Wrath of the Norsemen is a modification of Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms, set in the viking age. The aim is to create a mod that is both historical and enjoyable for anyone who has an interest in the early medieval era of history, or is just a little bit too fond of blood and big axes.
Freemen are the second children of Heimdall, competent and reliable craftsmen, traders, bards, sailors, farmers and herdsmen. They are the largest part of our people, and much relies on them. They are more wealthy then peasants, and often train in a local militia, and thus are better armed and are proficient at working together, even if they are still not true warriors.
Freemen fight with the ancient spear and shield, and if they hold the line, they can pin down enemies until more capable killers deliver the eye darkening blow. Karlar are a descent, cheap option to form the main line of an army, and are well suited to provide a stopgap, but in less organized forms of combat, namely attack, they are prone to slaughter.
Karlar are invested in the fate of their nobles, and can be relied upon to defend them, but neither have the facility, nor the motivation to go on great campaigns and face strange and terrible adversaries.
On thousand shields loud hammer’d deaf’ning plaudits;
Up heav’nward flew the weapon-clang, and heav’n
Drank, glad, free men’s assent to right, to justice, - Canto VIII, Fridthjof's Saga