The Elite Axes were formed 23 years ago, in the Kulian War. They were the warriors of the Northlands, pirates, corsairs - but loyal, fierce fighters all, and they had united behind one man; Erik Daral, or Bloodaxe as his memory was called after the war. Daral led his elite fighting force, all muscular barbarians armed with huge double-headed axes and destroyed half of the Kulian invasion force in a great ambush in the Fjordal Valley.
Having done this, Daral led his men in a 135-mile march which he reputedly made in just 4 days, a tremendous feat of discipline and stamina, and played a vital part in the joining of the three nations which drove the larger part of the Kulian invasion force off the continent. Erik Daral himself was killed in the battle.
These days the Elite Axes acts as the all-round wardens and standing army of the nation. They generally keep order, often with a few placed in some towns likely to revolt. Their presence alone is usually enough to stem any flow of resistance likely.
They suffer the problems that the whole nation suffers - lack of people. The climate means that very little can be grown, and so the Northlanders are natural sailors and fisherman.
The Elite Axes will generally accept any Northlander who can wield their huge weapons, although they do not accept Elves, who they feel they cannot trust. Dwarves are plentiful in the regiment, and they were bolstered 5 years ago by a small company of Frost Giants, who live in the far northern slopes of the Northlands.
The current Commander is Lord Jakovik, brother to the king, and reputedly the strongest man in the kingdom.
