Northern-Empire -

# Northern Empire ![[factions_banner.webp]] `May. 5, 2025` · [[Horseapple]] · #Fragment #Factions #Bannerlord > [!custom-callout]+ [[3-heroes-(Bannerlord)]] > “The northern third of the Empire is ruled by Lucon, who represents a long-standing oligarchic trend in imperial politics. It holds that strict adherence to imperial law is the best guarantee that the empire will not become a tyranny. Oligarchs like Lucon also tend to believe that only landowners can have the extensive education, experience in government, and stake in property to really understand and appreciate the law, and thus the Senate should be supreme.” — TaleWorlds ![[northern-empire-banner.webp|right|200]] ## *“Who lives in and rules the Northern Empire?”* Lucon Osticos is the leader of the Northern Empire. While the game classifies all ruling imperial leader’s as the rank of ‘Senator’ [^6] and the lore directly says Lucon proclaimed himself Emperor after Arenicos’ sudden death, [^7] for the sake of this project and maintaining clarity in the faction’s principle beliefs, I have *re-classified* Lucon as an elected *Princeps*, meaning “first citizen”; the first among equals. If Garios’ faction represents the Roman Empire (ie. Garios being a general like Caesar, Antony, and Pompeii) and if Rhagaea’s faction resembles the later Roman-Byzantine / Eastern Roman Empire period (ie. Rhagaea being similar to Theodora, wife of Justinian) then Lucon’s faction is a stand-in for the Roman Republic. In that case, Lucon announcing himself as an Emperor to an audience of senators in a Roman Republic-esque faction would be a quick way to find himself deposed and exiled. It makes more sense he would proclaim be elected as a Princeps instead of an emperor. Like its Roman counter-part, I imagine the old Calradian Republic didn’t take kindly to kings, shahs, emperors nor any other titles analogous to tyranny. A Calradian Emperor, like any king from times-of-yore, would be seen as an insult to Calradic ancestors, to their liberty, and to Calradian tradition. Those who reside within the northern-third of the *Imperial Heartlands* believe that: law, tradition, experience, education, and stake in the government makes the Calradians so dominant. And that by returning to their roots, they would not only prevent more civil wars from erupting, but also put the savage-barbarians (ie. the Outer-Kingdoms) back in their place. Thusly, putting an end to the empire’s collapse and bringing about *Pax Calradica* anew. &emsp;&emsp; ## Faction Houses | [![[osticos-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Osticos) [[Osticos]] *Tier 6* Princeps: [[Lucon]] 7616 Denarii Diathma · Argoron Atrion-Castle · Mecalovea-Castle Agalmon · Alatys · Alosea · Atrion · Hetania · Jeracos · Masangara · Mecalovea | [![[argoros-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Argoros) [[Argoros]] *Tier 5* Archon: [[Manteos]] 4602 Denarii Epicrotea Ataconia-Castle Ataconia · Gymos · Marathea · Potamis · Stathymos | [![[neretzes-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Neretzes) [[Neretzes]] *Tier 4* Archon: [[Penton]] 6261 Denarii Saneopa Varagos-Castle · Gaos-Castle Aeoria · Crios · Enoisa · Gaos · Themys · Varagos | | :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | | [![[impestores-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Impestores) [[Impestores]] *Tier 4* Archon: [[Encurion]] 1731 Denarii Amprela Avasinton · Boreagora | [![[dolentos-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Dolentos) [[Dolentos]] *Tier 3* Archon: [[Gyphor]] 4715 Denarii Myzea Orthra · Samatha · Vealos | [![[Phalentes-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Phalentes) [[Phalentes]] *Tier 3* Archon: [[Tasynor]] 1810 Denarii Epinosa-Castle Epinosa · Pons | | [![[Vatatzes-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Vatatzes) [[Vatatzes]] *Tier 3* Archon: [[Maritzios]] 939 Denarii Syratos-Castle Syatros · Tememos | [![[Chonis-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Chonis) [[Chonis]] *Tier 2* Archon: [[Nicasor]] 1140 Denarii Lochana-Castle Lochana · Nortanisa | [![[Serapides-clan-banner.webp\|200]]](Serapides) [[Serapides]] *Tier 2* Archon: [[Porphalios]] 1414 Denarii Rhesos-Castle Dyopalis · Rhesos | &emsp;&emsp; ## *“What is produced and sold in the Northern Empire?”* The biggest enterprises in northern-third of the *Imperial Heartlands* is cattle (ie. cows), fish, grain, and silk. For a full breakdown of all factions, *see* [[Production-(Cluster)]] . &emsp;&emsp; ## *“Where precisely is the Northern Empire located?”* Starting where the northern-Imperial third, of what is called the *Imperial Heartlands*, connects with the Principality of Sturgia, the High Kingdom of Battania, and finally the Western Empire, we begin with four rivers sitting just above the Imperial town of Epicrotea. The names of these rivers is as follows: the *Miron River*; also known as *“Myr”* by the wolfish Battanians. The *Vastra River*, likely named by the bear-like Sturgians. The *Galcha River*, and lastly the *Pirash River*. All four of which combine and pass down through the *Galchasic Cataracts*, whose waters pour into the *Diathmic Bay*. The bay is a smaller slice of the much larger, and more northward, *Lake Laconis* whose frigid waters divides the Sturgians wildlands from the Imperial river-lands, or former-river-lands I should say as the Northern-Imperials have dammed and drained mostly all of them away for cropland and grazing fields. Moving back though to the rivers and the town of Epicrotea, they’re nestled just above the *Dryatic Mountains* which sporadically dots and cuts through much of the northern-face of the Imperial Heartlands. The tallest peak is called *Mount Aracathos*. Next, in nearly the center of the Northern Empire, we will find the *Vale of the Aris*; also known as the *Aris Valley*. Above that we have the *Valley of the Nevys*, and both of these regions have their own rivers running through them. The *Aris River*, and presumably underground or through the cliffs its cutting into, the *Nevys River* both connect to what local-legends call the portal to the Otherworld: *“the Eye”*; or the *Ophthys* — likely deriving from ancient Palaic-Dryatic legend. As we shift our view further eastward, we’ll find the *Myzead*, which is a hill country named after the old Palaic-Myzeiad tribe. This hill country touches upon two final bodies of water — the *Portages of Iltan*, whose waters boats can be carried over, and *Lake Tanaesis*; also called the *“Tanaz Lake”* and/or the *“Tanaz Sea”*. This is what this faction’s territory is at the very start of *Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord* in `Early Summer` of `1084`. Want visuals? *See* the page [[Calradia-Toponyms]] for a map. &emsp;&emsp; ## *“When did the Northern Empire secede the Calradian Empire?”* It is currently impossible to know the exact date of when the Imperial Civil War began, however we can certainly make an educated-guess that it was in the year `1082` of `Spring` and here’s why: > [!question]- Explanation > 1. Lucon, Garios, and Rhagaea all proclaimed themselves leaders of the Empire *immediately* following news of Arenicos’ demise, seceding from the Empire and creating their own slices: “(…) returning to his palace (Arenicos) in the southern town of Lycaron after his latest victorious campaign on the borders, he asked for some time alone in his chamber to nurse a splitting headache; when his guard checked in on him a few hours later, he was lying dead in a pool of blood. *Immediately*, Lucon convened a gathering of senators in his power base in the north and had himself declared emperor. Garios, campaigning on the Battanian frontier, stood before an assembly of his soldiers who cried out for him to don the purple. And Rhagaea emerged from the palace and addressed the throng that had gathered at the reports of the emperor's death. She raised before them the slain emperor's robe, drenched in his blood. The crowd cried out that she should be the empress, that the emperor's family must rule from this day on, and that she must take vengeance on his murderers - although who exactly that was, at this point, was mostly a matter of rumour. Civil war again loomed - and this time, with three equally balanced and determined factions eager to fight, it looked as though it might be more terrible than ever.” [^1] > 2. Arenicos was made Emperor by the Senate *after* the Battle of Pendraic, where the previous ruler, Drosios Neretzes, had died in `1077`. “The barbarians just kept coming and coming. I fought my way out with some loyal men, and made my way back to the capital. But I found that Arenicos had got there before me, and had himself declared Emperor. He always was a cunning operator.” [^2] > 3. Lastly *Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord* begins in the year `1084`, in `Early Summer` on the 1st day. Additionally, Bannerlord holds a `DLC` titled the *Digital Companion*. Within this `DLC` is the *Travels in Calradia* audio-book. This story follows a scribe named Asaios as he goes around Calradia starting *before* the death of Arenicos and prior to the events of the game. Each chapter title contains that current season and an indicator of its progression through said season (ie. `Early Summer`, `Mid Summer`, `Late Summer`, and so on.) However, the very first chapter is titled, only, Introduction. There’s no indicator of the season. What’s more, this is the chapter that says: “I did do one somewhat unusual thing about a year ago. This was the beginning of my stay in Vostrum, before the Emperor Arenicos died.” and also “(…) two months after that Arenicos died, and the Calradian-Empire fragmented, and I assumed that my hopes of a side career in intelligence work had been shattered along with it.” So while we do know not what year Asaios is writing in and the season is left unsaid, the next chapter does begin in `Early Spring`, meaning the previous one may have in `Early Spring` too, *or* was in `Late Winter`. > > Now putting it all together, the death of Arenicos and the start of the Imperial Civil War was in either `April` or `May` during `Spring`. According to [^3] [^4] one year in Bannerlord is 84 days, and 1 month is 7 days — also, Bannerlord begins in the year of `1084` during `Early Summer` on the 1st day — and so theoretically at the very most recent possible date: Arenicos is poisoned and the Civil War erupts in the year `1082` of either `April` or `May` during `Spring`, exactly two-years and one-to-two months *before* the start of *Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord*. Asaios then takes his journey around Calradia and finishes in `Late Autumn`/`Fall` of `1083`, and the player begins their journey in `Early Summer` of `1084`. This means, at the lowest estimate, that Arenicos died and the Empire fell into Civil War *175 in-game days ago* at the start of a new game! Or 539 in-game days ago at the very highest end, during `1078`, shortly after Neretzes death at the Battle of Pendraic in `1077` although I do prefer the former calculation. According to [^5] one in-game day takes `00:01:36` seconds to pass at full speed, and so `00:01:36` x 175 in-game days means that the Imperial Civil War began approximately `4:40:00` minutes *before* the player starts their campaign! &emsp;&emsp; > &emsp;&emsp; ![[encyclopedia_calradica.gif|center|300]] >*“A massive `Mount & Blade` wikipedia.”* About [Encyclopædia Calradica](About-the-Encyclopædia.md) About the [Project](Project-(Pillar).md) About the [Author](Horseapple.md) &emsp;&emsp; ## Resources [^1]: [[Blog_42_Empire_Pt.1]] [^2]: [[3-std_story_mode-(Bannerlord)]] [^3]: https://expertbeacon.com/how-long-is-a-year-in-bannerlord/ [^4]: https://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php?threads/year-length-slider-on-game-start.409741/ [^5]: https://mountandblade.fandom.com/wiki/Map_time [^6]: [[3-spkingdoms-(Bannerlord)]] [^7]: [[Blog_42_Empire_Pt.1]]