Protectorate of Nordelver

Flag of the Protectorate of Nordelever.

***“**Syarus is no tyrant, nor is he a cruel master. For those who open up and embrace him, he is a devoted master. The Republic abandoned their faith in him. We have not.**”***
— Dieter Kluge

The **Protectorate of Nordelver** is a heavily theocratic autonomous Fühlgartian Protectorate located in the North. They border the Republic of Fühlgart to the south, the Kingdom of Vachstadt to the southeast, the Third Union of Clans and the Green Wolves Clan to the northeast, the Kingdom of Gurtrenn to the north, and the Kingdom of the Green Grove to the west.

## History

### Creation

The Protectorate of Nordelver was founded in 1219 AW in the wake of the Northeastern War. Its territory consisted mainly of captured lands of the Kingdom of Gurtrenn and the collapsed Second Union of Clans. Taking its name from the River Elver, Nordelver would come into the possession of all lands north of the Elver, whereas the Republic of Fühlgart would assimilate the few tribal holdouts present on the southern banks of the Elver. Ultimately, Nordelver was granted the status of a Fühlgartian Protectorate.

The establishment of a proper government in Nordelver proved difficult. Schinnberg was chosen as the state's capital, though the population was low, and the land surrounding it was poor. Furthermore, Nordelver failed to establish a ruling ideology. At first, it was a military dictatorship led by General Tobias Pfeilmacher. By 1220 AW, an ineffective and unpopular republic was founded, which was rapidly overthrown by the Knights of Nordelever in 1221 AW. The Knights of Nordelever were a monastic order and zealots of the God of Storms, Syarus, who had been a patron to the Republican cause for nearly two decades.

The Knights of Nordelever and the Republic of Fühlgart couldn't be further apart regarding their ruling ideology. Some of the more militaristic figures, notably Ulfric Luftschwert and Falk Krech, pleaded for a full-scale invasion of Nordelever to restore military rule. However, with the war-weary forces of the Republic already stretched thin, Jan Luftschwert ultimately disagreed. Besides, the area was dirt poor and simply not worth the effort. Instead, Luftschwert made a deal with Dieter Kluge behind closed doors. Nordelever would remain a protectorate, a member of the Republicans, and would occasionally send payments for their protection. In return, Dieter Kluge and the knights could keep the state under their control, solidifying their rule.

### Under the Knights of Nordelever

Now the undisputed rulers of Nordelever, Dieter Kluge and the Knights began to lay out their plans to convert the local population. The land they had inherited was scarcely populated and mostly comprised of former tribal peoples and the Plagued that inhabited the Crimson Bog. Kluge quickly realized that converting his new subjects at the tip of a sword would be suicidal, and he had to meet them halfway.

The deal that was made was as follows. The natives of Nordelver could keep their ancestral cultures, and no effort was made to civilise them to a more Fühlgartian outlook. In return, the Knights would be allowed to convert the locals to Syarus Worship. However, the Faith of the Five Gods was legalised alongside the state religion to prevent any religious revolts.

Ultimately, this deal proved successful, and slowly but steadily, many native Humans began to worship Syarus more than the other Divines, some worshipping him exclusively. The Knights were largely satisfied with their mandate being implemented without too much trouble. That was until they tried to convert the Plagued under Clan Lifelae in the Crimson Bog.

The Plagued had always been isolated. They had lived in the territory of the Kingdom of Gurtrenn for centuries and were considered part of the Six Clans, though they didn't care about outsiders. In fact, any non-Plagued that would wander into the Crimson Bog usually met their fate in an ambush. The missionaries sent by the Knights of Nordelever were no different, being strung up and left behind to serve as a warning.

In response, the Purple Bannermen, a smaller monastic group of religious hardliners even more devoted than the Knights, invaded the Crimson Bog, indiscriminately killing any Plagued they came across as revenge. Any hope of negotiations between the Knights and Clan Lifelae died right there, and what followed was the Crimson Bog Uprising. The Purple Bannermen abandoned the Bog, retreating to Schinnberg with their tails between their legs.

In the wake of the defeat, Dieter Kluge chastised the Purple Bannermen for their recklessness. However, he wasn't about to let the Plagued break away from Nordelver either. Instead, the Crimson Bog was put under quarantine, with nobody being allowed to enter or leave with the permission of the Knights. Instead, some expeditionary parties were formed, who routinely entered the Bog and put down hostile Plagued. These parties were ordered to exclusively fight the Plagued who were a threat to the Protectorate. Still, these groups often killed indiscriminately when consumed by the paranoia caused by being stalked throughout the swamps. Despite Dieter Kluger forbidding this kind of indiscriminate killing and going so far as executing ringleaders who partook in these massacres, the violence never reduced. For the foreseeable future, there appears to be no end in sight to the Crimson Bog Uprising.

### Present Day

The death of Jan Luftschwert in 1227 AW sent shockwaves throughout the Republican nations, causing widespread instability and forcing the Republic of Fühlgart to its knees. For the Protectorate of Nordelever, it was business as usual. Their allegiance to the Republicans was ceremonial at best, and integration between Fühlgart and Nordelever was next to nonexistent. Ultimately, the militaristic Ulfric Luftschwert took control of the Republic of Fühlgart, though it was too little, too late. The Second Fühlgartian Civil War broke out soon after, decimating what little authority the Senate in Freistadt still had. Most of Fühlgart was lost to varying factions vying for power, and even the Kingdom of Fühlgart under Erik von Kalzberg-Mitthel returned to recapture a slice of the pie.

While none of these factions has tried to cross the Elver into Nordelver, Ulfric Luftschwert has redeployed armies to aid his remaining Republican allies in the widespread Epilogue Wars. Likewise, the Protectorate of Nordelver was "reinforced" by the Fühlgartian Fourteenth Army. However, in the case of Nordelever, the Republican troops are more likely there to ensure the Protectorate doesn't break away and declare independence rather than to defend it from a would-be invasion.

## Politics

Nordelver's politics are built on two aspects: religion and strength. The Knights of Nordelever have installed military rule across the state, and Dieter Kluge has complete control over appointments. That said, the Knights are generally honourable and act in the best interest of their God, Syarus. Spreading the worship of him is their main long-term political goal and the driving motivation behind their actions.

## Geography

Nordelver consists of territory captured during the Northeastern War. Most of it is forested and hilly, with generally poor soil for farming. The region is largely wet and cold. In the northwestern part of the country lies the Crimson Bog, one of the largest swamps in Enselonde. The River Elver is a significant landmark of the protectorate, making up its southern border.

## Economy

While they never cared much for the Republic of Fühlgart, the Second Fühlgartian Civil War prevents Nordelver from exporting lumber to them, which was previously their most profitable export. Ironically, their current biggest trade partner is one of their supposed enemies: the Kingdom of Vachstadt. Timber and weapons are frequently smuggled into Vachstadt in exchange for food and money. Therefore, Smuggling has become the primary income source of income for Nordelver, as very little is produced domestically.

## Relations

* **Kingdom of Vachstadt** - Nordelever and Vachstadt are enemies on paper, though they are both heavily religious and of a similar mindset. Nordelver secretly supports Vachstadt with weapons and supplies, smuggling goods across the Elver on a weekly basis.
* **Republic of Fühlgart** - Nordelver is a Fühlgartian Protectorate, thus tying itself to the Republic. Their relationship doesn't go much further than that.

* **Clan Shadow-Guard** - Clan Shadow-Guard are considered the lackeys of Ihyll by Nordelver's rulers. Ihyll is Syarus' greatest enemy; thus, Clan Shadow-Guard is Nordelver's great enemy.
* **Green Wolves Clan** - Nordelver viewthe Green Wolves as savages who constantly raid and attack their territory, making them a hated enemy.
* **Kingdom of Gurtrenn** - Gurtrenn was the greatest enemy of Nordelever during the Northeastern War. They have not forgotten.
* **Third Union of Clans** - Nordelver doesn't view the Third Union as a threat but as a mere annoyance. To them, the Second Union should've been the last.

## Military

### Land

* **Knights of Nordelver** - The Knights of Nordelver are the ruling body of Nordelver and its main fighting force.
* **The Purple Bannermen** - The Purple Bannermen is a smaller religious order fighting alongside the Knights. Unlike the Knights, they are hardliners when it comes to Syarus Worship and have had much to say about legalizing the Faith of the Five Gods, little of it positive.
* **Fourteenth Army** - The Fourteenth Army of the Republic of Fühlgart is stationed in Nordelver to "defend" it, much to the displeasure of the Knights.

### Sea

Nordelver is landlocked and has only a handful of small ships stationed on the River Elver.

### Air

* **The Raven's Fleet** - The Raven's Fleet, taking its name from Nordelver's flag, is an impressively sized airforce for such a small nation. Many of the airships are outdated models sold to them by the Republic of Fühlgart during the Great War.

## Rulers

* Military Administration of Nordelver
	+ Tobias Pfeilmacher, 1219-1220 AW
* Nordelver Republican Council
	+ Uls Weyrauch, 1220-1221 AW
* Knights of Nordelver
	+ Dieter Kluge, 1221 AW-

## People of the Protectorate of Nordelver

*For a full list, see: Category:Characters (Protectorate of Nordelver)*

* Dieter Kluge - Grandmaster of the Knights of Nordelver and ruler of the protectorate.

## Locations in the Protectorate of Nordelver

*For a full list that includes buildings, see: Category:Locations (Protectorate of Nordelver)*

* Schinnberg - Capital of Nordelver
* River Elver - The river that acts as Nordelver's southern border.

## Stories

*Main Article: Stories*

* Story: Jürgen Bosch - Misconduct