SAGUTES PPP EN WN SF EV DS OPN SIRI DEPRISE] oer — FTES NIGHISE PAX GUIDELTOPBRETONNIA Design and Writing: David Chart Development: Robert J. Schwalb Editing: Kara Hamilton Graphic Design & Art Direction: Hal Mangold Cover Art: Mark Gibbons WERP Logo: Darius Hinks r= ae Mi Interior Art: James Brady, Vincent Dutrait, Wayne England, || Mike Franchina, Carl Frank, Dave Gallagher, Karl Kopinski, Jim Pavalec, iB Pe Scott Purdy, Adrian Smith, Christophe Swal, Chris Trevas Cartography: Shawn Brown and Andy Law WERP Development Manager: Kate Flack Head of Black Industries: Marc Gascoigne AB ‘Special Thanks: Simon Butler and Ewan Lamont Workshop logo, Warhammer, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay logo, Black Pe ena eeu uica Industries, the Black Industries logo, and all asociated First published in 2006 by Black Industries, races and nace insignia, marks, names, characters, an imprint of BL Publishing illustrations, and images from the Warhammer universe ah are either ®, TM, andlor © Games Workshop pt Pais Led 2000-2006, variably registered in the Games Workshop. Ltd UK and other countries around the world. Willow Road All rights reserved. Norringham : ea eee Green Ronin and the Green R ‘ Be logo are ‘Trademarks of Green Ronin y Publishing and are used with permission, No part of this publication may be Price Coat reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, ISBN 10: 1-84416-305-9 327|| mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise ISBN 13: 978-1-84416-305-2 without the prior permission of the publisher. © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2006. g All Rights Reserved. Games Workshop, the Games www.greenronin.com GS Ei otha P| www.blackindustries.com‘The Bretonnians Bretonnian Languagersernon= 10 Social StrctuttimmneeemnmneeHE Material Culture Cuarrer I: History OF BRETONNIA. Before the Kingdom. Prelude to Unity. The Peopi us opie Unification. Significane Paces. Cuaprer Il: Bee Bacon Pourrics & FOREIGN ‘Adventure Hook. The People. Merchants ond Trademooonnnu25 Significant Places ~ Peasant Politics. Example Briontnian onnnnnarnen 63 Beeonnians Abroad conn a9 Adventure Hooks CHarrm IV: es Significant Places Signifieant Places Example Couronnean, Significant Places Example Lyonen. Adventure HOOKS mmnnnnvaninm 7 Example Mousllonian. Adventure HOokSmesonnnnenm $$ Paraavon The Pecple.- Sen Fas Example Parraver ‘Adventure Hooks... Queneties The People Significant Example Q ueneller Adventure HookSensnrmnnnomSl ‘Carrer VII: (CHARACTERS AND CAREERS . 92, Bretonnian Racial Features Rocial Features by (Oprional Bretonnian Carers. Charrer VII: Knicirrnoop.. (Calaral Background ccnooee 102 The Knight's Progress. Questing for the Grail Grail Knights. Nobility ‘The Knight's Sted. ‘Clues Tied Together Excorting the Pea Investigating Alon? Return of the Natives. Rescue. Arte Barow TL Met at EventideS397 / | elcome to Breton, land of knights and chivalry, (Chapter IV: Law and Justice explains the Bretonnian legal home of the servants of che Lady ofthe Lake. Its. land system, which is very different for nobles and peasants where the ideals of kaightly heroism are sill admiced, if not sph nds land of perilous advenure ieee Raia ed Coto Bagel withthe cult oF the Lady ofthe Lake—the state reli This book contains all the information you need to set your __‘Bretonnia—but also covers holidays and the worship of the IWERP campaign in Bretonnia, a Jand very different from che standard Gods of the Old World, Empire, orto being Imperial characters on a visi. Ie sets a new Be yous swares ‘Chapter VI: A Tour of Bretonnia i by fr che longest chapter. Each ofthe fourteen dukedoms is described, with Jc like Sigmar Heirs, cis book isa toolkit, Use what you like details oF the land, people, notable sites, and current tensions axl ignore what you donit All he sections have been written and opportunities for adventure. Hach section also considers chan eye to macerial reasons for an adventurer to Tnmedialy useful in play, leave thar particular dukedom bhuenothing is set in stone for For the wider worl, orem ‘Wont in BRETONNIA Chapters Chancesand b Wha 1 : ee ee | oe em Wuat’s mary Chae oxic RAE Senanda charac New Lee gd fsen tere eaes ginal Real Chseeeeae InsipE? Pepe eee eae Se ares tes Peete clay obekems ieeing | emai pewlliad be Pea eede sci tstom: Voeitina | janetonersdieion, Pei ted es cgfos yar prea cage] bese anstarcoy Cieaahos Se oar oe Pepe tender to dnp, | Sep! ober Gel Bis hy cxtulanot ato Blase ol ‘Chapter I: Land and People ‘wats over an insult, of worshipping the Ruinous ‘Chapter VIII: Knighthood cries the general lay of oneetal seven gett henincjastsaretc sets Out the ideas and powers theland of Bretonnia and the clear. of Bretonnian chivalry. The chal son. | Heal er Adee tiny in ll CF Reiguhtod, and seri of Be: Brsocls fom : the Frome ig al B Before iss founding co the present day. Mose importanc are covered BB es cine oe Uni, rnc thar ll sonst ch Bias wc The nine chaprers following this inzoduction provide ‘exersv information on Bretonnis, broken up by Finally, Chapter IX: Ill Tidings isan adventure designed to introduce a group of adventurers to Brevonnia. There are Chapter IL Potties covers the general sructare of ‘0 seis of statistics, one for novice Bretonaian advencares Bretomian politics: the feudal syseem, merchant organisations, and one for more experienced adventurers just atived from anal se informal poles of peasanc villages laewhee, A TURN FOR THE BETTER Si Giler urged his weary mount ino the dreary Tooling village. The roads here were tribe, and be bad a hard time believing this was ‘out othe Chapel of Shields Burning. Bur the ford he had stayed with the previots night had been quite emptatic, ele, te acted wha eked ie ann, Cade enens we ned on he door, Toil pea ups, chouge iter. The Sigh banged his gaunlted Fist on the door, but no one answered. Giller kere pounding, bur someting about chis was heribly Faria. [Helonced his righx and o his sword and looked around exutiouly. | Aili voice came from inside. “Go away!” “You will open this door chs instant,” the Brtonnian sad, lacking any measur of optimism. “I am Sir Gilter de Arnaud, Knight Tra.” He got no further, asthe door flew open. My mos mb apofogies, ford knight, [hal nor realised.” "The innkeeper was teraly growelling in the mud. "The Finest room i, J of coune, a your disposal. Si Gilet sighed comtemedly. It xs good to be home,“Bretonnia is fair and peaceful because everyone knows their place. Yours is with the truffle hounds.” - Lorp THEDERIC OF MaRONz,, TO A CAPTURED OUTLAW. Short-term visitors to Bretonnia se land of fertile Firms, lling hil, starkly beautiful mounvains, and acy forests, The population consists of noble and courcous knights, fair ladies, and contented and deferencil peasants. Bretonnian chefs are famous for their culinary skill. and the wine produced in che vineyards of che country is renowned throughout the (Old World. ‘This isthe image Bretonnians wane to project, and iis nor encirely fae Aiesgsting strug Bretonna onside he igs sland of Mousilon, sees 2 country that looks fair and prosperous. The forbidding forests and frowning mountains of the Empire are nowhere to be seen. This does not mean Breconnia is completely safe, however. Bebind the facade, peril lacks Brecon landscape can be divided into six main types arable land, where crops are grown; pastoral land, where animals are grazed; forests; mountains; the coast; and the tusses the types in general Terms, as specific areas are covered in Chapter V: A Tou of Bretonnia, The exceptions ate che great rivers, which form the borders between Duchies and thus are reated individually here sgreac rivers. "This section di ‘The dominane arable crop in Bretonafa is wheat, though oats, barley and green vegetables are also grown, Fields ate very lange and divided into scrips. Peasanc families atc tesponsible for one strip cach, and differences in treatment mean many fields look somewhat stripy. Feuit Orchards and vineyards ae common in thc hills, on lind that ist steep for easy farming. Sheep are often grazed under frie erecs — Tue Lanp — nd Its People Tkloes, however, conceal problems, The mountains are home to Greenshins, the forests ro foul erearures. Many peasants are starving. and knights who use couriey to cloak braaligy are found throughout the land, Even the supers avours of the fooe offen mask roten ingredients. The cynical say Bretonnia wears 2 far mask over deep corruptions the more generous lament the gap often foun becween its ideals and tality. No one who knows the country aeall ean ignore the contrast, however Peasants work che fields almost constantly. In fine weathes, this adds co the charm ofthe scene, and most peasints seem clicerfal. In bad weather, they hunch over against the wind and rain and can almost vanish as chey are covered with mud, making them the same colour as the fields, Ae such times, there are few to se them, ‘Most of Bretonnia’ hls are devored to pastoral farming, whils the plains and valleys ae arable. The graving animals keep the grass short, and the view of green hills dosted with white sheep or typically Breronnian russet cate is a common one The flocks and herds ate tended by shepherds and herdsmen. Shepherdess are common in the south of Breconnia, where itis the only occupation thar allows women to travel by themselves, In the north, the ide of letting women go into the hill alone is frowned upon, Flocks of sheep are artractive to predators, starting from wolves and climbing through Goblins, Ores, Beastmen, and the like ‘As a rsult the life ofa shepherd is much more dangerous than it looks. Shepherdess, in particular, have a reputation as tough and dangerous fighters and generally cannor find husbands. Most of them do noe particularly car. Many> [9 * 7 Canpter I The Land an les People ie TF shepherds cary the Brevonnian Crook, spear with a hook at fiend of the handle, and are skilled in is use The ower edges of Breton forests aze thoroughly exploited Tpthe people. Pigs forage in the lea liter, trees ae Felled Forbullng, and others are coppiced or polladed. These Sie technigues char ensure a tee produces a lo of long, thin Gnirches, seul for watle and daub or for firewood, Ts involves ‘ing the branches right hack every yar, almost eo the Sound inthe case ofa coppice, or fuither up the tunk fora alld [n Bretonnia, poll fuse canno eat hi theres in these areas are spaced ou for easy acces and there ace more common, s0 that pigs 100ts of new branches. As a result, ine odergroweh Fanher i, however, the foreses become as dacs and eangled Ssanyibing in the Fmpiee. There are no Elves in the forests of Avie oF Chilons (Athel-Loren is outside Bretonnia proper), Sid n9 Humans live beyond the tamed borders. Asa res epareaaven for Beasemen and similar foul creatures, o° for tls ofthe Ruinous Poseers, Human outlave often lair near theedge of forests, and provide an important defence for local nro, Keeping worse creanutes back in the depths of The woods There are stories of whole cites of Beastmen in the Aizts ofthe Anicn, and whils there is no evidence for this Inplasible ide, ies not impossible no one knows enough Sut the forest interior to say the cities are no there Abe mountaine surrounding Bretonnia, and the Massif Orca Inishesrt te notable for their spectacular scenery. Soaring, bff ond chundesing watefills mark the outer eiges of faiatzn anges, ancl on clear days, the peaks seem co shine fiom the snow on thera. Farming and mining communicies dot theedge of the mounsain anges, renowned forthe extremely Seep Zoo oF theis houses, designed to shed snowfall quckdy Same of thee communities are cutoff fom the res of nd have developed thrown customs, in some cases involving the worship of Bretonnis for months a atime in wi aieDark Ones, Fuster in, Oreand Goblin tribes make Gherhomes. When she snows mel in spring, a least one Jounin community is Found reduced to charred rubble. Ie Has owsever, been many yeats since these Ores dared 10 raid Guide their mountain strongholds; some fear they have been Dulin thei sien, Buxton costs are marke by many cfs and broad beaches ifgulen snd at cher have. Around th approach is genre, and shete ate a number of safe harbours fiver dels, the Sal sds dot the waters off much of Bretoania, A few of Hheseare home o villages ox even small rowns, A number of casa villiges are bile up the sides of clifs and other ru sos ens, wth staircases or even ladders connecting seers fauning panel co the lope ofthe land, These villages typically iy om Fl whic official income. Tiiever the wer aroun Bretonnis are nororously dificult fiat. Carers, winds and vides shife rapidly, nl many ca Irons ie in cvs nthe more raged areas ofthe coast. As Area, cher are many shptecks, This siuation is exacerbated Bythe inkshitancs of certain villages who lute ships onto rocks and the bewrckage. The form oF the lan alsa makesital burimpossble w moor a ship anywhere but a major por anu ollsand duties a¢ those pons ate very high, Smugglers ae tlt fond along moet of che coast, siding the cll tthe major or by carrying goods in small boars they know how and where tobeach ‘he River Sanne is the swiftest of Bretonnids grea rivers, throw and deep for mich of ts length and renowned for the putty ofits warer. Ie flaws ehrough Couronne, she capital tric che coase at LAnguile, the greatest port, and asa rvult sees lot of ride, The fase current means upstream crading ismuch harder than dowen, and che traders on the river use "upstream to refer to any difficule eask, pariculasty iF there isan easier way of dotng something, In the Laer sense, it has enn normal Bretonntan, so “Tha bic upstream” means "Youre doing that che hard way.” ‘The current of the Sannex makes ie hard to control « boat and very ditfcule co sims to safer if you land in the water Cainivorous fish take advantage ofthis, having letned that a Haman in water is basically helpless In many places, sonicone who falls into the Sanne? s literally eaten alive. The ‘arnvorous fish are very tasty, however, and some regulse boatmen make a show of catching them by trailing 3 hand inshe water and grabbing che fsh cha bites. Two-fingered Gore (previously known as Three fingered Gothic) isthe sdlnowledged master ofthis lunatic fishing method. “he Grismeri is che largest of the rivers, broad and slow for ‘nich ofits length. Te begins near Pacravon, there ici still a puung and energetic stream, but ky che time i aches Montfort thas sted down. The Gi smerie sees more trafic shan any cater rive and the riverside inns are Famous chroughous the ‘county They paricalarly compete on cuisine, and the Braided Fish, near Monrfrr, is famous for hoth the house specialty of gill tour and the spectacular view of the mountains from the rooiop dining aca. The Duke of Montfort bas stayed there, and rumours sugges that che Kings considering a visit “The main fault of the Grismerie is thac it reaches the sea in the swamps of Mousillon. The low current means that its easy for things to swim up the river, and attacks by waterlogged Undead are noc unnsual. All bats try to: make an ian by nightfall, and che innkeepers hire guards o drive of any attach thae might come, This makes the river inns unusual in a second respect: they are mote designed ta deive off attacks from, the river than from the land, “The Gilleau, which reaches the sea at Bordeleas, is most Fanos as the ste of che frst ofthe Creat Bates of Gilles che Unifer Indeed, cakes is name from thar event. Ics famous for the lites —boatmen who live an their boats and reise to set Foot ‘on and, Their oars are brightly painted, and chey make excellent tradesmen, so they have a near-monopely on tver trade, ‘The river has its source in the Massif Orel, a eriburary from the heart of the Forest of Chilons, and Aows along che borders of that forest for most f its length. Ava resul, iis plagued by Greenskins and Beastmen, and another reason for the monopoly of the Cillte is their skill in driving off such attacks. They also soem co be attacked less often chan other ‘users ofthe river; leading some to whisper that they are league with the monsters. The Brienne isthe southernmost ofthe great rivers, and che face that its source rises in the Fores of Loren leads many Bretonnians to regard it as sacred, The water is nocable fora distince blue tint, and for the fact tha i ean he safely drunk at any poine along is Tength, even where i flows through the cicy of Brionne, Most Bretonniansateribute this tothe inlluenee of the Fay of Loren Traffic on the Brienne is lighter than might be expected, because boats sailing on ic sometimes simply vanish without a trace. Neither che boats, the passengers, nor even splinters are ever seen again, This in'ran everyday occurrence, happening ‘no move often than once per month, bu is fr too common «be chance. These events have remained inexplicable. — Tue BRETONNIANS — lke the Empite, Breonnia is populated almost ensicely by Humans. Dwaefs come from the mouncans co trade, and the Sea Elves have an enclave at LAnguille, but you can spend days avelling through the heart of Bretonnia without ‘neating ether, Halflings are even rarer, and those chav ate chere Juve come from the Empire While Bretonnians, like all Humane, vary a great desl among. themselves, there is one feature shared by so many that ics regula the national character. Bretonnians live for the moment and pride themselves on this fact, “Thsdoes nor sean all Betonnians are wild hedonists, partying ‘nntndy, hough some members of the nobility dof this image. Rasher, ie means that fora Bretonnian, whae maeers is svhat you do nov not what you may or may not beable 1 do inthe fsure, A dedicared Breronnian craftsman might labour long int the night ro make the shoes he is working on now £5 good 2s they possibly can be. Bretonnian knights choose | dit actions to ensure that they are always acting honourably A Bretonnian peasant concentrates on gecting through today, rather chan storing up worries abour tomorrow: Breconnians de noc worry about the consequences of thelr actions. When those consequences come, chey deal widh them inthe same spits; few Breconnians waste time whining abou the unfairness of lf, Indeed, most Breronnians look down on those who make provision for the furure. No one knows what the fucre will bring so falling ro do the best you can now in cer to have reserves for a fare chac might never come is lie more than an excuse for shicking. This does not mean that Bretonnians eat che entre harvest over the course of a month; they are neither suicidal nor idiots. (On the other hand, they migh ear well on 2 holiday and then poorly thereafter because the stocks have been reduced, Veey 0.8 10 have enough in reserve for a feat, Mote generally, Breonnians tend not ro invest for the furure Large buildings are constructed for immediace display, notto ineresse the wealth of their owners. Similarly, programs of social refoim are unpopular because their henefits are enttely inthe future and distract from doing goo now, A Breconnian ‘would rather feed che starving than campaign co remove the causes of starvation, This attitude has been blamed, particularly by Imperial cee, for Bretonnias relacve backwardness. Whilst the Imperial armies fight with musketeers and cannons, the Bretonnians stil rly on Iounted knights and trebuchets, Similarly, printing has eer the Empire by scorm, but most hooks in Bretonnia are sil writen by hand. On che other hanes, ie cannot be denied that the individual products of Bretonnian craftsmen cend to be superior to those produced in che Empire. A Brotonnian swordsmith lives to make the bese swords he can, not to make as much money as possible. Adventurers are almost the epitome of the Brtonnian ‘mindses, and Bretonian advencuress are therefore much move ‘common than one right expect. There are exceptions, particularly among the merchants of Breconnia. Indeed, many Bretonnians with an inlination ra plan forthe Fucure find chemselves drawn into rade almose against their will, as they find they have a surplus co sell aca time when ather people are desperate. Asa result, merchants in general ate poorly regarded by most Bretonnians, but are Fa, far richer than cheie compatriots, BRETONNIAN LANGUAGE ‘Though Breton i similar in some ways to Reikspieh suggesting some common, albeit ancient, hevtage, iis wholly a distinct language, Cercainly, the Brecons have borrowed words AY GER [apes |: Te Land ands ope YP SS | oA ftom their imperial neighbours and vice vers, buc Breton hus evolved indifferent fashion, making commnication between these people challenging. This has led to bigotry, and exaggerated parodies of the Imperial speech are often used ‘when being ride about merchanes. ‘Whilst communication between speakers of Bretonnian and speakers of Reikspiel is generally posible, there are a number cof potential pills. Two in particular stand out. First, che Bretonnian vocabulary for food and drink is ‘much richer chan in Reikspil and different even when they overlap. There are a number of Bretonnian dishes that do not even have names in Reikspiel, This makes ordering a meal dificule and finding out what you have been served ‘even harder. A number of Imperial eavellers make ica rule not ro cat anything thar the chef cannot name in Reikspiel [And sometimes nor even then; see Material Culture on che following page.) Second, in spoken Bretonnian there i avery strong tendency to use the future tense for talking about the past. This fs eather ‘casual anda bic lower clas, but members ofthe nobilcy als do itamong friends. Scholars tend to avoid it, and waiting in this form is sign of ignorance. Thus, « Bretonnian talking about an accident the previous day mighe say: "Well, she ote, right, bell sell the horse t stop, but the hose. be ron’ listen, and bell charge straight out of the ate Whas do son think? The said be uct coming ont ‘ofthe door, andthe horse will go and bit her. Shel break Ber arn in three places, and she wont be ba for months. What I do?” at work 10 ) Rr SI(Ofeours, che lst rwo occurrences of the future tense ate scaly frre, but they dont sound any different Ths habie ten eaves foreigners wsterly confused. (Ic is also finy easy co | sleplay) SociaL STRUCTURE Breonaizn society is divided berween bles and peasanes. The | hsson is ershined in Ta, acl the laws governing the ro slases ate very diferent (sce Chapter IV: Law and Justice) “The rotion that all people are basically equal seems laughable 9 mos Bretonnians Bry Bretonnian is born into one class or che other, and ic is slmost imposible ro change. A noble is someone wito can shor tharall his (or her) ancestors for five generations were bss As the names and pedigrees of all members of the ily ate recorded in che Registers of the Pecrage, his is ineelya mater of showing all your ancestors are in those testers, Everyone else ia peasant. Thus, in particular, the dhldeen ofa noble and a peasant are peasants. Since a peasant ‘annotnheric a noble if, landed nobles never mary peasants ‘There are rwo groups of exceptions. Fist, foreigners ate not Brsonnian ancl are thus nether noble nor peasant. Tis also applicso the Dwarf, Elves, and Halflings in the kingdom. Sach characters arc treated with the respect thac seems to be ths which in practice means thae they are reated acconting, ‘0 thir closhes, Second, the Grail Damses (see Chapter VIz Religion and Custom) stand completely ouside the stem ‘bing treated with respect by everyone The relations between nobles and peasants influence all aspects of Bretonnian sociery and so are treated repeatedly in this ook. The basic relationship, however, is simple. Peasants Iseto serve ther lords. The nobles, in return, should protect thepeasanes and provide justice. Lords do, however, have bier duties chan co thee peasants, most notably to their own lens and these other duties are generally regarded as more "prune [Almortall nobles regard all pesanes as theieinfriors. Fxceptions| ite intel rar; player characters are Iikely candidates, bu otherwise a character might meet one ina lifetime. Even then thenobleisikely to recognise no more than 2 handful tpasanis as equals. Many peasants regard the nobility as hes superiors, but exceptions are much more common inthis Aesion,Pessant who regard all nobles as useless parasices on ‘city te found across che kingdom, Nobles canbe stripped of ther ele by order ofthe King or the TRnchanees, This equally affects all of their descendants, so thisis aoe done lightly. The King and Fay Enchantress can also sea rasan to the noble, bu in this case, chey must both ‘age. In theory, the Lady of the Lake could raise anyone she sraned to any position she wanted, bur she never has. Inthe whole of Bretonnian history, only three peasants have ane noe chemisclves nobles, s their grandparents, on a least nese, are peasants. Thus, unless they we © by theagresment ofthe King and Fay Enchantress, the noble also ennobled) line would die out immediate never happened, and all of Bretonnia’s noble fines can trace pedigrees hack to the foundation of the kingdom. No records ate kept from before che time of Gills the Univer. Such additional ennobling has All male nobles are expected co become knights andthe ‘overwhelming majority do so. (Knighthood is treated in decal in Chapter VIL: Knighthood,) Female nobles are nor allowed to become knights and are expected o keep house for their husbands, being a fine ornamens to his household, “The divide between mon and women is the second major divide in Bretonnian society, for the ovo sexes are far from, ‘equal. Men are required to be polite co women at all tims, Insulting woman isa tesible breach of exiquette, and men ‘who violenely atack women are punished particularly severely. “Men should stand when a woman enters che room and should always le her go first, unless climbing stairs, in which case the ‘man should go fist. Women are served frst at meals and given the more comfortable rooms in inns (OF course, these requirements ony apply within a cass. Noble syomen, hough some do and are well regarded for it, as long, as ie doesnt get out of hand. rot required to show this level of courtesy t0 peasant ‘On the other hand, women are net allowed (0 own property, to travel without a male escort, orto undertake most trades and professions, Despite the trappings of courtesy, men are frmaly in charge. The Grail Damsels are the to this st obvious exception ‘Mose women live withthe constraints, and a significant number even believe thae they are right, Some, however decide they wan ro fight or own a shop. In order to do this, chey must disguise themselves as men, No one knoves how many disguised women chere are in Bretonnia at any one time, but solely among the nobility, » Knight is found on his death in batde co be a woman ac east once per yea Female Bretonnian player characters must pretend to be men in order to start thie cancers. This pretence fs aucomatically ‘succesful and req Unless the woman reves her tne sex, no one notices. OF course, if they leave Brevonnia, they can drop the disguise es no Tests of any so Female adventures and merchants from foreign counties are Tikely o beconte impatient with theis treatment. They benefit fiom the courtesy, Bur no one takes chem seriously, assuming the men in the party must bein charge. Some women who visit Bretonnia frequently pretend co be men whilst they are there in onder avoid the hassle. MateriaL CULTURE “Material enleure” refers to the things chat people use in their hail life: food and drink, clothes, housing, and so on, Ie can be contrasted with “high culeure,” the stories and songs they listen to and the are chey produce. Marerial culture isin general, ‘ore importanc than people realise In Breronnia, the most important clemens of material culture is wine, Uniquely, there are no laws governing who may drinkit, and “like a botde of bad wine" isa Breconnian saying ‘meaning “extremely rare and unexpected (and somewhat ‘unpleasan0.” As. resule, almost all Breronnians drink wine with every meal and often berween meals as well. Ieis normal to add quite a lor oF water to wine before di «co make it go further and partly o avoid going about your daily life permanently tipsy. Only nobles and drunkards drink swine straight king i, parly Whhilsc had wine is very hard to find, there ae sll cleat distinctions berween the merely good! and the excellent. ‘Carcasonne Special Resctve isthe most famous wine in the country and a single bottle costs over a hundred Gold Crowns. ‘Thue connoisseurs tend co believe ics not actually the best, but they fall to agree as co what is. No one doubts tht ici very good indeed, Brandy, made by distilling wine, is more rarely drunk as ie is fr more expensive. Adling water to brandy is a sign that you are an uncultured nouyeau-tiche ora poverty-stricken provincial knighe wich no east. Some snobbish merchants and pobles use this as test. Almost everyone agrees thatthe finest brandy is Paravon Crown Reserve, Rumout bas i that less than adozen bodes reach the requited standard in a yest Ie is certainly true that che whole entent ofthe feudal obligacon ‘of the Marrennes, the noble family who hold the fief where it is produced, is two bottles per year, given tothe King, There is also a waiting list for those wishing co buy, and the price is rarely just cash [Breconnian beer, on the ether hand, is« byword for tundeinkable swill throughout the Old World, Asking an Imperial landlord if his brewer is Bretennian isa good way ro sate fight. Foop The cuisine of Brewonniais justly famous. The land produces a number of strongly Havoured herbs, which, used in ‘moderation, produce delicious dishes, Used more liberally, they can even make rorten vegetables palatable, and many peasants tue ther for this purpose. Whilst Breconnisn meal might give you Food poisoning, itis unlikely co case foul Diet does differ herween the nobility and the peasanes, Peasants cat very litte meat, whilst a noble meal i almose always dorainated by the meat cousse, Farmed meats, such as pork, beef, and mutton, can be eaten by peasants; game meats, most notably venison, are restricted tothe nobility by law. A Peasant who knowingly eats venison is liable to face severe Punishment in che darker fief, he s fed to the lo’ hunting dogs, Asa result, serving venison to noble guests isa sign of respect, Serving nothing bus bread and vegetables is positively insulting Breconnian bread comes in several varieties. The whiter and lighter cis, the more expensive and the more suitable ro he nobility. The coarsest peasant fare i almost as hard a rock and often coocins small stones. The finest noble fate sso light thar you can cutie wich yout finge. A slightly cheaper and firmer bread, known as cake is ao popular with the nobility, though the finest product is known simply as bread. Many noble women, on being cold thar dhe peasants have no bread, suggest thar they should est cake, instead, The Brevonnians are also notorious for eating things other nations find repulsive. Truffles, larg, smelly fungi with 2 very strong caste, are eaten raw as a fine delicacy. Frogs are boiled alive ac the table, eviscerated, and eaten whole, bones and all. Snails are fied with gaelic and eaten from the shell Finally che eyeballs of sheep or carl are added to thick soups The eyes tend to rise to the top and become visible once the soup is disturbed, often by the diner beginning to eat. Many’ Bretonnians rake delight in serving these delicacies to theit hhonouted foreign guests CLOTHING Bretonnian costume is basically che same no matter what the social cas, though che details vary widely, and some fabrics colours, and styles of clothing ace reserved eo nobles by law (sce Chapter IV: Law and Justice). Men wear shoes or boots, breeches (trousers), a tunic, anda cloak over the top. ‘The cloak is normally hooded, but the hood is only raised if the ‘weather is inclemenc and is often used as a pocket otherwise. Knights wear a cloak over their armous, and this cloak gets damaged in the heat of bale, Wearing a bale damaged cloak in normal circumstances i a claim co respect for yous knightly prowess and thus only chose knights who think they deserve respect do s0, Its currently fashionable for other nobles 0 wear cloaks with deliberately cu slits, These slits are often lined With fur or another material, ¢o male it clear thar they are deliberate faking battle damage is frowned upon. The lengeh of the cloak is variable, according ro personal caste Peasants almose always wear long cloaks, and the cloak is typically the fines item of clothing they own. Asi covers the poorer tunic and breeches, mos Bretonnian peasants look better dressed chan they ae, ‘Tunies are normally long, and breeches slightly loose and ankle Length, like normal trousers. However, noble fasion Includes very shore tonics, reaching only to the waist, and skin- Aight breeches called "hose.” ‘Women wear long dresses and no brceches, with a cloak ‘over the cop. The main difference berween a dress and a tunic is that a fong tunic is often slic to make walking easiey wwhilse a dress is nor. Recent noble fashion is for a very short cloak, little more than 2 scarf, and for dresses that leave the shoulders and arms bare. Peasane women wear long cloaks, like the men, Bretonnian women always cover chee head haie and are Aleply embarrassed ifanyone sees i. This isso ingrained chat 4 Bretonnian woman caughs naked holding a rowel would use it wo cover her head. Most peasant women cut their hair shore and cover it wich 2 cloth hood of some sort, bur noblewomen ‘often use their hairas the foundation for elaborate, bejewelled hheadgeat. Noblewomen also tend to pluck their eyebrows, 2s hey are hair on the head, buc peasants rarely bother, Grail Damsels often ignore this restricsion, sering chemselves spare fiom societyao) [ro* [7 Grape 1: Pe Land ands People As [FE THe BRETONNIAN TRUFFLE HOUND Bironniantullks grow underground, on or neu tice-00ts c= ani eave no obvious sgn a the surfce. Finding them would be Sposible, were it not for the uncanny senses ofthe male alle Hound. These dogs can smell a buried crue from over Take fet aay, and, if posible, hey immediately rush to the spor, fig angus wp, andl devour i. This ba for ewo reasons, Fis, the dog has eaten the wll ‘Second, a True Hound who has eaten Farnnoid abou possible male rivals for the af Hound females, disregarding species entirely, and rakes direc action J deal withthe most immediate chreat. A number of rule hur Gan explain, ‘ost other men would rather not listen: raffle becomes exteerncly ection of Tule n fine soprano voices, exactly what happens, though *Toavoid such accidents, wealdhy and experienced truffle hunters Fasetso dogs, exch on a sturdy chain witha barbed spike on che tnd. When the dogs scent a truffle, che hunter rams one spike into ee ground to hold one dog in place, and then drags the other off to ne sie, before fixing i in place. Both dogs strain co reach the il, so she hunter knows to dig ac che poine where their lines of Sghicios. Poo: oe Beginning fas begun to dig, They then drag himn back from the spot, spike the Guan io the ground, and dig he trulfle up. This pus che dog very tlosto the tufle, and accidents do happen. Such trafle hunters Feyon sength, speed, prayers ro the Lady, and a solid steel codpiece, preferably with spies, ule bunters havea single dog and waie until he ‘he rule must be sored in alcohol, normally cheap brandy, 80 that the dogs can no longer snel i and all dhe tools that touched it must be mashed in de same liqaid, something smells of truffles, Truffle Hounds become exrema sec insistent in pressing theie attentions, They don'thecome dangezously violent unless they actually eat the fungus, however. ffectionate cowards ie and are Some lon ike co smear criminals in euffle and throw them eo the Truffle Hounds. There are wo ways to do this, One involves sip rubbing ce nyo actually fle lighely on the skin; che results of this are painful and deeply embacrssing but rarely fatal. The other rushing trffle onto the skin and is rmuch moze serious. Tule Hounds are notoriously ugly dogs with faces that look as though they have been dropped and pur back together by a Dy chi five-year-old. Only peasants witha license from a ROble are allowed to own them, and they must be kept ander close {ontcol at al times to stop them running into the forest and eacing all de trues P) Thule Hounds use the stasis for War Do ritcal Effect of Tr againsca male character isa unique effect ‘Adventure Event ven on WERP page 233. When they have ex not listed on the tables sruflles, any Body Anagen of datk powers throws trues to the villages ere hounds and chen opens the door ofthe kennels So, how many-of T]he adventurers are only prezending o be men? Daub isa mizture of mud, straw, and animal dung, smoothed daub wsed f sandstone, o even peasant houses look solid, bu is an ‘over the wattle ra keep ou wind and rain, T in Bretonnia dries oa warm, rich orange, the col Things aso cleanly reflec che social divide. Only che nobility nscructions, and very Few nobles = isin Beni ended cove ina soca thc was at lea TMrinvwone Gr Chapels Gee Chapter: Religion and Wealhy pean have rece stare owe brick xen Fon iby he ably mays sone asitisnoc stone and thos permite. Tey also se fie wos ees weds and ail Wire toa woven Todt stn Be i ot erecta Oe eae eo cae i Sa oe c Fe“All of Bretonnian history is prefigured and illuminated by the tales of the battles of Gilles the Unifier. What more need we know?” - LAURENT DE Parravon, HisTory SCHOLAR Breese si alendar fom the oundacion ofthe ation by Gilles le Breton, the Unificr inthe year 979 of the Imperial Calerdar, year one ofthe Bretoonian, In the following chapter, dates are given by the Bretonnian Calendar first, followed by the Imperial date in brackets. The current year is 1544 (2522 by che Imperial Calendar) BEFORE THE KINGDOM Breconnias scory begins thece and a half thousand years ago, when the Bretonni, brave and warlike horsemen, crossed the Grey Mountains and secled in the lands that would become Bretonnia, These tribes faced cencusies of constant warfare with the Greenskins who overran the lan, bus the tribes slowly ccxablished themselves, driving che Ores and Goblins back, Artemprs to penetrate the Forest of Loren were less successful leaving only a handful of survivors, all driven nad by the Fay ‘magic of the place. Within a few hundred years, che Forest of Loi was believed to be place of power outside the realm of When Sigmar Heldenhammer was unifying the eibes of the Empire, he called upon the Bretonni to join his alliance, The leaders ofthe twenty tres refused, however, disdaining 10 bbow co a foreigner. Sigmar Fougha the Greenskins without the BBretonni and forged bis Empire, The Breton were to remain feacling tribes for almose another thousand years The number of Bretonni cibes fell overtime, asthe stronger took, over the lands of weaker, and isolated tribes fll ce predations of Ores, Chaos, and Undead. In che year —208 (770), the lands of the Brevonni were divides cach controlled by a major tribe, led by its Duke. These areas form the basis for the current Dukedoms, though two, Cuileux and Glanborielle, have been absorbed into other regions. ‘Cuileus was the frst to fill, in —48 (930). A massive horde of | (Ores, led by the warlord Gragabad, poured out oF the Massif ‘Oreal and overran their lands, The horsemen of foucina last, esperar battle, and though the Greenskins fll like wheat before the seythe, there were too many, and the knights of Cuileux perished to the last man, In the wake of this disaster the armies of Quelle and Brionne rode forth and routed the weakened Ores. The evo. Breconn’ armies face! each other but had no seomach for war over the Iands of Cuileu. Instead, che two Dukes chose to duc, the winner taking Cuileux as parc of his dukedom. The | lord of Brionne was cut down, and Quenelles vas expanded, PRELUDE TO Uniry | Te destruction of Cuileux mati the beginning of the wats that culminared in the unifeation of the kingdom. In 46 (932) Baldufn, the young Duke of Brion, led his armies to viecory, defeating che hordes of Gragabad and slaying the warlord in single combac. In dhe bale, Gragubads great axe bbeeame lodged fas in Balduin’ shield, and che lord foughe the endive b adopted as the symbol of Brianne in memory ofthis event. le with the as place. Afterwards, the axe was ‘This victory did not stop the Orcs, however, and around 30 (948) the northern lands were overrun by[GeO © # (Chapter Il: History of Bretonnia is | Bestmen pouring fom the Forest of Arden and Norse riders stikng fiom the sea, The northern eribes were deiven back. imo teirsrongholds,rcuced to defending their castles whilst neies roamed across their lands ac wil In26 (952) Gilles of Bastonne, heir ofthe Duke, slew the red vm Smearghus, dep in the forest of Chilons. Though sorely wounded, he mi he beast’ severed head back to Caste Bastonne, wnere i still hangs above Gilles Gate, named inhishonout, Gilles took to wearing the dragons skin as a idpakand adopted che heast as his personal heraldry. Ip-4(974) Ore poured rom the mountains and fressin nanbes noversen before orsnce. "The Bezonnt were unable x the Daketom of Glanborile satay dso, adsl ake by Carasonne In dhe fllosng ya che Dukeof Bator was kl pling dhe rack ois ins and was sucezedd by ile ke Breton the UNIFICATION Gils gatered ie armies and led them towards Bordeleatx, Aiming ro stop the hordes of Greenskins from joining up and Fermin ingle tray that could sweep Humankind into che bczan. Thiru of Lyonesse, a friend since childhood, and Lord Landain of Mowsillon, che fines knight i history, joined hims ther ands were also under intense presuie, and chey hoped, at les, 10 de gloriously at Giles side. tocome each othe’ ai Apeliights camped under the eaves of the Forest of Chilons, whi before them the eampfives ofthe Ore horde tutmumberd the sats ofthe sky. Cilles and his companions withdrew litle way into he woods, camping in the peace beside a smal lake to plan their bac As they took counsel, the scene was suddenly bathed in a bright light, and the air filled with the scene of summer ‘meadows. A beautiil maiden, clothed in shining white and bearing a yolden cup from which light spilled like water, rose from the waters ofthe lake and stalled across them to the Iknighe, though the surface was nor matted bya single ripple and the Lady clothes were perfectly dry, (On reaching the shore, she stood before Gilles and his ‘companions. "Rite and drink, Gilles le Breton, frst King of Breonnia. Drink of honows and chivalry and ofrengdh "Gilles sood and dank. from the offered Grail, As the shining liquid touched his ips ‘weariness fll fiom his bones and his eyes began to glow with a faine light. The Lady spoke to him again, io fore in my nae, Gilles le Breton, Go forth and in shis sign conquer. "So saying, she touched bis banner, and where before the image of Smearghus had writhed, now the Ladys fair likeness gezed forth, The Lady chen turned to Gilesss ‘companions. "Rive and drink alo, Landuin and Thieralf, Companions of the Grail Drink tat you may follow your lord." The knights drank also an light suffused their bodies, whilt their weapon seemed to burn with inner fire The thre, the frst Grail Knights, rode out of che forest to rally their tops to meet ehe dawn and the horde hefore them. SON et RIGreat BATTLES Giles le Breton and his companions fought Twelve Great Bateles against the horde of enemies thar threatened ro destroy the Breeonni, The battles cook place over the course of ewo yeas, -1 t0 0 (977 c0 978) and over the whole of Bretonnta Each is the subject of more epic poems than a scholar could read ina Haman lifetime. Tue First Battie The morning after his encounter with che Lady of the Lake, Gilles le Breton led his army against the Ores besieging ordcleaux, The three Grail Companions did as much slaughter as theres oftheir army combined, and the ‘Greenskins were driven into the ocean. Lord Marcus of Bordeleaux and Lord Fredemund of Aquitaine joined Gilles with thei armies, After the vietory feast, che Lady ofthe Lake appeared in che private chamber where the lords were gathered, and Marcus and Fredemund both drank from the Grail, Mareus turned, that chamber within his castle into the firs Grail Chapel, a sice sill oF unparalleled sanediey today Tue Seconp BATTLE ‘As the Companions rode south to the relief of Brionne, chey Found their way blocked by the army ofthe bloated Ore ‘warlord Brogtar. Lord Predemund summoned a great lock of falcons, which struck the fying beasts of the Orcs fiom the sk and che Companions fougbe their way co the heart of the my, where Landuia struck the warlord down, Tue THirp BATTLE “The Companions came o Brionne to find dhe castle besieged, ‘wrapped around with countless Greenskins. The knights drove through the besiegrs from behind, catering them like chaff Lord Baldwin of Beionne silied forch with his knights, and they met Gilles in the midst of the Ore atmies. As they clasped forearms as brothers, che Lady of che Lake was suddenly beside them, and Balduin drank fom the Grail as Ores screamed and died around them, Alchough the knights were outnumbered three hundred vo one, the Orcs could not sand and were driven from the ld, Tue FourTH Battie Urged on by visions ofthe Lady, che army crossed the River [Brienne and rode ent chzough Carcasonne, towards Quenelles ‘As they code, Lord Lambard of Careasonne rllid to their Danner, buc he was nor yera Grail Companion. As dhe array Toss OF THE HoRSELORDS ¥ “The primitive Bretonni buried their lords in underground chambers, accessed through a deep vertical shaft and marked wih afew tll, standing stones, placed close roger. These lands were buried with some of thei fines treasures, and the tombs defended with taps and magic, Over the millennia, most of thei loations have been forgotten, bur the tombs survive Scions oF CUILEUX The knights of Caileus all died in their lst battle, bue some had children at home, and the arrival ofthe armies of Brionne and Quenelles meant thatthe Ores had no chance to wipe them out, Thus, descendants ofthe Ceti army stil live in Breconnis. Ie is possible thac a village has maintained a stadition of marrying only among the descendants of those knights, Rte soe Ecsta cee ee ice ofthe noble knights of Cuileus, that means that ijt oth thon sat arcal ely noble ple characte fro the vile mig ave an iter in roving his 0 he cours of Breconsia THe HEAD OF THE WYRM a4 Residents of Basconne stat co dream dat the head of Smearghus is aking co them, encouraging chem co do terrible things. Some start to hear its voice even when they ace awake, and a wave of dreadful crimes stats to sweep the row. The player characters ae fn the spor and called in to solve the problem, And then one of them stars to deeam. Tue Lake “The lake where Gilles and his companions met the Lady ofthe Lake wold be che most sacred sit in the whole of Bretonnia,ifonly people knew wh © it vas, The legend is clear is near che western end of the Forest of Chaloas, and knights have scoured thacarea repeatedly ver the las millennium and a hall, without success. Most people belive the Lady hides the lake ftom those who are noc worthy, and anyone allowed ta find the lake would have a destiny on par with that of “The few people who think thatthe failure o find the lke proves chat the legend is just that themselves or leave Breconnia. les himself 1 kcep their thoughts ro gtommeng.TBD © 7 oper t Hiswory of Besoin SEER a a ee ; sateen jer JF Tue Peritous Darr \ The ok: cha struck Gilles down, and which he dhen used to kil th wera, is said co till exist. An icem of gieat power, ic drives eyes around ies bearer to a criss, where he can, by his vin efforts, ether gaina area victory oF suffer great loss. The bolt docs hnotcare about the goals ofits holder, and chose at a great disadvancage in a struggle for which they care deeply sometimes seek it ut, emsting to the ersisto give chem a vicrory otherwise unactainable Tue BLoop MARsHES ‘The mite formed by the blood of the Greenskins sill tists in Couronne. In the recent past it was quice small, bur asthe Storm Chaos approached, ic grew, yearby year, swallowing a fer villages. Ghoses and similar Unciead are common wichin its nines, bu rumours speak of sill darker things. All agree cha there is no drinkable water to be found there. Now tliat che Sor if Chaos hasbeen broken, some people are wining eis thoughts 0 reversing che growth of the mire. Pat entered Quenelles, they saw thatthe borders ofthe Forest of | Tovrea were aflame, assaulted by the Ores. Same ofthe knighes sare afiaid eo venture chet, wary of the wrath ofthe Fay. bue Cle urged chem on, declaring that the Fay would lools kindy (on dose coming to thei aid His words seemed true as weariness fell froma the knights Tika cloak, and in che heat of bate the very tees r03e Up fo aid them, whilst the Fay themselves Bitte in and out of the Shadows, appearing briefly co strike down a hundred, nay, a thoasand Ores before vanishing once more. Linder the shadow of the tree, they mee with the army of adernd the Pure, Lord of Queneles, and a dhe ast Ores fk the Lady ofthe Cake granied all dhe defenders peaceful slp, When they awoke, their wounds and fatigue were sone and both Rademnund and Larabar shone like the other Compavions. The Lady, they said, had come to them in thet Gams, and none could gsinsay therm Tue Fier BaTTLe Riding north o Parravon, the Companions found the beauciful tisyin ruins, ax Giancs rained boulders on i fom above, Lord Agigarof Pastavon, mounted upon Glorfinial his fuihfal yg, took to tee vo the skies, whilst Goblins ofthe Severed Hand laid waste ro the city strects. The charge of Gillss army swept the Goblins before them, leaving the city dean and leu. ‘Tue Sixt Battie The Companions, now joined by Agilges, rode north to ‘Morifor, where they found that fortress besieged, Lord ‘aruucs army fought heroically, but chey were greatly ‘ouinumbered. With a war cry thar shook the very mountains, Gilles led his forces in a change, uc wes seruck down bya ‘owalybolrchrough the ches, launched by one of the Galli dishonorable machines. His Companions rallied hour him ond foughe their way through to Monefart, where they were welcomed by Marcrud. . eee Giles ay ina fever-dream, and che Companions feared forhis if, raking tome to watch over im. Ac length, the privlege wae granted to che Lords Agilgar and Martrud, ‘the newest of their nurnber, Whilst they watched, a fir maiden appeared in che room and bathed Gilles’ forehead with liquid taken from a Grail she bore. She then bade the artendant lords drink from the cup, and thus they became ‘ue Gra Knights, When the lords returned their gaze to Ciles, his eyes were ‘open, his breathing normal, and with « reat roar he pulled the bolt ftom his own chest, sprang co his feet, and led his army buck onto the field oF bacte. As soon as he passed the ates, he was assailed by'chree Wyverns, which he slew before taking, another step, one dying with the Fell bole lodged in its eye. Taking heart from dheir leader, the besieged struck our once moze, but such was the numberof chit foes chat i sll cooke week to lift the siege and drive the Goblins back inco theTHE SEVENTH BATTLE Gilles was noe content that bis enemy should fle, and gathering his army, he rook the barle to che lghrless passages Theneath che each, Those foul caverns were illuminaced by the light that shone from the Grail Knights, and che armies Fought theie way to the halls ofthe Goblin kings, slaying them and breaking the unity of the Goblin tribes for good. Turning abous, they foughe cheit way back tothe surface, emerging coveted in the back bload of their enemies, Tue EicHTH Battie [Now with ten of the Bretonni lords following his banner, G ‘unned west to Face the Greenskins despoiling Gisoreux. Joining forces with Boren, the lord of that land, Gilles faced horde containing many of the Orcs finest sharnans, who turned ther foul magic agains the Bretonni, Iewas co no avail, as the power of the Lady protected her knights, and the Companions drove Tue Barres “The Greg Bales orm che mater ofthe national epic of Brecon, and many knights ty to Wir each ofthe cel ac leas once during their period oF erantry, Once knight fetsouton the ques for the Lady of the Lake, is noc unusal for him to ind cae the events of his ques sornchow mor the events of the Great Battles, his meeting with the Lady ‘occuring on the eve of his lst and greatese struggle the enemy from che field with gear slaughter. i | { \ | | SATS [_cmpertstisoy oe tcomin FFT. Tue NintH BaTTLe “The army continued west into the lands of Mousilon. Once the fairest ofall, chey became wasted and burning as bands fof Greenskins roamed ae will Landuin’s heart was deeply grieved, for his land and people had been broughe to cuin and atthe city of Mousillon the army was met by Folgar of Artois, who brought news of an approaching horde of BBeastmen and the walking dead. The defence of Mousillan svas divided berween the Companions, and al fought with surpassing valour Gilles himself hewed che head from a drake-beast, whilse Azilgar; mounted on Glorfnial, rook the battle to the bar- swing beasts that filled the sky. Thier wrestled with and defeated a two-headed Giant. The battle ended when Landuin Inset stuck dowa che sorcerer who had raised the dead, and half ofthe opposing army fell ro the earth, ‘The Beastmen fled towards the forest, pursed by the Companions, Beren and. Folgar returned, shining, and telling of meeting a maiden with Grail jus inside the fores’s borders. Tue TENTH Battie. The vierorious lords turned north, viding chrough the ores, ‘of Arden, where no foul creatures dated to crouble the mighty host, to the ElEbuilt port of P’Anguille The grea city was besieged by Norse, attacking fiom both land and sea Lond Conduin of LAnguille cu a path through the besieger, joining forces with the Companions, bur stil dhe bate raged, as night followed day, with no sight of victory Atlength, Lord Marcus of Bordcleausx challenged the leader of the Northmen, Swengar ofthe Skaelings, to single combat, with the condition thatthe loser’ forces would withdraws Too proud to refuse, che giant warrior met Lord Marcus atop the great lighthouse, and they fought in view ofl Bretonnin, Throughout the night, the elements seemed to aid Svengar’s win hammers, but as dawn broke, Lord Marcus found renewed strength and drove the Northman back. With final blow, Mareus cut the Gian in 10, and his body fll o the rocks below. Ac the death oftheir leader, the Norses ecuened to their ships and sled away: Tue EveventH Battie Aer busi 0 Couron le night’ rest, the Companions rode eastward =, where Lord Cacrleond joined the army. Togedher they foughe an Orc horde them, the waters ofthe river running black with blood, Turning from the light surrounding the Gratl Cormpanions, he the River Ssnner, and defeated GGreenskins were cut dawn in such numbers that che earth was twined to mite by dei blood. Tue TweELery BaTTLe ‘The Companions gathered at Couronne, where news cme nul nameless creatures ‘of Chaos pouring from the Forest of Arden, As they gieded to meet ths ehzeat, another messenger brought word of ibe to them ofa hose of Beascmen, Trolls 8Upon vibe of Greenskins descending fram the Pale Sisters ‘Andas the army massed before the walls of Couronne, foul fas that walked as men erupted from within the cey, stalking th sets and hemming che Brecon’ in on all sides, As the Lords took counsel before the fight, che Lady of the Lake joined theie number. She had Lords Corduin and Caereond drink from the Gril, and at lst, the Grail Companions reached ther fall number of fourssen. Then she Lissa che army and bade them fight inher name, Fnboldened, che nights took the field, sure that none could tare sand against chem. The batle raged for week upon werk as foul creatures continued «o pour from their lars lke 4siorm re and break upon the armies of the Breconni as against cliff ‘When alst che sounds ofhatcle fll sien, the plains of Couronne were covered with the bodies ofthe slain co the hight ofa horse’ shoulder. When the bodies ofthe eneiny vere burned, the smoke fiom the pyres darkened the day While the fames brightened the night, so that for months no De cold cell he difference berween the wo. Ts were the Brewonni united and the enemy driven from the nds. In presence of the whole army, the Lady of the Like crown Gilles as che frse King of Breronnia, and che ‘eclamaton shook the very mountains. Louts THE Raso In the year 17 (995) Gilles le Breton was struck down by. ‘cowardly bolr hurled against him as he challenged the Gre warlords of the Grey Mountains, near the edge of the Fins of Loren As he died, he had a vision and told is Companions o bear him eo che shores of a nearby lake. There, a boat decked our fora funeral awaited him, and his Enighs placed their King on the bier and waeched as the boat apparencly without crew, carried him into the mists and ut ofthe world. 1 is believed that his lasts words were a prumis: “Inthe sme of Bretonnis greatest need, whew itseoms that all lupe gone, I all tur toad yo AThedeath of Giles lef the country in need of a new king but lished rules for choosing one, Some favouted ills only son, born under mysterious circumstances and nhispered 1o be che son ofthe Lady herself, Others, however, argued that Louis was young, and cha che erown should pas co one of the Grail Companions: Landuin, ‘hier and Marcus were all mooted as candidates, ‘The Great Council agreed only one who had drunk from the Gra could become King of Bretonnia, which seemed co spell theend of Louis's hopes. Instead, he immediately rose up and dated he would seek the Gril and deine from it, to prove lisright to be king. He asked the Lords Landuin, Thierlf, and Mares wo serve as regents until he reused, and when they sagged the Council was acan end, ‘Louis bold decheavion carned hin the name Louis he Rash | andes of his exploits came fiom all parts ofthe kingdom, A legend has itculted srnong Gall Knighes for mares, saying that Giles is gathering an ay toa hima hen he returns. Only nights with record of glorious deeds ca join ihe amy, but dose who do are ror 0 the il vgou and chen placed ina magical sleep wl ee ae needed. Grail Knights feeling che eet Fold age often out on aquest 0 find tei fist King and join him, and many necd protection, as their days of glory are inthe pas, and aged limbs canino longer sv lance with vigor. Le Sate In 23 (1001), Louis returned to the cower, siding a purebred charger and shining with light. None could deny he had drunk: from the Gril, and he was weleamed as King, Louis drew up the Decrees of Chivalry, formalising the code by which all the Companions had lived, and his ovn quest was the patter forthe Questing Knights of che future. Those who succeeded became Grail Knights, who, a the Grail ‘Companions died one by one, became the elite of the councry. ERRANTRY Wars ‘Young Brewonnian knights spend a period as Knights Eran secking out dangers in which to prove themselves. Only chose ‘who succeed can become Knights ofthe Realm. The King of Bretonnia can channel this custom by declaring an Eerantry ‘War, a grand eampaign chat qualifies all knightly participants forthe higher seus‘he fre such war was declared in 471 (1449), against che ~Arabyans who had invaded Bscalia, The invaders were driven back, and a second army, which heard of che victory en route, turned aside to clear Greenskins from the lands that became the Border Princes. From the time of this war, relations between Bretonnia and the Dwarfs have been good, though not nearly as close as those between Dwarfs and the Empire. ‘The Eerantry War declared in 1223 (2201) had the aim of driving all Ores from Breconnia. Whilst this goal was always impossible such was the ardour of Bretonnia’s knights that the borders of the Dukedoms grew to encompass many ‘mouncain ranges that had previously been the domain of the Greenskins In an attempt to emulace his predecessor, King Chalen declared an Errantry War in 1442 (2420) that aimed ro rid the entire world of Greenskins. So many knights left on the war that Breconnia iself was left vulnerable to Ore eas, In 1510 (2488), a mighty host of nights vanished in the Tue Fats Gratt. “The cup borne by Maldred's consoxt was not the Grail, bur ie wasan artefact of considerable power. leva lst shen Maldred, his consort, and much of the population of | Mousilon died in the Red Pox of 1322 (2300). IFic were to fall into che hands of someone unscrupulous, such asthe Black Knight currently claiming o be the rightful Duke of -Mousilon, it would be very dangerous, Death Pass, std to have been slain by the Black Ore watlord Morglum Necksnapper. The King then declared the Esranity ‘Wats ac an end, TE FALL Of MOusILLON Landuin was the greatest and purest of the Companions, bits successors were not in the same mould, and Mowsllon gained a reputation asa cutsed land, plagued by the walking dea, Jn 835 (1813) the Red Pox ravaged Bretonnia, and Skaven aid siege to Brionne and Quenelles. Duke Metovech of ‘Mousillon and his knights were unaffected by the plague and rade forth to ceive the sieges and case the Skaven back into the lars. A the victory feast, hosted in Mousillon the other lords were epulsed by the sptted and impaled criminals displayed within the hall itself, leading Merovech to dim his hospicaicy was being dishonoured. The King spake out against the Duke's cruelty, and the Dule, in turn, accused the King of uying 10 unseat him, challenging him to single combat. “The King accepted, and Merovech defeated him, rearing out his throat with his bare hands, and then drinking the King’s blood from a goblet, Hortified, che other lords rised their armies, and most of che lands of Mousillon were annexed by Tyonese In 1319 (2297), Duke Maldred of Mousillon claimed to have taken the Lady of the Lake as his wife. He and his consore appeared with a shining cup, which they sid was the gal, nd ‘many knights who felt unfairly treated flocked to their bane: As the Duke rode to Gisoreux co claim the crown, he was met by the army of the King, Malded held aloft che gral asking who dared to stand agains its bearer, ‘Whilst the opposing army stood silent, the Green Knight «emerged from the forest, and turned to challenge che Duke, At thar moment, all saw the Lady of the Lake standing beside the King, the rue Grail in her hand. The fake was revealed fo che ‘aedry thingie was, and Maldreds followers deserted him en smasse. The Duke led back to his este, bur the King deprived him ofboth tile and noble starus. Since thar time, there has been no Duke of Mousillon THE UNDEAD Bretonnia has always been plagued by the Undead. Mose recently, in 1513 (2491), the abbey of La Maisontaal was sacked by the Necromancer Heintich Kemmler and his army; and the atackers were only repelled by the efforts of Tancred, Duke of Quenelles, and his knights. However the walking dead area constanc cheat ‘The most notable Undead menace was the Red Duke. In 476 (1454), this creature cerrorised Aquitaine before being sain by the King at the Baie of Ceren Field. In 954 (1932), i rose from its grave saying the Dale of Aquitaine in bare, ‘The knights were vicorious, bur the Red Duke was not san, ‘merely driven into the Forest of Chilons, where be may exis“We have rackets’. ” - MATTHIAS VON PFEILDORF, FORMER ImreriaL Envoy To COURONNE. political systems like this in the Empire. We call them ‘protection sion Bretonnian politics o most Old Worlders and they chink of knights swearing oaths of fealty, feuds besween noble Families stretching back generations, and the pomp and cicumstance ofthe royal cours. These are certainly important fearwies of che ealm, and ies true that peasanes are ‘cluded from all formal power. However, thar exclusion does not mean peasants actually say ‘completely out of poities—nor by 2 long shot. The invisible politics of Bretonnia, che web of relations and responsibilities between Lord and peasent, are as important, tumultuous, and vicious as the showy relations berween members of the nile — Tue Feupat System — Nisin tc witin ded sen, ich poiial system that was found across the Od B_ Wot sera centuries ago. Now; Bretoania i the only land wherirremains. The feudal stem i azed on oaths of Ils etween individuals and as no abserict conception ofdestare. Whils Breronnians do chink of themselves asa baton ona par wih dhe Empie, there sno legal substance "Breonaia’ beyond “all people who ultimately ome loyalty to theKing of Breconnia and the lands that they hold | Resanrs form the foundation ofthe feudal system and are required to serve and obey the nobility. They ae tiths aspeasantsarenot thoughe 1 have che honour co | keep them. Instead, they are told thcir dacs and forced | ‘0 fll them, by violence if acess, | Nosuiry | Meoctitiysrctomna | the: by wove: thc oaths L see Tue Knicut’s Vow T pledge my service and my loyalty, body and soul, 10 ‘my Lord. When the clarion call is sounded, I wil ride ‘our and fight in the name of liege and Lady. Whilst I draw breath, the lands bequeathed unto me will remain untainted by evil Honour is all. Chivalry is all. This I swear on my Blood and my breath, { Pl ae ‘of fealty, A leser noble makes a vow roa greater, promising rnlltary service in return for sustenance Nobles ill into ranks. Many nobles Leoncocus, for example, i both King of Brewnnia and Duke of ‘Couronne, nd his ranks determined by hs higher te Kine Ar the top isthe King, The King is sovereign, which means hes not bound by the law. He can make laws ashe wishes, ss and anything he does is legal, because he does it. Ifthe ain classes, which are roughly equivalent to il Into more than one ofthe clases; Lowen | J King were corrup,Bretnnin ( serious problems | However Loucn is shining | ccxample of chivalry, as were most of his predecessors, and so the Kings power serves as 1 check on abuses by the lesser nobility, even when those abuses abide by the lester of } the law Sd aomer|Doxes Belov the King ate the Dulkes. A Bretonnian Dule has royal power within his dukedor, but he is sill subject ro che “That means a Duke acting within his own dukedom canno break the lw, nless he disobeys a direct ander from the King. himself. Unlike royal power, the power of the Duikes has been aus ‘of Mousillon to avoid having someone hold such authority in such a cozrupt ares. All Dulkes hold thei land ditetly from the King, Louen also holds the Dukedom af C the King, and thus holds it fram himslf Legal ifferent people, |, most notably in Mousillon. There is no current Duke ronne from he is evo. In theory, the King can create as many Dukes 2s he wants, though the vide is meaningless without land. In practice, ‘only the fourteen great fiefs descended from Gilles and his ‘Companions are held to he worthy ofthis satus BARONS. Pim cucu Ae land diet from the King bucarenot Dukes. They are subject to royal law and royal | caer see tees ‘or commands of any other noble including the Dukes Thus, a barony i ally independencofthekedom | Tue Peasant’s Duty sid aol havc tern Weed et protected by thy Better. Thou shale give unto thy Pe ruse the ear thehregtes Th al Petcare foc uametdine nd Gantt eet ere THlesoFnopon Gay ll b> shettthou keep for kith and kin. Rejoice! For a knight Dee eae oc in whieh its found. There are noc many barons in Breonni (Note that nobles who hold land from Louen in his capaci Dulke of Couronne are not Barons; only those who hold and From him in his capacity of King of Bretonnia have that sacus) Lorps Belov the Barons are the lords, nobles who hold land froma led other than che King. They are subject to royal lw, the dal Jaw of the dakedom where they hold land, and the laws of tht jmmediate lord. Fven the vassals of Barons are subject ra duc Tavs the baronial immunity isnot passed deven. The lords Form the overwhelming majority of the handed nobily of Breoonia Knicuts The bottom rank of che nobility are the knights. Knights hold no land and often serve nobles in return for food and lodging, Tei important to nore thac all nobles are also knights its = only those knights who bold no other tile who ae ac the ‘Titles OF bottom ofthe sie Honour rights of less importance than | those attaching tothe ides of | powes (Sn Seg0 [EV O" 7 ewnmnren J TEE A House Divipep AGaInst ITsELr "rage soon became famous for the tempestuous fights between. che husband and wife, bu it produced a 0m. The son is a truly {aoblekighr, and when his parents dic he will inkeric both ties. enone, posibly the heir himef, who may even bea player character, discovers the feud has its origins ina supernararal curse Re wo lords cannot live at peace with one another, which is why the marriage was sa violent. [Fone person becomes che lord of ‘oth fk, he will surely be driven insane. Can the player character lift the curse in time BarOniaL ADVENTURES Barons who hold lands far ftom the King often become corfups, as there i no one in che area with legal authority over chem—just “hesort of people fora brave group of adventurers to deal with. (nse other side ofthe coin uly Famous advencuresof noble bight be made Barons ofsonie particulary dangerous RN ee ee crt wt cee ncn heele Lee Toe delee Stor who ear give them orders; but the King has coo much to doo inrerfere wich chem much, ir all. SUBINFEUDATION a ‘One of che Dukes of Bretonnia holds a small fief from a mrinor noble, who in turn owes fealty to & Baron, As the liege lord of a Duke, Ef aolehara number ofpaviees cour, and the hew noble as sane towing his weight around The Duke (or one of is I eee carte ome Ce em at ease cl | lon fhe which would then revere to he Baron The player character conte upon he evience bt eae sha ii ed (Geer player character discover chat the Baron is in service to Slaanesh and has been subsly pushing his vassal to cause trouble for the Dale. os a eee be Se a See FAMILIES AND INHERITANCE nls ar ich and powerful nobles. This tse grants no extra | povers, bur ic isa sign of recognition by the King. Many earls areal Barons, but nor al Perris, Aimasquis is a noble responsible for a fief in an area subjoct Be soe de beet of hc slo, A cama ‘scloved ro gather forces and build forcifcstions without seeking permision from his superiors Eamily is very important to the nobilcy. First, unless ll your ancestors are noble, you are not a noble, This means the nobiliey are cate about whom they marry. Second, fel are inherited. Most los eannot simply deprive one of his vassals ‘of is fief or refuse to accept a deceased vassals son. The Dukes and King can da this, bt very rarely do icis one of the few things capable of uniting ll a Duke’ vassals against him. [A dead nobles property all goes to his eldest son. The noble cannot leave icto anyone else, and he cannot giveaway fe before he dics. Asa result, che other children ofthe nobilgy muse scruggle o find ther place in che world. Daughters try to marry “Acsdlan isa oble wit responsibiley fora major cals, hich usually eld by his feudal superior. Fle has full auterty over the castle and its lands unless his lord is present. asic Justicia are expert in che Tas. He has the power to enforce the ws ofthe noble who mace him a justia; the King’s Hsia ave che realm enforcing rayal law. Taladins are senowned warriors and war-leeders. This ttle fea pure mater of honour, though many paladine are given langeous land and male marquises to pat theie talents co “pole his, while younger sons might ery ro carve our their own fiefs by strength of ars or even marry rich peasants, cading the obi of thee children for the comfor of riches. The younger children ofthe nobility chus make good player characters, Noble women cannot become knights (unless they pretend © bbe men; see Chapter I). The eldest daughter ofa noble with no sans does, however, inhere his fief. She is the lord of those Fels, buc she canna enforce che lor’ rights herself. Instead her husband must do chs on her behalf: When the lady dies, her titles pass coher eldest son, as do her husband's on his each. IFthe husband dies fist, which is nor uncommon, the eldest son tazes on the husband’ role as defender of his ‘mocher’ rights bue he does noe actually become the lord unl hs mother dies.DP (GR eiresss ae by far dhe most popular noble brides, as they substantially strengchen a family. They are also rare and ‘sometimes have their own ideas about whom they would like to marty: Marriages co noble daughters wich no inheritance are ‘cqually political, expressing alliances between ewo fails. In ‘those cases, the eldest daughter is mose valuable: IFher brochets dl before her father, and her father dies before she does, she bbecomes che heir. Nobles who are relying on such an event may try to help it along. Marriages normally take place beeween equals, However, nobles ‘may albo granca part of their fiefs co other nobles, in tecucn for those knights services. This is subinfeudation, and it is central ‘the systems in cheory, the King subinfeudates the whole country. A noble may also inerease his power by pectioning a lord co grant him a fit: Asa lord cannot simply claim a fet back: once he has granted i, such grants are rare “There is no law that says thara noble may only have one lord, Some have several. The extreme is Baron Marsaq, who hholds land from the King, che Dukes of Aquitaine, Bastonne, Bordeleaus, and Quenelles, and three other lesser nobles He isa greater noble chan the final tree, despite being their vassal for some lands, Such situations are difficleifconflces arise between a noble’ lords and the Barons Marsag have a reputation as diplomats chac has been buile up over several generations Courts ‘Acourt centres around a noble lord, The aim of the courtiers isto convince the lord to Favour them with wealth, power, cor lands, A few courtiers have emticely aeristic aims, but those are rare exceptions, Mose ofthe ealy noble knight Breconnia stay out of court as much as they can, relying on their fiefs to support thei acts of chivaly All members of court are of lower rank than the centtal noble, which means courts are larger the more powerful the noble is himself, Anyone petitioning the lord for a favour becomes pare ofthe court, so at lower levels the court includes peasants, However, peasants never became courtiers, individuals who spend their ives in the court, fighting, for che lord’ favour. ‘Courtiers fll into three main classes. Fist, chere are the landed vasils of che lord in question. These nobles can often get away FaRABUS, FOOTMAN OF THE STOOL ¢ ‘The Footman of the Sool is responsible for acendin, the King whl ansyers hel of nate and emprying he chamber pot [_ cmttnicntnnkum PST [ar ‘with ignoring the court, a they are secure in their ff but ‘many stil find it useful to be aware of their lords plans and personality. Second, there are the household knights ofthe lord. The knights have a definite fincrion, and ifchey are good avis, chey are unlikely to be dismissed on the bass of rumout, (On the other hand, their positions are not secure, and many of them spend a lot of time manoeuvring to be granted a fic Finally, chere are the younger siblings of nobles associared with the court, generally its leader and his vassals, These courtiers have no position beyond the simple favour ofthe lord, and it ishere thar the politics get mose vicious, tending a faras sssasination, The courts ofa corrupt lord ae as dangetous 2s an Orchold, and even a paragon of vite can find his court ‘wisted by evil, but subtle, advisers. Adventurers can ei find themselves caught up inthe schemes of such peopl Tue Royat Court ‘The court of King Louen Leoncoeur sits in Couronne in the winter months, In che surames, che nobles disperse 0 their ffs fr to wage war. By long custom, the King speaks only to nobles and rarely co nobles of less than baronial rank, All ofthe King” personal servants are Barons, powerful due to chit constant access to the King, The only time the King speaks to a peasine is when raising one to the ranks ofthe nobilgy. King Louen is devored 10 his country, and ha decated he is willing to hear of abuses an injustices commitced by any of | his subjects, no marter how powerful. Peasants who can find Aanoble, no mater how lowly, co plead their case can appeal directly to che King. Sail, the King has limited time, and ‘here are more abuses than he could hear, much fess rectify. ‘Convincing che courtiers thac a parteular petition should be beard would be a worthy adventure. Happily, ithe King hears a case, he always judges justly. Some say the Lady of the Lake inspires him dtecty with wisdom, ARMY Bretonnia does not have an army, That i, there are no soldiers serving a career as paid warriors inthe service of che state, Instead, it relies on the Feudal service ofits knights. ‘When a lon must cake the field againse an enemy, he summons his vassals co provide cher military service. They, in turn, sumnon their vassals, and mest lords bring peasant men- afterwards. Asa el, thisposition ts always held by a Baron the King cuss implicily, and asc guarantee acess othe King several times per day the Footman ofthe Stools a powerful courtier. Farabus was a brave Grll Knight, uncil his lf eg was crushed by a Daemon that died under his sword. ‘The King granted him his «trent postion as compensation, and Farabus serves loyaly. The Baron fully appreciates the importance of his jo, bat recent she jokes that always circulate around the court have begun to grate on him, He does not want to leave his job, bat he does wane ‘teach the jokers a leson, ov pmos) (B® Zi ‘Ctaprer II: Rolie & Foreign Relations ks Tr fam and bowmen tothe fight. These atmies do not erin together and normally do not even havea central chain of sommand, but Breonnian military tactics ae suficiently ‘imple and uniform char dhey can work together well enough revethles. he feudal e's main weakness comes long campaigns ends and knights muse return to their ifs to serve as rulers or ‘ofr ther own homes, and most lords can only hold the ley together for 40 days, OF course, things are diferene i thelonds ow lands under attack in te fist place When an importan place, such asa mountain pass or the route taGoblin stronghold, needs defending, the King or a Dulce punts fein char place to a powerful warrior and makes Tin Marquis. The lord is chen responsible for constructing Foneacions, raising troops, and desing with the menace. This sveis nel for the ise generation, but the ise Marquis’ hei i ‘at aivays up tothe job jome even reso co calling om base- nm adventure: for help Fiuly che King, and only the King, can declare an Erranery War which summons most knights to fight and prove the utc. Enantey Wars are deale with at more length in Chapter Fight Knighthood, Civin STRIFE Tieton is noe an entvely peaceful land, quite apace fiom the assis unched by che Orcs of the mountains and the beasts athe forts Batces berween nobles aso disturb the land Nalles who wish co do so may sectle cercan kinds of dispute by fore of arms rather chan in court of law. They may not resort to wat against cheir feudal superiors or against anyone ih lel authoriy over them, but such opponents are poeta coo strong to fight anyway: There ar thre recognised justifications for war, The first is thesseovery ofands colen by che other noble, The second is thedescuction of notorious titors whilst the Ibeapected to rake action, any noble i allowed to do so. The Fim usicacion is an injury done to the honous ofthe noble's ' lord fel. Seming Chaos or allying with Greenskins is regarded os Teton, and euch a may asus. Theft ofland has no time limit attached, and. ifenauackis succesful, the visim can always claim thar ot gathering allies honour, allows 2 ons have served as an excuse for lord akon was stolen, and counterattack a Ths final justication, | nbleta declare fs, and chis has actual tbyeneae into feuds lasing generations, with the acts Sil providing the other with all the excuses needs for wat jury to he fay seated in dhe wrong place at sappened. Sometimes such wars over bein each G) Teter ofteronnian nobles only ws this righe wo move gins lols who are clearly traitors, and gathering the {idence to convince them is often a job for adventurers, Less B Sexpuleus lords can aso create work for adventurers when ‘ninnocent noble needs help defending himself from an tethering neighbour MERCHANTS AND TRADE Merchants occupy an anomalous place in Bretonnian society. Almost all ofthem are peasans, a8 very few nobles deign 0 sully their hands wich cade, Suoeessfal merchants are ofen far wealthier than the nobles they serve, however. Trade is vial to Breconnia, both moving goods around within the country and drawing in foreign goods, primarily in recurn for Bretonnian wine. So, con serious problems fr the nobility. ed action by the merchant castes could cause [As peasants, merchants are bound by the same laws as other ould be forced to hand most of their income over to thei lords. In prac peasants. In cheory th that Breconnian ‘mind, and whilst catches much of what cralismen produce, almost all of e, the wa law defines income was defined with agriele a merchant’ profits are invisible because a merchane does nor actually make anything. Bretonnian conservatism and subtle, bbucitense, mercantile lobbying has kept things this way. ne of the cew nobles have worked out shat they actully Imposed on most peasants would destroy almost any trading get more in bribes than they would from the eases, as th All merchanes recognise the need to keep the nobility seet, leading co a constan steam of g as humble acknowledgements ofthe noble’ great supecioicy and are always lavish, high-quality items, such as gold plates ot fur-lined, embroidered robes. IFthe noble is poor and more in need of to buy the gift hack for cash, This purchase, of course, takes place without any fanfare, A merchant living in the Dukedom s. These gifts are presented reat, and firewood, the merchant acranges C = ss Al 3 TAeeaoR eg]of Quenells is reputed to have given the lord of hs village the their Favour. Thus, here are many clubs of merchants, most same golden chalice every festival fr che lat ten years, buying functioning as guilds in all but name. it back the following day and sustaining the lord despite she general poxerty ofthe village allows the merchant to operate ashe wishes A rppical club requires ies members to rade with each other ustion. In reeu, the lord fn favourable terms and with outsiders om teem that male ic all but impossible for them to turn a profi. Many ty to get Most merchants rely entirely on gifs, br all bur che poorest a monopoly on trade within & town, city, or dukedom others hhave to hire guards co protect their shipments and warehouses. try o comer the market in a particular kind of goods. Irs The guards of che richese merchants farm priva armies, which cutthroat cade practice in is purest form, can be turned against nobles who threaten chem with violence, OF cour Because the guild have no legal standing, they cannot use dhe lave to-make other merchants obey chee eles. As a result, they use violence and intimidation. The nobility care very ile, on the merchanes have to ensate other nobles sty Df the fight, as they could not win a hale against the whale of Bretonnia, Such conics are rare, but the combination of gifts ann guns means that che wealthiest merchants are effectively above th lasso long as they do not threaten to upset the social order, the distinction benween these clubs and organised crime Is ofien subrle, buc cis there. The merchants are primatily concerned with legal trade and se thuggery to dissuade competitors, whilst criminals use thuggery to get money out ‘of use about anyone, Stil, groups ean exoss the line in boch the whole, about violence directed at peasanes, as long as it does nor get completely out of hand, Mose merchants respect those limits, knowing social anarchy would be bad for trade, Some do seek to better their position within sociery through eloser alliances with the nobility, The ‘younger children of poorer nobles are sometimes willing to marry into a wealthy merchant family, trading social position eae for wealth. The merchane familys chen expected to suppore In addition, there i no law to say which cub has jurisdiction their noble eaves financially, while the nobles provide legal ina paccular area This leads to hates for conto, fought aad polccal suppor for the merchants, chrongh intimidation, bribery ofjadges, sabotage, arson, and murder. The tomn of Daron in Lyonese was ching Mercuant Cups port nti the uate wae benscen the Golden Feathers ad the Three Tans reduced all important businesses to ash. Now, the population has rumed to crime fora living, under the Teadership ofthe Three Feathers syndicate There are no formal merchane gailds in Bretonnis. The law does not recognise such gatherings of peasants as having any legal weight tall. The aw does not, however, stop merchants getting together and attempting to organise trade ro work in Important merchant clubs include the Following,‘Brxhren of the Lighthouse “Ore ofthe oles: clubs in che country, with over three Tetures of verifable history, this group has a monopoly tatralewihin the city of CAnguille. Bretonnia's wealthiest ieichane family, che Fitagodtics, are members of this dab, ‘arerhnee ofthe next five wealthiest, "The Brethren watched "ons in Mavienburg with great interest and are looking for an ‘opjosutiey 9 make a similar move. The Rooster and Kertle Digna gahering of pry peddlers, chis group organs Haig igh for its members in most cites of the kingdom, Jena for minor payments. Recenly, the group has tan co “npotng frearms, primarily from the Empire but with some ‘iso’ DwarFmake. ts wealth and influence i growing, even Hagh the nobility refine to use Reearms, branding them “un Ghnlious” Members of the group are thus finding themselves “wihanear- monopoly on ch use of fresrms and have recently sine ying co enforce that. Some nobles have nosicad and arching word I ie Li Hine ia the nesers Duchies, pariclaly near che coast, this ‘goip cafes in lice substances and slaves. Dark rumours la abou the nacre ofits eadership, but those spreading Sach rumours tend ro cur up dead. Those waders who work ic hve fon iets as pharmacists or as hiring agencies $e tcmporaryIebour and do bot jobs extremely wel Thais Hut, shir monopoly is brutally enforced fons c join ths group, you must have a least one noble Posior inthe Ise wo generations, and starus is determined ther asthe groups aim is simply to get merchants into the iy. Many merchants believe that this is Farle and thus away, even if they have dhe necessary ancesty. machanss are officially excluded from politics, run-of-he- peasant are even mote so, They cannot afford to offer sive gilts to the nobility, nor do they have private atm. Thmost ass, peasancs primary concern is growing enough dio fed his Family Bie ocean pleats have no involvement with polis a rsnsoppreed by chee lord or his blll ar not fxn n Breton, and they sometimes ry ro appeal Rexblp i hirplight. An individual peasanc would never Bshal by anobleman, sa these appeals are conducted a ol representing che whole vile Some lords reat spss atempred rebllion and hang he ringleaders PDhepessos hs ry to orgavise themselves to avoid picking Bjne out ingle. This migheimvave recng her in perfect unison (ater hours of practice), slowly { } Marryinc TRADE A baronial family and a merchanc family have beet iIntermarrying for several generations, the baronial line dravsing its noble consorts ftom among the Barons vaseals. The rwo inbred families now have absoluce control of the barony at all” levels, and terible ramouts have stated 1 elrculare Avery westhy meschane fly hes arid into many noble files over the ls five geerstions. Indeed, the cute hed ‘of the family only has five ancestors who are nor nobles each, ‘merchant in the male linc marie a noblevoman, Now he ‘would like posdhumous declarations of nobly or all of ch, ‘making him and all his descendants noble, and creating a noble merchant. Many nobles are opposed to sacha change, but the merchanc is prepared co useall his esoent achiev this. “The player characters get to know the wife of minor sable She ithe daughter of wealthy merchant house and badly tected hy her hsband, who san aroganesnab, Whilst he table ha five elder rors wher he marti ear of shen have now died in bare, ming him a pos hei. He cannot inerc whilst marred to «pean a is hldeen would noc benoble and he ean only remarcy fhe wife dis, She begins a bec ‘walking in a ring in front of the noble, so that no one is at the front, oF finding a naive outsider, such as a good-hearted adverturer, to serve as a lightning rod. The techniques are never completely effective, asa lord determined ro hang someone to restore order ean just choose at random. Asa result, peasantry eo avoid involving che nobility in dlisputesas mach as possible. This might seem difica, but problems for peasants are oly ae caused by the lore ‘penonlly coming o the village and beating people up, Most, fen, che problems result fom confit with other villages, atvuses by bli, or excessive exes being demanded on a poor haves Conflicts berween villages arse over many matcers, but rights to use common resources, such ak grazing land, rivers, fr Fores are by Far the mose common. Each village in the dlispute chooses an ambassador who mess the ambassadors from che other side ata neural location, often a deserted area half way beeween the villages, 19 work our a compromise. The ambassadors then have ro convince thei village to agree. ‘When the sides cannot agree iti traditional eo resolve matters with 2 formal combat. The two villages agree on what victory will mean for exch side and then agree on a place and time for the combat. The number of combatants, weapons allowed, and ‘he conditions for victory are also decided at this point. Fights to the death are rate, a the deaths might have to be explained ‘0 che lord, Most villages respect the results of such corbaes because the alternative is geting the nobility involved, Comrupe bailiffs are more of a problem because only the lord can remove them. Villagers may negotiate diretly with theWik blifif that seems likely co succeed, but that is unusual ‘Normally chey try co make the bali seem corrupt. This involves hiding goods fron him when he does the tax assessment and then planting the “excess tax” in the bails house. Particularly bold peasants may appear before ther lord than im for the protection leading to the large harvest, which will make him wonder why the axes are so low, Ofcourse, most baiifs are aware of cis strategy, so the manoeuvring between the bail and villagers can get very claborate, Many bali choose to reach an accommodation ‘with the villagers, defrauding che lord and splictng the profits swhilse presenting « united front. This can get very messy ifthe ford finds out Excessive taxes present the most problems. Eyen if che bailiffs ‘on the side of the villages, they simply cannot hand over that ‘much without starving, Ifan appeal to the good nature ofthe lord is out ofthe question, the villagers resort co having the taxes “stolen by outlaws” as they make their way 10 the lord ‘Mos lords pursue the oucaws, rather than demanding that tbe village make up che difference. One result of these practices, and ofthe existence of village cousts (se Chapter IV), is that many lords believe there ate no problems among their peasants, and tha they cruly liv idylie lives, without the sorts of eoubles charac che nobility ‘Thus, even those nobles who are inclined to help the peasans| rarely feel ehac there is any need, Peasant UPrisiNcs From time to time, the peasants rise in revoke. These uprisings almost always surprise the nobility because the peasants bave hidden the problems until ehey became unbearable. Thus, ‘most nobles believe che revolts ae inspired by greed or base ingratitude, and even the Vitwous anes have no hesitation in using Force to put them down. No peasant uprising has ever succeeded because all the nobles help w put ic down. They ‘cannot countenance such a threat to heir authority. By far the most common cause of an uprising is insupportable taxes, Ifthe taxes demanded by a lord condemn the peasants to starvation, they have nothing to lose by rising in rele Indeed, given the Breconnian attitude, dying in bare is bercer chan dying of starvation, so even ifchey lose, their These uprisings are brutally suppressed; ing peasants are executed. As a result, the condition improv many ofthe surv Food scores are often sufficient co support the survivors The next most common cause is manipulation by odher nobles. Peasant revolts never succeed, bur they do distract noble and draw his forcs away, making an awackeby another noble more likely to suceeed, Some nobles simply promise beter conditions once they have taken over 2 small number even keep that promise. Others rly on manipulating heir enemy into demanding excessive tes or sabotage the haryet co male nozina ‘nes unbearable, so that the peasant se on their own account. Foreign agitators and revolutionary sentiment are often blamed for uprisings, bu in eruth, they are harly ever responsible, Foreign powers that wish to weaken Bretonnia have more| plea agiators ane jus rare Byfar the most dangerous uprisings ate those inspired by theRuinons Powers. Pesants with mutations —or worse, © suppoted by Beastmen—can pose a serious threat even tothe Iaighs of Brconnia Such uprisings were briefly common Aang the Storm of Chaos, whilet much of che faver of Brennan chivalry was in the Empire fighting Archaon's homdes. The recurning knights have enthusiastically joined in stamping these out, and the ew pockets of corruption that remain are stall and isolated, In normal times, the Ruinous Powers often find the subjects ‘of brutal nables to be the most receptive tothe lures of Chaos. “This ean cause problems for adventurers who have taken up che cause of oppressed peasanes, only to learn that they are allied swith the forces of Chaos. — Barronnians ABROAD — prensa orden ih ot ations of he Olt Wonk caning it must find some way to live with them, Borper PRINCES Mp father’s father’s father was a Knight Errent of Breionnia. Our family upholds the honour of true nobiiy, unlike some her. —Lonn Basroxo oF Rusiwaren, Bonoen, PRINCE Many ofthe Border Princes are descended from Bretonnian lights who foughe in King Chavlen’s Ersancey War against che Greenskins a war that lasted 68 years and ended only 34 years 2p, These knights did not leave in disgrace, and some sill owe felly 1 nobles back in Breconnia, chough given the barrier of The Vales, this is almose purely notional "The Breonaian Border Princes rend ta see themselves at Brconian and as maincaining honour, as opposed to the apporis who make up the other petty princedoms. This hus made Bretonnians in general unpopular with all che other fnhabians of che region, Tue Empire They eat live frogs, make beer that tastes as if it’s been run once already, and ponee about on horses rather than using guns. Sil, the wine is good. Thomas oF HatGakr, MERCENARY nonnasrelaions with the Ernpie ate the most important an curently better thaa they have been for decades. King Toven Leoncoeus declared an Errantry War co assist the Enpiragtinst dhe hordes of Archaon, and the Emperor is sil tll However thet nations have very different personalities, and ‘heEnmpine’s greater age leads i 0 look down on Bretonnia, In “eum, the Bretonnians can sce litle nobility in the Empire, ‘yenamong those who claim ra he noble Estania Look down on their lack of technique if you must, but - alance of Bretonnian knights is sit a formidable force ‘nthe field of baste, Their matters of honour do Zet cut 0f hind, tough. —Dieso Cortez ¥ Mananpa, Distro Bretonnias border with the Fsallan kingdom of Bilball ia ‘mete tive. The consequence is that there i almost as much traffic with Estaliaas wich the Empire, despite the Empire’ far greater size, Relations with Bibali are good, and Bretonnian nobles recognise Bilbalian nobles as pees. Asa result, relations with Magritea are generally bad, and most Bretonnians regard the southern kingdom as composed entirely of peasais [Breconnian knights snd Bstalisn duellsts have very lide understanding of one another’ fighting styles, and this Incompechension i responsible for mach ofthe tension beeween the nations TILEA Puffed up snobs relying purely on the achievements of, thar fathers! What have they done? Nothing! And they call mea peasont! Ricanvo oF TRANTIO, MERCHANT: The Tileans have rematkably Few dealings with Bretonnia Bretonnians never hire mercenaries (offically), and merchants hhave such low starus inthe country that Tileans prefer 0 trade with the Bretonnians who come to them, Axa resul, stereotypes and prejudice are rife. To the Tileans, Brewonaans are either stupid nobles who need to be told which end of heir horse to fice, or they'7e peasants so blighted as ra be barely Human. To the Bretonnians, Tleans areal either thieves posing as merchants or murderers selling their services to the baighest bidder whilst claiming to be warriors. THE WASTELAND Why swop an Emperor for a King? —MARIENBURGER SAYING ‘The Bretonnans would like to incoeporste The Wasteland into thei kingdom, along ae they can do so without ofending the [Empire The boundary been che Marches of Couronne and the Wasteland sill define, and Adabert, Marquis of Couronne, would deal lke to add Matinbua this realm and petition for the status of a Dukedom. Dukes Foleatd of Montfort and Hagen of Gisorca also cst acquisitive eyes norchneards, hough the Grey Mountains make any conquest harder foc them. “The Marienburgers are aware ofthese ambitions and normally phy the Empire and Breconnia against one another, The ‘weakened state of che Empire has led them to strengthen their ‘own forces, mainly by hiring Tilean mercenaries,“There’s one law for the nobles, another for the rich, and another Sor the poor. We don’t bother learning the last because the poor cannot pay us.” - Lous CHAMIGNON (NEE Louise), L’ANGUILLE LAWYER reconnia isa land with many las, The les of chivalry bind the nobiey whilst the laws of earth bind the peasants, The notion that all people should be equal before the law i as alien to the Bretonnian mind as the notion that they should bbe equal in any other way. Laws, courts, and punishment all reflect these differences — Laws or Cuivatry — Yae nables of Bretonnia are, for the most part, subject to faws ofch they are declared by the authority ofthe King Peasants are not subject to chese laws, and there are some activities forbidden 0 nobles chat are permitted co peasants yy—also known as “royal laws” because In most eases, an action is only an offence under the laws of | chivalry i the vietim isa noble or foreigner. Peasants area differene mater. A noble has a legal duty to proveet, guide, and Judge the peasants under his rule, but quite a lt is permirced under the guise of "instilling proper respect fr the nobility. and x y few nobles bother to investigate reports oF abuses, A noble who acts against another lod’ peasants is commiesing a crime against chat noble but not against the peasants who an the actual vitims, The royal laws forbid all standard crimes, such as theft, assaul, and murder. Violence within the context of legitimate _sievance is permicted, however. The laws also forbid actions Lunbecoming to a noble, such as engaging in a trade The courts of chivalry are elaborate events, closely defined by Jaw. A court must be convened by the liege lord of the accused ‘or by someone higher inthe direct chain of fealty. The King, therefore, can convene a court to try any noble, The coure must bbe publicly proclaimed three rimes on separate days, no more than two weeks before and no later than the day befote, The convening lord sits asa judge, and seven ether nobles of rank atleast equal to the accused si asa jury The accused must appear before the court in person or provide a good excuse. The judge decides whether to admic an excuse: if he does, he dissolves the court and sets date for ic to reconvene. [Fhe does nor, the ease proceeds without the accused. The accused makes arguments in his defence, and he accusers make ther case. The judge then sleeps on the case, and the coure gathers the next motning ta hear the verdict. The judge decides on guile or innocence and chen passes sentencing to the jury. A jury that dis impose alight sentence, bu acquittal ees witha guilty verdict may ic has no authority to overturn an ‘Most sentences are symbolic; nobles are never subjected to Imprisonment or corporal punishment. Fine ae possble, but very rare, and mostly take the form of compensation. A noble who killed five ofanother nobles servants in a drunken rage might be equired to pay the coss of raining replace for example. Common sentences inchude public apologies, specific services tothe victim, particular limits on behavious, ‘or imposed quests of valour. In exteme cases, a court may. petition the King to strip the nable in question of bis fe, or even of his nobility, Louen Leoncoeus insists on heating such ‘cases again in person, though calir Kings ofien imposed the punishment on the say-s0 ofthe lower cousVE Me he Tiselar hac che system rcies almost enticely on the integrity sfthejudge, A noble with a corrupe, or carsuptbl, lord can ge 3 vith almost any atrocity: Similarly, corrupt lords can use The cour to hound vassals who da not show proper respect. The jin lacs place some limits on this; lords who abuise the courts inthis ay find that dhe juy imposes penal fight ow es such assay sorry (On th oer ban, juries can impose fantasially dangerous {ess of lout with conditions attached that make i all but {erin that the acensed will dein che process. Ata lessee ler, quests to distant Lands chat will rake years to fUl6l are itty sentences of exile Anoble who refses ro honour che judgement of the court Tisomesan osthww, He remains. noble, but he is not protected Tj fckaw, even againse his own peasants. [ts no crime to TlBin. Ashe remains a noble, his children and descendants ‘eta oables; there are ew noble families withou an ouclaw Sonvevhere in their Family cree ple yornen are also subject to the courts of chivalry and may Hessgna the same penalties as men. A ques of valour assigned foayoman isa deach sentence a few noble women have Frame ourhiws.sa result, Noble women caughe pretending to Be ics are generally assigned quest of valout, As these women Tixewapons and tsining, they occasionally succeed but face Ixpatel enurtcaes until they start behaving lke proper women: p Sample Noble Sentences "Appea ifore the Baron of Fellone wearing noshing but wohl ad apolgie thre times whale ying fu down onthe ground.” Ride ina carviage when tavelling for the nex three ‘mont Rding in a carriage of some sort isa common fetalgssa Bretonnian nables never do so voluntarily) “Frase tothe Vents, and bill ee Ove warlord Bolan, wearing wo armour and carrying no weapon trea ie bf. "(An effective death sentence.) — Peasant Law — Spas si ev cco: itera formal lays ensctd by the nobility, These require peasants 10 obey ihe nobly: hand over lage amoures of axes, and refrain fiom Ishaviour that might damage dhe interests ofthe nobility: Theft flow ocier peasants is nor necessarily illegal nora eercin ansoune of brawling Fal cores for peasancs ae very simple, The peasane is Tigh ble his lord, who hears the circumstances of the Tae He may allow the peasant co speak in his defence, ot Hhemiy no. He then pronounces judgement and sentence. Sexenes are normally corporal punishment of some sort {posite inthe socks, flogging, torture, mutilation (the loss If abody part, such as an ea, eye, hand, of leg), oF death Eprisonment costs the lord money and thus is avoided, lst most peasants have no money to pay fines. Lords may Sxpes-any penalty they choose fr any crime. A lord might =6So 47 « | Fee SREE|AY TARE [[_ Ospes V: tows josice LH ES decide on a light flogging for murdering another peasant whilst imposing torcure and death by starvation ina gibbet for being insuficiendy police toa noble Obviously, formal justice for peasants is entizely dependent on the good will ofthe lord. In those fiefs where the lond is both ‘vise and well intentioned, che sytem works well. In others, it isa mere instrument of oppzession, Because of these inadequacies, most pessants try to deal with Anata, Eula f {Imperial Less Growth) \ Brew Mont t Chill Month GiieoTiae {lnperial Ube") B King’ Sleep pois Wesld Sal) ‘Winer Sosice ore Wishing ‘Note: Sacred days with no Month entry do noe fll Zh the monchs, but rather berween ther. ‘The children ae normally aken as babies, before chey have learned to talk The Bay may strike at any time, but no one ever sees them ‘come oF gp Sometimes that child is taken from the bed she shares with her mother; other children vanish for the cb wis the ‘mother has her back sured, No matteehow much chey ry 0 steal chemseles, this isa devastating blow for che paren. Chilésen re noc pared unc eh can lwo avoid naming eee ericel absences eed patents wait uni he cid has named both of hem (char, said both “mama” and “papa”), but in some a child is nor named Before speaking sentence. The fist com occasionally res | BRETONNIAN CHARACTERS AND Macic ‘Most Bretonniais with the potetial to lam arcane magic |.) (Hedge Magic and the Wizaad carers) are taken by the Fy. } Normal Bretonnian charscsers can Reve lear arcane magic: A | character who was hidden and raised\in the wilderness may, as |, may onewho was rise abroad, or who had their dllsoen in their youth (see Protecting Children, below). Le paresSay Vege I Chapter V: Religion and Custom AP Fs [eA Tue SToren Dorts | tp recone years some children dlls ave been taken Gee | Protecting Children, below). Thse thls have octure | shroughout Bretonnia. Despite thorough investigations, ny | ‘mundane thieves have been discovered, so iis believed thatthe | Fay cook them. The biggest questionlis why? The first ofthe | children are now reaching adulthood, and a emarkably la number of them are showing a desite for adventure. eae in babies being taken after they tre named, bu mose parents want to give ther chien a name by thar point | PROTECTING CHILDREN Some paren, desperate to keep their children, try to hide chem from che Fay. This is highly illegal. Ifthe ruse is discovered, che ) child is presented to che Damsels, it has power iis taken, fit doesnot, iis executed before che eyes of is parents, Some ofthe /AHE think about noehing Bur money” 2 ANGUILLE PEASANT i “Af you see the same few people every day for Jears, you DileTaubere asa sailorin stop beiewng thar anyone else exis, and you realy Fisyou buchas neither set shink thatthe sie of your cow isa measure of your Jes er since erurning ge Aira: Tahislas voyage. He has “They wane 10 be more Marienburg than we ar. I hear oxspokenofhiseasons to that some ofthe merchants even want to dom the Sannex avo so they can have their own swamp.” Sec bis cura, Dake — MsKENBURG sr0R ue ee re secur | both co the cost of keeping up the lighthouse and the jena eel mn pn de Bethan | psi | “Nigh fing’ suicidally dangerous, with litle SIGNIFICANT |) “Pv ardPaure wo things tha every diferent 7 owve stot bres ia? TFPI ‘Casrellan would complain to the Due, but any response would come through the steward: Godemar Fiexgodric, head of the Brethren, ‘Grasgar Castle __ Grasgar Castle isthe current hhome of Duke Taubert and the newest large castle in Bretonnia, Fifteen years ago, iewas a modest hunting lodge, defended by a moat and wooden paliside. Now there isa grand keep, over fone hundred feet 0 the top ofits towers, surrounded by 4 moat and curtain wall and construction work continues ‘on asecond, even hrges, ‘curtain wall. This castle is being built s¢.a secure hase for Even now, there ate typically ffiy knights and several hundred men-at-arms present, bur the barracks laid out, chough nor yer begun, could house twenty ‘imes that number. However, Duke Taubere does nor hhave a thousand lanighes ‘ho owe him fealey and would have trouble easing fen thousand men-at-arms, ‘The Duke refuses to talk about the purpose of the caste, buras he continues his actions against the Beastmen, most people think that they can guess. King Louen Leoncoeur is keeping a close eye tn developments, but has not yet fle the need (0 stop work tn che fortress, Duke Tanbert certainly shows no signs of disloyaleyfechant (ex‘Traderman) ws [ns |s [or [ag | tne Fal 2996 | 26% | 2794 389% 36%) a | w | se [me [ wl2[4[4[of[ol]o Skills: Animal Care, Common Knovledge {Beetomnia): Drive, Eyaluate -10%, Gossip, Hagale +100, Perception, Read! Wie, Secret Language (Guild Tongue), Spea Lay (Breton), Tiade (Merchans, Viowoet) Taleats: Dealmaker, Savsy Special Rules Marperic g 4.410% on all Common Krorledge onnia} Tests ehat deal with his home dukedom of LAnggille Amoui Armour Head 0, Ams 0, Body 0. Legs 0 Weapons: Hand weapon (share sw Trappingst Town House, Wacthouse, 2,000 gin rade goods 500 goin coin. The Dragonis Maw isan area of the LAnguille coast day’ ll from the border with Lyonesse, Dozens of sharp rocks ise Kom the water and the tides and currents aise a conseant pray on them, so that they look like teeth wreathed in smoke, This ial the area most often hit by storms, with a¢ least one major toon surking every week. Sailors believe entering the area i certain leah, but they have no superstitions the narurl eacures ate quite dangerous enough However, raders have novied that people travelling by land within a few miles ofthe ares also disappear. Indeed, no reliable has scen the area ata for over three ye 0s who have gone co look have not come back. ‘The Dake wil do ast, and the local lord i (now) 3 ten nothing, os ie son she year-old boy. He will offer almost anything to adventarer wie Ce es Exampte L’ANGUILLEN Marperic D’Abenne merchane in th ce of LAnguille, Unil very recenely he kept a shop selling wine Marperic D'Abenne is an up-and-com and brandy and oversaw the proshction of some wine himself His shop sold homes of hi ly high-quality drinks for consumption in he scomers, and Marperic is very insistent that be Marperic’s clients ended co be wealthy, anda few veut ag, he started selling ocher goods he thought they might findChapter VI: A Tour of Bretonnia Ineesing, This side of his business did well, and he started to is noticeable it doesnot hinder him, and he normally forgets syethe wealth and privileges of che Brecheen of the Lighthouse. the fact. Bite cece ld Be sop ae reed ch Frain tale goods which hehopsosclacassivencsl ATYVENTURE SEEDS i Be sancisaoe tis Marpicdneanecinte o(Ece*Anguif(etews of Misa ial te ye slooking eaten adie ad rer eicinn eae aet aerara ee citer them Rien a ae Be ete aca icange fhidoatatieetcges oe A group of agieators takes up the merchants’ cause and sats rousing the people of both city and countryside with talk of 4 ice nation where all honest men have sty in government. The nobility take a very dim view ofthis, hanging any agitators they earch. The merchants ate 0 happier hey wane a fice Bcprsene, Maperic is something very rare: a potential county with them in charge, nora bunch of smelly peasants Jaton for adveneurers who is exaely whac he Seems running the show. Are the agitators simply mad Weal, o ate Hover his ambivon is ikely co change that He desperately they de puppets of mone sinister forces? uso jin the Brethren of che Lighthouse, and if this s Woks unlkey co happen legitimately, he would be willing to Tht Recrutiters Ganyihing I hie business continues to grow hei invited Inj the normal way and becomes caught up inthe juror UAnguilian independence (hs busines suters sack, he gets caughe up in the rencacles of a The characters might have to help him get out, or they'll have The player characers clo something that i no ely lg. {Almost any adventure count) To thse supe, hey find chemsehes merounded by a dozen knights (ced up with tie as many Men-atArms) and marched ta Grasgar Ca ‘where the Duke very publi condemns them vo hang, That night, in ther el, the Duke comics co vse them a deal. Tey wll bellowed to “scp. Maris in his late ewentcs and i thin fora merchants with ll hee equipment f hey agree to serve as scouts against Feasbeen ploughing his profits back oto the business. the Beasmen. Others, they hang Bens Nel andis quite good-looking, but walls with a OF course, che Duke could have got the character’ service by Sigh inp sche resle ofa cikthood acident. Whib his Syypy paying thems What i he ealy up to” Acie tuhofihecilwand ie Fratof Ons, or roseing ere money, and is sin consists almost enily oatabe land, There ae afew abandon the pars tha ae no longer necesay to avoid the Br nerhng so step aso make pastoral farming the only expense of upep. fin. The coastine isthe gentle in Breton, with many Hic for high lif, and numerous safe cove. However, 0 the lng Laren are hing (and smgting villages le, todea with learning thae cheir patron has become a eultist vhs chey werent looking. These abandoned buildings ae often taken over by Dereliches (see below), which discourages people from raiding them for building macerils andl from ying to live ina building surrounded by abandoned structures. thee are no suitable locations For a major por Int, chee are no rajor vers, no obvious "essing points through the low ills, and no ‘HE PEO! faclly defensible locations. As result, no T PLE Setlements have grown particularly luge. Even che “awa ol Aquinine is no bigger than medium-size, “and thavis due entirely co the influence ofthe ducal Tigers ia ere ee thei nd, so cheyfghe cach othr. Aqutainins themselves prefer co sy tha they have honour and hig tht coca arth reals Ini mole influence is the main fico in ron size the sme. Agultainians have reputation fr bing I eis dated Notice cormeag ba scubbor and for resorting to violence to sole thei BO stead tints cas otc ean as te problems. Asa sul, thee knights ae among the mose Se ccclncomewalte Soe teclerscercee kaye ‘etowned in Bonn, and the dukdor is consanlyin the Terr taken rot: when the noble loses interest, the towns shrink SFP of several small wars, revolutions, and feuds. in Ths therearea lor of owns with abandoned aeasas_—_ People fea lene Aquitaine as a rel of serous lige th inhabited, The hoes there quickly collapse, but the duareemenewith someone move powerfl than. they ae or sabsanal buildings slowly roulder ava. Others, particulary nobles, leave to prove heir mete past sir fc canbe sen in Aguisine’s castes. Asthereare RS. of which Aquitaine has remarkably Fe Some of Monaural defensible locations the lords of Aquitaine rly S48, ave because they are sick of the constant feuding and Tr conscrucion wo protect their homes, A noble facing arack #9 Tie somewhere people just ge along, These fll tend to keep moving,AYN ERE [[ Cope Vi DERELICH Dereliches are evil beings thac inhabic abandoned buildings or parts oFbuildings. They ery to lure people into their cluches by making the building appear inhabited and welcoming and, onee the poor victim is within their gasp, then kill them. Sornchow the deaths of dhcis victims pronides sustenance ro the Derdich There is never more than single Dereich ina stall building, chough wings oF large building may accommodate one cach. Even thea, each Derelich keeps 1o ics own area, and they seem ro ignore one another. However; 4 Derclich can manifest ina Jarge number of spirits, up to 24 in most cases, each of which can take che form of any living creature, plying a role it che charade ofthe building and playing a roe in the atcacks These fragments ean leave the building, but they cannot go very ars ‘nv more chac one yard from the edge of the building’ pos for very Wound cha they have, ‘The Derlich cap also change the appearence ofits building, inside and oa, making ic appeisasiewas aces height. This makes hae in floors invisible bur daesse actually repair dangerously demaged buildings ‘While Derelichesafesprics, they do nae appeae to be Undead noc do they seem to be Chaos Daemon. Their narures are something of a mystery; and in mosc ofthe Old World, they ae hardly ever seen. ‘They are; however, quite common in Aquitaine, Derelich Statistics A | w [sp [1p | Mw [vag] | ee i Ei el oe ‘Skills: Charm +20%6, Perception +206, Speak Language (Breson} ‘Talents: Ethereal, M Natural Weapons, Night Vision Special Rules: ‘Show of fe: The Derelich can creat illusions, making its home appear «@ be inhabited and actively eared for, We ave legion: A single Derelich can produce many “bodies,” apparently separate spirits. Each spirit has some of the Derclichis = ‘Wounals, so shat the etal number of Wounds is pli: beeween all spirits. Each spirit has | Attack, All picts are part ofthe ‘sume Derclich and thus ean coordinate their attacks perfectly. Wounds lose byeach spict are lost by the whole Derelich. | Armour: None Armour Points: Head 0, Arms 0, Body 0, Legs 0 Weapons: The internal politics of Aquitaine are in constant Aux as old _ stated over the soiling of the daughter of one house by the son feuds die down and new ones flare up. The new Duke has, if the other, bt no one now knows which was which (boch houses anything, made things even worse despice his best intentions. cls that ir was their daughter ofcourse), Ths feud has become Whenever he intervenes personally to suppress revolc ot force so formalised cha the locations ofthe bates ae et in advance, reconciliation in a feud, he succeeds. Honever ithe cannot and people came to watch, The feud is sil el, hough, so she incervene personally he tends to do nothing, which means that battles are to the death, which atracis even more people ‘many other feuds are allowed ro develop, A more recene feu is thar between the Earls of Destoches, in ‘There area few famous, ancient feuds which Duke Armand hax che wes of che dukedom, and Flava, inthe north. The ewo men ‘no been able to resolve (although in these cases, none of his used to be inseparable fiends, spending much time at che cours | predecessors could, ether). The feud between the D'Hbiqand of the land. A lite over ten years ago, something happened, L_ Du Maisne families has concinued for several centuries, Iwas and the owo have been implacable foes evr since Both ace DS Ee eee