Bretonnia: Difference between revisions
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{{Race Infobox | {{Race Infobox | ||
| name = Bretonnia | | name = Bretonnia | ||
| image = | | image = Bretonniaart.jpg | ||
| caption = For the Lady and the King… mostly the Lady | | caption = For the Lady and the King… mostly the Lady | ||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
===Culture & Society=== | ===Culture & Society=== | ||
* '''Regions:''' The fourteen dukedoms west of the Grey Mountains. | * '''Regions:''' The fourteen dukedoms west of the Grey Mountains. | ||
* '''Culture:''' Rigid feudalism dressed up as chivalry | * '''Culture:''' Rigid feudalism dressed up as chivalry, honour for the high-born, obedience (or the stake) for everyone else. | ||
* '''Names:''' Flowery French | * '''Names:''' Flowery French; Louen, Gilles, Repanse, Calard, Bohemond, Isabeau. | ||
* '''Religion:''' The Lady of the Lake. The Fey Enchantress speaks for her and is never questioned. | * '''Religion:''' The Lady of the Lake. The Fey Enchantress speaks for her and is never questioned. | ||
===Relations with Other Races | ===Morality, Slavery, and Corruption=== | ||
* '''Slavery:''' Rare and culturally frowned upon. Bretonnian society is feudal and chivalric; peasants are bound to the land rather than formally enslaved, and outright slave ownership is considered dishonorable except in extreme frontier or war contexts. | |||
* '''Non-consent sexual relationships:''' Condemned morally, especially for nobles who must uphold the code of chivalry. Abuses may occur among peasants or during wartime, but they are exceptions rather than the rule. | |||
* '''Vulnerability to Chaos corruption:''' Moderate to low. Strong devotion to the Lady of the Lake and the chivalric code shields Bretonnians, but heresy, war, or isolation can leave individuals vulnerable to Chaos influence. | |||
===Strengths & Weaknesses=== | |||
* '''Strengths:''' Noble upbringing or hardy peasant resilience, strong moral code, unwavering faith in the Lady, and a respected reputation across the Old World. | |||
* '''Weaknesses:''' Rigid class expectations, chivalric burdens, distrust of magic or foreigners, and a tendency toward stubbornness or arrogance. | |||
==Relations with Other Races== | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; background:#1e1e1e; color:#e0e0e0; border:1px solid #444;" | {| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; background:#1e1e1e; color:#e0e0e0; border:1px solid #444;" | ||
! Category | ! Category | ||
| Line 100: | Line 110: | ||
| <span style="color:#ff3333; font-weight:bold;">Hostile</span> | | <span style="color:#ff3333; font-weight:bold;">Hostile</span> | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Playing a Bretonnian== | ==Playing a Bretonnian== | ||
| Line 114: | Line 120: | ||
==Physical Appearance== | ==Physical Appearance== | ||
Knights are bred for war: tall, broad-shouldered, long flowing hair, sculpted beards, armour that costs more than a village. Peasants are short, wiry, sunburned, missing teeth, backs bent from the plough. You can tell a Bretonnian’s station from fifty paces – and the Lady help you if you forget it. | Knights are bred for war: tall, broad-shouldered, long flowing hair, sculpted beards, armour that costs more than a village. Peasants are short, wiry, sunburned, missing teeth, backs bent from the plough. You can tell a Bretonnian’s station from fifty paces – and the Lady help you if you forget it. | ||
==Gender Roles and Sexuality== | |||
===Gender Roles=== | |||
* Bretonnian society is strongly patriarchal, dominated by the chivalric code. Knights and nobles are exclusively male, and male lineage is emphasized in inheritance, titles, and military leadership. | |||
* '''Nobility:''' Women manage estates, households, and oversee serfs but have minimal formal political power. Noblewomen influence politics indirectly through marriage alliances, patronage, and social maneuvering. Exceptional women, like queens or regents, can wield authority during the absence or death of male heirs. | |||
* '''Commoners:''' Peasant women primarily handle domestic work, farming, and child-rearing. Participation in combat is rare but not unheard of during invasions or uprisings. | |||
* Bretonnia’s culture idealizes female beauty and virtue, framing women as moral and spiritual anchors, reinforcing male dominance. | |||
===Sexuality=== | |||
* Sexual norms are highly constrained by chivalric ideals and courtly love. Marriage is expected and often arranged to maintain social, political, or economic alliances. | |||
* '''Courtly Love:''' Romanticized devotion toward noblewomen is central, often idealized in literature and noble culture. Sexual expression is largely symbolic, emphasizing loyalty, honor, and virtue over physicality. | |||
* '''Taboos:''' Extramarital sex is frowned upon, especially for noblewomen. | |||
* '''Elite Behavior:''' Noblemen may pursue discreet affairs or secret liaisons, but such behavior risks scandal if discovered. Female sexuality is tightly controlled to preserve social and familial honor. | |||
===Attitudes toward Other Races (Sexualized)=== | |||
* Bretonnians are extremely xenophobic, with little tolerance for non-human races. However, sexualized fantasies or fears exist in private or elite circles: | |||
* '''Elves:''' High Elf and Dark Elf women are considered dangerously beautiful and seductive, inspiring both fascination and fear. Male elves are often idealized for grace, wisdom, and martial prowess, though interactions are generally avoided. | |||
* '''Dwarfs:''' Dwarf women may occasionally appear in Bretonnian erotic fantasy, but dwarfs are mostly respected for craftsmanship and martial skill rather than sexual appeal. | |||
* '''Greenskins:''' Orcs and goblins are primarily objects of fear and revulsion, though whispered tales sometimes exaggerate orcish strength and virility in grotesque sexualized narratives, usually to reinforce danger. | |||
* '''Chaos/Undead:''' Daemons and vampires are feared and sometimes eroticized in dark folklore, linking corruption, domination, and forbidden desire. | |||
===Notable Cultural Nuances=== | |||
* Bretonnia’s focus on beauty, virtue, and courtly love shapes both gender expectations and sexual norms. | |||
* Sexualized perceptions of other races are mostly private, appearing in elite tales, rumors, or moralized folklore. | |||
* Female virtue is idealized to the point of near-divine status, making sexual transgression scandalous and socially dangerous. | |||
* The interplay between fear, exoticism, and erotic fascination underpins Bretonnian lore regarding outsiders. | |||
==Notable Ranks & Careers== | ==Notable Ranks & Careers== | ||
Peasant Levy → Man-at-Arms → Knight Errant → Knight of the Realm → Questing Knight → Grail Knight | Peasant Levy → Man-at-Arms → Knight Errant → Knight of the Realm → Questing Knight → Grail Knight | ||
(Or the extremely rare peasant who somehow gets knighted and makes the entire court deeply uncomfortable) | (Or the extremely rare peasant who somehow gets knighted and makes the entire court deeply uncomfortable) | ||
Latest revision as of 17:51, 29 November 2025
| Bretonnia | |
|---|---|
 For the Lady and the King… mostly the Lady |
|
| Founding | |
| Founded | circa 977 IC (Gilles le Breton unites the tribes) |
| Founder | Gilles le Breton |
| Current Leader | King Louen Leoncoeur |
| Geography | |
| Capital | Couronne |
| Major Cities | Couronne, Brionne, Quenelles, Bordeleaux, Lyonesse, Castle Bastonne |
| Regions | The fourteen dukedoms (Couronne, Lyonesse, Artois, Gisoreux, etc.) |
| Biology | |
| Lifespan | Peasants 35–45 years; Nobility 60–80 years (longer for Grail Knights) |
| Height | 165–195 cm (5′5″ – 6′5″) – knights are almost always the taller ones |
| Culture | |
| Language | Breton (nobles), mixed Breton/Reikspiel (peasants) |
| Religion | Worship of the Lady of the Lake |
| Government | |
| Government | Absolute feudal monarchy under the King and the Lady |
| Relations | |
| Allies | The Empire (grudging), Wood Elves (ancient pact), Tilea (trade) |
| Enemies | Greenskins, Beastmen, Skaven, Chaos, Norsca, Dark Elves |
Bretonnia is the great fairy-tale kingdom west of the Grey Mountains: castles on every hill, flower-strewn meadows, and knights in gleaming plate who swear to defend the innocent while questing for the Holy Grail. That’s the story they tell pilgrims and minstrels. The truth is a rigid feudal hell where nine-tenths of the population live in filth so their lords can wear silk and ride pureblood destriers. It’s Arthurian legend run through the Warhammer meat-grinder: beautiful, brutal, and soaked in hypocrisy.
Overview
If you want to play shining heroes who actually believe their own propaganda, downtrodden peasants who know better, or mysterious sorceresses keeping the whole rotten miracle afloat, Bretonnia is your playground.
Appearance
Tall, fair-skinned nobles in mirror-bright plate and flowing heraldry; short, sunburned peasants in rags that used to be clothes.
Culture & Society
- Regions: The fourteen dukedoms west of the Grey Mountains.
- Culture: Rigid feudalism dressed up as chivalry, honour for the high-born, obedience (or the stake) for everyone else.
- Names: Flowery French; Louen, Gilles, Repanse, Calard, Bohemond, Isabeau.
- Religion: The Lady of the Lake. The Fey Enchantress speaks for her and is never questioned.
Morality, Slavery, and Corruption
- Slavery: Rare and culturally frowned upon. Bretonnian society is feudal and chivalric; peasants are bound to the land rather than formally enslaved, and outright slave ownership is considered dishonorable except in extreme frontier or war contexts.
- Non-consent sexual relationships: Condemned morally, especially for nobles who must uphold the code of chivalry. Abuses may occur among peasants or during wartime, but they are exceptions rather than the rule.
- Vulnerability to Chaos corruption: Moderate to low. Strong devotion to the Lady of the Lake and the chivalric code shields Bretonnians, but heresy, war, or isolation can leave individuals vulnerable to Chaos influence.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths: Noble upbringing or hardy peasant resilience, strong moral code, unwavering faith in the Lady, and a respected reputation across the Old World.
- Weaknesses: Rigid class expectations, chivalric burdens, distrust of magic or foreigners, and a tendency toward stubbornness or arrogance.
Relations with Other Races
| Category | Faction | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Empire | Friendly |
| Kislev | Neutral | |
| Sartosa | Neutral | |
| Araby | Hostile | |
| Cathay | Neutral | |
| Norsca | Hostile | |
| Elves | Asur (High Elves) | Friendly |
| Asrai (Wood Elves) | Friendly | |
| Druchii (Dark Elves) | Hostile | |
| Dwarfs | Dwarfs | Friendly |
| Chaos Dwarfs | Hostile | |
| Greenskins | Orcs | Hostile |
| Goblins | Hostile | |
| Monstrous | Ogre | Neutral |
| Beastmen | Hostile | |
| Affliction | Chaos | Hostile |
| Vampire | Hostile |
Playing a Bretonnian
You are either born to rule or born to serve. There is no middle path.
A knight lives for honour, the Lady, and smashing things with a lance. Speak in flowery oaths, sneer at “low-born” folk, and never retreat unless a Damsel says so. A peasant knows the kingdom is a beautiful lie held together by fear and magic – keep your head down, your taxes paid, and your bow ready when the lord calls the levy. A Damsel is the quiet terror behind the throne: serene, untouchable, and far more powerful than any duke.
Play the hypocrisy. A knight can genuinely believe he’s protecting the realm while riding over his own serfs to reach the enemy faster. A peasant might quietly cheer when Beastmen drag off the tax collector. Lean into the clash between shining ideals and grim reality.
Physical Appearance
Knights are bred for war: tall, broad-shouldered, long flowing hair, sculpted beards, armour that costs more than a village. Peasants are short, wiry, sunburned, missing teeth, backs bent from the plough. You can tell a Bretonnian’s station from fifty paces – and the Lady help you if you forget it.
Gender Roles and Sexuality
Gender Roles
- Bretonnian society is strongly patriarchal, dominated by the chivalric code. Knights and nobles are exclusively male, and male lineage is emphasized in inheritance, titles, and military leadership.
- Nobility: Women manage estates, households, and oversee serfs but have minimal formal political power. Noblewomen influence politics indirectly through marriage alliances, patronage, and social maneuvering. Exceptional women, like queens or regents, can wield authority during the absence or death of male heirs.
- Commoners: Peasant women primarily handle domestic work, farming, and child-rearing. Participation in combat is rare but not unheard of during invasions or uprisings.
- Bretonnia’s culture idealizes female beauty and virtue, framing women as moral and spiritual anchors, reinforcing male dominance.
Sexuality
- Sexual norms are highly constrained by chivalric ideals and courtly love. Marriage is expected and often arranged to maintain social, political, or economic alliances.
- Courtly Love: Romanticized devotion toward noblewomen is central, often idealized in literature and noble culture. Sexual expression is largely symbolic, emphasizing loyalty, honor, and virtue over physicality.
- Taboos: Extramarital sex is frowned upon, especially for noblewomen.
- Elite Behavior: Noblemen may pursue discreet affairs or secret liaisons, but such behavior risks scandal if discovered. Female sexuality is tightly controlled to preserve social and familial honor.
Attitudes toward Other Races (Sexualized)
- Bretonnians are extremely xenophobic, with little tolerance for non-human races. However, sexualized fantasies or fears exist in private or elite circles:
- Elves: High Elf and Dark Elf women are considered dangerously beautiful and seductive, inspiring both fascination and fear. Male elves are often idealized for grace, wisdom, and martial prowess, though interactions are generally avoided.
- Dwarfs: Dwarf women may occasionally appear in Bretonnian erotic fantasy, but dwarfs are mostly respected for craftsmanship and martial skill rather than sexual appeal.
- Greenskins: Orcs and goblins are primarily objects of fear and revulsion, though whispered tales sometimes exaggerate orcish strength and virility in grotesque sexualized narratives, usually to reinforce danger.
- Chaos/Undead: Daemons and vampires are feared and sometimes eroticized in dark folklore, linking corruption, domination, and forbidden desire.
Notable Cultural Nuances
- Bretonnia’s focus on beauty, virtue, and courtly love shapes both gender expectations and sexual norms.
- Sexualized perceptions of other races are mostly private, appearing in elite tales, rumors, or moralized folklore.
- Female virtue is idealized to the point of near-divine status, making sexual transgression scandalous and socially dangerous.
- The interplay between fear, exoticism, and erotic fascination underpins Bretonnian lore regarding outsiders.
Notable Ranks & Careers
Peasant Levy → Man-at-Arms → Knight Errant → Knight of the Realm → Questing Knight → Grail Knight (Or the extremely rare peasant who somehow gets knighted and makes the entire court deeply uncomfortable)