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"There’s room on that boat for you. They’ll be landing three or four miles north of Bilbali. You can walk the rest of the way. Watch your step when you get there - the Bilbalis don’t like private vengeance. Or private enterprise."

—Captain Fornan to Ariel de Courtivron[12]

Bilbali, also known as the Queendom of Bilbali,[14a] is the second largest settlement in Estalia second only to Magritta.[1a]

Bilbali lies in the north of the country, controlling an area between the sea and the southern forests. It is the second largest settlement in Estalia, and the main one in the north of the country.[1a] Together with Magritta, it is currently one of the two most powerful kingdoms of Estalia. Both city-states are strong because of trade and access to the sea, a fact that causes much jealously amongst the poor kingdoms of the Irrana Mountains.[3a]

History[]

Tilea heraldry as depicted in Man O'War Corsair

The heraldry of Bilbali is the same as the one used for the heraldry of Estalia as a whole with the addition of two crossed ivory swords as depicted in Man O' War: Corsair.

The Knights of the Blazing Sun, would dearly love to recover their lost Sun Crown of Bilbali, stolen by pirates to crown the Piate Princess of Sartosa, Red Maria, it is probable that it went down on one of the ships destroyed in the Battle of the Tides during the Pirate Wars.[5a]

Government[]

Bilbali Flag

The flag of Bilbali as depicted in Man O' War: Corsair.

Queen Juana la Roja is the current ruler of the kingdom of Bilbali.[2a] In recent years the merchants and ship-captains of Bilbali have placed great pressure on her, to do something - anything - about the danger of Brionnese piracy. Rumour has it that the Queen is considering a strike against Brionne or licensing privateers to attack Marienburg's shipping.[2a] Nevertheless, Bilbali maintains an embassy in that city.[2b]

While Marienburg reportedly pays Sartosan pirate to harry the shipping of Bilbali and Magritta.[11a]

Bilbali ships have become more active in the New World, smuggling and raiding, with the consequent risk of conflict with the Elves.[2a]

Citizens[]

Bilbalis are said to dislike private vengeance and enterprise.[12]

Courtly gentlemen and ladies of Bilbali and Magritta are seen as the finest by outsiders and by the people of other Estalian principality.[13a]

Foreign Relations[]

Bretonnia and Bilbali[]

"Look down on their lack of technique if you must, but a lance of Bretonnian knights is still a formidable force on the field of battle. Their matters of honour do get out of hand, though."

—Diego Cortez y Maranda, Diestro[5a]

Bretonnia’s border with the Estalian kingdom of Bilbali is a mere river. The consequence is that there is almost as much traffic with Estalia as with the Empire, despite the Empire’s far greater size. Relations with Bilbali are good, and Bretonnian nobles recognise Bilbalian nobles as peers. As a result, relations with Magritta are generally bad, and most Bretonnians regard the southern kingdom as composed entirely of peasants.[5a]

The City[]

The surrounding coast is extremely inhospitable, with towering cliffs that afford no shelter for ships. At Bilbali, however, a steep-sided crag gives access to a shallow bay, where the city stands against a background of cave-studded cliffs.[1a]

Bilbali is famed for the wine of the same name, a dark red that is aged 10 years in massive wooden vats placed in caves along the Great Ocean.[4a]

"Come Ye Home to Bilbali" is a very popular song in the Old World.[8a]

The outskirts of the city are close and dark. In the flat light of dawn, the smell of the Estalian linden hang from baskets outside many of the shuttered houses cuts sharp and green through the dust while the streets are filled with the smell of dirt as people wade through the liquids and garbage.[12]

Bell Tower[]

Bilbali banner Total War

Crest of the Estalian Rebels as depicted in Total War: Warhammer. It could be a reference to the famous Bell Tower of Bilbali.

The most striking feature of the city is a tall tower, built upon an island within the bay. From atop its lofty height, a great bronze bell calls out across the Great Western Ocean. In storms and times of trouble, pilots listen eagerly for the sound of the bell with its promise of a safe harbour and a mug of good Estalian wine.[1a][7b]

Fish Market[]

Bilbali like any city overlooking the sea prosper thanks to the generosity of the catch, these places are also an excellent place to learn the freshest rumors.[12]

Under-Bilbali[]

Grey Seer Thanquol quarters are deep below the city surface, yet there is no direct tunnel connection with the rest of the Skaven Under-Empire as the closest link is the lair of Gnaw Pit of Clan Kreepus, to the east.[9a][10a]

Countryside[]

The surrounding area is somewhat poor, so that Bilbali's fortunes are wholly dependent upon the sea and, to protect her fragile maritime trade, the people of the city maintain a close watch on the seaways. Their fleets are well armed and her sailors renowned fighters, bitter enemies of the many pirates who frequent the coasts of Estalia and southern Bretonnia.[1a]

Years after the destruction of Siernos, Sienna Fuegonasus, an Estalian bright wizard, found her twin preying on defenceless peasants in the villages near Bilbali. She reportedly reduced her sister in ash and flame, but her acts have haunted her since then and she has refused to speak to anyone about them.[6a]

Trivia[]

Bilbali is named after Bilbao, an important city in northern Spain.

Sources[]

  • 1 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition)
    • 1a pg. 276
  • 2 Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st Ed.: Marienburg - Sold Down the River
    • 2a pg. 25
    • 2b pg. 122
  • 3 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (2nd Edition)
    • 3a pg. 225
  • 4 Warhammer Fantasy RPG 2nd Ed.: Realms of Sorcery
    • 4a pg. 234
  • 5: Knights of the Grail - A Guide to Bretonnia
    • 5a: pg. 29
    • 5b: pg. 22
  • 6: Warhammer: Vermintide II (Videogame)
  • 6a: Franz Lohner's Chronicle - Reflections (Archived)
  • 7: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Sea of Claws (RPG)
    • 7a: pg. 139
    • 7b: pg. 108
  • 8: Drachenfels (Novel) by Jack Yeovil
    • 8a: Ch. Prologue
  • 9: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition)
    • 9a: pg. 34-35 (The Skaven Under-Empire Map)
  • 10: Manslayer (Novel) by Nathan Long
  • 11: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
  • 12: The Voyage South (Short Story) by Nicola Griffith
  • 13: Zaragoz (Novel) by Brian Craig
  • 14: The Art of Man O War Corsair (Art Book)
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