"Across the glades and valleys of Bretonnia, disgraced knights and covetous nobles flocked to the serpent banners of Mallobaude, illegitimate son of Louen Leoncoeur, and would-be king of that divided land. The scryer watched as the nation over the mountains descended into fiery civil war, and his eyes widened as he saw Mallobaude throw down his father at Quenelles with the aid of a skeletal figure clad in robes of crimson and black. A skull blazing with malignant power, with teeth as black as the night sky, tipped back and uttered a cackle of victory as Leoncoeur was smashed to the ground, seemingly dead at his offspring's hands..."
- —Mannfred von Carstein spies upon the Bretonnian Civil War.[3]
Heraldry of Mallobaude, bastard son of the King
The Bretonnian Civil War was a devastating conflict that immediately preceded the End Times.
Overview[]
On Winter's Eve of the year 1543 (2521 IC), Mallobaude began his war for the crown of Bretonnia. The defenders of the realm had been scattered and bloodied by the Kairos Fateweaver's daemonic invasion of the previous year, and King Louen decreed that Bretonnia's armies must gather and unite before facing the threat of Mallobaude. Ignoring his king's command, however, Duke Armand of Aquitaine led his army to face the Black Knight in battle, meeting Mallobaude's forces on the edge of the Forest of Châlons. Despite the support of the Fay Enchantress Morgiana, Armand's forces would have been quickly defeated had the Branchwraith Drycha not arrived with an army of forest spirits. Mallobaude's army was hard-pressed by this new enemy, yet the Branchwraith's host withdrew as mysteriously as they had appeared. Worse still for Duke Armand, the Fay Enchantress had also vanished, and without her aid the army of Aquitaine was routed by the Serpent's forces.[1][2]
Following Duke Armand's disastrous loss at the Battle of Châlons, Dukes Huebald of Carcassonne, Adalhard of Lyonesse, and Chilfroy of Artois all declared their allegiance to Mallobaude. Despite these setbacks, the king still had the advantage. However, a year later, it was revealed that he had struck a bargain with Arkhan the Black, whose undead began to swell Mallobaude's ranks. The Serpent had even been granted the Blood Kiss of Vampirism from an old, long-established Bretonnian line of the creatures.[1][2]
Around this time, the Wood Elves of Athel Loren decided that they could no longer watch as the two armies tore Bretonnia apart, for if Mallobaude prevailed, an undead kingdom would form much of the western border of Athel Loren. Thus an allied Wood Elf-Bretonnian army faced Mallobaude and his knights at the Battle of Quenelles. At the centre of the battle, King Louen, wounded after failed cavalry charge, duelled Mallobaude and was struck down, though his body was never recovered. Despite the presence of Wood Elf heroes such as Orion, Ariel, the Sisters of Twilight, Araloth, Scarloc, Skaw the Falconer, and Sceolan, the battle was lost.[1][2]
With his hour of victory close at hand, Mallobaude would not be stayed. The traitorous prince's shadowy benefactor had promised that no mortal son of Bretonnia could lay him low, and Mallobaude proved the truth of those words time and again. At Gisoreux, Adelaix, Montfort and a hundred more battlefields, he offered a challenge to any knight who would face him in single combat. Each time he emerged victorious without so much as a scratch. Yet in his arrogance, Mallobaude forgot that not all of Bretonnia's champions were mortal men.[1][2]
When the Serpent's army of the dead finally reached Couronne, he found the surviving Dukes of Bretonnia united against him once more, their banners raised together. This mattered not to Mallobaude, whose army far outnumbered the one assailed against him. Once again he sent forth his challenge of single combat, but this time it was no mortal Duke or Baron who answered, but the Sacremor: the legendary Green Knight, returned from the Lacrimora in the hour of his peoples' need. In that moment, Mallobaude recognised his doom, but before the prince could move, the Green Knight spurred forwards and struck the traitor's head from his shoulders.[1][2]
With its master slain, Mallobaude's army was soon overcome; however, Arkhan the Black had long since fled, and no trace of him could be found. In the aftermath of the battle, Mallobaude's body was burnt, his ashes scattered to the winds. With victory at last achieved, the Dukes' thoughts strayed to the succession. By now Leoncoeur was believed slain, and there was no obvious heir left alive. It was then that the Green Knight revealed himself to be none other than Gilles le Breton, the founder of the realm, gifted new life by the Lady in order that he could lead his people once more. Awestruck, the Dukes immediately ceded their claims to the throne.[1][2]
With the re-coronation of King Gilles, the folk of Bretonnia had reason to celebrate at last. Or so they thought. The prophecy of Gilles' return promised that he would lead his people in their darkest hour. In their rapture, the Bretonnians believed that those words referred to Mallobaude and the now-ended Civil War. They were soon to learn that they were wrong...[1][2]