Nork Shore

## A New Home

Nork Shore was founded on 1581 A.T.F after the brutal Crusade into The Far North had concluded, resulting in a large scale genocide of the Norkish People. In the aftermath that followed the horrific Patriarch-Led Pacification of The Far North, hundreds of thousands of Norks and various other Northmen fled the Far North in search of both a better life and safety from the Patriarchs wrath. To their convenience, directly north laid the continent of Reichlandia, which geographically held many similarities to that of The Far North. Reichland had always been a target for Norkish Raids over the last few centuries, however by the late 1500s Reichland was no longer a series of technologically inferior tribes. Instead Reichland had briefly formed into an United Kingdom, and even after the breakup of this Kingdom during Reichlands Civil Wars, the rump states left behind inherited the powerful splinter armies of this once mighty Kingdom. The areas in which the Norkish Settlers would inhabit gained the nickname "New Norkia", and eventually the largest settlement on the Southernmost Part on the mainland of Reichland was eventually named, "New Norkia". One of the most influential families to come to Nork Shore was the Bryonson Family. The Bryonson's family eventually rose through the political hierarchy of the city and their family patriarch eventually ascended to the title of Jarl of Nork Shore, which was later recognized by the High King of New Norkia, Odin.

## A New Jarldom and Capitulation 1604 A.T.F-1614 A.T.F

The title of Jarl was later transitioned to Aethelwulf Bryonson after his father passed away unexpectedly. During this time and transition of power, Norks Shore had grown large enough to encompass another smaller settlement known as Goldmedallie Von die Küste, a small mining colony mostly inhabited by Reichlandians who were in-service of the Norkish Colonist. Furthermore Nork Shore was gradually reinforced, with minor defensive improvements and battlement emplacements. As time went on Nork Shore would continue to play a pivotal role in the development and sustainability in the New Norkish Kingdom. Nork Shore event contributed in providing 10,000 Warriors in the Battle of Axony in 1607 A.T.F, personally led by Aethelwulf Bryonson.

Nork Shore's defensive capabilities would begin to wane and by late 1614 A.T.F a majority of Nork Shores Warriors had been sent to garrison the various Norkish Border Holdings. This left the city of Nork Shore nearly defenseless, albeit for a large but ill trained force of militiamen. During the decline of The Kingdom, the ruthless and power hungry pirate known as Barnes "Crazy" Barclay took advantage of the Kingdoms weakness and besieged Norks Shore. Aethelwulf had little resources to retaliate, and fearing a possible massacre if he resisted, Aethelwulf opted to surrender and opened the gates of the city. Uncharacteristically Barnes Barclay spared Aethelwulf and had him sent to New Norkia.

## A Colony Under Pirate Rule 1614 A.T.F-1655 A.T.F

Nork Shore briefly entered a period of stagnation under The Spiced Empire, however thanks to the lose management the pirates enforced over the city and establishment of several lucrative trade deals within the Spiced Empire. Nork Shore bounced back from its decline, and quickly became a trading hub and one of the few Norkish Colonies that remained safe during the Reichlandian Civil Wars. Barnes Barclay would unexpectedly leave, and leave all of his holdings under the watchful eye of Jacob Brigandine, this transition of power had little effect on the day to day life of the Norkish Citizens of Nork Shore.

## Property of The East Franikan Trading Company 1655 A.T.F-1764 U.O

After the death of Barnes Barclay, and the eventual retirement of Jacob Brigandine. The Spiced Empire ceased to exist and all of it's holdings were peacefully absorbed into the Reichlandian Republic. The East Franikan Company had taken interest in acquiring Nork Shore due to its proximity between The Far North and Reichland, and eventually purchased the entire island and the city for nearly 12,000,000 Reichmarks. The East Franikan Trading Company would administer Nork Shore for over a century before selling the Island to the Ryall Brothers Thane and Kane, in 1764 U.O only mere months before the outbreak of the Wesley War. The Ryall Family had bought Nork Shore with hopes of using it as a base to subvert the forced closure of Ryall owned trade ports in the Far North by their rival, Governor Karkors.The Ryall Family would briefly hold ownership of the city, before their family suffered a catastrophic defeat at The Battle of Sven City. The City, now autonomous would eventually turn into its own self governing city state, modeled after the Reichlandian Republic.

## **Notable Locations**

**Goldmedallie**

Goldmedallie was a small settlement that was situated thirty miles west of Nork Shore. The Settlement was a mining colony mostly inhabited by Reichlandians who were under the employment of Norkish Chieftains and Merchants.

**Tyrants Landing**

Tyrants landing was the port of Nork Shore, it gained the unofficial nickname of Tyrants Landing due to the serving as an entry war for the rich and powerful. The port used to be predominantly owned by locals, but as the years progressed more and more of the docks and warehouses were bought by foreign companies and lords. By 1645 A.T.F only 15% of the port was owned by locals of Nork Shore, and by 1773 U.O the entirety of the port was owned by foreigners. While the port could not compete with the size and awe of the ports in Aldurias, Freeport, and Teratime. Tyrants landing was still considerably sizeable, being able to harbour up to 200 ships at max capacity. The Port itself held several warehouses built in the traditional Norkish Longhouse style, with many of the docking ports being made of hardwood colored dark brown and were gradually expanded to allow more modern ships to dock. While it became more un common, traditional modernized longships were littered across the port.

**Spicers Cove**

Spicers Cove was the administrative complex of the city, built sometime between 1634 A.T.F-1642 A.T.F the palace was built out of stone and brick and had a longhouse Norkish style roof on top, from here the local Spiced Empire administered. Spicers Cove sat in the middle of the city, on a small incline.

## **Demographic Makeup**

Nork Shore was primarily made up of Norks, and the Norks remained the dominant demographic of the settlement. Reichlandians made up around 23% of the city's population and by the late 1700s eventually grew to comprise 29% of the settlements population. The Polanii also inhabited Nork Shore in small communities fluctuating between 4%-6% of the city's population.

## **Geography and Architectural Design**

Nork Shore was a port city located in the Northernmost position on the island, the island has a large dormant volcano located in the center of the island, and is littered with vast valleys of Burch and Spruce tree forest, with the occasional pine Forest near the lower levels of the dormant volcano. The island is known to be rocky, but possesses few mountains. During the summer and spring the islands temperature stays between 55-78 Degrees, and during the fall and winter suffers from temperatures between 19 degrees to as low as -37 degrees. The city itself is tucked away in a natural harbor and is surrounded by a rock wall formation that flanks the Eastern and Western side of the city, situating the city into an near geographical "V" position, with the city centered directly at the end of the choke point of the "V" geographic formation.

The City of Nork Shore is very compact, and differs from typical Norkish Villages that are known for having singular communal long homes or spaced out homes. In the early 1600s Nork Shore resembled that of an early Orbisian Dark Age Northman Village, with the structures being shaped like the typical Norkish Longhouse Style Logged Houses, typically with Mud and Thatch roofing. By the late 1700s, a large number of these homes remained but were now accompanied by more modern Brick and Stone Houses. Although these houses looked much more modern than that of their Longhouse ancestors, even accompanied with tiled roofs, they still reassembled vernacular architecture of style. In the center of the city on a small incline laid Spicers Cove, while at the end of the city towards the harbour laid Tyrants Landing.

## **Government**

Nork Shore was always ruled by a local Council of Elders, typically retired Warriors or Merchants who were elected by the townsfolk to manage the day to day life of the town's inhabitants and enact local law. Even after the Spiced Empires take over, this system of government was tolerated by both Barnes Barclay and Jacob Brigandine. This legacy of small time autonomy was eventually carried on by The Eastern Franikan Trading Company and later The Ryall Brothers. This system of government wouldn't change until Nork Shore gained its independence, and became a Republican City State modeled after The Republic of Reichland. This Council of Elders was reformed into "The Nork Shore Chamber of Parliament" where anyone was able to run for office rather than it being exclusive to Warriors and Merchants.