. Every battle brings us a inch closer to the final defeat of Nordland. The day Norland is no more, will be the day we will have had our vengeance. 6.Has this war been hard on your nobles? How many dead? We lost many great people, including my brother. While their death has been hard on us, it is our duty to honor them by fighting hard for the ideals they gave their life for. In general, this war only made us stronger. 7. Has this war been hard on your peasants? Any mass slaughters? During the early days of the war we where horribly outnumbered. Nordland & Barony Of Makar attacked by suprise and looted our lands down to the ground. When we where attacked from behind by Abington, our setback was complete. Slowly we regaind strength, but untill we could secure our borders, our peasants suffered greatly. 8. Who is winning? After much struggle, now we are. Pieter Noorderlicht (Knight of Cantervern) Letter from Sir Grahm Leafwalker Message sent to Golrug 1. What are your personal goals in this war? I dont have personal goals in this war. Norland started this war, and I fight to defend Minas because they attack us. 2. Who is winning? We are all losing in this war, for the moment Minas has the upper hand, but that can swing back and forth like a stone tied to a rope. 3. How do you feel, personally? Determined or depressed? If Norland would surrender, I would be happy to return to peace, but I am determined to continue defending Minas otherwise. 4. Anything else you'd like to add? Most reporters like to take what people say and bend it to their will. I will be watching closely, and I hope you have more integrity than most reporters. It would be nice to see true unaltered reports from both sides. Sir Grahm Leafwalker (Marquis of Mansbridge) -- Golrug Disclaimer: All articles written in the Northland Tribune are NOT necessarily the views of the government of Barony of Makar. They are the editor's opinions and views. If you seek more information regarding certain policies, please contact Sordnaz for official answers.