Becoming a saint in Norland, isn’t about miracles or divine intervention—it’s a matter of strategic influence and gold. The process is simpler than you might think, but the benefits are powerful, especially if you’re looking to add some fanatics to your army.
Unlike what you might expect in a typical medieval simulation, sainthood in Norland comes down to money and relationships, rather than holy acts or spiritual quests.
Let me break it down from my own experience and the mistakes I made along the way.
Steps to Becoming a Saint in Norland
Pay the Matriarch 300 Gold
The first step to becoming a saint is straightforward: you need 300 gold. I know what you’re thinking—buying your way into sainthood? Seems a bit unholy, right? But that’s how the system works in Norland. The Matriarch, who is the head of the religious order, controls the process, and she’s not handing out sainthood for free.
In one of my earlier playthroughs, I ignored my gold reserves, thinking sainthood was more about winning favor through deeds. But when I finally tried to get declared a saint, I realized I was far too broke to make it happen. Trust me, start saving up that gold early if you plan to go down the saint route.
Build a Relationship of +25 with the Matriarch
Money alone won’t cut it, though. You’ll need to build a relationship of at least +25 with the Matriarch. This part takes a bit more time and effort. The Matriarch isn’t going to support your sainthood unless she trusts you and believes you’ll benefit the church’s interests.
What worked for me was constantly improving my standing with the religious order by:
- Donating gold: Giving regular donations to the church improved my reputation. Don’t blow all your gold at once—spread out smaller donations over time to keep increasing your favor.
- Avoiding church scandals: This sounds obvious, but I once made the mistake of angering the religious faction by allying with a neighboring ruler who the church had issues with. That set me back significantly. Be careful about your diplomatic ties—if the church doesn’t like your allies, you’ll lose favor quickly.
Benefits of Becoming a Saint
Once you’ve met these two conditions—300 gold and a relationship of +25—you’ll be officially declared a saint by the Matriarch. So, what’s the payoff? Well, the big benefit of sainthood is recruiting fanatics into your army.
Recruiting Fanatics
Fanatics are a special unit in Norland, and they’re absolutely worth the investment. Once you’ve achieved sainthood, you can recruit these devout soldiers who are fiercely loyal and fight with zeal.
They’re not just regular troops—they have a deep belief in your cause, which makes them more motivated and reliable on the battlefield.
In one playthrough, I was seriously outnumbered in an upcoming battle, but having a core of fanatics in my army turned the tide. They held the line when other soldiers might have fled, and their morale stayed high even when things looked grim.
However, keep in mind that fanatics are most useful when you maintain strong religious influence in your kingdom. If your sainthood wanes or you lose favor with the church, they might not fight as effectively. I learned this the hard way when I neglected my religious duties after becoming a saint, and my fanatics’ loyalty started to dip.
Managing the Downsides of Sainthood
While sainthood comes with its perks, it’s not without its challenges. One thing I didn’t anticipate was the political backlash. Other factions and nobles in your kingdom may become wary or even jealous of your new title. After I became a saint, I noticed an uptick in plots against me. Rivals who once ignored my religious leanings started to see me as a threat, which led to some tense moments at court.
Additionally, if you mismanage your sainthood—say, by neglecting the church’s needs after they’ve recognized you—you might lose their support. The last thing you want is to be a fallen saint, especially when the fanatics who once fought for you no longer believe in your cause.
Conclusion
Becoming a saint in Norland is a matter of influence and gold, but the rewards are worth it—especially the ability to recruit powerful fanatics for your army.
Keep your relationship with the church strong, save up that 300 gold, and once you’ve secured sainthood, don’t neglect the responsibilities that come with it. Your enemies won’t see you coming when you march with an army of fanatics ready to defend their faith and kingdom.
Sainthood is one of the most strategic titles in Norland, and if you play it right, it can tip the scales in your favor. Just remember: it’s not about miracles—it’s about playing the game.
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