Heroes of Bretonnia

Bretonnian folklore is replete with the mighty feats of famous knights as they battle against the odds to defeat their evil foes and win the day. In these stories and poems, noble knights seek out and slay ferocious dragons that terrorise the realms, battle and defeat evil warriors and destroy entire armies of Greenskins single-handed.

No stories are more impressive than those told of Gilles le Breton and his Grail Companions, tales that every noble son learns from a young age. It is a common sight to see such youngsters romping around their father's castles, playing out the roles of Gilles and the Grail Companions as they take on and defeat the foul enemies besetting the lands. Weaned from a young age on these stories of individual heroism and bravery, it is every knight's utmost desire to have great deeds of their own to be sung and recounted for years after their deaths. A knight's honour is of utmost importance to him, and he would gladly lay down his life rather than have his name disgraced.

Despite the exceedingly high standards the knights set for themselves, there are mighty individuals who live up to these goals and become legend. They are the heroes who have performed great deeds on the battlefield and defeated particularly dangerous foes. Their reputation precedes them, and their names and heraldry are known throughout all the dukedoms. Whenever one of these mighty heroes enters a town, his presence will be known within minutes, news of his arrival spreading through the crowded streets like wildfire amongst the commoners, who will flock to get a glimpse of the heroic individual.

Many of these mighty heroes are Grail Knights, having drunk from the Grail and become the epitome of chivalric knighthood. However, there are many other legendary individuals who have never attained the station of Grail Knight, but are in no way lesser heroes for that. Sometimes the responsibilities of governing may hold a knight back from embarking on his quest, though this would surely cause him much pain. The dukes themselves are all-powerful and renowned warriors, for they could not retain their station were they not. Birth in itself does not guarantee success, and the sons of the dukes must earn their honour and renown as any other knight. Indeed, a knight of any echelon of birth (though obviously never a peasant) can attain heroic status through great deeds and acts of bravery, rising rapidly through the ranks.

In battle, it is these mighty heroes who lead the knights from the front, inspirational leaders that take the fight to the enemy. Many of them follow one of the Paths of Virtue, the fighting styles and traits of the Grail Companions, and they are both masterful warriors and noble leaders. They can sustain wounds that would slay a lesser man, and kill many foes with one sweep of a sword or thrust of a lance. Indeed, the heroes of Bretonnia will truly live on forever, for tales of their great deeds will be recounted long after they have passed from this world.