Our exalted ruler, Prime Minister Krypton the Bold of the Republic of Norland, has agreed to an interview with the Asgard Informer. We are proud that, for our fist interview, we have managed to snap up such an important and illustrious figure.
Welcome, Prime Minister, and thank you for granting us this interview.
Certainly, good Ceowfyr. Anything for the people I love!
My first question: May I offer you a mug of my new Melmoor Moonshine?
Do you even need to ask?
I thought you'd like it. Now, on with the interview. Can you shed some light on the reasons why Norland is entangled in a bloody conflict with Minas Ithil?
Well, it all started many many years ago, when you were but a pageboy. Norland stretched from Fiddleford to as far south as Lothruin. We had just destroyed our arch-enemy Hasland....wiped them from the earth. I was but a humble troop leader in those days. So it came to pass that Norland and Eston went to war. As was their way in those days, Eston recruited all her powerful allies... 5 realms against Norland. The battles raged and Norland, though destined to be defeated, actually held our ground far longer than anyone could have expected.
MI was created in the shell of old Tuchanon and sought to expand, taking our regions south of the river. We were actually holding them at bay until a traitor seceeded York. Norland's back was broken, under siege at all times and from all sides. Eventually, we yielded....for a time. But we never forgot the fact that MI was only able to gain from us due to overwhelming odds and treachery.
There came a time when the realms of Norland, Falasan and MI joined into a defensive alliance...the EA. Under the auspices of this treaty, we were bound to send defensive forces and had the option to send offensive forces at their discression.
So it was that Norland once again went to war with Eston. Norland was beating Eston (though outmanned and out-funded). We had a wall of infantry in Fiddleford that they could not breach. And so it was that they breached the agreement to battle 1 vs 1, calling on Talerium to come and aid them. With the aid of Talerium, they broke our militia wall... and our hard-won advantage. I went to the rest of the EA for assistance. Falasan was "otherwise occupied" as they usually are. MI declined to send defensive forces but instead offered to go offensively....in exchange for Amriel and the right to take Barad Riel. Norland was up against the wall and had no choice but to agree. But MI's assistance was ineffectual and uncoordinated. They could not follow through with even that promise. In the end, Eston overthrew her corrupt government. Their new King, king Andrew, earned my respect and trust. From that, the Northern Federation was born.
Once that war was done, Norland felt that the EA was no more than a paper alliance. Our allies had treated us with great indifference. Worse, MI had again taken advantage of the misfortunes of others...an ally no less! Also during this time, MI had manipulated events and stoked fires of discontent in the south, all with the goal of reducing Abbington's lands and power, attempting to set up another colony for themselves. The Althing of Norland call that "The War of Dishonor". We could no longer associate ourselves with that sort of corrupt and selfserving rule. We left the EA according to the rules of the charter, then sued for return of Amriel and Elost. At first, MI declined. A cold war began, where MI eventually capitulated. But it was too late for peace. The plans had already been set in motion. We had decided that MI could no longer be allowed to manipulate others and reap dishonorable benefits. It was time for Norland to put things aright.
Invertebrates such as Captain and Vengence often complained that Norland knows no honour, because we loot and pillage on a regular basis. What is your response to these ghastly accusations?
I have no quarrel with King Vengence. Captain, however, is another matter. We in the ruler channel are quite used to his babbling. We rarely pay him any notice. Most of the time it is just a lot of drooling.
Do you have any idea why the aforementioned worms seem to have such a personal vendetta against us?
Again, I am unaware of any grudge that King Vengence has against Norland. And who knows why Captain does anything? He is quite happy hiding behind his allies and causing what mischief as he wishes.
Our confederates of Eston are allied with Talerium, and maintain friendly relations with the Cagilans. Do you feel this may pose problems in the future?
Unlikely, in my estimation. Andrew is a very honorable fellow. We value the trust we share.
Many of our brethren now reside in Valhalla. Many of them served as council members when they died in battle. How did you feel when illustrious Vikings such as Derack the Daring and Balian perished?
Krypton the Bold rises from his seat, grabs the nearest keg and throws it against the stone wall, where is shatters into a million pieces. He then proceeds to crush, pound and anihilate everything within reach. After an hour of this, Krypton calms. But the fires burn in his knowing eyes...
One final question before I have to see the doctor for those glass shards in my eye... Where do you see Norland in the future?
Ah, that is the question that we each ask ourselves, isn't it? Once I have left the throne (again) and passed the torch to another worthy Norlander, I expect to begin a life of adventure, free of the demands of state. I shall enter tournaments, which is something I have never done. And I shall head north, for a time, in search of young Derackson. Though he is not here with us, he is a norlander and a son of a great norlander. I shall bring him home, where he belongs. Or I shall die.
Norland, I see her as a stable realm with many allies. Together with our Northern Federation allies, we will work to bring stability and peace to this war-torn island. Then, I'd like to see Africa...
Never heard of it. But anyhow, thank you for your time, Prime Minister. May the Hammer guide us to victory.
|