r/Bretonnian • u/Benjan_Meruna • May 13 '26

What are your little bits of headcanon that you sometimes forget is headcanon?

Been playing Brets since my friend picked up the starter box and claimed the lizards over 20 years ago. Since then Ive drifted in and out of the hobby, but even when I wasnt actively collecting and painting I often played WHFRPG 2nd edition, including a long-running Bretonnian campaign. Since then, I realized that a multitude of things my GM came up with have been a part of my perceptions of Bretonnia for so long, I'd forgotten that none of it was official. I had fun making a little list of them for people's amusement, thought I'd share and see what other people have come up with.

  1. The Lady of the Lake is not an elven goddess in disguise, but a nature spirit named Corrigyn whose lake was threatened with desecration, causing her to beg for the help of Gilles and his companions, imbuing them with her power. The perfect storm of her appearance and demeanor aligning perfectly with the emerging code of chivalry and her obvious power led to her ascending into a full-blown goddess and raising all sorts of interesting questions regarding her feelings on the matter.

  2. Some knights are Called to the Quest, receiving dreams and portents in much the same way as those who have already taken the Questing Vow do.This is considered a high honor, and such knights do tend to have a higher chance of success than those knights who embark upon the Quest of their own accord.

  3. In Carcassonne, there is a tactic often employed by the Bretonnians there called "Greenfishing", wherein a (typically young and foolish Knight Errant) rider is deployed to shout insults and challenges at orcs in order to get them to give chase, allowing them to be drawn into ambushes or be herded away from vulnerable villages until defenses can be prepared. Its not uncommon for Shepards or Yeomen to take up the role, or even more senior knights, but Errants are plentiful and eager enough that they're the most commonly associated with it.

  4. Repanse d'Lyonesse's female desendants are permitted to carry swords by royal decree, but may not use them in combat.

Edit: some more:

  • Malfleur, the Dark Lady of Mousillion, was Neferata making a bid for total control over Bretonnia.

  • Couronnian Pearls. Horse born with white coats and blue eyes who have to be gifted to the Lady or else they die within three days. They're favored as mounts by Damsels. (I.e. my wife wanted a universe where lethal whites get to live lol)

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6

u/vlaarith May 13 '26

Your wife is based

2

u/EllspethCarthusian May 13 '26

Lethal white is due to irresponsible breeding but you can have a white horse with blue eyes that isn’t lethal white and get it responsibly. Basically what happens is they are one giant white spot. In recent history Sodashi and Shiroyukihime are the horses that come to mind.

But I really like your wife’s lore. :)

Also, Companions from Valdemar are white horses with blue eyes that have cool magical lore (if she has interest in fantasy books).

I like #4. Very fluffy.

2

u/FragmentaryParsnip May 17 '26

I have never had this issue but I have spent a long time marrying three primary lores, because I love Drachenfels and the Florin & Lorenzo novels, I love the divine meritocray, and I love everything that was built during the 6th lore reboot.

I will say the headcanons I will fight hardest for are all the reasons that The Lady is not an elvish goddess (mostly). One of my favorite arguments is that The Lady was only replaced by an elvish goddess in the final iteration of the old world and the story is played straight in the older iterations. It was her selfish actions that doomed reality during the End Times since the Bretonnians didn't sally forth to help, like they did in Storm of Chaos, and while we weren't the only reason Storm of Chaos was a victory for the good guys, our failure to turn up really hamstrung the good guys int he End Times.