Well i would advice to hug with one other NA-Clan. You can probably roam in any land of a bigger faction if you ask.
That way HRE came in touch with the Fallen Brigade ;)
I would wait till Strategus come live again before choosing an ally anyway, even before the full reset i guess that many dices will be rolled again with the new economy stuff, aka. don't ally with the guards if you're going to raid them ;D