Started as nord, I intend to get nord fiefs

Hi all,

I started a few days ago a nord run with the intention of having nord fiefs; needless to say, you can't join them directly if you want this, since most often than not you'll be getting fiefs in given time of the faction you're at war with, which is something I've always found to be a rather stupid inconvenience, even if it does have a certain logic to it.

Thus, I've spent all this time just as a merc, joining different factions to raise relations ships, get some money (around 750k so far) and expanding my clan. I've also tried to focus my party on nord troops only to get a feel about the new faction; so far, it feels nice, not overpowered, but really nice, outstanding in naval battles and pretty good in land combat, even againts Vlandians & imperials.

Now I'm at the point where I want to become a vassal, and here's the real point of my post, allow me to briefly describe the political map for you, so you can suggest me what would you do:

Vlandia is steamrolling, Battania is reduced to two cities, all three imperial factions are in problems, but they endure with stoicism. Aserais are ok, expanded a little against northern empire, and khuzaits expanded a little against Sturgia. Nords are ok, keeping all their fiefs and got an sturgian castle and a northern empire city early on the game, so now they're at good level.

I'm a merc for Sturgia right now, at war with Vlandia, and so far we're doing it very good, but right now, since my goal is to join nords and I want nord fiefs, I'm not really sure about my next step.

Should I just become a nord vassal, hoping we will lose some fief in hopes of regaining it and coming to me? Should I just become an Sturgia vassal, hoping we'll start a war against nords, get some fiefs, then leave Sturgia keeping my fiefs and join the nords then? That Will hurt a lot my relations with them, but seems like a good option… Should I just wait any other realm to start a war with the nords and join them?

As said, my goal is having nord culture fiefs, and ideally also joining the nord faction, but I'm not really sure about what to do here.

What would you do? Would start my own kingdome be a better option? I'm playing the campaign, not sandbox mode, and I haven't decided yet what to do (I've never ended the campaign in more than 1.500 hours)