The Kingdom of Nords

The Nords are a faction in Native Mount & Blade. They were one of the last two factions to be added to the backstory of the game, along with the Rhodoks.

Overview
The Nords are in the west and southwest of the map, and have a viking/norse culture, with the colour yellow. Their army is almost entirely combat infantry, with no cavalry - their archers are relatively weak, but their axemen and huscarles are second to none in combat. Their leader is King Ragnar, and their claimant Lethwin Far-Seeker.

The Nords are incredibly tough in melee fighting. They have good armour (heavy chainmail), good weapons and a variety of them (from Nordic Swords to War Axes), annoying archers and shields, which means that archers are rendered useless. They are good all-round troops who have only one weakness - No cavalry. Because of this, the Nords aren't the most dangerous faction in M&B but you should watch out for them nevertheless. Like the Vaegirs, they are deadly in large groups, but don't last long if they take on heavy cavalry or an even bigger group of enemies. Any faction with cavalry would do really to take Nords on (Swadians, Vaegirs and Khergits) in open battle, but Rhodoks are best for seiges as they have a lot of health.

Southern Realms
The Nords, pagans one and all, no longer hold large chunks of western Calradia. They control the port of Wercheg, and their homelands in the far North, which form a solid power-base for them. In addition, they have a few isolated colonies across the coastlines of the Great Sea.

Avarice of the Exiled
The Nords, in fifteen years, changed the face of their military tactics and strategy drastically. They employed new levy forces, training them with the experience and wisdom of the old Calradian veterans. They forged new men, men equipped in heavy mail and plate, wielding long swords perfect for mutilating foes. They took over vast amounts of land, looting and pillaging any towns in sight. However barbarians, now known as the Tribes of Zrak, pushed deep into Nord territory. Their fearful numbers engulfed Nord settlements. They where barbaric and evil compared to the Nords, looting and pillaging houses, raping and then killing the women along with the rest of the populace. They secured over half of their large homelands, which had belonged to the Nords. Now, the Nords are weakened, their numbers stretched by being surrounded by their enemies. Perhaps their ambition and ruthlessness will be their undoing, perhaps not.