[quote=KabenSaal]
Well, the game is already in progress, and it says 'any new players must join the game as mercs'. So I thought a Lord was out of the question.
[/quote]

To be clear, you can't create a new lord, but if a player is willing to grant you the land, or an NPC vassal house is suitable enough to be taken-over by a player, then the player can become a lord that way.

Otherwise, the rules stand, and players can only join as a mercenary group.