Paradox Interactive announced that its Mount & Blade – With Fire and Sword has gone gold.  It will be released on May 3, 2011.  Players may serve as mercenaries or join one of the five factions to conquer, destroy, or create empires.  Fire and Sword builds on the foundation of Mount & Blade Warband, adding new features such as firearms and grenades, multiple endings, enhanced siege mechanics, 15 new multiplayer maps, and a setting based on Nobel Prize winner Henry Sienkiewicz’s novel "With Fire and Sword".  It is available for preorder from several digital portals for $14.99.