The Empire's rise has left many nations unprepared, and the most awkward of them is Lapland.
Being sandwiched in the middle is never pleasant, especially when your neighbors on both sides are highly expansionist and stronger than you. This kind of "tiger at the front door, wolf at the back door" pressure is enough to drive anyone mad.
After Charlemagne fell and the Empire was established, Lapland suddenly found that its smooth-running national strategy had lost its foundational basis.
"Take what is most abundant in your own country and supplement each other's deficiencies."—This had been the usual practice of the Human Faction. Lapland relied on "resisting Duchy invasions" and "providing security guarantees" in exchange for economic and material aid from other nations.
