Lilea

Heraldry of Lilea

**Lilea**, formally the **Queendom of Lilea**, also known more prosaically as the "**Land of the Maiden**," is a highly martial human feudal kingdom of the Broken Continent that lies between the lands of the Black Mountains and north of Greysword Coast. Lilea is a powerful nation, having a culture and society that revolves around the ideals of matriarchal nobility, a strict social hierarchy based on aristocratic birthright, and the upholding of a strictly enforced code of chivalry.

## Overview

The Kingdom of Lilea is a highly chivalrous feudal kingdom that lies in the lands of Ghur. Emerging from the ashes of the ancient kingdom of Bretonnia that perished with the World-That-Was, it follows the traditional alliances of its predecessor, being one of the closest allies of the Stormcast Eternals and the Freeguilds. Lilea has a culture and society that revolves around the ideals of nobility, social birthright, and the upholding of a strictly enforced code of chivalry.

Ruled by a feudal hierarchy, the nation of Lilea has been known throughout the kingdoms of man for having the greatest knights in the realms, even surpassing that of the knightly orders of the Freeguilds. A proud and honorable kingdom, the armies of Lilea are comprised mostly of knights and noblemen, who ride into battle with lance, horse, and sword, seeking glory and rooting out injustice wherever they go. These knights are trained to fight from childhood, and even the lowliest knight-consorts are considered superior to ordinary warriors. Their skills are further enhanced through constant training, battles and tournaments.

Lilea is considered to some of the most beautiful land of humans within Ghur. Its primary territory is a green land of fertile farms, rolling hills, starkly beautiful mountains, and airy forests. Lilea chefs are famous for their culinary skills, and the wine produced in the vineyards of the country is renowned throughout the world. It is seen as a land of honor and virtue, where noble knights keep the domain safe as peasants till the fields, where chivalrous heroes slay monsters and rescue fair damsels. This is the image Lilea want to project, and it is not entirely false.

However, though these honorable warriors are meant to uphold chivalry and justice above all other traits, they are nonetheless afflicted with a much darker side than the shining knights they believe themselves to be. Within the feudal social structure of Lilea, many knights consider their lowly subjects as sub-human, as if they are nothing more than property in their eyes. Indeed, the life of a Lilea peasant is a life often fraught with endless injustice and cruelty by a nobility whose sole duty was meant to protect them and to uphold their duties as beacons of justice.

Though such cruelty and injustices have since stained their honor, it is still believed that there are no mortal men whose martial prowess can equal the knights of Lilea. Dedicated as they are, body and soul, to the pursuit of excellence in honor of their deities. These brave warriors form a bulwark against the growing evils of Chaos and the power of the orcs, beastmen, and other monstrous creatures that threaten mankind's survival. They are protected by their honor and by their strength of arms, and whilst they endure the lands of men remain safe from destruction.

## History

### The End Times and Pre-History

The history of Lilea begins in the aftermath of End Times of the World-That-Was. In that time, the wood aelf hero Araloth lead the survivors of Bretonnia to a new realm created by his lover, the aelf goddess Lileath. For centuries, Lileath was Bretonnia's Lady of the Lake, becoming this patron deity in order to manipulate the hearts of humans. And during the End Times, she had spent her efforts and her power strengthening her daughter by Araloth, and opening a portal to a world innocent of Chaos's touch. With the last of her strength, she imbued Araloth with some deific energies and sent him through the portal, there to join their child and guardian spirits fashioned from the souls of Bretonnia's greatest knights, the Grail Knights (which she acquired in her other incarnation as the Lady of the Lake). Lileath herself would remain in the World-That-Was to prevent Chaos from ever reaching this new world. If is for this sacrifice, despite Lileath's manipulations and ultimate failure, that earned the land its name, in honor of her sacrifice, and the countless others who lost their lives in the End Times.

For a time, the realm of Haven was hidden from the rest of the cosmos, unaware of the birth of the Mortal Realms and the rise of the new pantheon of gods During this time the young daughter of Lileath and Araloth grew and matured, imbued with the divine magic of her mother and mentored by her father, and eventually discovered the existence of the Mortal Realms beyond.

However, the branches of Chaos find even the smallest cracks, and eventually the sacred realm of Lilea was discovered and by the ancient daemon prince, Be'lakor, who had long pursued them. Araloth lead the few survivors of the world and fought with Be'lakor, as did many of the grail knights, sworn to defend their home and many lost their lives. Be'lakor and led his own host of daemons to wreak havoc upon the realm and claim it for his own. Araloth and the grail knights fought valiantly against him, with a climatic battle between the aelf and daemon prince resulting in Araloth severely wounded.

Fearing for her people, and her father, Lileath's daughter fled from her safe domain, using her divine power to cast a great spell. It ripped apart the realm of Haven, and opening a way to the realm of Ghur. Araloth and the greatest of the grail knights fled with Lileath's daughter, while many more sacrificed themselves in a final stand to hold back the tides of daemons as the realm fell apart.

The survivors of Haven arrived on a small peninsula on the realm of Ghur. The presence of the young goddess, and the mystical energies of Haven began to effect the land itself, causing wild magic to flow even more abundantly and strange warping aberrations to occur. In time various human tribes were drawn to the area, perhaps unconsciously called in part by the presences of the young goddess herself. They lived in small villages, telling tales of the strange things they observed, and the magic of the land itself began to alter the nature of the humans of the realm.

### Creation and Golden Age

Near the end of the Age of Myth, Lisanne van Maatje, a powerful female leader in her tribe, had a divine encounter with the goddess. According to legend, she was traversing the land at the height of spring when she heard a girl crying by a stream. Carefully approaching her, Lisanne extended her hand and asked, "Fair maiden, why are you crying?" And the young girl became to explain her tale of woe, how she had lost her home and family. Lisanne was kind to her, offering the young maiden a home to rest in. This act of compassion drew the eye of the girl, who began to radiate an ethereal grace. Lisanne stepped back in awe, and the girl revealed herself as the goddess of the land, revealing many great truths to Lisanne. She would return to her people proclaiming the message of the "Spring Maiden." Rallying her people, she led numerous campaigns to unify the land. With the aid of the Spring Maiden and the Grail Knights, and the Queendom of Lilea was formed, with Lisanne ruling as its first queen.

Lisanne's dynasty would see a short-lived but prosperous golden age ensue for Lilea, with the Queendom expanding across the Gulping Bay. New cities were established and the queendom expanded, creating a strong and centralized nation united under a common language, culture, and worship of the Spring Maiden, with proper respect for Sigmar and the rest of the pantheon of Order. The arts flourished, and Lilea established a set of trade connections with other nations.

Lisanne was blessed with a long life and many children, and her daughter Elsanne helped establish the various duchies across the realm. The practice of magic was explored, while new technologies were developed. Throughout the Golden Age, Lilea expanded rapidly and was quickly becoming a major power in the region, developing itself into a prosperous nation.

### Age of Chaos

However, the Lilean Golden Age was short-lived, with the Age of Chaos beginning under Lisanne's great-great-great-granddaughter Queen Klaartje. The Breaking caused a large warpstone meteorite to fall from the sky and attract a horde of skaven, while cults devoted to Tzeetch sowed chaos and discord among the nobility. Orruk warbands began to trickle from the southern mountains, raiding southern provinces. Many of the queendom's powerful magics fell to Chaos, and turned against their own kin, marking the beginning of Lilean distrust for magic.

The war that lasted throughout the early years of the Age of Chaos, a century of brutal conflict. As the forces of Order fell apart, Lilea found itself increasingly along and isolated. The Golden Paladin, greatest of the former Grail Knights, and Araloth led armies of loyal knights defended their kingdom. The constant assault from Chaos, however, slowly chipped away the territories of Lilea, with the southern portions of the queendom destroyed and ruined.

Countless people died in this conflict, breaking the Maiden's heart. Knowing that they couldn't hold out against the daemon hordes forever, the goddess made a desperate attempt to protect Lilea, just as a massive army of Slaves to Darkness and daemons marched straight into Lilea to end the queendom once and for all. The Maiden unleashed the full might of her godly power, surrounding what remained of her realm in a protective mist that burned away any force of Chaos that tried to cross it. This spell froze time itself, causing everyone within the queendom to slumber for centuries, while the mists shrouded Lilea from the prying eyes of Chaos, and prevented any Chaos-spawn to enter.

But creating such a powerful shield could not happen without sacrifice. The Maiden was overwhelmed by her own power and ended up being placed into a coma. Thus, the denizens of Lilea slept through the entirety of the Age of Chaos, with the Maiden herself sleeping with the land and protecting it with her power, and in her dreams she waited to a chance to reclaim her land.

### Reawakening and the Age of Sigmar

With the coming of Sigmar's Tempest, Lilea was at last able to be restored. Few know the entire truth, but a chamber of Stormhost entered into the mists, and undid the ancient spell, thus reawakening the entire long-forgotten nation. Some say they were sent by Sigmar himself, sending the Celestant-Prime to revive the Maiden, while others believe they were called there by the Broken Angel who restored the goddess, that he is, in fact, the greatest knight in all of Lilea, who died and returned as a Stormcast Eternal. Either way, the Maiden awoke from her slumber, and the Lileans found themselves centuries in the future.

Since then, the Lileans have begun a grant crusade to retake their former lands and fight in the name of Queen, Maiden, and Sigmar. As Sigmar's host turned the tide against the forces of Chaos, the armies of Lilea joined their ranks, at last having allies who could permeantly push back the darkness. The time for hiding out was over. The time for action was now. And all within the queendom could see that if Lilea was to survive in this cosmos of conflict, they must take the fight to their enemies and join those who would fight the Dark Gods.

Thus, since their reawakening, the queens and rulers of Lilea have enacted a permanent holy crusade into the lands of the Broken Continent. Armies of Lilean knights and peasants marched into battle, aiding the Stormcasts and other forces of order wherever they could. As the Realmgate Wars ended and the Free Cities were built, the Queendom of Lilea was officially welcomed into the Grand Alliance of Order. Now, Lilean embassies and garrisons can be found in most major Free Cities within the Broken Continent, but the conflict does not end.

The Lileans have faced new threats, from the undead arisen by the Necroquake and subsequent Soul Wars, or the rampaged of monsters and greenskinz with the awakening of Kragnos. But no matter the cost, Lilea has awoken with a righteous fury, striking out in name of Queen and Maiden.

## Government

The Queendom of Lilea itself is a matriarchal society divided into thirteen or so duchies, each ruled by a powerful duchess. At her side is her royal lord-consort, also known as the frieherr, who vows to protect and love her until the end of his days. Below the duchess are the local noblewomen, who are married to knight-consorts, also known as ridders.

Within Lilean government, woman hold political power, ruling the queendom, the duchies, and the various smaller principalities. They manage economics, political affairs, and manage their holdings. Men, however, while unable to hold political positions, are the warriors, sworn to defend their wives and female overlords. They act as the arms and enforcers of their lady's will.

The females born from a consort-duchess union are trained in politics and courtly manners, and given positions of governance and authority, while sons are taught battle tactics and trained for warfare, and devoted to the ideals of protecting woman, honoring their vows, and performing knightly acts and deeds. Men are generally ranked into different classes, with average peasants at the bottom, then there are knight-consorts, lord-consorts (married to a duchess), and the prince-consort (married to the queen), Women are similarly ranked, holding small noble positions, rising to become a duchess, or even elected as queen of Lilea.

Each territory is subdivided under small counties and knights, with a similar female ruler and knight-consort at her side. Each knight themselves must prove themselves, and upon a certain age undergo a pilgrimage to the holy city of Amersdam. There, they drink from the sacred Pool of the Seasons, and see a vision of the Spring Maiden herself. Vowing eternal fealty to her, they are knighted, though some may choose (or be chosen) to undergo a quest to prove their worth. They are given special blessings by the Maiden herself, crowned as Paragon Knights upon the completion of their task.

Leading the entire nation is the Royal Queen, elected from one of the duchies by both popular vote and the choice of the Spring Maiden herself. Currently, Queen Nelleke II Klein Huismink rules over the queendom, the duchess of the prosperous and wealthy duchy of Belagaeia. Coming from a well-known noble line, she is a skilled military planner and political ruler, who has mastered a technique of pitting enemy factions against each other to weaken them. She is married to Prince-Consort Matthijs Mijnders, a legendary knight who is famous for taming a dragon, as well as being crowned as a Paragon Knight. He is eternally devoted to Nelleke, and has served as the instrument of her will for years.

The Knights of Lilea are feared and respected throughout the known world. Men of valor and honor, they are exceptional warriors and guardians who protect a land founded upon the most heroic of ideals. In the name of the Spring Maiden and for the glory of the duchess and queen, they sweep aside evil on the field of battle, for none can stand against their glorious charge.

### Culture and Traditions

The governmental system that controls much of Lilean society is the use and implementation of a feudal system, an outdated archaic political system that was widely used within Bretonnia many centuries ago. The functionality of the feudal system is based upon oaths of loyalty between individuals within a society or nation, from which there is little to no direct form of a centralized government. The basic principles of the feudal system is where those below the social ladder must give up their goods and service to those of higher nobility in exchange for protection and certain rights, privileges and titles.

The peasantry of Lilea form the foundations of this feudal system and are required to serve and obey the nobility without question in exchange for their protection. As such, the vows of the peasants are those of servitude. Above the peasants are the nobles, whose responsibility is the protection of their lands and subjects from the depredations of outside threats, who in exchange for land and a title, shall fight for the queen when called into war. Thus, the vows of the nobility are ones of fealty.

At the very top of this social pyramid is the queen. The queen's rule is sovereign and near absolute, with no laws made within the kingdom having any hold upon the actions of the queen. The queen has the right to do anything she pleases within her realm, and has the ability to create new laws or legislation should she wish it. However, the queen may be removed from position by a majority motion of the duchesses of Lilea, and the Maiden herself chooses the queen who rules, thus ensuring that a good-natured and stable leader is in power. As such, nearly all queens of Lilea are known for their compassion, wisdom, and justices.

Below the queen are the duchesses. A Lilean duchess has royal power within her own duchy, but he is still subject to the queen. That means a duchess acting within her own duchy can wield enormous power, but must obey a direct order from the queen herself. Unlike royal power, the power of the duchesses has been abused in the past.

#### The Royal Court

By ancient tradition, the queen of Lilea must be selected by a conclave of all the duchesses at the Ascended Council immediately following the death of the previous queen. This unanimous choice is then legitimized by the visage of the Maiden. Once the election is finalized, the First Daughter, representative of the Maiden, will then crown the new queen for life in a ceremony within the traditional Cathedral of the Maiden.

Like any government ruled by a central figure, each queen houses a royal court from which she is able to govern and manage her realm with the aid of advisers and her fellow nobles. The current ruler, Queen Nelleke II Klein Huismink, has her court within Amersdam during the winter months. In the summer months, the nobles within her court disperse to their fiefs.

By long custom the queen speaks only to the highest nobles, and rarely speaks to those of less than baronial rank. Indeed, nearly all of the queen's servants are baroness, powerful in social ranking due their constant interactions with the queen and being sworn in fealty to her alone, for only by the queen's direct proclamation can a patent of barony be issued. The only time a peasant would ever speak to the queen in person is when she raises one unto the ranks of nobility by knighting them.

## Geography

### Geography and Magic

Ever since its kingdoms joined the Grand Alliance of Order, Lilea has had a reputation of being capricious, but this only because of the mischievous nature of its more supernatural inhabitants. In actuality, the world's ecology follows the laws of nature perfectly, and its inhabitants vigorously protect the perfect balance of magic and nature to maintain its eternal beauty, especially against more malevolent forces.

Lilea's geography is similar to that of the material realms, though overgrown in many places and full of unusual forms of life. Spirit and nature magic runs freely and powerfully in Lilea and it's for this reason that so many of its inhabitants are magically gifted. Yet it is also shielded from Chaos taint by powerful spells woven by the Maiden, which have helped to dampen the effects of Chaos magics. Sorcerers and daemons will find their strength weakened in the core lands of Lilea, although powerful Chaos magics can still be performed. And former lands of Lilea lost during the Age of Chaos have virtually no protection. Lilea itself is reputably beautiful, containing such wonders and sights that go far beyond what could have ever been possible in the World-That-Was and even in many of the Mortal Realms.

In practical terms, Ledenia is a vast landscape representing every sort of terrain imaginable (and many never conceived by mortals). It is a place where nature has more presence: the trees are taller, the oceans are wider, the valleys are deeper, and the flowers are brighter. This is not simple poetics, but objective truth, due to the supercharged vitality granted by the merging of the magical realm of Haven's abundance of 'positive planar energy' in combination with the extreme energy of the realm of Ghur.

#### The Duchies of Lilea

Much like the Free Cities of the Mortal Realms, the duchies and their cities are true bastions of order and civilization. Thanks to them, vast regions of the fay world are hospitable to mortal life, protecting the citizens from whatever creatures may lurk in the untamed wilderness. Though Lilea is famous for its rural landscape, all of the duchies' capitals are cities that were built either as trade-hubs or ports to the sea. Since the Age of Chaos, many of these cities have been heavily fortified, with castles dotting the land. The 13 Duchies are below.

* Duchy of Belagaeia
* Duchy of Gronijsel
* Duchy of Hossland
* Duchy of North Undland
* Duchy of South Undland
* Duchy of Antrecht
* Duchy of Haguland
* Duchy of Amsteria
* Duchy of Fyrdtrech
* Duchy of Dutrecht
* Duchy of Brabany
* Duchy of Haarland

#### The Wilds of the Fay

Beyond core settlements and urban areas of Lilea are settlements of other denizens ruled by natives known collectively as the Fayborn. These wild regions are magical and strange, from mountains that may contain caverns of priceless crystals and gems, or mazes of dastardly design, hidden magma rivers or volcanic dugouts. The Fayborn inhabit and bring vibrant life to these regions, their very presence making them grander and more mystical. Generally, the Fayborn and Lileans are allies, with the various Fayborn species often tricksters but good-natured. Only forces who would wish Lilea harm may see the wrath of the Wilds of the Fay, trees come to life, night skies inscrutable as the stars constantly shift, passages suddenly locked and opening to new locations. The Fayborn, just like the Lileans, protect their lands fervently.

## Religion

The Spring Maiden, also known as the Eternal Maiden, is the central deity of worship among Lileans, they do honor and respect other deities, such as Sigmar, Grungi, and Alarielle. All Lileans worship the Maiden, from poor peasants who clamor to their neighboring temples to the ruling baronesses and noblewomen who entertain themselves in elaborate cathedrals. Each temple is home to the female acolytes and priestess of the Maiden, with the various temples of worship also functioning as the magical institutions of the nation as well. Female spell-casters are taken in by the virgin priestess, who train each one to employ their magical in healing and protection spells. Male mages, meanwhile, are trained as mage-knights, given harsher restrictions and forced into a life of eternal servitude to the crown. The Temple of the Maiden is governed under various Holy Daughters, with all temples under the rule of the First Daughter.

## Culture & Society

#### The Code of Chivalry

Another aspect of Lilean society that governs the actions of the nobility, and in particular men, is the Code of Chivalry. This code was used by Bretonnia in the World-That-Was and was maintained by those who escaped into the realm of Haven, a time before its establishment as a kingdom. Indeed, this Code of Chivalry is, in its own way, a system of laws which the Lilean nobility has to follow in order to regulate the way their duchies should be run.

#### The Seven Commandments

The Lilean code of chivalry requires that every knight must follow seven commandments, although affecting women and men differently. These commandments are an integral part of Lilean society and government, and are often used to dictate the actions of the knight-consorts.

* To have courage in all things
* To show mercy
* To have generosity
* To have faith
* To keep hope
* To possess nobility
* To arbitrate justice

A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked.

To serve the Maiden.

To defend the domains entrusted to him.

To protect the weak and fight for the right.

Always to fight the enemies of virtue and order.

Never to give up the fight until the foe be defeated.

Never to break faith with a friend or ally.

Always to display honor and courtesy.

### Legends

Lilea is also home to many mysterious legends and myths, having a history of fey creatures and tales of romances and powerful magics of ages past.

In Gulping Bay there exists a legend of the Castle in the Sea, said to be at the bottom of Gulping Bay. It is reported to be home to the powerful sea god Locheri, and the castle itself is said to be made of magical water that can be molded to form ceilings, walls, and other objects. Locheri himself is said to be able to read one's heart and speak wise advice, and protects the Seven Chests, each built to hide the other, to contain a great evil, or a great treasure.

Due to the legacy of aelves, with their goddess being one herself, aelves are respected and revered among the Lileans. The Honor of the Eldarfolk is a specific degree that states that all aelves (with some exceptions) are to be treated honorably, and if possible the Lileans should strive to help them in any way.

## Foreign Relations

Due to the legacy of aelves, with their goddess being one herself, aelves are respected and revered among the Lileans. The Honor of the Eldarfolk is a specific degree that states that all aelves (with some exceptions) are to be treated honorably, and if possible the Lileans should strive to help them in any way. The native aelves of Lilean themselves are given special reverence, and have changed much over the many years

## The Races of Lilea

Ever since the original mortal settlers entered into the land of Lilea many centuries ago, the magic of the realm managed to change the mortal inhabitants in a manner that is somewhat similar to Chaos mutation, but nowhere near as malevolent or horrid. Some arrogant members of the Devoted of Sigmar see them as mutants changed by chaos. But this is a very wrong description. They are more like beings mutated by the pure magics and abundant positive energies of Lilea itself.

* **Lileans**: All Ledenian humans now have a touch of the fay within their bloodlines. These humans are different from the baseline in the Mortal Realms for several reasons, with one of the most noteworthy being that they possess senses and reactions that are better than other humans. They also often possess striking features compared to their normal counterparts, such as bright coloration of hair, eyes, or a cunning visage. Spellcasters with ties to fay can summon fay-touched creatures with summon monster spells and take fay-touched creatures as improved familiars. Lileans are known for proficiency in abstract thinking and those who can use magic have a quick and perceptive grasp of spellcraft, enchantment, and alchemy. Even the humblest of Lileans can boast a high resistance to destructive and dominating magical energies. Lileans , by and large, are pale-skinned and slight humans, comparable to the humans of most Free Cities.
* **Fayborn**: Many of the surviving spirits from the World-That-Was, perhaps all that remains of the souls of wood elves and Bretonnians who were snatched up into Haven, have become common across Lilea as a variety of spirit-like beings collectively referred to as the Fayborn. The variety of Fayborn add another layer of mystique to the land. The most common are the wisp, small glowing beings that hover in magical centers, while others like the gath reside in the great forests of Lilea.

## Military

The knights of Lilea are feared and respected throughout the known world. Men of valor and honor, they are exceptional warriors and guardians who protect a land founded upon the most heroic of ideals. In the name of the Lady of the Lake and for the glory of the dukes and king, they sweep aside evil on the field of battle, for none can stand against their glorious charge.

The Lilean military are a powerful army formed around a core of brave knights supported by scores of low-born peasants. They are a warlike and valiant people who willingly seek out battles as a way of securing personal honor and pride. Any who invade their domains face the fury of their powerful knights and few foes can match them on open ground. The knights range from the youngest knights-errant eager to prove their worth, through the knights of the Realm, defenders of the land. Rarer still are the Questing Knights, wandering warriors engaged in a quest. And then there are the legendary Paragon Knights themselves, who have succeeded in their quest becoming imbued with fay power and longevity. Riding into war atop the finest steeds, from mighty warhorses pegasi and roaring chimaerons, the knights of Lilea are warriors with few equals.

    One important aspect that defines Lilean military is that Lilea has no standing army. Instead, the queendom relies on the long and complicated feudal service of her knights. When a lord must go to war against the enemy, he appeals to the military assistance of his vassals. They in turn take the long process of summoning their own vassals to his banner, with most knights taking with them local peasants drilled in basic ranked pike combat or archery. These armies do not follow common military training and usually have no internal hierarchy, but their military tactics are simple and homogeneous enough to function smoothly in all circumstances, units being formed and reformed on the fly or at need during an extended campaign. Due to feudal law, the Lilean military is well known to shun advanced weaponry such as handguns, cannons, and most war machines, seeing them all as dishonorable weapons that go against the ideals of chivalry and the will of their patron, the Spring Maiden.

On the field of battle, the ultimate and most glorious goal of any Lilean army is to run down their foe with lance, sword, and the iron-shod hooves of their mighty knights. Such an approach to warfare has led the Lilean to almost always follow a strategic tactic known simply as the "*Hammer and Anvil*". The peasants' role is to support the knights by peppering the foe with arrows and to crew the mighty trebuchets. Regiments of men-at-arms march into battle to protect and hold the line as the "Anvil". Finally, it is the knights who come charging through the field of battle, crushing their foes from the flank or rear as they essentially become the killing "Hammer". Protected by the Maiden and her blessings, these knights blaze through firestorms of lead and arrows and crush their foes, earning glory, honor, and most of all, to uphold the values of chivalry.

## Notable Characters

* **Matthijs Mijnders** - The legendary prince-consort to Queen Nelleke. A valiant and noble knight, he displayed exceptional skill and valor, and undertook a great quest. By the end of it, he was faced with a deadly dragon, but instead showed mercy and compassion, and in so doing revealed the dragon to be the noble Nelleke. He has subsequently been declared a Paragon Knight, married to his one true love with multiple children. He rides the Predator chimaeron , which has the wings of an eagle, the head of a crocodile, the claws of an osprey, and hindquarters of a lion, and the tale of an anaconda. His wife rides the defender chimaeron, which has the head of a rhino, horns of an antelope, the tale and armor of a pangolin, the tusks of a wart hog, and the legs and body of a wildebeest.
* **The First Daughter** - The leader of the Temple of the Maiden and supreme religious authority of the Spring Maiden within Lilea. The First Daughter is imbued with both incredible magical talents, but also a portion of the power of the Maiden herself. She appears when needed as the voice of the Maiden, riding atop a powerful chimaeron. Her beast is large and smells oddly sweet, with large eagle wings, a lions head, and the body of a porcupine.
* **Robbert the Black Monk** - The ghostly pirate and undead captain of the ghost ship *Sister Beatrijs.* Robbert was once a humble monk, but left that life to pursue a career as a pirate. At his height he lead a powerful fleet, sailing for the highest bidder, and a great scourge of the seas of Lilea. However, he angered the wrong people, and in the end his fleet was destroyed, and by some mysterious circumstance (some say me made a deal with Nagash or was cursed by him) the *Sister Beatrijs* has been seen for centuries afterward, commanded by a crew of ghostly pirates. Robbert is an even more terrifying figure, and has revealed himself once more, offering his services for those who will pay him the most. Otherwise he continues to terrorize ships and towns wherever he sails, following some unknowable plan.
* **Valentijn Kraus** - A famous Paragon Knight, who was known for giving gifts and helping children in name of the Maiden. He is celebrated on the winter festival of Krausmas Day, and has appeared from time to time as a rewarder of good and a punisher of evil. He is always accompanied by Black Peet, or Dirk Wietan, who is sour and grim. While Kraus is revered more as an icon of peace, he has appeared multiple times before, stopping the forces arrayed against Lilea.
* **Abram van Harmsel** - The aging patriarch of his family, the Van Harmsel's have a long reputation of hunting down and rooting out vampires, going back generations. The founder of the family was Antoon van Harmsel, who fought and slew his own brother who had become a vampire. Abram is well travelled and a skilled member of the Order of Azyr, and has developed an effective method of tracking, revealing, and killing vampires.
* **Elegast Vaak** - A mythical aelven figure, who wanders Lilea. According to legend, Elegast can put people to sleep magically, opens locks without keys, and has a magic herb that when he puts in his mouth allows him to talk to animals.
* **The Glade Guardian** - Once known as Araloth, the Glade Guardian is the Divine Protector of the Maiden, a demigod who is ever at the side of his daughter and those who defend her. He is the commander of the Green Hunt, the oldest and last remain ethereal grail knights of old, who run across the sky and descend upon the foes of the Lilea.
* The Golden Paladin - Leouen Leoncour?
* **Hans Broeks** - Lord-Consort of Brabany, a duchy famed for its cold climate and lovely winters. At a young age Hans personally held back a tide of Chaos monsters in defense of one of the castles of Lilea, and has developed a deep hatred towards mutants and Chaospawn of any kind. Hans prefers to fight in the cold of winter, his natural environment, and wields the enchanted sword Silverskar, a mystical blade that chills the air around it.
* **Anemoon van Simen** - A zealous priestess, Anemoon is nonetheless very controversial figure in Lilea. This is firstly because of her radical teachings, which describe the Maiden in a more Sigmar-esque manner, with sermons portraying the Maiden as a vengeful mistress who incites warriors to avenger her honor against those that have wronged her. Despite numerous protests, she has garnered a following, and her radical followers have proven handy against the forces arrayed against Lilea. So far, she has been allowed to continue his teachings.
* **Bartjan Traast** - Also known as "Big Bart," due to his incredible size and strength. Bartjan leads the infamous Black Banner Band, a group of mercenaries and peasants. Once a simple peasant, his wife was abused by a corrupt knight-consort and killed, and Bartjan eventually led a small rebellion against the local noblewoman and saved his village from a band of village. Currently, he remains mobile with a small fleet, selling his wares as a mercenary across the Broken Continent, although he retains close connections to his homeland. Bartjan wields a massive 7ft. sword and is renowned for his incredible strenght, alleged to be so strong that he can bend coins using just his thumb, index and middle finger.
* **The Blind Knight** - The Blind Knight, also known as Hubert van Overbeek, was born pale of skin and with red unseeing eyes. Born of the blood of the first founders of Lilea, he was said to have been a great warrior in his day, always accompanied by a wolf and an eagle to guide him upon his white stallion. The Blind Knight has become a figure of legend, always appearing when needed most with his true love Jasmijn, a powerful sorceress skilled with lost knowledge. Together they continue to roam Lilea, eternally protecting and guiding others towards the path of the Maiden.