Quenelles

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The Dukedom of Quenelles is a founding Dukedom that lies upon the borders of Athel Loren, at the south-eastern corner of Bretonnia. [9a]

Being the largest out of all the Bretonnian Dukedoms following their annexation of Cuileux during a Greenskin invasion in 900 IC, Quenelles is so massive that it surronds the entire mountain range of Massif Orcal. [9a]

Lying at the very center of the Dukedom, the Greenskins living within Massif Orcal have always been a bane to the existence of all those living near the mountain. Unlike other ducal lands plagued by Greenskins however, the people of Quenelles has such unreserved hatred for these raiders and barbarians that seems to far outshadow all those living within Bretonnia. Some have said that when the Dukedom of Cuileux was destroyed by the Greenskins, the ghost of these people have put a curse upon Quenelles that would ensure that they shall continue the fight against them for the rest of time. [9a]

Its current ruler is the fearsome Duke Tancred II.

Geography

Quenelles is the largest of the dukedoms of Bretonnia, stretching over most of the middle of the land. In the east, it has a long border with the Forest of Loren, and Quenellers have more direct dealings with the Fay than the inhabitants of any other dukedom. To the south, the dukedom faces Carcassonne across the River Brienne, and then, working clockwise, borders Brionne, Aquitaine, Bastonne, Montfort, and Parravon, divided from the last two by the River Grismerie. [9a]

Broadly speaking, northern Quenelles is pastoral whilst the south is arable. The north of the country is dominated by the Massif Orcal, a range of mountains rising up in the middle of the land and the source of the River Gilleau. The mountains of the Massif are relatively low, rounded, and eroded into networks of caves. These caves are inhabited by large numbers of Greenskins who mount frequent raids on the surrounding settlements. [9a]

Few humans choose to live in the Massif, but the Dukes encourage a human settlement in the hope of weakening the Orcs. Most villages are sacked within a few years, so ruined villages and castles are a common sight. However, a few have survived, and these are now very well fortified. [9a]

Between the Massif Orcal and the River Gilleau is a part of the Forest of Châlons. This area seems almost completely free of monsters: one or two small groups of Beastmen or Orcs are seen in a year. Small groups of hunters, charcoal burners, or woodsmen can work in the forest unmolested. All attempts to establish villages have failed, ending in the complete destruction of the village. The village is replaced, overnight, by a bare depression in the soil, as if something had scooped up the entire settlement and taken it away. The Quenellers suspect something similar happens to large bands of Orcs or Beastmen. Nobody knows who or, more likely, what is responsible. [9a]

The southwest of Quenelles was once, before the founding of Bretonnia, the land of Cuileux. The knights of Cuileux were wiped out by Goblinoids and their lands absorbed by Quenelles. However, the courage of the last stand of the Cuilen has made them legendary. A large area is known as the Grave of Cuileux and is not farmed. Stories say that anyone who tries to do so is killed by the ghosts of the knights of Cuileux, who believe that only an Orc would disturb their rest. The occasional discovery of Orc and human bones in the area tends to suggest that this really is the site of the last ride of the Cuilen. [9a]

History

After Cuileux is overun and destroyed by greenskins in 930 IC, the knights of Brionne and Quenelles ride forth to wipe out the enemy and lay claim to the land. Single combat between the two lords results in the death of the Lord of Brionne. [1a]

Melmon, the Duke of Quenelles disappears in 1336 IC. [1a]

As the Red Pox ravages Bretonnia, the Skaven besiege both Brionne and Quenelles but both cities are saved by Duke Merovech of Mousillon, Escargot, the Duke of Parravon and the Wood Elves of Athel Loren under Caradrel the Wrathful. [1a][10a]

Duke Melmon emerges from Athel Loren in 2236 IC but ages dramatically and dies before the end of the day. [1a]

Wood Elf knights of the Kindred of the Willows arrive at the annual tournament and ask to joust for the challice and other artefacts they say are Elvish. The Bretonnians agree even when the Elves raise the stakes with the combats being to the death. [7a] However as the bouts continue, the Elves overpower the guards and steal the challice before fleeing! [7b]

The armies of the Lichemaster and the Necrarch Brachnar fight in the hills near Quenelles in 2420 IC. [6a]

Tancred I, Duke of Quenelles defeats the undead and skaven after they sack the abbey of la Maisontaal in 2491 IC. [1a] Tancred I again faces the Lichemaster at the Battle of Montfort Bridge but is abandoned and killed, and his revived corpse is sent with greetings to King Feramand.[6a]

End Times

Arkhan the Black marches through a ruined Bretonnia and is met in battle by the Duke Tancred II as his army crosses into Brionne. Although the initial charge is glorious - a lance of blue and silver into the heart of the enemy, it is nothing more than an inconvenience to Arkhan. Heinrich Kemmler and Krell kill the new Duke and the few remaining knights retreat to Castle Brenache in the west of the province. [8a]

Jerrod, Palatine of Asareux becomes the new Duke and seeking revenge on the undead, prays for guidance from Lady Elynesse, a renowned Prophetess who reveals the objective of the enemy is La Maisontaal Abbey. [8a]

Locations

  • Barrows of Cuileux: Where the people of Cuileux buried their dead, many have been looted of their treasures. [9a]
  • Grave of Cuileux: The site of the battle which saw the knights of Cuileux wiped out by the Orcs. [9a]
  • City of Quenelles: Located on the River Brienne near the edge of Loren, much of the original Elf stonework is still intact. [5a]
  • Viefin: Forified town at the end of the road through Axe Bite Pass. [9a]

The People

The people of Quenelles are most renowned for their unrelenting hatred of the Greenskins that constantly raid their lands. This is a little strange; it is certainly true the inhabitants of the Massif Orcal raid very frequently, but Greenskin raids have not had the same effect in other regions. Some people think that the dead of Cuileux have placed some sort of curse on the inheritors of their land, compelling them to continue the fight. Certainly, it is notable that every single Queneller festival involves burning a Goblin or Orc, in either effigy or a real one. [9a]

A lot of Queneller adventurers left to take the fight to the Greenskins. Such folk often head into the Massif Orcal, but there are Goblins and Orcs in all mountain ranges, so others go further afield. They often ally with the Dwarfs, seeking to drive the Greenskins from the Dwarfholds. The politics of the dukedom are dominated by the succession question, as Duke Tancred is not the only one to have noticed that he is getting old. If Einhard returns, he is the clear heir, but most Questing Knights who are going to return have done so within ten years. There are about half a dozen nobles with a realistic claim to the dukedom, but two stand out. [9a]

Earl Hincmar is the eldest son of the Duke’s elder sister. He is also lord of a large fief around the Massif Orcal and known for his great courage in the face of Orc raids. He is feared even by his own vassals, as he is famous for the arbitrary cruelty of his “justice.” Lord Therevault is the grandson of the Duke’s younger brother, and the next male in line if Einhard does not return. However, he is not yet twenty and became a Knight of the Realm prematurely on his father’s death in a hunting accident. The accident was clearly genuine, but Therevault is not ready to rule. A number of wilier nobles are thus backing him, hoping to have a pliable puppet. The final decision rests with the King, but Duke Tancred is not the only noble who really hopes that Einhard can be found. Earl Hincmar would really like Einhard to be found dead. Lord Therevault does not know what he thinks. [9a]

Dukes of Quenelles

Sources

Bretonnia
Units Arblastier - Battle Pilgrim - Bretonnian Lord - Bretonnian Squire - Bretonnian Wizard - Brigand - Chevalier D'Honneur - Foot Knights - Grail Damsel - Grail Knight - Grail Reliquae - Knight Errant - Knight of the Realm - Men-at-Arms - Paladin - Peasant Bowmen - Pegasus Knight - Prophetess - Questing Knight - Rascal - Trebuchet - Villain
Characters Aucassin - Adalene Monteaux - Adalhard - Agilgar - Agravain de Beau Quest - Alberic - Aloys de Montjoie - Amalric of Gaudaron - Armand d'Aquitaine - Balderin Beastslayer - Balduin - Bagrian - Beren - Bertrand - Bohemond Beastslayer - Bougars de Biaucaire - Bragans De Montfort III - Bruno Malvoisin - Calard of Garamont - Carleond - Cassyon - Chambray D’Axauex - Chantelle da la Nuit - Chanterelle - Chilfroy - Corduin - Corentin - Cyricus Carrard - D’Andellyon IIX - Eleanor de Quenelles - Élisse Duchaard - Escargot - Etienne Edouard Villechaize - Eustache - Fastric Ghoulslayer - Feramand - Flaubert Bonsanté - Florin d'Artaud - Folcard - Folgar - Fragonnarde de Montecannes - Francois le Noir - Fredemund - Galand - Galeron & Joinville - Gaston de Beau Geste - Gaulthiere LeGrand - Gefreid - Geg - Genevieve Dieudonné - Gilles le Breton - Gilon - Gui le Gros - Guillaume (king) - Guillaume de Grenouille - Gundehar - Gwynael - Hagen - Helena Bonsanté - Henri de Fois - Henri Lamorte - Henri le Massif - Hermit Knight of Malmont - Huebald - Isabelle - Iselda - Jacques de Noirot - Jasperre le Beau - Jaques de Beaumarchais - Jaspiere II - Jerrod - Jonquille de Brionne - Jules le Jongleur - Julien Pontenne - Karolina Aquilena - Laudethaire - Katerina de Hansebourg - Knight of the Perilous Lance - Lambard - Lambert de Lillaz - Landuin - Laroche - Laskar Noircouer - Lothar Aquilena - Laudethaire - Leofric Carrard - Louen Leoncoeur - Louen Orc-Slayer - Louis the Righteous - Louis Rochelle - Lucus - Malfleur - Maldred of Mousillon - Mallobaude - Maraulf - Marcel - Marcus - Marianna Chevaux - Martrud - Melisande - Merovech - Mordac - Morgiana le Fay - Nicolete - Odo d'Outremer - Orfeo - Panteleon - Phillipe d'Artaud - Pierre d'Antoch - Pitre Fonce - Rademund - Rademund III - Red Duke - Reolus - Repanse de Lyonesse - Reynard le Chasseur - Rodrik - Roland le Marechal - Sir Dagobert - Sir DuClaw - Sir Richemont - Suliman le Saracen - Tancred I - Tancred II - Taubert - Theobald II - Theodoric - Theralind - Theudric - Thierulf - Tristan de la Tour - Tristan le Troubadour - Viscount d’Alembençon
Dukedoms Aquitaine - Aquitaine - Artois - Bastonne - Bordeleaux - Brionne - Carcassonne - Couronne - Gisoreux - L'Anguille - Lyonesse - Montfort - Mousillon - Parravon - Queneles
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