The hamlet of Bregonne, and the neighbouring fort of Baron Marcel of Parravon, is a Bretonnian colony that was founded on the Scorpion Coast of the New World continent of Lustria as recently as 2510 IC. The Bretonnian settlers enjoyed early agricultural successes, whilst Marcel's knights returned from ventures into the Lustrian jungle with gold and Lizardmen artefacts.[1a]
Since these early reports of success, communication between the Old World and Bregonne has abruptly ceased. Some speculate the village has been eradicated by the nearby Lizardmen of the temple-city of Tlaxtlan; others that the colonists persist, but have adopted a siege mentality, and shun contact with outsiders. The darkest rumours whisper that the Bretonnians have made a deal with the devil to survive, serving the evil will of the Vampiric "Scourge of Aquitaine." These rumours may not be entirely unfounded...[1a][2]
History[]
The mysterious continent of Lustria holds an almost irresistible lure to the Men of the Old World. Legends of seven golden cities, and tales of pyramids filled with the riches and magical artefacts of ancient times abound. They attract adventurers and fortune-seekers from the Empire and Bretonnia, as well as from Tilea and Estalia, and even from the Karaz Ankor, the great Dwarf realm of the Worlds Edge Mountains. Tales of untold riches haunt the dreams of Men and make them abandon their relatively secure lives in the Old World and set sail to the west.[3a]
During recent times, Bretonnians have sailed over the Great Ocean in ever increasing numbers. Barons and other Bretonnian nobles have taken their entire retinues of knights, men-at-arms, serfs, merchants, peasants and masons to carve domains for themselves in the legendary lands of Lustria. Many such expeditions are lost to storms, or to the many monsters of the deep that plague the seas of world of Mallus. Other vessels are sunk by the High Elf Navy that jealously guards the waters around Ulthuan. But some still make it to Lustria.[3a]
Icon of Bregonne as depicted in Total War: Warhammer II. [2]
Even when they have crossed the seas, the diseases, beasts and storms of the jungles take a heavy toll, but the land is rich, fertile, and bountiful, and the fields yield a plentiful harvest twice a year. While their subjects struggle with the fields, the Bretonnian knights busy themselves by exploring the deep jungles, searching for lost riches. Sometimes they come into contact with the outposts of the Lizardmen empire. These encounters often lead into conflict as the Bretonnians regard the Lizardmen as unfathomable monsters, and the Lizardmen view the Bretonnians as yet another group of invaders and a threat to the order that the Old Ones had decreed before the dawn of time.[3a]
The Wrath of Tlaxtlan describes one of these violent conflicts: In the year 2510 IC, Baron Marcel of Parravon, along with his entire household, left the shores of Bretonnia and set sail for distant Lustria, guided by a Norscan map. Unlike so many others, his galleons sailed safely across the turbulent seas of the Great Ocean, and made landfall near the temple-city of Tlaxtlan. Once ashore, the Bretonnian commoners busied themselves by building villages and fortifications, and ploughing fields to feed the nobility.[3a]
Baron Marcel and his knights, lacking foes to fight and finding Lustria somewhat too hot for tournaments, explored the deep jungles and found many abandoned temples and shrines. They uncovered many treasures from the tombs of the Saurus heroes and Skink scribes. But the most prized discovery was a burial chamber of an ancient mage-priest. The venerable Slann was bedecked with golden artifacts of stunning craftsmanship. Impressed beyond words, Marcel ordered his knights carry the treasures to his fort.[3a]
Unfortunately, amongst the treasures were glyph plates of great importance to the Lizardmen, artefacts left by the enigmatic Old Ones. With his mystical powers, Lord Klaqulxol of Tlaxtlan detected the disappearance of the holy objects from their resting place. After long meditation, the venerable Slann mage-priest ordered the treasures to be returned to the great pyramid of Tlaxtlan, by force if necessary.[3a]