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Not to be confused with the plant named Belladonna.

"Dear Lucrezzia, at last that idiot Brazino Inneundo ate the wrong kind of mushroom, the one that was meant for him! Of course, they think it was you. I heard that the cook was tortured into confession and mentioned your name, like they always do. Far be it from me to point the finger, but one cannot help admiring the expert choice of time and place! Brazino paid far too much attention to that fool Marmalodi. Now someone else will take charge of defending the city and will probably successed in holding on to it. Of course, you can rely on me not to breath a word of my suspicions to anyone!

Yours, Gossippa Lotta
"

—From a collection of letters sent by Gossippa Lotta to various Princes and other notables. This letter was sent to Lucrezzia Belladonna and refers to the poisoning of the Mercenary General hired to defend the city of Trantio against besieging forces of Luccini. It is interesting to note that Gossippa is said to have employed a succession of Halfling food tasters in the years following the siege of Trantio.[1c]

The most beautiful woman in all of Tilea, and some say even the whole of the Old World, is Lucrezzia Belladonna (also called Lucretia)[1d][4a][7a]. She is also the most dangerous to know. Lucrezzia is a one of the most powerful sorceresses of Tilea,[1a] and rumoured to be a mundane alchemist,[9a] if not an arch poisoner, mistress of many assassins.[1a]

History[]

Lucrezzia's first husband, Luigi, Prince of Pavona, perished at the hands of paid assassins sent by rival Merchant Princes. Lucrezzia, then only a very young woman, was determined to keep her hold on the principality at all costs. Several mercenary generals who commanded armies in defence of her city became her husbands and therefore also Princes of Pavona. Every one met with a mysterious demise, usually when their political and strategic skill was found wanting![1a]

Consider Borso, who lost the Battle of Etobrutti and died soon afterwards when his wounds were mistakenly treated with poisonous herbs. The next day, mercenary captain Donato assumed command, won a great victory and saved the city from the Verezzians. Donato married Lucrezzia soon afterwards and became Prince of Pavona. A few years later Donato was about to make a disastrous alliance with Trantio against Borgio the Besieger, who was married to Lucrezzia's older sister Dolchellata at the time. However, before the army of Pavona was committed to this unwise course of action, Donato succumbed to a meal of poisonous toadstools which had been gathered in the woods by an ignorant kitchen servant unable to tell the difference between edible and venomous mushrooms. Lucrezzia was of course angry and distressed, but not so much as to prevent her subsequent marriage to the dashing captain Ranuccio, after an indecently short interval. He immediately rushed off ahead of the army of Pavona to attack the rear of the Trantine army just as it was deploying against Borgio and expecting reinforcements from Pavona! For this show of solidarity with an old ally, Pavona was richly rewarded by Borgio.[1a][1b]

Lucrezzia's seventh husband, Poggio, recently made an abrupt exit from the political scene after drinking three bottles of very dubious quality wine. Lucrezzia is now casting her eye around for a new husband to share the government of Pavona and lead its armies to victory, with her by his side. Are you man enough for Lucrezzia Belladonna? Mercenary Princes with a delicate digestion should not apply![1b]

The Most Beautiful Lady[]

"An Elf? Are you really asking me which Elf is the fairest? Come now, remove those blinkers from your eyes for a moment, lad. Could either of those ladies wield a battle axe, milk a mountain goat or stand in a shieldwall? Of course not ā€“ one, because theyā€™re untrustworthy Elves, and, two, because theyā€™re thinner than my patience. They have nowhere to hang a suit of armour and would blow over in a strong breeze. Furthermore, no beards. I think itā€™s scandalous youā€™ve left Queen Helga from the list. Not only does she know which end of an axe gets the job done, but sheā€™s a fair and wise ruler to boot. Only Valaya herself could be finer. Surely Helgaā€™s an obvious pick for anyone exclaiming the virtues of a good lady.

And, before you ask, Lucretia Belladonna is no good either. Sheā€™d poison the food.
"

Grombrindal questioned by Jair Vael about who was the most beautiful woman in the world, if Alarielle or Morathi[7a]
Belladonna symbol

Belladonna house symbol, a snake coiling around a tower.

It is said that Lucrezzia Belladonna is the most beautiful lady in the Old World. However, Bretonnian Knights consider this honour to rightfully belong to the Fay Enchantress of Bretonnia.[1b]

When a Tilean noble once praised her beauty at a tournament in Bretonnia, he was immediately challenged to a joust by a rash Bretonnian Knight. The Lady Belladonna, who happened to be present, appointed the Tilean as her champion. When the Tilean, following local custom, asked Lucrezzia for her favour, she simply kissed his lance. Unfortunately, the Tilean was unhorsed in the joust, though he did score a glancing blow on the Bretonnian which resulted in nothing more than a scratch. However, the Bretonnian quickly slumped over in the saddle and fell down dead. When the heralds asked whether the lance tip was poisoned, Lucrezzia said, "How could it be poisoned; I have kissed it and I don't feel unwell!" Since then no one has claimed to be more beautiful than Lucrezzia Belladonna. To cast doubts on her beauty is the kiss of death![1b]

In Battle[]

Lucrezzia poisons

A collection of her poisons.

Before a battle she usually chooses a champion to represent her and apparently this gives to his hits a decidedly lethal effect. Even her beauty has an effect on the soldiers, as long as these are human, even if broken they would return to fight rather than disappoint their lady.[3a]

Skilled at riding, she often fights on a barded Warhorse.[1a]

Lucrezia is rumoured to be an expert in the mixing of poisons and potions. Whether this is true or not, no one knows, or at least no one has lived long enough to tell the tale. Her enemies always seem to come to a bad end![1b]

Although Lucrezzia is a Master Sorceress able to choose to channel the winds of Shysh or Ulgu, she does not carry magic items. Instead, she has various Poisonous Items, reflecting her special skill as an arch poisoner![1a][3a]

Wargears[]

  • Phial of Poison - Long before the battle, the enemy camp is infiltrated by Lucrezzia's paid assassin, equipped with a phial of poison specially prepared by his mistress. This will be tipped into the drink or meal of one of the enemies during the feasting on the eve of battle. There is no telling who will be poisoned, the agent will just take his best opportunity and slink away. The poison is slow-acting and will strike the next day as the armies draw up for battle.[1a]
  • Poisoned Stiletto - Lucrezzia always keeps a stiletto dagger secreted in her garter. This is not only for self-defence, but because you never know when you might want to do an off-the-cuff assassination and may not have a ready prepared poison to hand! Of course, Lucrezzia's stiletto has been dipped in the venom of toad and used to chop poisonous mushrooms![1a]
  • Potion of Pavona - This is a potion which Lucrezzia can give to any member of her own side before the battle, or she can drink it herself, enhancing specific characteristics. She can choose which characteristics are enhanced, though each may only be improved once. Lucrezzia will mix up the potion with these in mind, selecting the right ingredients. However, there is a risk! The potion may prove slightly poisonous.[1a]

List of Husbands[]

  • Poggio - Seventh husband, Prince of Pavona until 2513. (Assassinated)[1a][4a]
  • Donato - Prince of Pavona. Former mercenary captain. (Assassinated)[1a][4a]

It is rumoured that Bensario, one of the most powerful man in Pavona, entertained hopes to become the fifth husband of Lucrezzia Belladonna, an aspiration which no doubt made Bensario's current wife both furious and nervous.[2a]

Miniatures[]

Trivia[]

Her name, the skill with the poison and the allegations of killing her own husbands are taken from Lucrezia Borgia a Spanish-Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia.

Belladonna is not a title but her actual family name, this was in doubt until the publication of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms by C7 in 2022.

Her name has been changed in Lucretia on several occasions, this could be due to the Italian basic language rule that forbids a word to contain a double Z, if said word continues with an "IA". In the Italian version of the setting Lucrezzia is in fact called Lucrezia Belladonna.

Creative Assembly has added with an update two lines of code in the battle_entities table of Total War: Warhammer III: wh3_dlc22_dog_inf_borgio_blood and wh3_dlc22_dog_infantry_hero_lucrezzia, hinting that the two Dogs of War heroes will be implemented in their game.[8]

Sources[]

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