One of the cool features of the new Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is that a variety of minor factions roam the land, from bandits to mercenaries to secret societies. Unfortunately, the current Early Access version of Bannerlord does not offer this feature to a great extent, and these factions do not have much interaction with the rest of the world outside of their mercenary work. Aside from the occasional merchant caravan, parts of the map can feel empty, which is where Calradia at War, a mod for Bannerlord by Anopey, comes in. This mod adds 21 new minor factions, many of which add unique armies. For modders, Calradia at War also serves as a framework for adding their own custom factions, Creator API is also available.

The mod is intended to increase chaos and make Calradia feel like a place caught in a generation-long conflict. According to modder Anopey, "The added chaos also makes the economy more difficult to manage, as caravans are looted and villagers are captured. All of this is intended to make the game more immersive and give players a real experience of what it is like to try to make a name for yourself in a war-torn land rather than a stable, economically powerful country. There are people trying to make a name for themselves, earn a living, or pursue more unorthodox goals"

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Here are some fun ideas: rebel groups of angry peasants, groups of deserters from various armies, slave drivers, savage raiders. Some of the minor factions are rare, so they don't necessarily show up every time you play the game. Apocalyptic religious cults and, my personal favorite, invaders from across the sea led by "momumbus" Calradia at War can be found on Nexusmods.