"Repanse de Lyonesse, or the ‘Damoiselle de Guerre’ as she is known throughout Bretonnia, is a revered knight of the Chevaliers de Lyonesse. Armed with the mighty Sword of Lyonesse and fighting beside her trusty paladin companion, Henri Le Massif, she embodies the unrelenting crusading spirit of her brethren."
Repanse de Lyonesse, the Damoiselle de Guerre, leading her Chevaliers de Lyonesse army into battle in Total War: Warhammer II.[4]
Repanse de Lyonesse was a famed Bretonnian Paladin who rose from humble peasant origins to save Bretonnia from an invasion by the forces of Chaos at the divine command of the Lady of the Lake. She later became the Duchess of Lyonesse. She was known as the Damoiselle de Guerre in the Bretonnian tongue, or the "Damsel of War," commanding an elite Bretonnian army called the Chevaliers de Lyonesse.
History[]
"Repanse, Repanse, rid the land of these foul foes, for they do offend me with their presence!"
- —The Lady of the Lake[4]
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Heraldry of the Chevaliers de Lyonesse, the Bretonnian army led by Repanse de Lyonesse in Total War: Warhammer III.[4]
It is said that in the darkest times of the most bitter struggles, the world's greatest heroes and heroines are born...[4]
Repanse was born in 1990 IC and grew up as a humble and devoutly religious peasant shepherdess in Lyonesse. In 2007 IC, a Chaos horde invaded Bretonnia, besieged the city of Couronne and slew King Louis the Brave as he fought in its defence.[1]
Portrait of Repanse de Lyonesse as depicted in Total War: Warhammer II.
The Chaos raiders soon spread out across the land, burning and destroying. Everywhere knights were hacked down as they defied impossible odds. At this dark moment, amid the smoking ruins of her own village, Repanse saw the Lady of the Lake, the patron goddess of Bretonnia.[1]
Repanse de Lyonesse as rendered for Total War: Warhammer II.
The Lady appeared to speak, telling her to rid the land of these invading forces. Inspired by her vision, Repanse donned plate armour that she found on a slain knight and grabbed the reins of a terrified warhorse which was running loose.[1]
She broke open the reliquary of the village Grail Chapel and took up the ancient sword she found within it. Snatching a tapestry with the Fleur de Lys from the wall to use as a banner, she fastened it to a lance and rode forth to rally the disheartened knights of Lyonesse.[1]
When the retreating knights saw a mere damsel bravely setting off to do battle with the mighty warriors of Chaos, and one who was undoubtedly favoured by the Lady of the Lake, they were shamed and felt honour bound to follow her to death or glory. While the ramparts of Couronne were cracking under the impact of the battering rams of the Chaos Lord Kharan the Blighted, word was brought of a new Bretonnian army approaching fast and trampling beneath their hooves any foe in their path.[1][2][3]
As the great doors were about to give way, the banner of the dreaded Damoiselle de Guerre appeared leading a great host of knights arrayed in a single lancehead formation. They cleft their way through the Chaos ranks shattering the army of Chaos-worshippers until Repanse was face to face with the Chaos Lord himself.[1][2][3]
When Kharan raised his great sword above his grimacing visage he was momentarily dazzled by Repanse's radiant aura, and she beheaded him with a single sword stroke. Couronne was saved and the remnants of the enemy were pursued to the sea and justly put to death. In gratitude, Louis the Brave's successor, King Louis the Young, bestowed upon Repanse not only all the honours of knighthood but also the Dukedom of Lyonesse.[1][2][3]
Total War: Warhammer[]
"The Lady guides me far from Lyonesse, her light a beacon of hope and honour in an arid land of death..."
- —Repanse, leader of the Eternal Errantry War.[4]
Repanse de Lyonesse accompanying King Louen Leoncoeur of Bretonnia and Duke Alberic de Bordeleaux as they charge into battle as depicted in Total War: Warhammer II.
In Total War: Warhammer II, centuries had passed since the day Repanse de Lyonesse saved Bretonnia from the jaws of Chaos, yet her unwavering spirit remained as strong as when she first received her visions as a humble shepherdess. Her calling did not end there, however, for as the forces of Chaos continued to terrorise the Old World and beyond into the 26th century IC, the Lady of the Lake saw fit to involve her saintly champion once more.[4]
In her name, the Damoiselle de Guerre would ride out into the mortal world once more to trample evil under the hooves of her mighty warhorse, accompanied as always by her faithful protector, Henri le Massif.[4]
Now, wherever the Chevaliers de Lyonesse go, a mystical lily akin to the Fleur de Lys grows in their wake. This is a reassuring sign that the Lady still watches over Repanse, even when she is so far from the verdant fields of her Bretonnian home.[4]
Wargear[]
Repanse was a skilled warrior, blessed with a halo of light that inspired her allies and blinded her enemies. She was known for killing the Chaos Lord Kharan the Blighted with one stroke of her sword, decapitating the massive warrior as he stood dazzled in her presence.[4]
- Sword of Lyonesse - The Sword of Lyonesse was a mighty relic warblade -- the sword of a devout and honourable knight of olden times. Led to the sword by the Lady of the Lake herself, Repanse found it in the mystical Grail Chapel of he rown ravaged home village. She had been guided well, for the sword had great power over enemy magic.[4]
- Fleur de Lys Banner - The Fleur de Lys Banner was a powerful artefact taken from the same chapel as the Sword of Lyonesse. Draped around Repanse's mighty lance it could redirect an enemy's spell back at them, obliterating any who tried to stop the advance of the Chevaliers de Lyonesse.[4]
- Suleman - Suleman was a riderless Bretonnian Warhorse of a slain knight who was commandeered by Repanse. The horse now boldly carries Repanse into battle at the apex of her feared lance formation.[4]
- Halo of Maidenly Wrath - The Halo of Maidenly Wrath was a powerful blessing -- the power of the Lady of the Lake shone from Repanse like a halo. Her sword and plate armour glowed with the brilliant light of divine retribution. Her eyes shone with terrible judgement and her voice cried forth damnation upon her enemies.[4]
Miniatures[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
Repanse de Lyonesse's backstory, as well as her characteristics, are largely inspired by the medieval French heroine Joan of Arc. Like Joan, Repanse was a peasant girl who had divine encounters, acquired weapons and armour, and led her armies to victory. But unlike her real life inspiration, Repanse didn't suffer a tragic fate, instead being rewarded for her deeds rather than burned at the stake for witchcraft by her nation's enemies.
To make the inspiration even more explicit, the French version of Warhammer Fantasy Battle translates her name as "Jeanne de Lyonesse," "Jeanne" being the French spelling of Joan.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (5th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer: Rulebook (8th Edition), "The Years of Conflict"
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (8th Edition)
- 4: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
Gallery[]
