Corrupt-Bretonniaa WFRP Sourcebook

http://malpy.free.fr/bretonnie/index-uk.html

Dark

Period-

Fantasy

Swashbuckling

2

This amateur sourcebook is free and freely distributable. It doesn't aim at being compatible with WFB or the WFRP2 range from GW. To view this document on screen in the best conditions, Acrobat Reader version 7 or later is recommended.

Authors : Peter Butterworth, Rory Naismith, Mark Saunders & all the Bretonnia-Project contributors.

Prologue

'Fair maiden,' quoth Sir Ambrut, 'fear ye not, for a wondrous strong knight is cometh for to carry thee away.''Oh sir knight,' came the damsel's cry, full waxing and laden with great dole, 'unchain me now, and bring me from this place, where the crude and unchilvarous Sir Meliadans hath imprisonned me!'

And Sir Ambrut did leap from his steed and leap upon the swaths of leaf which clothed the tower; but woe to Sir Ambrut, for the wicked Sir Meliadans was hidden at the gates, and came a-walloping at Sir Ambrut, his lance levelled and keen...

3

Armand the slave-dealer yawned and put the book down, stirring a cloud of flies. He could guess now how it would end, and could trouble himself with it no more. Let knights and lords worry about deeds of glory and romance. There were other things on his mind...

4

Index

Prologue 2Index 3Editorial 4I. Grandeur & Decadence 5

I.1. Timeline of the Kingdom of Bretonnia 6I.2. Foundation of Modern Bretonnia 9I.3. Régence 13I.4. The Cult of Shallya 15I.5. The Chaos Cults 16

II. Cities & Provinces of Bretonnia 19II.1. Map of Bretonnia 20II.2. Descriptions of the Main Cities of Bretonnia

21II.3. Le Massif Orcal 35II.4. Provincial Map of Bretonnia 36II.5. Description of the Provinces of Bretonnia 37

III. Noblesse & Government 44III.1. Oisillon 45III.2. Summary of Leading Personalities of

Bretonnia 49III.3. The State Council (GM only) 53III.4. The Blois Family 60III.5. De Semblancy Family 63III.6. La Chambre Noire (GM only) 66III.7. The Modern Army of Bretonnia 67

IV. Appendix – Living in Bretonnia 71IV.1. The Cult of Saints in Bretonnia 72IV.2. The main Bretonnian Saints 73IV.3. Wyrd Doings: Wizards in Bretonnia 74IV.4. Magic over the Counter? 77IV.5. Bretonnian Money 79IV.6. Glossary 80IV.7. Bretonnian Calendar 81

5

IV.8. Bretonnian Forenames 82

6

Editorial This supplement is based on the description of

Bretonnia given in the original WFRP Rulebook (WFRP1, 1987) p273-276. It doesn’t deal with Arthurian knights as the current edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle or the new edition of WFRP (WFRP2, 2005). It is an updated version of Bretonnia-Project’s “The Corrupt Kingdom of Bretonnia” (Bretonnia-Sourcebook, 2003), which focuses on the most fundamental aspects of the Bretonnian background : history, places, leading personalities and customs.

Bretonnia is a country where the mark of Chaos is less visible than in the Empire, where mutants & cultists are uncommon, but where the society as a whole makes up by being profoundly corrupt and decadent ! As a consequence, in a typical Bretonnian game, the PCs fight (or serve) injustice and corruption rather than Chaos.

Bretonnia is a dark swashbuckling setting in a fantasy version of Ancient Regime France; it is well suited for both WFRP comedies and WFRP tragedies in a different style from the Empire. As my jaded friend Armand would say : “Les Impériaux ont la finesse de l’ours”.

May the spirit of Cyrano de Bergerac and d’Artagnan guide your PCs…

Peter Butterworth, Bretonnia-Project

While we believe this booklet constitutes an essential guide to Bretonnia and in itself a worthy companion to the WFRP1 rulebook description, a lot more excellent material is available from our website. Don’t take our word for it, check it out !

8

I. Grandeur & Decadence

9

Bretonnia was founded over 1500 years ago, when Gilles Le Breton initiated the series of dynastic conquests that led to the unification of the many small feudal states lying west of the Grey Mountains and north of the river Brienne. At that time Bretonnia was a troublesome backwater compared to The Empire. Soon, however, the Bretonnian Kings came to rival the power of the Emperor, and her cities became the model for modernity and fashion. Since the accession of the current King's grandfather, Charles 1 (Charles L'Énorme or Charles the Enormous), the Bretonnian Kingdom has degenerated considerably. The once proud cities and prosperous ports have fallen into ruin, a national apathy has set in that has given rise to widespread corruption, inefficiency and decay. The aristocracy looks to its own pleasures while the unruly mob starves amidst the Worst squalor in the Old World.

10

I.1. Timeline of the Kingdom of Bretonnia

-1589Phoenix King Caradryel recalls the High Elf armies from the Old World. Remaining Elf colonies see their departure as a betrayal.

-1560Dwarf-Elf war, terrible battle of Three Towers at the gate of Tor Alessi (now the port of L'Anguille). Dwarves are finally victorious.

-1501Athel-Loren the Wood Elf capital is founded.

Around -1000Arrival of the primitive Bretonni tribes from the east, settling all lands north and west of the Loren Forest.

Around 0Bretonni tribes battle against orcs and goblins.

632-1960 Norse raids take place along the coast of the Sea of Claws.

977 Gilles le Breton of Gisoreux begins 70 years of dynastic conquests that lead to unification of Bretonnia under the reign of his grandson king Guillaume Barbenoire.

1125 King Louis IV Lefranc is defeated several times by the elves in Loren Forest. Pact of Salignac ends the conflict and concludes an alliance of sorts between Bretonnians and Elves.

1301 Marriage of Enguerrand le Fier (Enguerrand the proud), King of Bretonnia and Irène of Navarre. With the acquisition of Navarre, the Bretonnian kingdom reaches its current borders.

11

1342-1347 Arabian invasion of the south of Bretonnia. Brionne falls. Roland de Chinon pushes the Arabian troops back to Estalia.

1500 Bretonnian knights take an active part in the crusades against Araby and the sultan Daryus-e-Quabir (also known as Jaffar).1597 Marienburg seized by Bretonnian army under Duc de L'Anguille. Occupation last five years.

1952 Baron Henri d'Amateu of L'Anguille grants the Norseman Skajad the Bastard land in the Armorique region to end the Norse raids.

2232 Alliance of northern Estalian kingdoms invade and conquer southern Bretonnia.

2267 All provinces send troops to drive out the Estalian invaders.

2274 Siege of Brionne results in the end of Estalian domination.

2300 The country remains mostly untouched by the the great Chaos incursion, except for the northern coast which suffers from landings of Chaos marauders. Some, but not many, Bretonnian knights join Magnus the Pious in his fight against Chaos.

2320 Brionne starts to be called the city of thieves.

2402 Discovery of Lustria.

12

2423 Discovery of the "New Coast" in the Southlands.

2429 Marienburg Provincial Council declare the Wasteland's independence and secede from Empire. Battle of Grootscher Marsh deals decisive blow to Imperial designs. Emperor Wilhelm II recognizes Wasteland independence.

2429 Accession of Charles I l'Énorme (Charles the Enormous). His reign will last for some 57 years and marks the beginning of Bretonnian degeneration.

2450 A series of earthquakes destroys most of the town of Moussillon. Start of Moussillon's despair.

2485 First serious uproars in Guisoreux.

2486 King Charles the First badly ill must pass on the power to his son Charles II de la Dure. Charles II represses all protests in Guisoreux in the bloodiest manner.

2492 War of the Succession of Bilbali. Modernisation of the Bretonnian army and navy under Charles II becomes apparent.

2498 The building of the Oisillon palace is finally completed. The royal court moves from Guisoreux to Oisillon.

13

2500 Death of King Charles II in joust at the Royal tournament of Couronne. Charles III, though aged 15, is not ready to rule. Eight year decadent regency of the Duke de Gascogne follows. Oisillon becomes famous in all the Old World for its lavish parties. Rise to power of the Shallyan Cardinal Dumourieux.

2508 Charles de la Tête d'Or ascends to the throne as King Charles III.

2512 King Charles III celebrates his 27th birthday in great pomp in Oisillon, while Guisoreux' troubles resume.

Note : in Bretonnia years are usually recorded with reference to the year of reign of the current King rather than using the Imperial Calendar (IC). Example : 2512 IC is referred to as the fourth year in the reign of Charles III de la Tête d'Or.

14

I.2. Foundation of Modern Bretonnia

The Gods of the South

Sometime before the rise of Gilles le Breton, as the great cities became a more significant part of Bretonni culture, and links to the southern Old World became stronger, worship of a new pantheon of Gods began to spread amongst them. The cults of Morr, Verena, Shallya, Myrmidia (and along with them the less publicly acceptable cults of Khaine and Ranald) seem to have first come to prominence in the city states of the south, but these sophisticated new deities, whose worship was intimately bound up with new technological and cultural developments, soon spread along trade routes to the Bretonni. These new cults were aggressively championed by well-organised missionaries, who often found ways to absorb and incorporate existing religious practice into worship of the new pantheon. The cult of Shallya became very swiftly established in Couronne, following a series of miraculous healings at its sacred springs (once sacred to the Lady of the Lake) which were claimed as acts of Shallya by charismatic missionaries. The new pantheon were very much urban deities, and a slow but inexorable process of religious change began whereby the other cults were pushed to the rural margins of society, though Manann remained important in the great ports. The cult of Taal (and to a lesser extent the cult of Rhya) regrouped and retained its strength in the farming communities. The cult of Ulric remained the most important cult amongst the Norse of Armorique, who strongly resisted the incursions of these soft southern deities. The cult hardest hit by the success of the new pantheon was the Old Faith, whose followers were reduced to a small number of villages in the most isolated areas of the land.

The greatest challenge to the dominance of the new gods was to come from the cult of the Lady of the Lake. By the time the southern pantheon was beginning its advance, the cult of the Lady had risen to pre-eminence amongst the Bretonni, in particular, the cult had become closely associated both with the authority of kings, and the conduct of war. The Lady was the patron of the developing knightly class, and the source of a developing code of chivalry. In addition, the cult had successfully "modernised" its conception of the Lady, who was now portrayed as upholding both virtue and chastity. The scene was set for a direct confrontation with the cults of Verena, Myrmidia, and Shallya, all of whom claimed authority over the areas of life the cult of the Lady had previously claimed for its own. In the long term, the southern deities clearly had the resources to ensure their ascendancy: they were better organised and brought with them access to learning and technology that was manifestly superior to that of the Bretonni. The battle for supremacy was, however, set to be a slow one of gradual change, and in many places all the cults coexisted peacefully. One man was to change this however, and make the ascendancy of the southern cults swift and inevitable: Gilles le Breton.

Gilles le Breton and the Politicisation of the Cults

Gilles le Breton was the ruler of a petty kingdom centered on the city of Guisoreux. An extraordinarily capable military leader, he dreamed of establishing himself as king of all the Bretonni. To claim such authority, however, he realised he would need some means of legitimising himself. He needed divine approval. All kings were traditionally declared beloved by the Lady of the Lake, (indeed, despite his ultimately catastrophic role in the history of the cult, it seems Gilles himself had participated in such a ritual), but Gilles would need greater authority than this. He would need to be decisively declared King of all Bretonni by divine right. The cult of the Lady of the Lake had no single recognised high priest who could make such a declaration and make it stick, but the new cults of the south did. Political necessity drove him to a drastic choice. Gilles conquered his kingdom, but then turned to the gods of the south to legitimise his claim to kingship. The high priests of the cults of Morr, Verena, and Myrmidia, seizing the opportunity, declared him the chosen of the gods. The high priest of Shallya, Leyeur, was harder to convince. The cult effectively ruled Couronne and its environs as a kingdom of their own, and were loath to swear fealty to Gilles. It was only after Gilles had conquered most of his kingdom and stood with his army before the gates of Couronne that Leyeur bowed to the inevitable. The new King of Bretonnia was declared ruler by divine right. The unholy alliance of king and priests that was to dominate the entire history of the kingdom began with Chlotharius, high priest of Verena placing the crown on Gilles' head. Gilles' line was assured of the support of the cults in asserting their claim to absolute rule of Bretonnia. The cults, favoured by the new king, would spread unhindered

throughout the entire kingdom, achieving complete pre-eminience over their rivals.

The coronation of Gilles was to have a disastrous effect on the fortunes of the cult of the Lady of the Lake. There is considerable evidence (though often suppressed by the southern cults) that Gilles had been a devoted follower of the Lady for most of his life, and probably never meant to repudiate the cult by claiming the support of the southern deities. The "Chanson de Gilles" in particular shows Gilles to be a champion of the Lady, accomplishing mighty deeds in her name (it should be noted, however, that the "Chanson", and the troubadour tradition that produced it, are associated with those noble families who have remained devoted to the Lady). However, even if unintended, Gilles' actions essentially cut the cult's link to kingship, ensuring the decline of its political influence. The cult that once secured the authority of all the kings of the Bretonni no longer secured the authority of the sole remaining king. The cult was never officially abandoned, but most of the knights of the realm swiftly changed their allegiance to the cult of Myrmidia, leaving only a handful of stubborn traditionalists remaining as the Lady's followers. Many of the Lady's aspects, holy sites, and rituals were taken over by the cults of Shallya, Verena, and Myrmidia. Within a couple of generations, the cult of the Lady of the Lake had all but disappeared, and the cults of Shallya, Verena, and Myrmidia were the most important cults in Bretonnia, as they remain to this day. The relationship between the cults and the monarch was regularised with the formation of the Holy Council by Guillaume Barbenoire, Gilles' grandson. The council was to advise the King and had authority over all religious matters in the kingdom. By Guillaume's time the cults of Taal, Ulric, and Manann had developed an organisational structure similar to that of the southern pantheon, and there was an

uneasy peace between these major cults. Therefore the council had seven members, the high priests of each of the cults of Shallya, Verena, Myrmidia, Morr, Taal, Ulric, and Manann. They were each given the title Cardinal, as a recognition of their importance to the kingdom. The Council has ensured that a king of le Breton's line has ruled Bretonnia for 1500 years, bringing the kingdom unparalleled peace and stability. The cost to the independence (and some say the very souls) of the cults has, however, been high. Many aspects of the doctrine and practice of the Bretonnian cults have been affected by the centuries-long link to the monarchy. In the Empire it is often said that all Bretonnian nobles are vain, and all Bretonnian priests are corrupt...

I.3. Régence

When the regent Gontrand le Bien Bel didn't wake up the day after an especially outrageous party, nobody at court seemed very surprised. Indeed, everybody had known that the regent's continued excesses would eventually get the better of his fragile health. Many were in fact relieved when they learnt the news; the regency was finished, at last the king would reign.

After the accidental death of the previous king, Charles II de la Dure, in 2500, it had been decided to nominate his brother Gontrand Duc de Gascogne to be the kingdoms regent, until the rightful heir was ready to rule. The regency lasted much longer than had initially been planned. The word spread that Charles de la Tête d'Or preferred having fun at his uncle's sumptuous parties than having to worry about his country's future. The kingdom, whose administrations were very corrupt and inefficient, was not faring well and discontent was very widespread.

The news of the forthcoming coronation of Charles de la Tête d'Or made the people rejoice and celebrations were organized throughout the country. For a while the general situation got better; excellent grain harvests in 2508 and 2510 enabled even the poorest to eat their fill, but this was not to last.

Assisted by the loyal Shallyan Cardinal Dumourieux, the young king of Bretonnia, Charles III faces a difficult situation. In the south, war against Bilbali and its allies seems unavoidable. While in the miserable suburbs of Guisoreux, the largest town in the country, outbreaks of violence are becoming more and more frequent. The cities' governor Brossard has informed the king of this preoccupying situation by sending him many letters, as yet without reply. Throughout the country banditry is very widespread, making road travel dangerous, while pirates are a constant threat at sea. What's more existing taxes are overwhelming the people, the royal coffers are almost empty and the only way to fill them is to invent yet more taxes.

Bretonnia Today

"The once virtuous and chivalrous kingdom of Bretonnia fares badly these days. A decadent nobility that spends much of the country's wealth on costly projects to promote its selfish ambitions and pander to its vain frivolities dominates Bretonnian society.

The small middle-class strives to earn enough money to buy their way into the nobility. I have found that they are often amongst the worst of hypocrites.

The common people are very unhappy, overwhelmed as they are by taxes. However this must not make us forget that in many cases they are just as perverted as their masters are.

The king stands above all men in the kingdom. He rules by divine right and his powers are such that he can have any he wishes imprisoned without redress. The king may have little interest in the populations' misfortune but one has to acknowledge that he has some good qualities. Namely he hosts superb balls, dances the minuet to perfection, is a generous patron of the arts and is said to excel at repartee. So it seems that in the end, not everything goes badly in the kingdom of Bretonnia." - by Helmut Ongt, (Nuln, 2511) -

Priests in Bretonnia

"The priests of Morr charge you an arm and a leg for a simple funeral rite, and sit on their piles of gold like carrion crows on corpses, the priests of Verena know a thousand ways to deceive a man without ever telling a lie, the priests of Myrmidia are more interested in fighting battles in the court than on the field, and the priests of Shallya are neither humble nor merciful. The only honest priests in the whole kingdom must be those of Ranald, because they'll tell you to your face they're going to rob you blind, spin you a pack of lies, and walk away with their heads held high."

I.4. The Cult of Shallya

Of all the Bretonnian cults, it is the cult of Shallya that has become the most corrupt. Paradoxically, it is also the cult of Shallya that is best loved by the common people, and perhaps is best able on occasion to rise above its corruption and genuinely communicate something of its true ideals. The cult has become thoroughly accepted by Bretonnians, both in urban and rural areas, and dove pendants are very common talismans, even amongst those who do not count themselves as especially devout. Shallya tends to appeal to the downtrodden of Bretonnia. Due to years of oppression, they turn to her to heal their pain - so the Cult of Shallya, in contrast to the Cult of Myrmidia, is seen as lower class. It is in the poorest areas of the cities that the Shallyans are most active, running soup kitchens, and ministering to the sick. The appeal of Shallya is not entirely restricted to the lower classes however, disillusioned or penitent aristocrats, nobles hating the decadent lifestyle they were born into, those driven from power or shamed may also find refuge in the Cult of Shallya. In addition, the cult runs convents for noble women of ill repute or those who do not wish to marry or do not have the dowry (perhaps because their families will not provide it) - and this is yet another noble connection. Finally, of course, there are those from all walks of life whose natural temperament and sympathies draw them to the worship of the goddess (this includes some physicians). So the membership of the cult is an awkward mixture between the poor and down-trodden, who often lack the education and subtlety required for high office, and the idealistic and (supposedly) repentant nobility, who are well-educated but have never really known what life on the streets is actually like. Unsurprisingly, most of the cult's leadership is drawn from this latter body. This

creates an inherent tension within the cult, between its grassroots members and the majority of the leadership who have very different perspectives. In addition, as noted above, the leadership of the cult tends to be made up of either idealists, blind to the evils of the world, or the disillusioned, cynical, and repentant, who are often then placed in positions where temptation is all around them. Naturally, this is a recipe for disaster. There are a large number of corrupt clergy within the cult, surrounded and overseen by good people who would rather believe the best of those around them. Abuse of power, sex scandals, embezzling of funds, orgies and drunkenness abound.

I.5. The Chaos Cults

Chaos Cultists are far less numerous in Bretonnia than they are in the Empire. Adventurers expecting to find Chaos cultists at the bottom of every plot and intrigue will often find themselves searching in vain. Bretonnian culture has been profoundly affected by the taint of Chaos, but this does not express itself primarily in direct worship of the Chaos gods. Many Bretonnian nobles are in fact profoundly perverse, displaying extremes of cruelty, immorality, greed, pride, and a general willingness to indulge in the darker desires of the human heart, that makes them notorious throughout the Old World. In many ways, the Bretonnian cults have turned away from the ideals they should be upholding and their worship is often an empty meaningless thing that exists only to justify the political power wielded by the cults themselves. It is just as satisfying to the gods of Chaos to see a group of people who think they are devout Shallyans exploiting the sick and poor, living lives of obscene luxury, and indulging in the occasional orgy, as it would be if these people actually established themselves as a cult of Slaanesh. Bretonnian society as a whole turns a blind eye to the excesses of the rich and powerful, and such things are never openly discussed at court except by the most jaded and perverted aristocrats, who simply don't care about appearances. However, it is common knowledge that some nobles have rather eccentric tastes. Open worship of the Chaos gods occurs nowhere except in Moussillon.

The most popular of the Chaos powers in Bretonnia is indisputably Slaanesh. Most circles of nobility have some connection to secret orgiastic societies, whether or not they are full cults of Slaanesh. The main Slaaneshi cult in the kingdom is the "Purple hour", and many influential nobles have taken part in orgies organised by the cult. Slaaneshi cults tend to be organised by the aristocracy, but often include members of the merchant classes, and often numerous pretty peasants. For the lower classes joining the cult of Slaanesh can occasionally appeal to their desire for social advancement as well as their more earthly desires, as an attractive or well-endowed peasant can find themselves plucked from obscurity to be given a place of influence in a noble's service because of certain other services they render in the activities of the cult. In Couronne the prevailing cult of pleasure is largely inspired by Slaanesh. Shrines to Slaanesh can be found hidden away on many estates, and it is rumoured that there is a temple hidden somewhere in the Oisillon palace and grounds.

Nurgle is, unsurprisingly, very popular amongst the urban poor. A cult which teaches that disease and squalor are power, that these very tools of oppression can be employed as a weapon against the powers that be, has obvious appeal. In times of plague many will offer prayers to both Shallya and Nurgle. The cult of Shallya, although convinced of the need to oppose Nurgle, does not see the cult as a real threat and is in any event too corrupt itself to do much to resist its influence. It is, however, largely due to the activities of the grass-roots members of the cult of Shallya (often branded heretical by their superiors) that the cult of Nurgle has not completely captured the souls of the poor. Worship of Nurgle is still seen by the majority of the population as wrong (rather than simply being illegal), and as something that displeases Shallya (indeed those invoking Nurgle will often carefully conceal any symbol of Shallya before doing so, in the superstitious belief that if they cannot see the goddess then she cannot see them). Temples to Nurgle exist in the sewers of several Bretonnian cities.

Tzeentch has some adepts amongst the nobility, though many powerful nobles are perfectly capable of Machiavellian scheming without any need of inspiration by the Lord of Change. The most significant followers of Tzeentch are probably found in academia, where wizards and sages occasionally find themselves drawn into his worship through their desire for esoteric knowledge forbidden by the authorities.

Khorne has never had much appeal, except to some members of the military. However, in an environment in which clerics of Myrmidia argue that making a bloody example of a village or two is the most expedient way of crushing a peasant revolt, identifying followers of the blood god is not always easy.

II. Cities & Provinces of Bretonnia

II.1. Map of Bretonnia

II.2. Descriptions of the Main Cities of Bretonnia

"I've found that all the descriptions of Bretonnian towns in your manual page 274-277 amount to the same thing; The Bretonnian nobility is decadent and corrupt, the poor die of hunger, and from all kind of awful diseases and calimities without any of the nobles even caring about it; not to mention crime that seems to be more common than anywhere else in the Old World. Dare I suggest however, that we may be missing some important information that could help us get a better idea ? Please pardon me, but it seems like these descriptions were written by a Marienburgese scribe, frustrated for not being given a good seat at the Opera in Oisillon. Throughout this text, I see only compassion for the poor and criticism of the aristocracy..."

- written by the Talabeclander baron Gunthar von Karajan in the year 2506 -

All the Bretonnian cities as described in the WFRP1 rulebook seem somewhat unpleasant and some seem so awful that you will have major trouble as a GM to convince the PCs to even go near the place. This is problem, particularly since city based adventures play such a great role in WFRP. Our general impression at Bretonnia-Project is that some of the descriptions in the rulebook are just too nasty to be true, and that they need to be taken with a pinch of salt. In Bretonnia-Sourcebook, we have worked at writing complementary description, which make the largest Bretonnian cities (Guisoreux, Quenelles, etc.) more useful for Bretonnian campaigns. Obviously, this is not to say that the lower-depths of the Bretonnian cities are the nicest of places...

* From the most pleasant to the most horrid... 1. Couronne 2. Parravon 3. L'Anguille 4. Bordeleaux * 5. Brionne 6. Guisoreux 7. Quenelles 8. Moussillon (* personnal preferences may vary)

GuisoreuxGuisoreux is the largest and most important city

in Bretonnia and the second largest in the Old World after Marienburg. Traditionally it has been seen as the capital of Bretonnia, and although the king no longer resides there it is still home to many important nobles and houses much of the kingdom's government.

The city's governor is Victoire Breville, Vicomte de Brossard. He is getting rather old and addled, but since he doesn't offend anyone no-one wishes to replace him. Generally, the intrigues of the city's big players go unnoticed by him and there is constant maneuvering.

Guisoreux is sited in a strategically important position in the Ois gap. However, it has not been attacked for over two centuries now. The city is ringed by a set of high walls, which are sufficient to keep out most querulous peasants but probably not a well-appointed army. Also the expansion of the city since their construction means that over half the population lives outside the walls. Because of its position and importance, Guisoreux boasts a substantial garrison of mercenaries. In addition, many troops of the regular army are stationed at Chateau Luneville, not far from the city; they sometimes visit for a day or two to spend their pay in a suitably reckless manner

Living in the largest and most important city in Bretonnia, featuring the Guisonne University, many major temples and dozens of other major sights, Guisoreux's citizens have a justifiable sense of pride and self-importance, which shines through the dirt and squalor in which they live. Although there is still a lingering sense of respect for the king's law, the citizens have never balked at showing their disapproval of royal or noble actions, and there is a certain arrogance and stubbornness at all levels. Riots, complaints and protests are regular events.

Naturally, being so huge and important, Guisoreux attracts a great deal of trade in almost all products, and is a manufacturing and commercial centre of major importance. There are trade connections with nearly every city in the Old World (and quite a few beyond) and almost anything can be bought or sold in the city if you're patient - and desperate - enough

The Catacombs of GuisoreuxBeneath Guisoreux vast catacombs house the

city's dead. The catacombs are ancient, their origins lost in the mists of time, but since anyone can remember they have been watched over by the cult of Morr. They are accessible from entrances in the temple and a number of shrines throughout the city, where funeral services are held. In the well tended parts priests and acolytes of Morr pace the tunnels and tend to the crypts. What is less well known, however, is the fact that the true extent of the catacomb network is largely unknown. Beyond the most used areas, tunnels wind their way for miles. The catacombs watched over by the cult of Morr comprise only a small area of a maze of interconnected passageways and chambers constructed for a multitude of purposes by a multitude of different tunnelers. The most obvious of these underground networks being of course the city's sewer system. It intersects with the older catacombs at many points, though in theory any direct connections between the city's graves and its sewer system have long been sealed up.

Nearly every house in Guisoreux has a cellar, though in practice the less privileged households of the city tend to place less value on the correct storage of classic vintages; more often than not they are used to provide cramped and cheap accommodation, often for students (in fact, it is from this common use of subterranean rooms that students have acquired their nickname to the public: 'les taupes' - 'the moles') who appreciate being able to hide their indulgences from the gaze of decent society.

Fairly common too are underground passages which run between blocks of houses, entered from cellars or semi-secret entrances (sometimes through fountains, innocuous side doors, trapdoors in alleyways and even, if you don't mind the smell, a privy). Rich merchants pay to have a private tunnel put in from their house, ostensibly to go to worship or save themselves from the hazards and exertions of open air travel; in reality, they feel the need for an emergency escape route from the mob. It is no secret that such access points to the catacombs exist which are not guarded by the cult, but everyone prefers to believe that the network of passages is less well-used and less extensive than is in fact the case. After all, no-one likes to think that the trapdoor in their cellar might be all that separates them from gangs of Grave-robbers or worse. The majority of people are familiar with only a small number of tunnels used for regular journeys; it is good sense not to divulge the secrets of the tunnels to all and sundry. Robberies and rapes frequently take place in the darkened tunnels, and a fair number of people have simply gone into one tunnel and never come out the other end. Rumours abound of pale-faced gangs of cut-throats, apparently calling themselves 'les fossoyeurs' ('the gravediggers') who work exclusively in the tunnels, digging their own secret passages to break into other, normally safe routes. But those who have looked into the many darker corners of Guisoreux's hidden labyrinth know of far more exotic and dangerous things than a few footpads lurking in burrows...

For centuries these tunnels have been used as meeting places for those who seek to escape the prying eyes of the King's authority. Clandestine affairs, secret business deals, treacherous plots, drug-crazed orgies, all have taken place in the catacombs. Thieves, students, rakes, and lovers routinely use the passages nearer the surface to pass the Louisian wall at night for their various purposes. Elsewhere, where light never challenges the dark and slithering things feast on unguarded bodies, Chaos and evil make their home.

Parravon"The city itself is quite unusual. It rests within a

narrow valley, and is built along the river with its back to the breathtaking chalk cliffs. The narrowness of the valley has twisted Parravon into an unusual shape, and the city is long and narrow following along the river, with only three or four major thorough fares running lengthwise along the city. The houses are narrow with multiple floors and the streets are narrow cobblestone affairs, encroached upon by the cramped houses. Some of the houses are built into the cliffs. The northernmost part of the town is where the docks are located, and as one heads south upstream the quality of the housing improves, until one arrives at the southernmost portion where the nobility live in their large and spacious estates surrounded by their famous Parravonian gardens. Near the top of the cliff lies the palace of the Duc de Parravon, Armand de Coquerone, a wealthy and influential noble who controls much of the area."

The smallest and quietest of Bretonnia's cities, Parravon is a byword for sleepy provinciality. Its nobles are barely seen at court, its inhabitants are for the most part inward-looking, reclusive, and completely lacking in wanderlust. The city itself is beautiful, full of character, and reknowned for its gardens, but few outsiders ever come here for long. In some ways, however, these popular stereotypes are very wide of the mark. The city's strategic position close to Axe-bite pass makes it a key entry point to the kingdom from the Empire. There is a small but significant Imperial immigrant community here, and the city has a high military presence. Parravon's status as a backwater has also made it a focal point for all sorts of malcontents anxious to operate away from the eyes of the authorities and its developing print trade has a disturbingly radical edge to it.

MoussillonI had travelled a good part of the day under a

grey and menacing sky, following a narrow band of ochre coloured ground that an old hermit monk had pointed out to me as being the road to Moussillon.

"That's where you have to go to cross the river lad, there is no other way...unless you go back many leagues" The man, whose skin was as wrinkled as that of a dried up apple, had told me. Smiling as if the obligation to pass through the town was something that amused him and that he enjoyed like a good joke, he had left giggling loudly through his toothless jaw. Thus I was following the road shown to me by this hermit, whose strange behaviour, I had attributed to the massive consumption of self-distilled alcohol, which heavily impregnated his breath.

After more than four hours travel, the wind had fallen to leave way to humidity and cold as the road approached a miasma infected swamp; I tried to catch a glimpse of the town's walls and towers in the distance, but in vain, the horizon lost itself in a grey and vaporous haze. The only thing around was a deserted and muddy moor, spattered only by occasionnal water holes and patches of furze. A bit further where the land was a bit more settled, I discerned a twisted and tortured copse of trees.

My cart was now rolling on a much larger earth track, which had been reinforced using much sand and loose stone. The land at the sides of the road remained muddy however, and it took much effort to pull my cart out after the horse had dragged me off-course. The haze had changed into a thick and acrid smelling smoke which made it impossible to see more than ten meters away. At the back of the wag, the DAGOLBACH pots and pans tinkled like many dissonant carillon bells, indifferent to the snoring of Gautielbe, my road companion. The din was absorbed by the moor, thereby betraying the total flatness of the region. For the time being, the light of the tempest-lamp hooked at the front of the carriage was the only thing that helped me avoid going down in the ditch again. Having to push with all my weight knee deep in turf to free the cart from the swamps hold, was not a prospect which I particularly relished. I scrutinized the landscape in search of a sheltered place. Darkness was starting to fall and I needed to find somewhere to spend the night, if I didn't want to die frozen in these putrid swamps.

"Yes, come and see the new marvels from the Empire ! They don't wear ! They don't burn ! They don't even get dirty ! Yes, it's the pots, it's the pans, it's the cauldrons DA-GOL-BACH. Admire the difference, touch them, ask for them, buy them..."

I smiled, thinking of the coaxing sales patter I would serve on the market square to dazed strollers the next morning, and also thinking of the good bed which I would no doubt find in an inn just behind the city walls, which had suddenly appeared a few meters in front of my cart.

- Taken from 'My travels and tribulations' by Arbacesse Belgarate, travelling merchant -

Moussillon's name is still a byword for degeneration throughout Bretonnia, and is virtually never mentioned at the Oisillon Palace. Most people would rather forget about the place altogether. Very little is actually known for sure about what happens there, other than what is spread by disquieting rumours.

Some measure of the disorder and decay within the city can be gathered from the fact that its governor, Eustache de Poissy, Chatelain de Sancerre, has never even visited it; he dwells at the Oisillon Palace, having the small revenue the post brings sent to him and occasionally corresponding with Armand Charnaud, a priest of Verena known as 'Pretre Armand' (known and respected for his fiery sermons and indomitable faith) who performs the actual duties of governor within the city. Lack of money is his greatest difficulty.

Moussillon is situated in the marshy valley of the River Grismarie, some 15 leagues away from the sea. Disasters have marred the cities' history since 2438 IC, before which it was a pleasant, wealthy trading port known as 'the jewel of the western coast'. Earthquakes, floods and subsequent outbreaks of pox have struck the city, leaving much of the old centre a desolate ruin. Perpetual damp and frequent thick fogs are a lingering sign of these afflictions. There have been no successful attempts to rebuild the whole city so far, despite noble and even royal patronage in the past, and only the official buildings have been properly refurbished for the governor's use. Even wealthy houses have only been restored to a semblance of their former grandeur, and several areas have not yet been cleared of rubble. Many of the lower classes have moved to shanty towns outside the old city walls. Life there is hard and dirty; what the people gain from leaving the walls they lose to even higher levels of crime and overcrowding. Religious life is surprisingly active in Moussillon, with small shrines and temples proliferating across the city; not all are dedicated to the commonly accepted deities, however, and there are many Chaos worshippers at large. While the governor is actively trying to increase his authority, there are still terrible problems from criminals of all sorts, and especially from mutants, who abound in the downhearted and diseased city. Misery and illness are near-constant companions for the citizens of Moussillon, so much so that comparatively few people feel motivated to try and restore the city to what it once was.

Successive governors (the last Duc de Moussillon, Jean-Luc Maldred died of the pox in 2450 IC) have combined the functions of city watch and garrison into a single large body referred to in the city as 'L'Armée de Fer' (the Iron Army, after the armour the troops wear); there have been no official inspections of Moussillon for several decades now, so Pretre Armand and his men can do pretty much what they like. Although the Armée de Fer is brutal and trying hard to expand, as yet it is far too small to bring real order to the city.

Trade in the city is at a low ebb; most citizens have difficulty getting enough food and drink to survive, for the surrounding towns are extremely reluctant to do business with Moussillon for fear of the pox. A few ships and barges still come into Moussillon, as do some more adventurous land-bound merchants; most of them bring much-needed foodstuffs. The ruins within the old city are scavenged for items with which to buy food, and many merchants have been pleasantly surprised at the payments they have been offered. A few of the vineyards that once made the city's fortune survive and are cultivated.

QuenellesQuenelles is a large city, famously dominated by

its noble classes, where the conflict between the ruling classes and the poor is more evident than anywhere else in Bretonnia.

The governor of Quenelles is Edmond-Antoine Noblat de la Renardiere, a minor member of the royal family. He is closely allied to the cruel Calixte Tremaine, Viscomte de Quenelles, leading local landowner and a major power in the city. Though new, De la Renardiere is noted for his bluster and cruelty, and likes to provoke discord in the council he is meant to lead, merely for the fun of a good quarrel. This council comprises the richest citizens and clerics 'of respectable station' (i.e. of noble birth) in the city.

Quenelles' walls have long been in a poor state of repair, and would provide almost no protection in the event of attack; they have also been outgrown by the city's swelling population. The city watch is unusually large and detested by the people for its corruption and wanton brutality. It is employed mainly to protect the nobles' quarter, situated in hills to the north and named Beaumont. Watch patrols in the dark, filthy streets of the city often turn into running battles with the populace. Local nobles visit the town accompanied with large retinues of bodyguards ready to take law into their own hands if necessary.

Squalor and struggle characterise the existence of the bulk of Quenelles' citizens. They are kept poor by extortionate taxes and crime, with stealing and violence of all sorts (including, technically illegal, organised pit fights) being common. The rich inhabitants of Quenelles are said to be especially ribald and decadent, even by Bretonnian standards. There are very few citizens that could be called middle-class. Wizards (universally called witches), agitators, printers and followers of Ranald are hounded by the city's rulers who see them as a seditious threat to their position. Any attempt to fight against the authorities - there are many riots and rebellious groups in Quenelles - is hampered by lack of organisation and the corruption of so many desperate citizens ready to sell their companions out to the watch. Some Tileans live in Quenelles, bringing trade and culture; they range from aristocrats, artists and wizards, all patronised by the rich, down to dangerous cultists and common thieves.

For all its troubles, Quenelles is an important producer of textiles (especially tapestries) and woodwork, amongst other things; however, work is often hampered by crime and unrest in the city. All luxury items and much of the food and money entering the city goes straight to the high towers of the nobles of Beaumont, causing yet more resentment and forcing the bulk of the population into a state of poverty and reliance on a barter economy. Anyone flashing cash or finery around in Quenelles will not last long.

L'Anguille

The Kingdom's major northern port and the home of the Royal Navy, the staunch city of l'Anguille is built on the site of the ancient Elven Old World colony of Tor Alessi, of which nothing now remains except for its famous lighthouse of black stone.

Though overshadowed by its close neighbour and longtime rival Marienburg, L'Anguille remains a vibrant port, where goods from Norsca, Albion and even the New World are traded. The L'Anguillois have a strong reputation as entrepreneurs and as fine sailors, skills that lend themselves as easily to service in the navy or life as a legitimate merchant captain as they do to being a privateer or smuggler, and the city's favourite sons tend to cross these boundaries rather easily. Woe betide anyone, however, who suggests that they are pirates or thieves. The L'Anguillois pride themselves on being a cut above the sort of scum you'd find in Brionne.

L'Anguille is largest city north of Guisoreux, slightly exceeding Couronne in size. The current governor is Seigneur Xavier Gevaudan, a weak and vacillating member of the Blois family, who is manipulated by the cunning Henri Loiseau, Duc de l'Anguille. The governor's actions are hampered by the efforts of Bernard Granvelle, Comte de Perrac, who commands the support of many guilds and important merchants in the city and is opposed to Loiseau.

Bordeleaux

Bordeleaux is the second port of Bretonnia and the capital of Gascogne. Increased wealth and culture have come to the city in recent years, mainly on the back of the burgeoning wine trade. Many now consider it on a par with Guisoreux in terms of sophistication. Bordeleaux's affluence is not evenly spread however, and there are a great many poor living in shantytowns, stealing and even killing just for a bottle of wine to drown their sorrows.

Jules Blois, Duc de Gascogne, is the royal governor of Bordeleaux. His main interests are wine and high living; he is a popular figurehead in the city, but the real decision-makers are his wife Blanche de la Rose Amboise and their son Hubert de la Motte, Marquis de Frejus (who usually resides in the Oisillon Palace). By tradition, the governor's hand has not lain heavy on Bordeleaux, and the city's guild council, dominated by the wine merchants, tackles most day to day matters; the noble rulers divide their time between their lavish mansions in the Place Royale and their equally extravagant chateaux in the Morceaux valley.

Situated in less-threatened southern waters, Bordeleaux is not home to such a large part of the navy as l'Anguille, and the only modern warships are stationed at the military port of Rochefort, situated at the Navarrese border. In practice the city's mercenary garrison spends as much time patrolling the streets alongside the watch as manning the walls, and the troops' pay is mainly spent on wine and women. The great merchant houses, such as La Primante, employ their own mercenary forces partly of native Bretonnians to protect ships and land-bound possessions.

Having a good time is the main aim of the rich; work is seen as just a distasteful preliminary. The lower classes aspire to this happy state, but most can only stretch to drowning their sorrows in the occasional night of revelry in the notorious waterside Quartier Bleu, den of lechery and debauchery of all kinds. Cynical observers claim the comparative rarity of major riots in the city is linked to the volume of alcohol consumed in Bordeleaux. Literature, scholarship and art are well patronised in the acclaimed university of Bordeleaux, and all citizens take pride in this cultural refinement. As a major port, Bordeleaux has a large foreign community, though this has rarely been a cause of trouble; most visitors enjoy the cheap wine too much to be a nuisance.

Wine is the greatest export of Bordeleaux, dominating its life and trade. It is exported far and wide, mainly by sea routes. Furniture, jewellery, luxury foods and grain from Gascogne, fish and hand-crafted goods are also produced. There are strong links between Bordeleaux and the New World; most products of the Bretonnian colonies (including chocolate, coffee and tobacco) arrive in the city's port and are highly valued as luxuries all over the Old World.

Brionne

Brionne, the city of thieves ? "Come on ! The poor have vice in their blood, I'll obviously admit to that. But isn't it the same everywhere else, isn't it inevitable ? Thanks to the gods and governor De Jolensac order reigns, what more could we ask for ? I sincerely believe Brionne suffers from a bad reputation that it doesn't deserve. I can only suggest that the role played by our city in the defense of the Kingdom against the Bilbalian ambitions needs to be better understood."

- Elias-Henry de Grapencourt, noble of Brionne -

For most people, Brionne has become synonymous with crime, the cult of Ranald, and treacherous dealings. Those from the north of Bretonnia are ever distrustful of the Navarrese, and that goes double for the inhabitants of Brionne. It is a major port, but few merchant houses risk sailing rich cargoes towards it. It is reputed that hardly any of the produce sold in Brionne's markets can be traced back to its point of origin without at least one less than legitimate change of hands. In fact, however, the city is nowhere near as lawless as its reputation makes out. It is true that the cult of Ranald is tolerated here in a way that is unheard of in other Bretonnian cities, but worship is still not completely open. It is true that the port is full of pirates, but most of these are chartered to privateer on Estalian shipping. It is true that the governor, Pierre de Jolensac originally a petty baron from Armorique, is thoroughly corrupt, but his ability to work hand in glove with the Cartel des Poings, the local thieves' guild, ensures that a certain rough justice prevails. As long as you pay your dues to one of the local crime lords, the streets of Brionne are considerably safer than those of Guisoreux, where the mob and the gangs answer to no-one.

Couronne Couronne is primarily known for its great cathedral of Shallya and its spas. It is also an important market town for the agricultural produces of the Valley du Sannez.

Godefroi de Guinard, Duc de Couronne, is governor of Couronne, an old and crotchety fellow. He owes his power to Cardinal Dumourieux, who renewed the Duc's family's declining position and installed him as governor; Guinard resents his need to obey the Cardinal and his brother Henri-Philippe, and from time to time makes motions towards revolt. But so far he has not summoned up the courage to do so.

The governor is only responsible for civil affairs in Couronne; unusually, the city has a military governor with freedom of action who can even override the civilian governor's decisions during wartime. Gustave Beauregard, Seigneur d'Oche, was granted these special powers by the King Charles II De la Dure who recognised in him one of the most capable military Engineers in the Old World. Under him, Couronne has been developed into an important stronghold and military centre. The city's fortifications have been modernised, and the royal Manufacture was built, which produces cannons and firearms. Some citizens are trained in the use of artillery, and a large number of regular troops are quartered in the forts surrounding the city.

Life in Couronne is generally pleasant: the city is clean and comfortable, with a temperate climate. Food is plentiful and most of the people are content. However, the presence of pilgrims and soldiers sometimes leads to friction.

The spas and their visitors are an important source of source of activity in Couronne: all those who come need a place to stay and things to eat, providing much employment for the city's inhabitants. The high-quality agricultural products of the region are brought to Couronne, whence they are taken to Guisoreux or Marienburg; much of the grain needed to feed the populations of these large cities comes from the Valley du Sannez, which is also noted for its cheeses. The presence of the Manufacture and the army is profitable, too, though all military business is carefully watched and controlled by military governor Beauregard.

II.3. Le Massif Orcal

The great mountain range that dominates central Bretonnia is known as the Massif Orcal and its highest peak is known as Orquemont. These mountains have been occupied by tribes of Orcs and Goblins since even before the Elves came to the shores of Bretonnia. The region is riddled with caves, some of which are inhabited by primitive human tribes. The only villages in this inhospitable region are heavily fortified and are inhabited by miserable, diseased and superstitious peasants, who cling on to age-old traditions. The knights here are little more than armed bullies who misuse the peasantry rather than protect them, despite their claims of allegiance to the Lady of the Lake.

When Orc raids become frequent enough to come to the attention of the surrounding rulers (particularly those of the province of Lyonnais), the might of Bretonnia is gathered en masse and the army advances into the hills to cast down the Orc strongholds and destroy every greenskin that can be found. Somehow the brave knights and determined troops are never able to completely eradicate the greenskin tribes and the process must be repeated a year or two later.

There are few marked trails and no roads running through the Massif Orcal, but there is one well worn track in the southern foothills which links the towns of Chimay and Mufflons.

II.4. Provincial Map of Bretonnia

The Kingdom of Bretonnia is traditionnaly made up of seven provinces each one with independent troops (the provincial companies), customs and even parliaments. However, the power of the provinces has been restricted by successive monarchs leading to the current situation of absolute monarchy.

II.5. Description of the Provinces of Bretonnia

Les FlandresFor many centuries, the north-eastern province

of Flandres was seen as dismal by the nobility of Bretonnia. Although it had a number of ports and some good agricultural land notably around the Sannez valley, by and large it was a wet, cold and miserable place, marked by marshes and moorland. Its Eastern border was studded with the castles of the ancient families who stood watch against the threat of invasion from the Empire, and its countryside was full of superstitious peasants and covens of witches.

All this has gradually changed as the area has become a centre for the cloth industry, weaving and dying the wool imported from Albion and exporting it across the Old World. The towns of Flandres are now fairly prosperous, and its merchants increasingly influential. As a result, the old nobility like the Artois are losing power to the new nobility with close links to the rising merchant class like the Dumourieux.

Stereotypes: "The Flemings? They're more than half Marienburger, even their nobles are surrounded by bankers and lawyers."Major noble families : Dumourieux, ArtoisMain towns : Couronne, Antorpe

L’ArmoriqueL'Armorique has a unique culture, slightly

different from the rest of Bretonnia. In part, this is because of its location. Cut off from the heartland of the kingdom by the Arden Forest (and now also by the desolated area around Moussillon), the region has always been a bit of a backwater, and cultural changes take longer to penetrate here. With Moussillon gone, and L'Anguille increasingly steering its own course (the city is peripheral to the province and tends to look east rather than west), L'Armorique lacks any major urban settlements, giving it a highly provincial, antiquated, feel.

Historically, this region was a centre of Norse settlement, and many of its strange and archaic customs can be traced back to Norse origins. The southern cults have never established themselves here to the degree they did elsewhere, and in the more isolated rural areas of the province worship of the Lady (and, less commonly, the Old Faith) is quite prevalent. In the coastal towns and surrounding fishing villages it is the northern cults of Ulric, Manann, and Taal that are most influential. Gradually, however, merchants are starting to have influence here as the cash-strapped nobility turn to them, even in some instances allowing them to marry into their families to avoid financial ruin.

Stereotypes: "The Armoricans? An old-fashioned lot, the nobles ride around in rusted armour like the knights of old while the peasants worship old gods no-one's ever heard of around their stone circles."Major noble families : De Cabourg, Loiseau, GranvelleMain towns : L'Anguille, Saint-Leu, Martel, Moussillon

Le Breton

This is the heartland of Bretonnia, the land of the kingdom's founder, Giles le Breton, and its largest province. Breton covers a diverse area that includes some of the kingdom's largest wilderness areas, the Arden Forest, the Pale Sisters, the Chalons Forest, and the northernmost ends of the Grey Mountains and Massif Orcal. It also contains some of the Kingdom's best agricultural land, its towns have all the cultural and technological advantages of being close to the capital, and it has a greater proportion of major nobles than any other province (most of them connected to the Royal Blois family). The stereotypical foreigner's picture of Bretonnia: peasants toiling in fields, sleepy villages, nobles in palaces in walled estates, and fashion-conscious and stylish gentry in the towns is actually based on Breton. The inhabitants of Breton (who often style themselves "true Bretonnians") are proud of their province, and see themselves as being a cut above everyone else.

Stereotypes: "The Bretons? They think they're better than anyone else, don't they? Every other farmer you meet will tell you that he's descended from Giles le Breton. He must have sired bastards on every wench he met!"Major noble families : BloisMain towns : Guisoreux, Viejoncourt, Fregune, Alençon

La Gascogne

The small rural province of Gascogne is often spoken of as the most beautiful province of Bretonnia. Artists have for generations represented it as a rural idyll: in Gascogne the sun always shines on vineyards and golden cornfields. Beautiful people lounge by lazy rivers, drinking wine, and eating bread and cheese.

Gascogne is the cultural soul of Bretonnia, beloved of musicians, poets, and painters. Its nobility, especially the powerful Amboise, are reknowned as patrons of the arts. Moreover, most inhabitants fancy themselves as artists of some description, but although the province has produced some true geniuses, its inhabitants are also responsible for a great proportion of the kingdom's doggerel verse, sickly sentimental paintings, and unemployed travelling singers...

Although the artistic visions of peasants frolicking in the fields are rather far of the mark particularly in the poorer eastern regions, the province is one of the more pleasant parts of the kingdom, with even the peasantry living half-way decent lives.

Stereotypes: "The Gascognes? Bunch of poncy layabouts who all think they're blessed by the gods. Whatever you do, don't agree to be subjected to a poem!"Major noble families : AmboiseMain towns : Bordeleaux, Rochefort, Vergirac, Mufflons

The Cult of Emilion

The cult of Emilion, god of wine, is a peculiarly Bretonnian institution. Essentially Emilion is a human version of the Elven Liadriel, though this would certainly not be admitted by Bretonnians. The origins of the cult are uncertain, but worship of Emilion is fairly localised, being found primarily in the areas of Bordeleaux and Gascogne, though in other wine producing regions of Bretonnia Emilion is also acknowledged. Emilion is the spirit of the vine, and his worship is concerned with all aspects of viniculture, from growing the grapes to making and selling the wine, and finally to drinking it. There are innumerable cultic rituals passed down in families that are followed superstitiously in the vineyards, and which are said to guarantee the wine is of a consistently good quality. The cult's major celebrations occur around the grape harvest in mid summer, and tend to involve much drinking, often leading to decadent parties. The cult's only real stricture is the drinking of wine with each meal, though the god encourages a general bonhomie and appreciation of the finer things in life in his worshippers. In areas where the cult is strong it tends to replace the worship of Taal (and to a certain extent Affairiche, though the god of trade is not as significant in the vineyards in any case), and the few clerics of Emilion are often counted as "really" being clerics of Taal. They certainly treat the Cardinal of Taal as "their Cardinal", and tend to share many of the larger cult's concerns. The cult wields considerable power in the Bordeleaux region and at the Gascogne regional parliament

Le Bourgon

Le Bourgon is generally seen as a bit of a backwater. Nestled between the Grey Mountains, Massif Orcal, and the Loren Forest, few have any reason to stray far from the Grismerie Valley. The province's proximity to wilderness areas and areas of orc dominance, (not to mention the Axe Bite Pass leading to the Empire) has found it being the site of many battles, and some say you cannot travel more than a league in Bourgon without walking over a battlefield. Le Bourgon is not worth anything much itself, having few great resources of any significance, but for centuries orc tribes have had to travel through it to reach the rich pickings of Breton.

Centuries of warfare, with little to show for it, have shaped the character of Bourgon. The lords of Bourgon tend to be grim, taciturn, conservative, and brooding on long-forgotten rivalries and stains on the family honour. Where the conservatism of L'Armorique comes across as a quixotic attachment to the values of the past, the conservatism of Le Bourgon is a dusty, dry thing, a reluctance to try anything new born of a deep pessimism about the future. The peasants are similarly affected, being for the most part suspicious of strangers, and set in their ways.

Stereotypes: "The Bourgouese? They're like someone locked in a cellar for 100 years, wearing clothes your granddad wore, always worrying about things no-one even remembers any more."Major noble families : LefevreMain towns : Parravon, Jouinard

Le Lyonnais

Le Lyonnais is a place of glittering spectacle and grinding oppression. Ruled with an iron fist by the powerful De Semblancy clan for centuries, the province has been shaped to further their ambitions.

Lyonnais is famous for its great festivals and tournaments, for the victories of its soldiers, for the exquisite artistry of its craftsmen. It is infamous for the costliness of these pursuits on its people. The serfs of Lyonnais are often worked to death. The gulf between noble and peasant is wider in Lyonnais that perhaps anywhere else in Bretonnia.

The bourgeoisie here are few and little respected, those few who rise to prominence as craftsmen or merchants do so only by showing unquestioning loyalty to the De Semblancy.

The location of Lyonnais, close to the Tilean border, has meant that the culture and politics of the Southern Old World has considerable influence here. The fashions of Lyonnais are frequently influenced by Tilea, and the Ducs of Lyonnais are often significant players in the politics and warfare of Estalia, Tilea, and the Border Princes, where their interests can at times conflict with those of the King.

Stereotypes: "The Lyonnaise? The nobles have the pride of a lion and the viciousness of a snake. Never insult one if you value your life. As for the peasants, well, if you just stamp too loudly near them they flinch..."Major noble families : De SemblancyMain towns : Quenelles, Perrache, Montluc, Chimay, Merceaux-Descloux

La Navarre

If Lyonnais is a highly independent province of Bretonnia, its neighbour, La Navarre, often seems like it is another country altogether. Largely this is a matter of culture and history, but race and geography also play their part. The Navarrese look distinctly different from Bretonnians, with jet black hair and often swarthier complexions. La Navarre itself is also different from the rest of the Kingdom; there are few of the green meadows and lazy rivers that characterise the rest of the realm. Instead, Navarre is a sparse, hilly province, getting increasingly wilder as it reaches the foothills of the Irranas.

La Navarre was, in fact, not part of Gilles le Breton's realm, and was added to the Kingdom of Bretonnia almost three centuries later through dynastic alliance. Over a millennia later, although there is no real question of secession, Navarrese and Bretonnians still tend to regard each other as foreigners. This tendency is increased by the fact that the Navarrese have their own language, Languedoc, which is distantly related to Estalian, though most do speak Bretonnian. The Navarrese have a strong sense of identity and pride in their land, which they have defended many times against the Estalians (for whom they have an abiding hatred). Not withstanding this, as most Bretonnians take pleasure in pointing out, the Navarrese are remarkably similar to the Estalians in culture, temperament, and appearance. The culture of the Southern Old World is omnipresent here, with devotion to the Southern cults fiercely devout especially to Ste-Leonidas, the Myrmidian patron saint of Navarre. There are few followers of the Northern pantheon. The cult of the Lady is notable by its absence from these lands. The Navarrese are a passionate people, swift to friendship or enmity; generous, hospitable and loyal to family and friends, but merciless to enemies, and capable of nurturing vendettas for generations.

Stereotypes: The Navarrese? Don't trust them. If a Navarrese acts friendly, you can be sure it's only because he's going to rob you blind when your guard is down. Half of them are thieves and the other half are worse.Major noble families : CapucinetTowns : Brionne, Blaye-Leonine, St-Jacques, Luz

Navarre lies entirely to the south of the river Brienne. except for the Poitain region around Brionne, which lies to the north or the river.

III. Noblesse & Government

III.1. Oisillon

Home to King Charles III de la Tête d'Or and his court, the somptuous palace of Oisillon situated 30 leagues to the north-west of Guisoreux is the heart of the corrupt Kingdom. Most of the important decisions are taken here before being passed along to the provinces and central government in Guisoreux.

There are rooms almost beyond count within the main complex, ranging from apartments and ball rooms decked out by the very best artists and craftsmen the Old World has to offer, down to the drear and functional servants quarters. Dazzling parties and other extravagant entertainments taking place on a daily basis ensure the notion of Bretonnian grandeur is not lost on the many ambassadors and guests who visit the palace.

The Great & The Good: Leading Factions of Bretonnia

Here, far from the glitz and glamour of the Oisillon Palace, it is easy for us to forget - or in some cases even know - who controls our lives and our kingdom. Few citizens can fail to recognise the illustrious name of our monarch, King Charles III de la Tête d'Or. But who has the ear of the King? Which lords and ministers decide on his policies and direct the state? It is time, citizens, for an appraisal of the situation of the great factions at the Oisillon Palace; of the men and women who lead our beloved kingdom.

First and most powerful of all is the Chief Minister of His Royal Highness the King: Cardinal Henri Armagnac Dumourieux. The Cardinal is amongst the kindest of the big players at the Oisillon Palace; as a good cleric of Shallya, he has regular distributions of wine, bread and pamphlets made from the Chapelle de St Ortaire, all from his own pocket. Cynics may have something to say about his motives, but cynics' heads roll from the guillotine every day… The Cardinal and his faction of favour-hunters and dependants are in the ascendance just now; the King entrusts his most important business to the Cardinal, who virtually runs the kingdom for much of the time.

Not to be outdone is the Duc de Lyonnais, François de Semblancy. Old fashioned to say the least, the Duc is master of the most conservative faction in the land. That is not to say it is any weaker; on the contrary, its love of tradition and proper noble rights makes them as strong-willed and proud as anyone. The Duc and his many companions have a centuries old reputation to uphold, and they don't like upstarts challenging their dominance at all. To our benefit, De Semblancy and the Cardinal, at loggerheads in the court, vie equally for the hearts and minds of the good citizens of Guisoreux; the Duc's agents, in the light of Dumourieux's distribution of food, are arranging a free festival for all-comers at the end of the month.

Although these two are the most important and competitive forces in the Palace, with the most resources to devote to courting our support, they are not without company. Prominent in the Palace but unfortunately too tight with their purse-strings to arouse this writer's excitement is the Granvelle family. These nouveau-riches from l'Anguille have made a big impact on the nation's finances and have a member on the State Council…but they are yet to do anything to gain the favour of the good people of Guisoreux. In this case the Duc de Lyonnais' hatred of these sea salt-smelling northerners can be fully justified.

Also hailing from the chilly north are the Knights of the Holy Blood. Only in the most venerable archives of the university library can armour such as theirs be seen! Though too pressed for cash to be very generous, they manage to put on a good joust every now and again. The old and older sets from l'Anguille - the recently reinvigorated Loiseau and the reactionary De Cabourg - have yet to make their mark on Guisoreux or, for that matter, on the court itself.

The real fun-lovers in the Palace must be the southerners. Hubert de la Motte, a clever and charming young man from Bordeleaux, has won over the citizens of Guisoreux with the wine of his home city, which he sometimes gives out in impressive quantities (may all the gods bless him). Just as popular with the ladies at court is Alphonse Capucinet, all the way from Navarre. He may have an odd accent and a strange taste in coiffeurs, but for his generous donations to the temples and chapels of our fair city no-one can give censure.

This is the situation as it stands, or at least as an outsider can best discern it; intrigue and backstabbing alter the balance of power every day. The Palace is filled with rich and ambitious gentry dying for the king's attention - and the intelligent ones realise that one of the best ways to political power and to King Charles's heart is through the hundred thousand screams of Guisoreux. I, Xavier Rousseau, shall keep the fair folk of Guisoreux informed of future developments.

- Xavier Rousseau, the Guisoreux Gazette –

The Lords & Ladies Of BretonniaNo other land is as inundated with aristocrats as

our fair Bretonnia. Their presence can be felt even here in Guisoreux; who has not seen their gilded carriages and sedan chairs pass through the streets, a path cleared by a mixture of awe, fear and bodyguards? Outside the city, it is they who control the lives of the people. Here, in the blessed, beautiful city of Guisoreux, their influence is, fortunately, not so directly felt; we citizens, with our exemptions won over the centuries, have earned the right to look on and accept the occasional favours - and sometimes the furies - of our ancestral elite.

At the head of the whole system there lies the greatest lord of them all: King Charles III de la Tête d'Or. Even in our city, his word is life and death; just as it is - or at least should be - for everyone in the kingdom, duke or serf.

Below him in the pecking order come the highest echelons of the aristocracy. The De Semblancy, the Capucinet, the Dumourieux, the Amboise family, the Granvelle family, and a few other well-known names; the ones that lie closest to the King and, by accident of birth or by 'fortuitous' acquisition, hold onto the largest tracts of land. Each of these leading factional heads sits on top of a whole mass of supporters, dependants and companions, collectively known as a 'clientage', with their leader as 'patron'; the members of each clientage go to make up the aristocracy of Bretonnia, all of the comtes, viscomtes, ducs and barons. Just as these 'clients' expect their leader to dangle baubles in front of them every so often (such as odd bits of land, a good word when looking for a position or an advantageous marriage), so the big players demand the loyalty and support of their underlings - from time to time they demand their wealth and even their lives, too. And, whatever the cost, woe to he who defies his lord.

Some of these factions are more cohesive than others; the Duc de Lyonnais, François de Semblancy, for example, rules his large cadre of lesser nobles with an iron fist - just as his ancestors have done with these lesser nobles' ancestors for hundreds of years. Cardinal Dumourieux, however, cannot claim the same benefits of lineage as De Semblancy; he has welded his large but ramshackle faction together over the last few years, so that it now matches even De Semblancy's following in size and prestige. Although he must be given credit for this achievement (no easy feat considering the somewhat fickle attitude possessed by many of our gentle folk), this writer can only wonder how much longer the whole house of cards can stay standing, especially in the face of De Semblancy's constant intrigue. Much of this actually takes place in our own city, safely removed from the delicate environment of the Oisillon Palace.

Outside a few favoured towns and cities which, like Guisoreux, have gained the freedom to decide their own future, just about everyone in the Kingdom lie directly or indirectly under the control of one of these major factions. Down through the lesser nobility and the local gentry, their demands and troubles reach all the way to the peasants toiling in the fields; onto them falls the ultimate responsibility of paying for the political games and luxurious lifestyles of our aristocrats.

Virtually everybody with an ounce of power or an acre of land can count himself somewhere in the great ladder of clients and patrons that extends up to the major factions and, eventually, to the King himself. Is this good for the nation? Is it good that a pampered dandy or scheming machiavel can control the destiny of so many from the marbled halls of the Oisillon Palace? Every day complaints and mutilated fugitives come into the city from the provinces, visible proof of the injustice wrought on Bretonnia by its leaders. Perhaps it is only the armed troops or the distributions of food and drink that keep the whole city from boiling over in indignation; the rest of the land is too shackled by the gentry to react.

But it is not for us to judge. However, seeing the debauchery and cruelty of so many nobles and the inebriated state our so-called gentry get into when they abandon their comfortable apartments in the Oisillon Palace or come up from the provinces, I count myself lucky to be able to take a step back and not imagine the fate of myself, Xavier Rousseau, and of my fellow citizens in their hands.

- Xavier Rousseau, the Guisoreux Gazette -

III.2. Summary of Leading Personalities of Bretonnia

Charles Blois, Charles III de la Tête d'Or, King of Bretonnia, age:27

Pulcrezzia Colonna, daughter of the Duke of Remas in Tilea, 2nd Wife of Charles III, Queen of Bretonnia, age:16

Government Members (The State Council)

* Prime Minister : Cardinal of Shallya, Henri Armagnac Dumourieux (Dumourieux Faction), age:48 * Minister of Finance : Pierre Granvelle, son of Bernard Granvelle, Comte de Perrac (Granvelle Faction), age:29 * Minister of the Army and the Navy : young Louis Villeroi, Charles III's best friend (Blois Faction), age:21 * Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs : Hubert de la Motte, Marquis de Frejus, the King's cousin (Amboise faction), age:30 * Secretary of State at Dispatches : Nicholas Fouquet, Comte de Sarlat (De Semblancy faction), age:38

Noble Factions at court The King's court at the great Oisillon Palace is a huge and diverse mix of nobles and favour-seekers assembled from across the kingdom and beyond. To try and help make some sense of the complex situation and summarise the information above, here is a brief list of the factions to be found at the court in order of size and influence.

THE ROYAL FACTION:The King's own clients and extended relatives; a

very large faction who openly interfere and get dragged into the machinations of other groups, with little group dynamic of their own and several leaders with conflicting interests. Few if any would, however, desert the King's patronage.

THE CARDINAL'S FACTION:

The King's Prime Minister, his friends and his dependants; many are attracted to the Cardinal by his current level of influence, and were this to be diminished so would his faction decline in numbers. The Cardinal is generally opposed to the De Semblancy, and anyone else who gets too big for their boots can expect him to oppose them.

THE DE SEMBLANCY FAMILY:François de Semblancy, Duc de Lyonnais and

Marshal of Bretonnia, together with his own clients and relatives, including his wife, Annette, sister to King Charles; and Nicholas Fouquet, Comte de Sarlat and Secretary of State at Despatches. They are bitterly opposed to the Cardinal, 'noblesse de robe' and the Capucinet family; in general they are arch-conservatives who distrust any new measure that could compromise their position.

THE GRANVELLE FAMILY:Led at court by Pierre Granvelle, Minister of

Finance and son of Bernard Granvelle, Comte de Perrac (who is based in l’Anguille); supported by his brothers and clients, most of whom are comparatively new into the aristocracy and politics. They have a good working relationship with the Cardinal and the King, but encounter varying levels of hostility from other, more established nobles, in particular the De Semblancy. The Granvelle are open rivals with the Loiseau family, and the De Cabourg family and the Knights of the Holy Blood detest them.

THE AMBOISE FAMILY:

Dynamically led at court by Hubert de la Motte, Marquis de Frejus, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the King's cousin; also many nobles from Gascogne. The official head of the family is Jules Blois, Duc de Gascogne and uncle to Charles III; he is not active in politics and remains in Bordeleaux with his wife Blanche. The Amboise faction get on fairly well with all the other factions and have many allies in the Blois family thanks to Hubert's royal blood.

THE CAPUCINET FAMILY:As the family head, the Duc of Navarre, is

reluctant to leave his own lands, the faction at court is led by his brother Arnaud-Alphonse Capucinet, who is accompanied by a number of fellow Navarrese aristocrats; they bring an unsavoury reputation and an ancestral feud with the De Semblancy to the Oisillon Palace. Other factions are still trying to determine exactly what the Capucinet want at court and if the Duc of Navarre's wishes are compatible with their own.

The Religious FactionNot really a faction in itself; comprises all the

great clerics in the land, who are obliged by tradition to sit together when the King is present. At varying times all seven Cardinals (of the cults of Shallya, Myrmidia, Verena, Taal, Morr, Manann and Ulric) and the kingdom's Archeveques and Eveques (archbishops and bishops) attend. Nearly all who regularly come to court are affiliated with one of the other factions, whose interests they support. Most of the Cardinals are involved with one of the courtly factions, and many have blood ties with the nobility.

Below are listed the seven Cardinals, where they are based and the factions they support: * Cardinal of Shallya, Henri Armagnac Dumourieux (Couronne) - DUMOURIEUX FACTION * Cardinal of Myrmidia, Claude de Vendome "Le gros" (Quenelles) - DE SEMBLANCY FAMILY * Cardinal of Verena, Gibaud De Rennes (Guisoreux) - BLOIS FAMILY * Cardinal of Morr, Cicere Marsallas (Guisoreux) - BLOIS FAMILY (but only by instinct; generally stays out of politics) * Cardinal of Taal, Quentin Eurtre (Parravon) - DUMOURIEUX FACTION (again, rarely attends court and normally not concerned with government) * Cardinal of Manann, Toine Rohan-Rochefort (Bordeleaux) - AMBOISE FAMILY * Cardinal of Ulric, Alf-André de Negrepelisse (l'Anguille) - KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY BLOOD/DE CABOURG FAMILY

III.3. The State Council (GM only)

The Workings of the CouncilOne of the most prestigious and influential

bodies in the kingdom is the King's State Council. The most basic duty of the council is to advise the King on how to govern the kingdom, but he retains overall power and can veto any decision taken. In practice, he usually delegates responsibility for various duties to members of the council, who take care of the matter on the King's behalf. There are many possibilities for political advancement for those on the council, which is filled with a mix of the King's favourites, great nobles and a few genuinely effective administrators.

Technically, the King is able to invite anyone at all to the meetings, but the only ones in regular attendance are the Ministers. They are the individuals in charge of the departments involved in running the kingdom, such as finance, the military and foreign affairs. In the past, many important nobles have also attended the council simply because of their rank and position at court (Charles II de la Dure, for instance, sometimes simply called out that the council was in session as he sat in the midst of a palace garden party), but thanks largely to the ministrations of Cardinal Dumourieux numbers are kept strictly limited; indeed, unless the King is adamant he can usually dissuade him from inviting anyone except the regular Ministers, who are obliged to attend. He is fully aware that letting many more individuals onto the council could compromise his own position of power. Instead, he prefers to let the various factions either work through the councillors, allowing him to keep tabs on affairs, or to try and get the King's ear when he is outside the council chamber. Since he is not keen on discussing 'dull' matters of money, government and appointments when not at the council, it is very hard for other nobles to get him to listen to their wishes. All the court is aware of this problem, and know full well that Cardinal Dumourieux is the cause. Not surprisingly, there are a great many individuals at court with serious grudges against Dumourieux, though none have so far dared try to forge a serious plot or alliance to lessen his powers. The Cardinal has many spies in and around the Oisillon Palace, anxiously watching for any conspiracy and ready to take any steps to prevent a challenge to his pre-eminence. All other Ministers, though, are deeply involved with the patronage networks and factions at court.

The State Council Ministers

The Prime Minister: Cardinal Dumourieux

Normally, there is no Prime Minister, and the King either takes more responsibilities himself or delegates them more evenly. Under Charles III, however, Cardinal Dumourieux has risen to command far greater powers than any other individual in the land. Quite simply, it is he who runs the kingdom on Charles's behalf, handing out tasks and responsibilities to royal agents and Ministers. Many of the most important tasks he takes upon himself, and he spends long hours poring over ledgers and reports. Despite the immense workload placed on the Cardinal, he apparently has boundless energy, and it is said that he does not sleep but simply says a short prayer to Shallya. He is a firm ruler, with a prodigious intellect and the ability to work any situation to his advantage. Sometimes this precludes taking the best course of action for Bretonnia. In practice it is he who chairs State Council meetings, standing in the King's stead whilst he is hunting, sleeping or engaged in some other graceful pursuit. Even when Charles is there, those who are sharp eyed notice him peer over at the Cardinal before answering. Power of this magnitude is a dangerous thing, and in gaining and keeping his position Dumourieux has made many enemies, not least the powerful De Semblancy clan. A major part of the Cardinal's time is spent in keeping the De Semblancy and other political enemies at bay; a task which gets harder every day.

Minister of Finance: Pierre Granvelle

The current Minister of Finance is Pierre Granvelle, second son of Bernard Granvelle, former governor of l'Anguille and head of a powerful noble faction. The position of his son on the council owes much to the extent of the Granvelle family's new-found influence; but even more important to the Granvelle's status is their proven ability as administrators, clerks and businessmen. Pierre is no exception; indeed, he is widely said to possess a magical affinity for numbers, so great is his arithmetic ability. He is able to accomplish in a matter of seconds calculations that even learned men need hours to complete, and he never makes mistakes; this is, for him, a serious point of honour. Coupled with this uncanny skill is a gift for management and accountancy, which has proved extremely useful given the somewhat chaotic state of Bretonnian finances. Taxes, dues, exemptions and pensions have accumulated over the centuries, so that today the system is positively byzantine in complexity. Even the financial wizardry of Pierre Granvelle is barely enough to maintain solvency, and any serious expenditure - such as on a major war - would soon bring the whole system crashing down. Pierre is probably the busiest man at the Oisillon Palace, and can spare but little time to parade the ballrooms and galleries of the great palace; most of his waking hours are spent shut in a small room with a candle and a quill. Relations with the other council members are good, especially with Cardinal Dumourieux, who values Pierre's skills very highly; in fact, he is one of the few individuals whom the Cardinal is prepared to trust, at least on matters of finance. Consequently, so long as he is able to give to the King and the Cardinal what they want to fulfil their various designs, Pierre is left to his own devices. There is much idle speculation amongst the other nobles at court as to what he does

in his valuable spare time, and Pierre Granvelle is the butt of several unkind jokes devised by his family's enemies.

Minister of the Army and the Navy: Louis VilleroiIn the past, this post has been normally occupied

by the Marshal of Bretonnia, who after the King commands all the armed forces of the nation. Thanks largely to the machinations of Cardinal Dumourieux, however, the present Marshal (François de Semblancy, the Cardinal's arch enemy) does not hold a place on the State Council. The last Marshal, François' father Chlodion de Semblancy, was Minister of the Army and the Navy, but although his son was appointed Marshal after his death, Charles II de la Dure instead elected to appoint an apparently unknown minor noble, Baron Henri Merienne. It was widely rumoured that the old King was somehow indebted to Merienne for some incident in early manhood; according to some reports the two were educated together, and a few speak of a horrible secret, the truth of which Merienne alone knew. Whatever the case may have been, Merienne died in 2511 IC, several years after Charles II; before his death the old King must have spoken with his son so that the Baron's position was not challenged. After Merienne's death, Charles III is said to have wept in joy, and then to have ordered the Baron's chambers entirely turned over and the contents burned without regard. None have explained the reasons for this conduct.

In Merienne's stead Charles III, at the suggestion of Cardinal Dumourieux, selected his best friend, Louis Villeroi, then aged 17. This was a shocking move, and many observers then and since have muttered that the move marked the end of all dignity and respect in the State Council and in the country as a whole. Not least amongst those angered at the change was François de Semblancy; it is said that two servants were killed before his rage died down. His reaction was not totally unjustified; Villeroi is, although famously handsome, not very bright at all and is committed to ladies and courtly life rather than military affairs. He is a dreamy, rather whimsical young man given to flowing cuffs and sentimental poetry. Villeroi's origins, too, are somewhat shrouded in mystery; none can actually pinpoint the time he came to court before being appointed to the State Council and winning the adoring eye of King Charles. In fact, a generally hazy, ethereal quality seems to follow him everywhere, leaving all he speaks to faintly bemused.

His apparent naivety and lack of decisive action suit Cardinal Dumourieux very well; there is one less politically interested individual close to the King to worry about, the influence of the De Semblancy is decidedly limited and the army is kept firmly under control.

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Hubert de la Motte

Because this position is so dependent upon impressing visiting dignitaries, Cardinal Dumourieux and the King support the Marquis de Frejus as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Hubert de la Motte, head of the Amboise and cousin to the King is very effective in this role, and all visitors to the Oisillon Palace have gone away with very clear memories of the splendour of the King. He was appointed by Gontrand, Duc de Gascogne, during his regency. Certainly his elevation owes something to nepotism (Gontrand was Hubert's father; when first chosen as Secretary in 2507 IC, Hubert was just 21), but to everyone's surprise the young southerner has proved highly suited to the position.

Much more of Bretonnia's international standing is built on the good organisational abilities of Hubert de la Motte than people know; thanks to him, Charles III de la Tête d'Or enjoys a reputation as the most magnificent monarch in the Old World. On the other hand, some have taken this the wrong way, and see the Bretonnian nobility as decadent and wasteful. Whether or not this is true is not Hubert's concern; he will continue to put on the best organised and most exciting parties for as long as he occupies this ministry. Yet his responsibilities do not end with diplomatic occasions; he is also charged with incoming and outgoing communications with foreign rulers. In this he displays far greater subtlety; he has a firm grasp both of Classical and of Bretonnian, as well as an advanced knowledge of Tilean, Estalian and Reikspiel; he has even learned a little Elven speech in his studies. If there is a danger attached to Hubert, it is perhaps that he is too good at what he does, and that the complex and almost illusionary base on which Bretonnia's international reputation stands (Hubert has been rather 'optimistic' in his descriptions of Bretonnian armies, fortresses and wealth) could be shattered through one or two false moves. Equally, Hubert is quick to form dislikes and judgements which, though usually based on piercing and accurate observations (sometimes a little too accurate), can arouse resentment amongst those slighted. To many, he comes across as merely arrogant and dissolute; he is both, but the danger comes in forgetting that he is also well-connected, ruthless and very clever, with many talents beyond what meets the eye.

Secretary of State at Dispatches: Nicholas Fouquet

At present this post is held by Nicholas Fouquet, Comte de Sarlat. He was appointed in the last year of Charles II's reign, reportedly as a compromise with François de Semblancy; the Duc de Lyonnais, Marshal of Bretonnia, did not occupy the Ministry of the Army and the Navy during the time of Henri Merienne's ascendancy, but both the Duc and the King were convinced the powerful and distinguished family ought to have some power on the State Council. On the other hand, François did not feel he could stoop to occupying any post himself other than that of Minister of the Army and the Navy; consequently, the King tacitly accepted the Duc's choice of Nicholas Fouquet, one of his clients and a cousin of the De Semblancy.

Charles III respected his father's selection, and has so far done nothing to challenge the position of Fouquet. François de Semblancy was, however, upset when the post he was hoping to gain - Minister of the Army and Navy - was taken by Louis Villeroi, forcing him to leave the tiresome Fouquet in place as his only means of gaining power on the State Council. The Minister himself is a famously voluble personality, with a loud voice, swaggering gait and a penchant for shouting and beating peasants. He excels at hunting and gaming, and has proven on a number of occasions that he can stomach a great deal of alcohol before keeling over. The Duc de Lyonnais did not actually know Fouquet personally when he was appointed to the post; he wanted someone close and, he hoped, easily led. Fouquet is not exactly what he wanted. It is not that he takes no interest in correspondence coming in to the Palace; he just takes much more interest in food, drink and fun, leaving little time for real work. François de Semblancy often finds himself at his wits' end trying to get Fouquet to do what he is told and to bring up some urgent point on the State Council. Many times he has considered removing Fouquet from the council, but he knows that, first, Cardinal Dumourieux would block any such move as he enjoys having the fairly unintellectual Fouquet on the Council; he, his agents and Pierre Granvelle handle most of the important royal correspondence, limiting de Semblancy's influence. François also recognises that, should he get Fouquet off the council, he would find getting another of his clients onto the council almost impossible due to the Cardinal's presence. Thus, the exasperated and often raging de Semblancy frequently finds himself engaged in blazing rows with Fouquet in an attempt to spur him into some sort of useful activity.

III.4. The Blois Family

This is the family name of Charles III de la Tête D'Or, and his been borne by kings of Bretonnia for over three hundred years now, since the last ruling dynasty, the Merienne, died out in the year 2201 IC with the death of King Henri V l'Amoureux. The Blois family is extremely wealthy, drawing its income from estates across the land (concentrated in Breton) and from the several kinds of taxation currently imposed on the populace. They are notoriously prone to infighting and intrigue; Charles III's father, Charles II de la Dure, was faced with a revolt by his own brother the Duc de Gascogne in the first years of his reign, though the Duc was later pardoned.

Charles III de la Tête d'Or

Charles III de la Tête d'Or is, as any of his subjects would readily assert, undoubtedly the best, most munificent King ever to sit on the throne of Bretonnia. Privately, many of the nobles have their doubts. Charles has inherited a kingdom which, though generally rich, populous and tightly controlled, is riddled with corruption and tension at just about every level. His father's military adventures in Estalia, Tilea and against the Empire have not helped matters, and it is expected that a major campaign will be launched sooner or later, if only because Charles III feels the need for action and personal glory. Charles can be extremely energetic when the mood takes him, and at times even displays a considerable level of competence and interest in matters ranging from war to religion and finance. However, these assiduous spells are rare; Charles is, most of the time, passive and far more taken with simple and sensuous pleasures such as good food, hunting and (it is said) amorous involvements with the prettier members of the palace staff. Already, and much to his anger, he has begun to lose the slim, boyish figure that used to win him so many admirers; yet no-one would dare mention this fact to his face, and he is still handsome in his own way and can be a very good conversationalist. During his bouts of lethargy the King can become rancorous if approached on official business, rashly ordering severe punishments for those who incur his wrath by calling his attention away from more important issues. Equally, when he does decide that his kingdom calls, he is outraged when those around him fail to recognise the magnitude and dignity of his regal duties. These dramatic turnabouts are utterly unpredictable; on some occasions, Charles ends up tearfully apologising

to someone for only a moment before screaming to have their head cut off.

As things stand, when Charles is in his more 'relaxed' state, the kingdom suffers when, for weeks on end, government is left to Cardinal Dumourieux and Charles's other favourites; only to take a sudden upsurge when he emerges into a burst of activity, often merely effacing the work his administration has undertaken beforehand and leaving them with more problems to cope with as he returns to his leisured lifestyle. On average, Charles has about one or two frenetic days of activity a month.

Guillaume Blois, Comte de Castelnau

King Charles has two younger brothers, Guillaume and Tancred; Guillaume, the elder, is known as an especially devious and cunning individual, famed for a scar on the right hand side of his face that has forced him to wear a mask for his whole life. Masked balls are consequently favourite events amongst his supporters. Guillaume is also known as a 'thruster' in hunting circles, and takes a great pleasure in the chase. Privately, he admits to the kill being the greatest thrill of his life; nothing, claims Guillaume, pleases him more than to plunge his knife into a still beating heart and feel the warm blood course over his hands. No love is lost between Guillaume and King Charles; the two boys used to compete violently for their father's attentions, and they now rarely meet or communicate. As a precaution against political intrigue at court, Charles has entrusted Guillaume with the stewardship of royal estates around Castelnau, where Guillaume holds his own court as the Comte de Castelnau. Periodically mutterings are heard at court to the effect that Guillaume is planning some sort of attempt on the throne. This has become such a regular occurrence that not even Cardinal Dumourieux, King Charles or the royal guard take them very seriously. Guillaume is ignorant of this realisation, and although he is regarded as something of a comical failure by his brother's dandified court, he does have genuine ambitions that simply fail to materialise because of a lack of fortune and support. A good number of the rumours concerning his royal ambitions are nearer to the truth than their hearers would suspect, but Guillaume has always so far failed at some early stage in the plot. But he will keep trying…

Tancred Blois

Tancred, who is currently just seventeen years old, has shown great intelligence and, unusually for his family, a genuine sense of piety and responsibility. Charles III has much love for his youngest brother, and it is rumoured that he wishes him to go into the church, where he will no longer be a threat to the succession. Other whisperings, though, claim that Tancred is secretly being taught by Guglielmo Andronico, a Tilean master scholar attendant on the King and, it is said, a powerful sorcerer. Tancred, too, has developed a love of old, worm-eaten books that, to the less-than studious minds of the Bretonnian nobility, is decidedly unhealthy. If this is true, King Charles may find himself faced by something far more serious than mere bluster and ambition from his youngest brother in the years to come.

III.5. De Semblancy Family

The De Semblancy family is perhaps the most distinguished military clan in Bretonnia. For over 1000 years the soldiers of the family have served the Kings of Bretonnia well, winning dozens of great battles and covering themselves with glory. Four hundred years ago, after the De Semblancy crushed an invasion from the Empire, a grateful King Louis IX l'Aragne granted his victorious generals the title of Duc de Lyonnais, together with large territories in that rich region of Bretonnia. Since then it has been a stronghold of the conservative De Semblancy and their many clients, who are drawn only from the oldest families. They are a fiercely traditional and proud lot, who look down on virtually everyone else in the kingdom as inferiors and oppose almost any attempt at change or modernisation.

Perhaps the only exception to this attitude is in the military; the De Semblancy have pioneered developments in organisation, tactics and general standards of conduct, always striving to stay at the forefront of sophistication and efficiency so as to win the favour of the monarch by conquest. Their reputation for harsh discipline and mercilessness is so far unequalled; the peasants and soldiers of Lyonnais, which is dominated by the faction, go in open fear and awe of their masters. Many members of the De Semblancy family have been Marshals of Bretonnia. François de Semblancy, is no exception; he has served as Marshal now for fourteen years after succeeding his father in the position and in that time has won four substantial battles against the orcs in the name of the King. His lack of a place on the State Council, especially given his military credentials, is a source of enormous frustration and frequent tantrums; François still hankers after the Ministry of the Army and the Navy, but knows that with Cardinal Dumourieux in power and Louis Villeroi alive there is not much hope for him. The De Semblancy faction, however, is not without a presence on the Council, though the Secretary of State at Dispatches, Nicholas Fouquet, leaves a lot to be desired.

The De Semblancy represent the largest single faction at the Oisillon Palace, numbering almost a hundred aristocrats and their retinues. The only group which comes even close to them in terms of size is the bloated and insecure faction that Cardinal Dumourieux has built up. The De Semblancy, however, have centuries of tradition and favour amongst their members to draw upon, and François uses his forceful personality to exert rigid control over his large collection of supporters. Cohesion, deference and loyalty - together with arrogance, prejudice and self-confidence - come naturally to the De Semblancy faction, and as they see ever more forces attempting to challenge their dominant position they become even more determined and entrenched in their age-old mannerisms.

François de Semblancy

François is the fitting heir of his predecessors; he is a tall, strong and very well muscled man, known for his blind courage, raging temper and, in many cases, lack of forethought. On the battlefield, these characteristics combine with a strange ability to keep control over himself and his followers; some say he lives in a permanent state of such rage and exertion that battle presents no difference to him. He also has a great command of tactics and strategy, with an uncanny sense of timing that has been the death of countless enemy troops, political adversaries and duelling opponents. Behind closed doors, François pursues his love of extreme sensations in a sordid pursuit of pleasure, in all its most 'interesting' forms. Xavier Grouchy, an elderly and stonefaced priest of Morr, has apparently abandoned most of his calling's usual scruples and acts as a procurer for François and his companions in lusty delights, bringing all manner of peasants girls (and boys), unusual substances and devices to the De Semblancy's greatest palace at Sept-Forges. Although word of what François gets up to does occasionally do the rounds at the Oisillon Palace, his forceful personality, violence and power prevent them from being anything more than quickly forgotten mutterings.

The Tremaine

A few of the De Semblancy's supporters are even more secretive and old fashioned, and when not vociferously defying their enemies at court spend most of their time within apparently darkened, heavily-barred rooms. Principally centring on those from the Tremaine estates - known as the site of vast megalithic monuments dating back to long before the founding of the kingdom - these nobles are too close to François de Semblancy for comfort, and though he does not espouse their mysterious activities, he does favour them because of the almost uncanny good fortune their members seem to enjoy. Their most prominent representative is Calixte Tremaine, Vicomte de Quenelles; a very old friend of François de Semblancy and his companion through fire, flood and countless depraved adventures. Tremaine's tastes are even more 'specialised' than those of François, running to torture, mutilation and animals; he enjoys the nickname of 'l'Extreme', although most believe this derives from his frequent overindulgence in drink.

Claude de VendomeUnconnected with these depraved goings on is

Claude de Vendome, Cardinal of Myrmidia, based in Quenelles. Like so many other high-level clerics, he is of aristocratic stock, and has a tendency to get involved in politics. Claude is known as 'Le Gros' for his enormous size, which is a result of the celebrated pastry cuisine of Quenelles. Although most of his life is taken up with eating and reading (often at the same time), he is quietly astute and notices far more than he is given credit for. The Cardinal, however, is also very lazy and suspicious, greeting most happenings with a smile and a knowing grunt. As with almost all De Semblancy faction members, he finds it hard even to contemplate defecting.

Annette de SemblancyOne of the main braking influences on François

de Semblancy, and perhaps the only force preventing open feuding between the Dumourieux and the De Semblancy, is François's wife, Annette, sister of Charles III. She is a beautiful courtesan, who is able to exert a certain level of control over her husband's violent temper; it is said that Annette is the only person he can bear to be in a room with when he is in a bad mood. However, she is not so clever as she thinks she is, and François secretly intercepts her letters to King Charles, using them to keep tabs on her activities and occasionally gaining vital information on the King's current thoughts and plans. There is very little trust or love between the two, but for the sake of tradition and appearances (which both of them value very highly) they maintain an air of contentment and wedded bliss.

III.6. La Chambre Noire (GM only)

King Charles III de la Tête d'Or, like his father and grandfather before him, knows the value of an efficient secret service, which can keep down the most dangerous political enemies and plots against the crown. Very few, even amongst the nobility, know anything of La Chambre Noire other than its name and vague purpose; many suspect (quite rightly) that it is based in the Oisillon Palace. In fact, La Chambre Noire is just that: 'The Black Room'. It is found in the heart of the royal palace, far from prying eyes, and has no windows or anything else on the walls; moreover, to guard against the members of the group who control the extremely delicate service from knowing each other's true identity, meetings take place in absolute darkness, with the members each entering from a separate door and being guided to their seats by a chord. Only the Master of La Chambre Noire knows the real names of all the members - and his own identity is the most closely guarded of all. These details, however, are almost unknown outside La Chambre Noire itself; but its reach goes further and deeper than even the King himself could guess. Much speculation goes on amongst the aristocratic inhabitants of the Palace as to who might be a part of La Chambre Noire, and rumours run rampant, stirring the hearts of young heiresses. A few rash and daring noble gentlemen, seeing this, have it put about that they are actually members of La Chambre Noire themselves. Those who make such claims soon learn their folly: a dagger with the blade half snapped off is the first warning, a full dagger is the second, and death is the third.…

III.7. The Modern Army of Bretonnia

The King's Musketeers Founded barely twenty years ago, the King's

Musketeers are amongst the Old World's youngest military orders. However, courts and generals across the Old World are already beginning to hear of this elite unit's legendary exploits (due in large part to their inimitable combination of Bretonnian boisterousness and penchant for swashbuckling actions).The unit is dedicated to the protection of the King. All members must be noble.

The Royal Dragoons The Dragons were a Bretonnian order of chivalry

that existed at the time of the crusades. Facing disparition, they later became a military unit open to commoners. Unswearingly loyal and highly disciplined, the Dragoons are mostly renowned for their brutality. They are the shock force which is sent in when there is a peasant uprising, a revolt, heretics to hunt, etc. The Dragoons have made a number of serious blunders recently, killing off rebellious members of the high-nobility for instance.

While the dragoons travel mounted, they typically fight on foot. Leading officers are noble, but the rest of the Dragoons are from common stock.

The Provincial Companies : - the Bretonnian Guard, the provincial company

of Bretono the largest provincial company

- the Lions of Lyonnaiso well trained and disciplined they are

widely considered as the most efficient provincial company

- the Bears of Navarre- the Boars of Flandres- the Wolves of Armorique

o led by the De Cabourg, they comprise many Ulricans of Norse ancestry

- the Griffins of Gascogne- the Hawks of Bourgon

A good amount of rivality exists between the different provincial companies, which has much to do with the rivality that exists between the noble families of the commanding officers. Pay in the army is not regular as the Kingdoms finances are in quasi-permanent state of turmoil. It is common practice to disband armies during the winter time. These unemployed often pennyless soldiers lead to many problems, the least being that it is more difficult to start a new campaign with freshly banded troops than with non disbanded ones.

The Royal Gunners (Les Artificiers Royaux)The royal Manufacture in Couronne is where

most of the Bretonnians guns (firearms and cannons) are fabricated. It was created in 2440 when an Imperial engineer Claus von Heinz defected to Bretonnia. A number of Dwarf and renegade Imperial engineers are employed here in addition to Bretonnian artillerists. While Bretonnian cannons are still considered less reliable on average than those coming from Imperial foundries, the recently developed Bretonnian musket is widely recognised as the best personal firearm in the Old World. Gunpowder is produced in large quantities only in Couronne, where it is under strict Royal control. Gunpowder used outside the Royal Bretonnian Army is subject to heavy taxation. 

The Royal Navy (La Royale)Before Charles II de la Dure decided to

modernize the navy, the Bretonnian fleet was composed mainly of century old cumbersome hulks. A dozen sloops and brigantines and half as many modern galleons, all armed with cannons, were constructed at great expense. Given that the Bretonnians are competent sailors, the Royal Navy should rightfully be feared. The missions of the Navy are to protect the Bretonnian coasts and ports, defend Royal interests (including the Bretonnian overseas settlements) and hunt pirates. To complement the Navy, Privateers have been used extensively against Bilbali.

The main military ports are L'Anguille where the major part of the modern fleet is stationned and Rochefort, at the southern border of Gascogne. The Admiral of the fleet is Pierre Marouanec, who is based in L'Anguille. Officers in la Royale are exclusively noble.

Since service in the Navy is notoriously hard, Bretonnian conscriptors must often resort to unsavoury techniques to recruit. Press-ganging is a common practice in coastal areas of Bretonnia for instance.

Other Units  &  Mercs Border Patrols, Coast Guards, City militias,

Colonial militias. Provincial militias (levied in times of troubles).

Foreign Mercenaries : Hardened Imperial lansquenets essentially.

IV. Appendix – Living in Bretonnia

IV.1. The Cult of Saints in Bretonnia

Despite the increasing politization (some would say corruption) of the Bretonnian clergy, the Bretonnian population remains for the main part quite pious. This has much to do with the widespread custom of revering Saints. Saints are men and women who lived exemplary lives in the service of one of the gods of the pantheon and who are revered after their death for their piety. A Saint serves as an intermediary between the faithful and the divinity making Bretonnian religion much more personnal and closer to the needs and aspirations of the people.

There are a great many Saints in Bretonnia, most of them very local in nature (Saints have largely replaced minor patronal divinity as encountered in the Empire). Most Bretonnian temples and oratories are dedicated to one or more Saints. The major ones usually possess Saintly relics (a remaining part of the body or sometimes an important object having belonged to the Saint) which are believed to help with gaining contact with the Saint.

The process by which a Saint becomes officially recognised is known as Canonisation. Because the political interests of the cult and those of its main dignitaries often play a major part here, there are official Saints whose sanctity is dubious and non-officially recognised Saints “les Saints du people” who are the subject of popular devotion. The confusion around Saints is further increased by the fact that most Saints are ancient and little is known about their true lives.

In terms of play, Saints are a mean of implicating players more in the faith aspect of their characters. Moreover the obscure nature and sometimes controversial nature of Saints can be used as a plot element in Bretonnian scenarios and campaigns.

A list of the main Bretonnian Saints together with their associated divinity and main region of worship is given here. A complete description of these Saints and other more controversial ones is available in Bretonnia-Sourcebook.

IV.2. The main Bretonnian Saints

St Sugre (Morr)Soother of the passing away, protector against nightmares

St Vadnais (Morr, around Moussillon)Patron of those who hunt the undead

St Margelon (Morr, Bourgon)Protector against the undead

St Antoine (Verena)Patron of witch-hunters

St Benehold (Verena)Patron of the conservation of knowledge and of Verenan Monasteries

St Antoine de la Peste (Shallya)Patron of the ill, protector against épidemics

St Brenvard (Manann, Armorique)Patron of navigators and explorers

Ste Léonidas (Myrmidia, Navarre) The heroin, Protectoress of Navarre

St Leu (Ulric, Armorique)Patron of the Bretonnian warriors devoted to Uric

St Gudule (Taal, Lyonnais)Patron of forests and wild animals

IV.3. Wyrd Doings: Wizards in Bretonnia

'And are you, or are you not, a witch?' That was the question that the leader of the mob - one of the dirty, poverty-stricken-academic looking sorts that seems to spring out of every rabble to air its woes - put to the unfortunate man besieged in the middle of the Place de la Paix, accused of witchcraft.

That man was Simonin Lamadon, graduate of the Altdorf school of magic, highly educated and with more power in his little finger than all the mob's fists could muster. Someone who knows how to handle himself when in dire straits. He smiled as he told the rioters where to turn for the truth. He didn't need to speak a second time; the crowds faces turned to each other, muttered and soon dispersed. 'Read,' he said to the dusty student and his companions with admirable composure, 'the Guisoreux Gazette.' Simonin Lamadon is also, I forgot to say, a personal friend.

Monsieur Lamadon's recent plight highlights the dangers that plague wizards in our great city, and indeed throughout the kingdom of Bretonnia. He and others like him invest years of effort and immense amounts of money in learning the 'art' as they like to call it. Simonin, as he told me during a meeting at the Eighth Heaven tavern, spent fully nine years in attaining full proficiency at magic. It was only two years ago, after the untimely death of Monsieur Jacques Fretrier-Ballisse, that he received his 'Permis de Magique' or, as I've heard it called in the alleys and highways of Guisoreux, the Cursed Coin. Now Simonin Lamadon can proudly call himself, together with the other twenty-four holders of the 'Cursed Coins', one of the King's Sorcerers: the best wizards in Bretonnia, under the King's protection and required to give him help and advice whenever summoned.

I was lucky enough to actually hold, if only for a short time, Simonin's small golden Permis de Magique. He keeps it always about his neck, on a long silver chain. Silver, to discourage the darker things that lurk in the dark beyond dreams and occasionally challenge those who study the art.

The Permis was not an especially beautiful or dazzling object; it was heavy, heavier even than gold ought to be. My whole arm seemed to grow gradually more leaden the longer I held it, and I could have sworn it took on a greater sheen as I let go and the medallion swung back into Simonin's manicured palm. Upon its surface was etched the royal arms, together with an IX; this was the ninth of the twenty-five Permis de Magique. So the story goes, these twenty-five were made from the crown of the Duc de Brisolles, fabled magician-noble of the 13th century, who was defeated by St Marc in a contest of supernatural skill.

Regardless of the history surrounding the Cursed Coins, they certainly carry their weight today. Anyone hindering their wearers can expect the full weight of King Charles's power to come crushing down on them. A magician armed with a Permis can go anywhere and do - almost - anything, and expect to get away with it; such is the power that these objects command. There's an indefinable something about the small gold piece, barely two inches in diameter, which seems to reach out to all who see it. Wizards, so Simonin tells me, see it like a furnace in the darkness. Naturally, there are responsibilities, too. Sometimes quite onerous responsibilities. There is always at least one wizard at the Oisillon Palace providing advice and occasional entertainment for the King and his minions. Also, thanks to their education and power to see far more than meets the eye, wizards are regularly ordered to act as ambassadors or plenipotentiaries of the royal government. Simonin himself spent two months in Miragliano last autumn on the King's orders, negotiating a new treaty over the shipment of wine glasses to Bordeleaux. A fellow bearer of the Permis de Magique, who will go unnamed for fear of sullying his peace-loving name, was recently ordered to accompany an armed expedition in the Grey Mountains, and in times past up to a dozen wizards have joined the King and his armies on the march into Estalia and the Empire. Even the King's Sorcerers fear blades and cannonballs; being the best is not always easy…or safe.

But what of those who do not bear the Cursed Coins? There are wizards all over Bretonnia, some honest, some dishonest, and some just downright evil. The problem for the rest of the people comes in telling them apart. It is all too common for them to simplify the issue and cry 'witch!' at the first hint of magic. Even the lords and ladies still fear black magic, and see wizards as little more than a flashy and expensive drawing-room entertainment. Progress is slow; anyone who mutters, owns a broom or keeps a cat is liable to be charged with witchcraft in some rural areas I've known. Those who openly call themselves wizards can expect little more than stern silence, curses and, if they tread on anyone's toes, the stake.

Wizards in Bretonnia face an ambiguous present and an uncertain future. On the one hand King Charles, his servants and a rare few others see wizards for what they can be: a useful part of society and government. That's why Simonin Lamadon and the other twenty-four carry the Permis de Magique.

On the other hand, ancestral fear of witches and all types of magic turns the public against them, uniting rich and poor in ignorance and terror of that which they don't understand. The law, too, is unkind to magicians. Summarising all the reams of legal jargon and centuries of confused legislation, one arrives at the following conclusion: magic is allowed, witchcraft is not. Where the one ends and the other begins is the big question.

- Xavier Rousseau, the Guisoreux Gazette -

IV.4. Magic over the Counter?

The 'Liber Ingens de Magicae Artibus Veris' ('The Bumper Book of True Magic') sounds grand enough, and it certainly looks the part: thick, spells written in Classical, bound in red leather, big pentagram on the cover, smell like a musty old loft (I would be curious to know how this is achieved in the short time since the book was printed). Any aspiring wizard would be proud of it, and would soon be able to do anything from summon a daemon to seduce the girl of his dreams. Looking about the streets of Guisoreux, it seems that many have already seized the opportunity promised on the inside cover by the book's publisher to 'learn the secrets of the magical arts' and 'know the truth behind the tapestry of visible reality'.

Simonin Lamadon, a more experienced wizard acquaintance, is not so impressed. He lifts up the hefty tome with a sigh, and rolls his eyes. This is not the first copy he's seen.

After I was sent my copy by a friendly bookseller, I asked him to take a look. According to Simonin, the only magical feat that anyone could possibly link to the 'Liber Ingens de Magicae Artibus Veris' is managing to hawk it for 35 Francs, sometimes more. In spite of the impressive turns of phrase - 'O lord of the heavens and of the infernal realms, attend to my plea' - and suitably eldritch diagrams (goats' heads, stars and naked bodies - mostly, predictably enough, female - feature highly), Simonin is convinced that no supernatural effect whatsoever could result from any amount of the chanting and candle-burning prescribed by this book. And let it be remembered that Simonin Lamadon is one of the King's Sorcerer's, armed with a Permis de Magique; there can't be many in Bretonnia who know more about magic than him. I'll take his word that the book is worthless.

Unfortunately, it seems that a great many people, mostly ambitious, otherwise intelligent young men and women, have been taken in by the offers of power and adventure, and have eagerly parted with their fourteen Écus. Cartloads of the work must have arrived in the city, and I've heard that pirated editions are already being secretly produced. Details of the original's producer, however, remain scanty. All the information contained in the 'Liber Ingens' itself is the name of the printer's city - Parravon - and his initials, B.R.

Parravon is, after Guisoreux, perhaps the second-greatest printing centre in the Old World. Dozens of printers work there, churning out vast runs of texts on all manner of subjects. Most of these are exported, either through the nearby Axe Bite Pass into the Empire, or else back down the Grismerie to Guisoreux and the rest of Bretonnia. The city's comparative freedom from prohibitive laws gives printers more liberty than they find elsewhere, and they have carved themselves a lucrative niche in the economy of the Old World. Yet none of my contacts in the city know any printer with the initials B.R. Nor can they tell me anything more about the origins of the 'Liber Ingens' save that it is being sent off in vast quantities both in caravans across the mountains and in barges up the river into rest of the kingdom.

Indeed, it is in connection with the 'Liber Ingens' that Simonin Lamadon has recently been asked by His Majesty King Charles III to go on a diplomatic mission to Altdorf - just one of the duties that comes from bearing one of the Cursed Coins. Complaints have been emerging from the highest levels of the Imperial government; apparently the ambitious youngsters of Altdorf, Nuln and Middenheim are as enthralled by the tome as our own. The Imperial authorities, however, seem to be taking it all very seriously; they see the influx of copies of the 'Liber Ingens' as nothing short of a dangerous and subversive plot to warp the bright young things of their greatest cities. Stern letters have been sent, and (though Simonin is reluctant to divulge too many details) further action has been threatened unless something is done.

Our own leadership has wisely taken the advice of Simonin and his fellow wizards, and is quite content to sit back and let the book's purchasers learn their own mistake. Spending 35 Francs is quite enough punishment, they feel. Nevertheless, although it has not yet spread as much in provincial towns, the book may cause quite a stir when it does. How many peasants, or small-town judges, for that matter, would be able to tell the difference between a genuine grimoire and the pulp-magic printed in the 'Liber Ingens'? Already the countryside is gripped by panics about witches; what reaction the antics of high-spirited wizards-in-waiting might provoke none can dare guess.

- Xavier Rousseau, the Guisoreux Gazette –

IV.5. Bretonnian Money

1 Franc = 20 pistoles = 240 sousThe Bretonnian Franc has a value roughly equivalent to that of an Imperial Crown.

Some high value Bretonnian gold coins are :- Le Louis d'Or (worth 25 Francs, or 500/-)- l’Écu (worth 2½ Francs , or 50/-)

IV.6. Glossary

Le Dauphin : the designated heir to the throne of BretonniaUn Cardinal : a member of the holy-council, leader of one the main official cults.Monseigneur : designates a noble or a high ranking cleric.A royal governor : a function given by the King to deserving (or sadly enough not very deserving) nobles. All the main Bretonnian cities have a Royal governor to administer them in the King's name.A League : the unit of distance most commonly used in Bretonnia, it is roughly equivalent to 3 miles or 4 kilometers.

Nobility Titles :- Roi/Reine =

King/Queen.- Duc/Duchesse =

Duke/Duchess,- Marquis/Marquise =

Marquis/Marchioness,

- Comte/Comtesse = Count/Countess,

- Vicomte/Vicomtesse = Viscount/Viscountess,

- Baron/Baronne = Baron/Baroness

- Chevalier = Knight

Etiquette- His Majesty the King- His Royal Highness

the Prince- His Eminence the

Cardinal- His Excellency the

minister, the governor, the ambassador, the bishop

Bretonnian Words & Expressions

- Monsieur or Messire / Mr (Sir)

- Madame / Mme (Madam)

- Mademoiselle (Miss, young lady)

- Oui/Non (Yes/No)- Place !

(Out of the way !)- Hein ?, Quoi ? (What

?)

- Qu'est ce qu'il dit ? (What is he saying ?)

- Je vous aime (I love you)

- Sacrebleu ! (my goodness!)

- Vive le Roi ! (Long live the King !)

- En garde !!! (On guard !!!)

- Pas de Quartier ! (No quarter)

- Montjoie ! (War cry)

IV.7. Bretonnian Calendar

BretonnianCalendar

MeaningImperial Calendar

Jour des sorcières

New YearOo

Hexenstag

I. Pluviôse, 32 Rain-tide I. Nachexen

II. Ventôse, 33 Wind-tide II. Jahrdrung

La St-GuduleSpring

EquinoxMitterfrühl

III. Germinal,33 Plants-tide III. Pflügzeit

IV. Floréal, 33 Flowers-tide IV. Sigmarzeit

V. Prairial, 33 Meadows-tide V. Sommerzeit

La Ste-LéonidasSummer Solstice

(Longest day)Sonnstille

VI. Messidor, 33 Harvest-tide VI. Vorgeheim

Les mystèresThe Mysteries

OoGeheimnistag

VII. Thermidor, 32

Heat-tideVII. Nachgeheim

VIII. Fructidor, 33

Fruit-tide VIII. Erntezeit

La St-BénéholdAutomn Équinox

Mitterherbst

IX. Vendémiaire, 33

Wine-tide IX. Brauzeit

X. Brumaire, 33 Myst-tide X. Kaldezeit

 XI. Frimaire, 33 Cold-tide XI. Ulriczeit

La St-LeuWinter Solstice(Shortest day)

Mondstille

 XII. Nivôse, 33 Snow-tide XII. Vorhexen

Oo : On the nights following Hexenstag and Geheimnistag both moons are full simultaneously

IV.8. Bretonnian Forenames

For Men

AiméAlainAlbert

AmbroiseAndréAnicet

AnselmeAntoineAntoninAristideArmandArnaudAugusteAymar

AymericBastienBenoît

BertrandBlaise

BlondelBonardBriantBrice

CamilleCédricCharlesClaudeDanielDenisDésiréDidier

DonatienÉdouard

ÉmileÉmilien

EnguerrandEstienneEustacheEuvrardFabriceFernandFirminFlorent

FrançoisFredericGastonGautierGéraldGérardGéronteGersonGervaisGilbert

Godfrey GrégoireGustave

GuyGuylainHenriHervé

HonoréHubertHugueIsidoreJacques

Janclod (Flandres)

JeanJehan

JérômeJoscelin

JulesJulien

LambertienLaurentLéandre

Léonard LionelLoïc

(Armorique)

LouisLuc

MarcMarcel

MauriceMaynardMichelNevilleNoal

(Armorique)

OctavePascalPaul

PetrusPhilibertPhillipe

PierrePierrick

(Armorique)QuentinRaoul

RaymondRégisRené

RodolpheRodrigueRouget

SavinienThomasValèreYves

For Women

AdèleAgatheAgnèsAliénor

AmandineAngelène

AnneAntoinette

ArianeArletteAude

AurélieBéatrice

BelleBernadetteBernardine

BlancheBrigitteCaroleCécileCélesteCéline

ChantaleCharlotteChimène

Claire

ClaudetteClaudineClémence

ClémentineClothildeColombeCorinneDelphineDenise

EdmondeÉlaine

ÉléonoreÉloïse Elsiber

(Navarre)

EmmanuelleErmenaude

EstelleEugénieFlavieFleur

FrancineFrénégonde

GabrielleGaelle

(Armorique)

GaranceGenevièveGermaineGertrudeGinetteGisèleHélène

Henriette

IrèneIsabelleJacotte

JacquelineJanetonJulietteJustineLéonieLouiseLucille

LudivineMadeleineMagdalène

MargotMargueriteMarianne

MarieMarion

MariotteMarise

MarlèneMartineMatildeMélanieMireilleMoniqueNadineNatalieNicoleNinonOdetteOdile

PernetteRenaudeRosalie

Rosemonde

SandrineSimoneSophie

StéphanieSuzonSylvie

ThérèseVirginieXavièreYolandeYvanteYvonne

Zerbinette

Now, said the story teller, I will tell you a tale of Bretonnia, the country of the marvellous King Charles, who sets himself further above his people than any other lord in all the Old World, and who has so many governors under him that he cannot know their number, let alone their names...