Louen Leoncoeur

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Louen the Lionhearted.

Louen Leoncoeur, "The Lionhearted" was the Duke of Couronne, one of the mighty Grail Knights and the penultimate warrior King of Bretonnia. His death during the End Times saw him ascend to godhood, becoming the immortal champion of Lileath, referred to as the Golden Paladin.

History

Louen took the Questing Vow when he was a young prince. He traveled across the realm of Bretonnia and into lands beyond, displaying such courage and honor that he earned the epithet Leoncoeur or "lion-hearted." Louen travelled for years, searching for the Grail, He had met with prophets and ghosts alike on his travels, survived battles against Dragons and Daemons in his attempts to win the Lady's favor, even fighting alongside the Green Knight at one point.

Ascension to Grail Knight

Louen returned to Couronne five years after his quest had begun, the young knight was scarred and filthy from his battles and at first the King's Men-at-Arms mistook him for a fellow peasant. Louen came to beg his father for aid, the Necromancer Myldeon was gathering an army of the undead and needed to be stopped. When he once again rode out from Couronne he had only sixteen knights accompanying him, for his father was disgusted that Louen had returned from his Quest with nothing more than a beggars plea. The small force of brave Knights came across the undead army at the banks of a mystical lake, arrayed before them were hundreds of undead warriors with the vile Myldeon looming in the distance. The knights desperate charge destroyed many of the undead, and they fought ferociously against the odds, but one by one they began to fall. Louen's closest friend and companion Brocard fought his way towards the vile necromancer, he signalled a wordless challenge before being immolated with dark magic, leaving only a charred corpse in silver armour. Exhausted and distraught Louen splashed into the mud at the Lake's edge, dozens of grasping corpses clawed at him as he hacked and slashed and before long the lake was strewn with undead corpses. More came, an endless tide of rotting corpses and skeletal warriors, fear touched Louen's heart and he collapsed into the icy waters of the lake.

Louen sank deeper and deeper as shafts of light caressed his face, the murk became lighter and lighter and Louen felt a sense of peace fill his heart, that was until a beast appeared from the depths. An aquatic horror with which Louen desperately fought, during the fight his sword was lost and he had to make do with a simple dagger before finally slaying the beast, burying the blade deep within its gullet. As Louen drifted downwards his eyes began to droop and then closed all together, darkness surrounded him.

Louen awoke to discover a beautiful courtroom of underwater rock, inhabited by many wonderful and strange creatures, seemingly engaged in a large banquet. Presiding over them was a stunning female figure, the water around her glowing like liquid gold, her immaculate features were surrounded by a halo of luscious silver locks that curled and twirled against each other like courting snakes. Louen knelt on the sands and cast his eyes down respectfully, he felt a great warmth and his soul transcended his mortal senses. it was her, The Lady of the Lake.

The Lady bade Louen to dine with her, explaining that Bretonnia was going to face a dark age and that it needed a great man to lead it. The Lady explained that The Grail was merely symbolic, that the water within was her own blood, as were all sacred lakes in Bretonnia. Louen was lost in awe as she cupped her hands, holding them out the water within them glowed, illuminated from within. Louen clasped his calloused fingers around her delicate hands and drunk deep. Radiance poured into him like liquid sunlight, Burning heat flowed throughout his veins as his body was renewed and strengthened by the goddess. His heart thundered like a bull and his muscles became as strong as oak, the years fell away from him like snow melting in the spring sun. The Lady smiled with pleasure as Louen rose reborn, on a sudden impulse she took his face in her hands and kissed him. Before she parted she told Louen that she sensed true greatness in him, bidding him to reclaim Bretonnia in her name. At her side came a group of mysterious knights, garbed in archaic armour and pale of skin, their eyes glittered with the reflected glory of the goddess. These were the Lost Sons of Bretonnia, boys taken by the Lady at a young age, never to be seen again.

Louen and the Lost Sons burst from within the sacred lake, the undead turned around as Myldeon stood in shock. The necromancer's undead puppets were smashed into the mud with the force of the impact, decaying bodies practically splashing apart as the silver host thundered home. Louen was a bolt of silvered lightning at the heart of the storm. Even to be near the Grail Knight was deadly to the undead that assailed him. Skin sloughed from flesh and flesh fell from bone as the rotten creatures began to unravel in his wake. Unstoppable Louen struck left and right with his sword, each decapitating blow leaving a slowly fading curve of silver light hanging in the air. Myledon smiled as he summoned the undead back to unlife, creating a wall of bone between him and the Grail Knight, his sharpened teeth slicked with blood as he drew a sacrificial knife. Louen slashed open his shield straps with his glowing blade, he brought steel symbol of Couronne carving round in a great arc, putting all his newfound strength into one great throw. The pointed end of the shield smashed through ribcage and armour alike in a spray of bone and dust, neither spine nor skull slowing its passage. Louen's aim was true, the shield slammed into Myldeon's neck, decapitating him in a spray of gore before clattering to the ground.

King of Bretonnia

Louen was officially crowned in the year 1522 (2500 IC) by the Fay Enchantress Morgiana. By then he was said to be over 90 years old, yet he still appeared as if he was in his prime.

The realm Louen inherited was beset by all manner of threats. The Lichemaster Heinrich Kemmler, despite his defeat at La Maisontaal, still lurked in the Grey Mountains with a horde of Undead servants. In the south rumors were spreading of vile Rat-men infiltrating the lands of Brionne and Bordeleaux. The northern provinces suffered from raids by the Chaos-worshiping barbarians of Norsca, while other dukedoms were forced to contend with incursions by Greenskin tribes.

Louen later fought at the Empire city of Middenheim, leading a group of Knights Errant against Archaon and his Swords of Chaos. Even with Louen at their head, the young knights stood no chance against the mightiest group of Chaos Knights, with Louen and the brave Leofric being among the only survivors.

The End Times

Wounded during a failed cavalry charge against an army of Undead, Leoncouer was eventually cut down by his bastard son, Mallobaude, during the Bretonnian Civil War. Believed by many to be dead, he would return to follow Gilles le Breton who had shaken of his guise as the Green Knight, becoming the true king of Bretonnia.

Leoncouer became the lady's champion during the final days of the world, freeing every Bretonnian city he encountered from the forces of evil. Louen then led his forces to the Empire, seeking to defend his allies against the coming tide of Chaos. Louen's final act of heroism was at the great Imperial city of Altdorf. Here the Grail Knight fought against Ku'gath Plaguefather, Nurgle's mightiest Greater Daemon. The mighty Daemon struck Louen with a giant bronze sword, each strike cable of breaking bone into dust, still Louen fought on. The Lionheart soon found himself fighting against both Ku'gath and his horde of Plaguebearers, cutting down the damons pressing towards him, his flashing sword glowing bright under the comet above. Plunging his holy blade into the Greater Daemon's throat, Louen hung from his sacred blade, his blood began to pour onto Ku'gath, the golden lifeblood began to consume the daemon, slowly rendering him into a puddle of gore.

Louen had been greatly weakened by his fight against Ku'gath and the many Chaos Champions he had fought to reach the foul daemon. When a horde of fresh Plaguebearers poured into the courtyard, Louen stood resolute. He was eventually killed by the Nurgle-Empowered Festus the Leechlord, who in turn was slaughtered by Vlad von Carstein. Louen's body melted into a pool of Holy Water as he ascended to godhood, part of Lileath's plan for a new world. Later, as Lileath spoke to the other Gods, she turned to the Golden Paladin beside her, inspired by the loyal sacrifice he had made.

Items and Abilities

Out of all the Kings and rulers of the old world, Louen was probably the greatest warrior, capable of killing Nurgles mightiest Great Unclean One simply with his Holy blood and slaughtering enemies in their droves, older than any other human ruler, his experience in combat and politics was unquestionable. Leoncoeur was one of the most powerful Grail Knights in the old world, faster and stronger than any mortal warrior and protected from powerful magics. He also possessed an ability that only the greatest Grail Knights were gifted, he could regenerate his wounds, the blood shining with a holy light before eventually disappearing completely. His power increased tenfold when he died during the End Times. Becoming a minor god in Lileath's plan for a New World.

  • The Sword of Couronne was a mighty relic weapon, wielded by many heroes of Bretonnias past. This powerful weapon was forged from the finest Silverline and was quenched in the mirror pools of the Great forest. A purified weapon of The Temple of The Lady herself, The sanctified blade was steeped in righteous power. As Louen wielded this blade, it would catch the suns rays, dazzling his enemies as he charged into battle.
  • The Lion Lance was a mighty relic weapon carried by the kings of Bretonnias past, granting the wielder enhanced strength it attacked with a relentless fury.
  • The Tabard of Kings was a magnificent embroidered tabard which had been passed down through Bretonnias greatest Kings, enchanted with powerful counter spells it protected its bearer against enemy magic.
  • The Armour of Brilliance was a near impervious relic of holy might, the dazzling light from the armors polished plates making it painful for dark beings to even look upon their foe.
  • The Crown of Bretonnia shone with a golden light and was blessed by The Lady herself, enhancing the character of its wearer and inspiring those near him.

Arms

Louen's coat of arms was: Per pale Gules (for his father) and Azure (for his mother), a lion (for the royal family of Couronne) with a crown Or (as King) holding in his sinister paw a sword Or (as Duke), within a bordure Or charged with fourteen fleur-de-lis Gules and Azure (for the Dukedoms).

Sources

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