"Lord Balderin made his way up the worn stone staircase with a heavy heart, the words of his impassioned speech like ashes in his mouth. He had sent for aid, but held little hope of its arrival. It was a just matter of time before they all lay dead or, worse still, captured.
From a small arrow slit Balderin beheld the serried ranks of the foe arrayed before the castle. They seemed beyond counting. A horn sounded and, as one the Dark Elves advanced.
Balderin gritted his teeth and stepped into the light of what would be his last day."
- —Balderin enters the fray.[1a]
Lord Balderin.[1]
Lord Balderin Beastslayer was a mighty Bretonnian Lord, renowned as a defender of the weak and for his selfless actions during the Siege of L'Anguille.[1a]
History[]
A massive Dark Elf fleet had been terrorising the Bretonnian coastline for many weeks, razing villages to the ground, capturing slaves and sinking merchant vessels. One Bretonnian Lord swore a solemn oath to protect the people of his land, for he was Lord Balderin Beastslayer, a powerful knight who had made his name defending those in dire need. Luring the massive Dark Elf army into his domain, Balderin goaded them into besieging his keep, realising that it was the best chance of slowing and weakening the vast Dark Elf hordes. He and his men, horribly outnumbered, prepared for the worst. Then it happened... a green mist materialised from the woods. The Green Knight and a small army of Wood Elves had come to his aid, ready to share in his sacrifice for Bretonnia.[1a]
Final Stand[]
Monstrous Hydras stood at the gates of the keep, and though they were confronted by hideous monsters and an innumerable horde of evil, the valiant Knights of the Realm charged from the castle. The Green Knight rode into the enemy, reaping a glorious tally of destruction whilst the Wood Elves and Bretonnian knights struggled against the sheer number of Dark Elves and their monsters, fighting until the last man.[1a]
Atop the castle gate, Balderin, alongside a holy Grail Reliquae, was beset by a horde of Witch Elves. The Bretonnian Lord stood firm, slaughtering all who tried to get past him. He would not flee even against such numbers. Sensing a chance at taking the keep, hordes of vile Corsairs joined the fray, and against these combined forces the Beastslayer was slowly weakened and slain, but not before slaying the Witch Elves down to the very last hag.[1a]
With the loss of Lord Balderin, the confidence of the Bretonnians ebbed. Never before had the walls of his fortress been breached by the impure. The battle was lost, but Balderin's sacrifice had weakened the Elves long enough for Bretonnia to prepare for war.[1a]
Wargear[]
Lord Balderin wore heavy armour, a shield, the Sword of Heroes and the Falcon-horn of Fredemund.[1a]