"She moved with unearthly grace, her every movement languid, her every gesture effortless. She carried herself like a queen, yet no queen of Bretonnia had ever wielded such power as was hers to command."
- —Morgiana, the Fay Enchantress.[3]
Morgiana le Fay grants her blessing to the young and smitten Prince Louen Leoncoeur.[2]
Morgiana le Fay, known more commonly as the Fay Enchantress, is the personal representative of the Lady of the Lake, the regional goddess of Bretonnia, and as such is the most influential figure in that kingdom.
History[]
"Many whisper that the Fay Enchantress IS the Lady herself, but she denies these rumours. All the same, she speaks the Lady's will, and knows the Lady's power. Hers is a strength that supports all of Bretonnia."
- —Marcelle du Nottin, Scholar of the Grail.[4]
Her will is that of the goddess, and even kings must bow to her wise council. The Grail Knights, having sworn their lives completely to the goddess, are bound by their sacred oaths to respond to any call or decree of the Fay Enchantress. Their vows ensure that this duty is paramount, coming even before loyalties to duke and king, for the Fay Enchantress and the Lady of the Lake represent more so than any mortal lord ever could. At times when the king has no clear heir, the Fay Enchantress alone has the power to choose a worthy replacement.[2a]
Evidence of the Fay Enchantress' power over the realm can most forcefully be seen during the time of King Bellaume the Brave when she ordered the Grail Knights of the king's own court to forcefully expel him, stripping him of his title and honour before banishing him from the realm and installing his successor.[2a]
Appearing to all as a beautiful young woman, it is believed that through the centuries there have been many Enchantresses, and she has gone by many different names. Some claim that she has lived through all the ages of Bretonnia, making her thousands of years old. In truth, the Fay Enchantress is reincarnated instantly as soon as her mortal body wears out, ensuring that she can continue her sacred duty.[2b][1][4]
Existing outside of the usual hierarchy of political power within Bretonnia, the Fay Enchantress comes and goes as she pleases, guided by the will of the Lady of the Lake. It has been known for her to appear to Questing Knights, guiding them on their final journey to the Lady.[2b]
As she travels the lands, slipping mysteriously between the sacred groves, she gathers to her side young children -- children that have intense latent power within them that is hidden to all but herself. These chosen youngsters are taken by the Fay Enchantress to a place beyond time and mortality, to the mysterious Otherworld.[2b]
The girl-children occasionally return years later as Damsels of the Lady, blessed in spirit and heart. Of the male children, nothing is ever heard again.[2b]
On occasions of particular peril, the Fay Enchantress will rouse the Bretonnian dukes or even the king himself and ready them for war. She will sometimes ride alongside these armies, lending her unearthly powers toward the protection of those fighting in the name of the Lady. [2b]
Her legendary fury is greatly feared, and her piercing eyes crackle with power, inspiring terror and awe in friend and foe alike. She has been known to draw lightning from the sky to strike her enemies, and slay with but a wrathful glance. She is often surrounded by a swirling, blessed mist. This unearthly vapour moves around her foes, and those found wanting are scarred by the Lady's enchanted touch.[2b][4]
The Enchantress lives a reclusive life and usually difficult to find. An important task for many knights on the Grail Quest is to find her and ask for favours and advice as to where to look for the Grail. One of her abodes is the mist-covered Isle de Lys in the middle of the Sacred Lake in Châlons, where the Lady first appeared to Gilles.[5]
She has also been known to reside within Carcassonne's mysterious Tower of the Enchantress. From high in her tower, the Fay Enchantress casts a watchful gaze across the duchy and the far horizons of Bretonnia. The tower is home to a myriad of laboratories and alchemical devices that she uses to concoct powerful potions and devastating spells.[4]
Very few have ever seen inside the tower, and rumours have it that inside the Enchantress even communes with the Lady herself. Whatever truth there is to such gossip, it is indisputable that from her secluded home she enacts the will of the Lady of the Lake for all Bretonnians.[4]
The Mists of Death[]
In the year 2518 IC, a Dark Elf fleet used the cover of unnaturally thick mists to land upon Bretonnia. As Dark Elf raiders scoured the seaside towns for riches and slaves, an army of noble knights amassed and attacked the invaders.[6]
The mysterious fog grew tendrils and assailed both armies as a full Arcane Storm erupted. The Dark Elves, with their vast host of bound monsters, were winning the day until the Fay Enchantress arrived. She banished the fog with a blindingly powerful spell, before personally draining the Winds of Magic. Only a few Dark Elves would escape back to their ships.[6]
The Bretonnian Civil War[]
On Twilight's Tide of the year 2521 IC, Mallobaude of Mousillon, bastard son of King Louen Leoncoeur, initiated a devasting civil war. Backed by the deathly figure of Arkhan the Black, the Serpent drew to him an army of disgraced knights and vile Necromancers. Morgiana herself briefly faced Arkhan on the borders of Couronne, showing him the true nature of the power that lurked beneath Bretonnia's courtly facade. Alas, the Liche was able to escape the Enchantress's holy wrath.[7]
That winter, Duke Armand of Aquitaine led his army to face the Serpent of Mousillon in battle, meeting Mallobaude's forces on the edge of the Forest of Châlons. Even though he acted with the favour of the Fay Enchantress, Armand would have been quickly defeated had the Branchwraith Drycha not arrived with a great host of forest spirits.[7]
Mallobaude's army was hard-pressed by this new enemy, yet the Branchwraith's host withdrew as mysteriously as they had appeared, leaving the knights of Aquitaine to be routed by the Serpent's forces. Worse still, when the forest spirits had vanished, so too had the Fay Enchantress. What her fate was, no one in Bretonnia knew.[7]
The End Times[]
Morgiana had been betrayed by the capricious Drycha, stolen away at the height of the Battle of Châlons and handed over to Mannfred von Carstein. She was one of three great prizes, and had been the acquisition that Mannfred feared most, for historically his kind had met nothing save ruin in Bretonnia. As matters transpired, she was the first to be ensnared, followed by Aliathra the Everchild and Volkmar the Grim.[7]
To Mannfred, these individuals were nothing less than demigods, whose divinely-granted power lay scantly concealed beneath a thin veil of flesh. Each was destined to be sacrificed by Arkhan the Black, with their holy lifeblood ushering in the return of the Great Necromancer himself.[7]
Storm of Chaos[]
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Attention, Empire Citizens!
This article or this section of the article contains information regarding the Storm of Chaos campaign and its aftermath, which is now considered a non-canon, alternate timeline.
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When the forces of Chaos threatened to destroy the neighbouring Empire, King Louen sought guidance on whether to aid them. The Fay Enchantress helped guide his decision, telling the court that it was the will of the Lady that Bretonnia take to arms and aid their fellow men. Her divine mistress had come in dreams to many Grail Knights in the preceding nights, and even now they were gathering at Montfort for the march north. The King had no hesitation in declaring a new Errantry War against the forces of Archaon.[8]
The Most Beautiful Lady[]
In Bretonnia it is said that Morgiana le Fay is the most beautiful lady in the Old World. However, Tilean knights consider this honour to rightfully belong to Princess Lucrezzia Belladonna of Pavona.[9a]
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![9a]
Favours of the Fay[]
"I didn't know how empty was my soul... until it was filled."
- —The Favours of the Fay.[4]
Morgiana appears before Duke Alberic.[4]
At the start of a battle, a Bretonnian hero may beg a favour from the Fay Enchantress. She reserves her favours for brave and worthy knights, and is most likely to grant a favour to a young, reckless knight whose courage and devotion burns most fiercely.[5]
If a knight is granted a favour he will accept a token of his promise to the Fay, which will be tied to his lance or helm. This token may be a scarf or even a tress of her flowing hair. The knight makes his pledge of honour never to run from a fight - this is known as the Ban. If a knight breaks his ban, he will incur dire consequences for both him and the Fay Enchantress herself.[5]
Grail Guardians[]
"The Fay Enchantress is one of the most revered and respected figures in all of Bretonnia. As is fitting of someone who speaks with the voice of the Lady, she is accompanied at all times by a retinue of Knights who defend her to the death."
- —The Grail Guardians.[4]
Although undoubtedly a fearsome sorceress more than capable of defeating her enemies by herself, the Fay Enchantress is served by her loyal body of Grail Knights, whose lives are sworn to protect her person and obey any and all commands. It has even been known, at times of mortal peril, for her to ride into battle ahead of a veritable army of such mighty warriors.[4]
Wargear[]
- The Chalice of Potions - The Fay Enchantress's Chalice of Potions holds a magical potion distilled from lilies gathered by her on the eve of battle. The power of the chalice depends upon the lilies she selects and the spells she weaves over them, with the colour of the resultant vapours deciding the effects.[1b][2b]
- Red - The healing effects of the potion's vapours protect those around the Fay Enchantress.[1b]
- Yellow - The potion vapours burn with a pure intensity that dazzles enemies touching the Fay Enchantress.[1b]
- White - The chalice discharges an enveloping mist which completely surrounds the Fay Enchantress and any unit she is with, making attempts to fire projectile weapons at them impossible.[1b]
- Violet - The chalice discharges a powerful violet coloured mist which coils around the Fay Enchantress like a serpent, choking any enemies in close range.[1b]
- Blue - The chalice discharges a blue cloud which drifts over the battlefield and settles over one enemy war machine. The war machine cannot fire whilst it is under the cloud.[1b]
- Morgiana's Mirror - Morgiana's Mirror enables her to peer into the hearts and minds of enemy wizards, so that she can discern their intentions and prepare herself against them.[1a]
- Girdle of Gold - Woven with powerful magics of otherworldly protection, the Girdle defies the Enchantress' enemies efforts to strike at her. Thanks to its power she can accompany knights into battle, and yet wear no armour, the power of the Girdle of Gold protecting her instead.[1b][2b]
- Power Familiar (Toad) - Said to have once been a wizard that displeased her, the Enchantress draws power from her toad familiar to strengthen her spells and weaken the magic of her enemies.[2b]
- Silvaron - This proud and noble Unicorn elevates the Enchantress above her host, so that all may see and be inspired by her.
Spells[]
- Spiteful Glance - It is unwise to annoy the Fay Enchantress of Bretonnia, for she may turn you into a frog! It is a widely held belief among Bretonnian peasants that many of the frogs lurking in the lakes and ponds around her abode are Questing Knights who failed to perform a task for her. The only way to save these unfortunates from languishing as frogs until eaten by a fish or a heron is for the fairest damsel in the village to kiss them. Needless to say few if any Knights have been saved in this way![1c]
- The Mist of Châlons - White mist, like that which rises from the places sacred to the Lady of the Lake, gathers around a unit in range from the Fay Enchantress. The mist enshrouds the unit so that it can barely be seen so long as it does not fire ranged weapons.[1c]
- The Doom of Dol - The Fay Enchantress pronounces the doom of a single person or monster on the opposing side, and a Bretonnian on her own side who will slay the "doomed" target. So, for example, in the midst of battle, the Fay Enchantress may suddenly declare something like "Sir Jehan Maldemer! The Dwarf king is doomed to perish by your sword!" Naturally, this inspires the named Knight to go all out to accomplish that very deed of valour and fulfil the prophecy.[1c]
- The Beguilement of Blondel - The target unit is beguiled with visions of verdant meadows full of wild flowers and beautiful maidens, or whatever alternative paradise exists in their imagination! They may even believe they have already been slain in battle and gone to heaven.[1c]
Videos[]
Miniatures[]
.jpg "The Fay Enchantress (1).jpg (78 KB)")
.jpg "The Fay Enchantress (2).jpg (82 KB)")
Trivia[]
There is a story that tells that Voland, captain of the mercenary band known as Voland's Venators, is a shameful offspring of the Fay Enchantress. But this is just one of the many rumors about his lineage.[1b]
It was long speculated that the Fay Enchantress was secretly a Wood Elf representing the Lady of the Lake, with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay stating that Elves could "recognise" her as such. This was eventually proven false during the End Times, when it was revealed that she was indeed Human. It was later stated in Total War: Warhammer that she could, in fact, age and die, with her mortal body being resurrected each time.
Morgiana is inspired by the Arthurian character, Morgana le Fay. Morgana was a powerful enchantress and the mother of Sir Ywain, one of the legendary Knights of the Round Table.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (5th Edition)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Bretonnia (6th Edition)
- 3: Knight of the Real (Novel) - Chapter Nine
- 4: Total War: Warhammer
- 5: White Dwarf #203 - Morgiana le Fay
- 6: Warhammer: Storm of Magic - The Times of Great Magic
- 7: Warhammer: The End Times Collection
- 8: Warhammer: Storm of Chaos
- 9: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
Gallery[]
.jpeg "Bretonnia-Warhammer-Fantasy-Louen-Leoncoeur-Fay Enchantress- (3).jpeg (64 KB)")
