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La Chanson d’Artois
Artois, Artois, Artois pour la Dame! Artois,
Artois, Artois for the Lady! En tout-le-monde ou il y a guerre In every place
where there is war Nous venons a vous aider We come to help you fight
Nous sommes l’Armee d’Artois We’re the Army
of Artois Gaignons encore un fois We’ll fight
and win again Gaignons nous pour la Dame
For the Lady
of the Lake Artois, Artois, Artois pour la Dame! Artois,
Artois, Artois for the Lady! |
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Contents
Army Historical Background
Geographical Location
Deep inside the fair land of
noble Bretonnia, lies the dukedom of Artois. It is bordered by four other
dukedoms: Lyonesse, birthplace of the valorous Repanse de Lyonesse, Mousillion,
scene of the False Grail scandal, Gisoreux, gateway to the Empire, and
L'Anguille, a sea-front bastion. Sheltered by these four dukedoms, Artois is a
tranquil place where common people lead a life of happiness and serenity.
A Reinforcement Army
This does not mean that
during troubled times, when invading hordes knock on Bretonnian walls, the
people of Artois live on as if nothing may care. The dukedom of Artois, with
its vast retinue of noble knights, is a pool of substantial reinforcements,
ready to help where the need arises. Many a time has the Army of Artois arrived
in the nick of time to help the few remaining Bretonnian warriors hold and
defeat the incoming onslaught! Many a time did fleeing regiments regain courage
and willpower to fight the oppressors on seeing the valorous Army of Artois
come to their aid! It will never be forgotten how the Army of Artois saved the
Duc d'Anguille when Norse invaders sacked his castle. The Army of Artois is a
solid reinforcement army for the whole of Bretonnia.
Shrine of the Lady of the Lake
The dukedom of Artois owes
its serenity to the omnipresent Lady of the Lake. The verdant depths of the
Bretonnian countryside are scattered generously around Artois, and many a times
has the Lady of the Lake appeared to the privileged traveller. This is of so
much renown that many a Questing Knight seeking to achieve their quest can be
seen trotting along Artois footpaths.
The Knights of Artois
Those Knights that achieve
their quest and pledge their service to the Lady of the Lake, are often asked
by the Lady herself to join the Armee` d'Artois and give their service to the
noble Land of Bretonnia wherever there is need to rid the land from the foul of
the evil. Thus, the retinue of Knights to the service of Prince d'Artois
consists of a number of Grail Knights who have achieved
their quest and a number of Questing Knights who have yet
to be honoured by the Lady of the Lake.
The Noble Family of Artois
Army General: Prince d'Artois [Description] [Stats]
After the death of Duc Jean d'Artois, his only
heir ascended to the throne: Prince d'Artois, a Grail Knight. Since his younger
days, Prince d'Artois was a winner at every joust. And when the honour of the
Artois family was at stake, he himself would face and defeat the rival Knight,
always using his favourite weapon, the lance. The day he achieved his Grail
quest, the Lady of the Lake presented him with the Star
Lance, a holy gift from holy hands. He leads his army into battle always
wielding the Star Lance, a sore blow to the rival army. His trusted steed,
Ornelius, is a white stallion whose blood comes from Oriel’s lineage. (Oriel
was a gift from Eoth, a Wood Elf prince, to King Guillaume after he helped the
Elven party drive off a Greenskin assault).
Queen Sorceress: Dame Stella Artois [Description] [Stats]
His wife, Dame Stella Artois, spent her early
adulthood studying Magic at the Celestial College of Altdorf. She reached the
second level of magic and practices both Battle and Celestial Magic. She goes
to war aboard her trusted steed Felicius, right behind her General husband, and
wields the Sword of Fortitude, a gift from her Celestial
Masters on her wedding day. But her most treasured artefact is the Black Amulet, an heirloom of the family given to her by her
mother on her deathbed. Many a times has the Amulet saved the General's wife,
rebounding the wounds onto the offensive enemy who falls down dead.
The noble family has given life to two children: Sir Julien and Dame Rosarie d'Artois.
Grail Knight Hero: Sir Julien d'Artois [Description]
[Stats]
Sir Julien is a valiant Grail Knight Hero who
aspires to follow his father's footsteps and be a grand King to the service of
the Lady of the Lake. The day he achieved his Grail Quest, His parents honoured
him with the gift of the Spellshield, fabricated by his
mother's own hands to guard him from evil magic. Sir Julien leads the retinue
of Grail Knights during the battle, a sure support for his father's retinue of
Questing Knights.
Army Standard Bearer: Dame Rosarie [Description]
[Stats]
Dame Rosarie is a High Priestess in the
service of the Lady of the Lake. Once, whilst contemplating in the Grail Chapel
just outside the Fortress of Artois, the Lady of the Lake appeared to her and
handed her a Banner that would inspire every Knight fighting for fair
Bretonnia. The Lady of the Lake ordered Rosarie not to let anyone take the
Banner from her, and she had to lead it into battle herself. Thus Rosarie
became the Battle Standard Bearer for the Armee' d'Artois and she named it the Banner of the Lady of the Lake. She holds it up high as she
rides alongside her mother Dame Stella Artois, behind her
father Prince d'Artois.
Other Characters and Regiments of Renown
Le Chevalier d'Artois [Description] [Stats]
One fine morning in fair Bretonnia, a small
stone keep appeared beside the Lake Eau, where the day before had stood nothing
but verdant grass. The townsfolk of Artois worried about this presence, knowing
not whether it was divine or evil. Nothing emerged or entered the Stone Keep.
Not until the first time the Armee` d'Artois went to Battle. A Knight, dressed
in black armour, with a golden panther's head on his helmet's crest, emerged
from the stout wooden door of the Keep, just as the army was passing by Lake
Eau. The Knight, carrying sword and shield, joined the bowmen regiment and led
it into the battlefield. He never uttered a word, ordering the bowmen to fire
their deadly arrows with a lift of the sword. When the bowmen were attacked by
a horde of Skaven rats, he killed each of them one by one, until none were left
alive. No bowman was even scratched. And when the Chaotic warlord upon his
Juggernaught assaulted the leather-clothed bowmen, the mysterious Knight caught
up the challenge and slew the evil being. None of the archers' lives were lost
in those battles. Upon returning home, the army saw the Knight leave without a
word from the army line-up and enter his Stone Keep, only to return for the
next battle. Rumours say that the Knight had once been saved from slaughter by
a bowman's skill in archery, who killed his rival with a sure shot to the
heart. Upon achieving his Grail Quest, the Lady of the Lake ordered him to
guard the bowmen of Artois with his life and gave him a stone keep where to
lead a life of solitude and prayer. The townsfolk refer to him as Le Chevalier
d'Artois and his sword has been recognized as the fabled Dragon
Blade.
Justin le Juste [Description] [Stats]
A cousin of Sir Julien
and Dame Rosarie, Justin is a humble man who
forfeited his right to nobility and joined the townsfolk in their humble homes.
A skilful bowman, Justin trains the townspeople of Artois to use their longbows
and support their Knights in battle. He leads half the bowmen himself, while
the rest are led by Le Chevalier d'Artois. As a gift to
honour and respect his choice of humility, Justin was given the Amulet of Fire by his Aunt and Queen Dame
Stella Artois, to guard him from evil spells.
Leopold di Lucci and the Leopard Company [Description] [Stats]
[Gallery]
One of the mercenary regiments who happened to
pass across Artois was the Leopard company led by Leopold the Lucci, who are
seeking to restore a sacred temple in Lucci by giving their service in battle
in exchange of payment. For such a noble cause, Prince d'Artois offered a hefty
monthly sum if the regiment of renown would accept a long-term service with
l'Armee` d'Artois. Leopold, their heroic leader, accepted happily and now
reside in the local tavern who was renamed Leopards' Inn to show the respect
the townsfolk have for such noble warriors.
Army Composition
Army Characters
General Prince d'Artois [History] [Stats]
MODEL: My General is a modified Green Knight model. I sawed off his sword wielding hand and put a normal arm-with-lance on instead. I saved the sword and stuck it behind his back. The Horse's feather-crest was cut down to size. I’m quite proud of the result: it was my first attempt at a transformation!
EQUIPMENT: The General will be leading 7 questing knights (together with his sorceress wife and battle standard daughter). So he will have quite a backup to win the combat with. So I planned to give him three items, which let him make maximum damage. He is clothed in Heavy Armour, sports a shield, and rides a Barded Warhorse for an Armour Save of 2+. I chose the Grail virtue so that he won't be afraid of charging ugly enemies. I then chose the Virtue of the Joust so that all 4 attacks hit. Top that with the Star Lance, a +3 Strength on charge (7 Str! 50% 2+ to Wound) with no armour save allowed. Quite hefty eh? check out the approximate Combat Result for the Questing Knights regiment!
Queen Sorceress Dame Stella Artois [History] [Stats]
MODEL: My Sorceress is a Lucrezia Belladonna model on a normal Barded Warhorse. no modifications yet. The model comprises a sword, which fits well with the equipment.
EQUIPMENT: My Sorceress is a Level 2 Wizard and thus can have only two magical items. I gave her the Sword of Fortitude so that she will not leave her husband's side when fighting against ugly evils. I also gave her the Black Amulet. In my first tournament, this Amulet killed two rival generals: Toofless(an Orc WarLord) and some Chaos General. Seems good enough amulet eh?
Grail Hero Sir Julien d'Artois [History] [Stats]
MODEL: My Hero is a normal Knight model on a normal Barded Warhorse. no modifications yet.
EQUIPMENT: My Grail Hero will be leading the Grail Knights into battle. Since they are the target of many a spell, I endowed him with the Spellshield which gives him a 4+ Natural dispel against offensive spells, together with the Grail Virtue.
Army Standard Dame Rosarie [History] [Stats]
MODEL: My Army Standard is a Repanse de Lyonesse model.
EQUIPMENT: As her parents, she has the Grail Virtue and bears the Banner of the Lady of the Lake to abide by the Lady's bidding.
Grail Knight Hero on Foot Le Chevalier d'Artois [History] [Stats]
MODEL: This is a Grail Hero on Foot model.
EQUIPMENT: Apart from the Grail Virtue, le Chevalier has the Dragon Blade to be able to cut down the enemy two by two :)
Bowman Champion Justin le Juste [History] [Stats]
MODEL: This is a normal bowman model
EQUIPMENT: Justin wears the Amulet of Fire to guard his bowmen from spells with a 4+ dispel.
My Army consists of 5 regiments:
- Questing Knights Les Lances d'Artois led by General Prince d'Artois
- Grail Knights Les Verteux d'Artois led by Grail Knight Hero Sir Julien d'Artois
- Bowmen Les Archers d'Artois led by Justin le Juste Bowman Champion
- Bowmen La Fleche d'Artois led by Le Chevalier d'Artois
- Mercenary Pikemen The Leopard Company led by Leopold di Lucci
Questing Knights Les Lances d'Artois led by General Prince d'Artois [Stats]
This unit of 7 Questing Knights includes a Standard Bearer and Musician. Together with the noble trio, they form a Lance of 4 ranks. Their standard is the Banner of Arcane Protection for a 4+ Dispel against the unit.
A typical Combat Result would be between 8 and 11 combat pts:
- General causes 3 wounds
- Rest of Knights and Horses cause 3 wounds
- Standard : +1
- Dame Rosalie's Banner: +1
- a maximum of +3 if you consider the Banner's No Rank Bonus for opponent
Grail Knights Les Verteux d'Artois led by Grail Knight Hero Sir Julien d'Artois [Stats]
This unit of 5 Grail Knights includes a Musician and Standard Bearer. Led by Sir Julien, they form a Lance of 3 Ranks. However their standard, the Banner of Defiance, doubles their Rank Bonus to +4 (but they will never pursue)
Bowmen Les Archers d'Artois led by Justin le Juste Bowman Champion [Stats]
This unit of 12 bowmen includes a musician and Standard-bearer. Together with Justin they form an Arrowhead formation of 4 ranks and a half
Bowmen La Fleche d'Artois led by Le Chevalier d'Artois [Stats]
This unit of 13 bowmen includes a musician and Standard-bearer. Together with Le Chevalier they form an Arrowhead formation of 4 ranks and a half
Mercenary Pikemen The Leopard Company led by Leopold di Lucci [History] [Stats] [Gallery]
This unit of 12 pikemen is arrayed in a regiment of 3 ranks. Its aim is to be an absolute aid to the Knights in hand-to-hand combat.
L' Armee' d'Artois - 2000pts Army List
Lord Character (M4, WS6, BS6, S4, T4, W3, I6, A4, Ld9)
Sword, Heavy Armour & Shield & Barded Warhorse (AS 2+)
Magic Item 1: Grail Virtue (Immune to Psychology)
Magic Item 2: Virtue of the Joust (Automatic hits)
Magic Item 3: Star Lance (+3 Str charge, no Armour Save)
Points: 100+4+7+15+15+60 = 201pts
Lev 2 Wizard Champion (M4, WS3, BS3, S4, T4, W2, I4, A1, Ld7)
Barded Warhorse (AS 5+)
Magic Item 1: Black Amulet (4+ Special Save with rebound)
Magic Item 2: Sword of Fortitude (Immune to Psychology)
Points: 118+7+50+50 = 225pts
Army Standard Bearer (M4, WS4, BS4, S4, T3, W1, I4, A2, Ld7)
Sword, Heavy Armour, Shield & Barded Warhorse (AS 2+)
Magic Item 1: Grail Virtue (Immune to Psychology)
Magic Item 2: Banner of the Lady of the Lake (Negates enemy rank Bonus, Knights
reroll Break test)
Points: 80+4+7+15+75 = 181pts
Knight Hero (M4, WS5, BS5, S4, T4, W2, I5, A3, Ld8)
Sword, Lance, Heavy Armour, Shield and Barded Warhorse (AS 2+)
Magic Item 1: Grail Virtue (Immune to Psychology)
Magic Item 2: SpellShield ( 4+ Dispel with rebound)
Points: 65+2+11+15+50 = 143pts
Knight Hero (M4, WS5, BS5, S4, T4, W2, I5, A3, Ld8)
Sword, Heavy Armour, Shield (AS 4+)
Magic Item 1: Grail Virtue (Immune to Psychology)
Magic Item 2: Dragon Blade (1 hit = 2 hits)
Points: 65+15+50 = 130pts
Bowman Champion (M4, WS4, BS4, S4, T4, W3, I1, A2, Ld7)
Magic Item: Amulet of Fire (4+ Dispel)
Points: 30+25 = 55pts
Character Total: 201+181+225+143+130+55 =
935pts
5 Grail Knights (M4, WS5, BS3, S4, T3, W1, I4, A1, Ld9)
incl Standard Bearer and Musician (AS 2+)
Magic Std: Banner of Defiance (Double Rank Bonus, never pursue) 50pts
Points : 225+50 = 275pts
7 Questing Knights (M4, WS4, BS3, S4, T3, W1, I4, A1, Ld8)
incl Standard Bearer & Musician (AS 2+)
Magic Std: Banner of Arcane Protection (Dispel of 4+, 1 Wound undead) 50pts
Points : 287 + 50 = 337pts
Knights Total : 612pts
12 bowmen (M4, WS3, BS3, S3, T3, W1, I3, A1, Ld7)
incl Standard Bearer and Musician
Points: 112pts
13 bowmen (M4, WS3, BS3, S3, T3, W1, I3, A1, Ld7)
incl Standard Bearer
Light Armour (AS 6+)
Points: 140pts
Commoners Total: 260pts
Leopold (Hero) (M4, WS5, BS5, S4, T4, W2, I5, A3, Ld8)
12 Pikemen (M4, WS3, BS3, S3, T3, W1, I3, A1, Ld7)
Light Armour (6+)
Points: 130 + (7*10) = 200pts
Total: 935+612+260+200 : 1999pts
Magic Inventory
Here follows a reference list of magical items used by l'Armee` d'Artois in their battles against evil.
Magic Weapons
Star Lance
(60 points)
used by General Prince d'Artois
The Star Lance is made from the fiery heart of a fallen comet, its blade keen
and can penetrate any armour.
The Star Lance is a lance, conferring a Strength Bonus of +3 instead of the
usual +2 bonus.
No armour saving throw is allowed against wounds inflicted by the Star Lance.
As with other lances, the Star Lance can only be used when the wielder charges,
and at other times no bonuses apply.
Sword of Fortitude (50
points)
used by Queen Sorceress Dame Stella Artois
Those who wield the Sword of Fortitude are filled with a sense of
invulnerability and power, steeling them to fight on and face the most terrible
dangers.
The bearer of the Sword of Fortitude is immune to the psychological effects of
fear, terror and panic.
Dragon Blade (50
points)
used by Knight Hero Le Chevalier d'Artois
The Dragon Blade was forged in the fiery breath of a two-headed Dragon and
quenched in its blood.
As the blade is wielded it becomes two blades, darting and stabbing with double
ferocity.
For each hit struck in hand-to-hand fighting count 2 hits.
The number of hits inflicted is simply doubled.
Proceed to work out the effects of hits as normal.
Magic Armour
SpellShield
(50 points)
used by Grail Knight Hero Sir Julien d'Artois
The SpellShield is made from Dragon scales and the hide of Manticores,
conferring the ability to rebound the power of spells cast upon the bearer.
The SpellShield gives its bearer an armour save of 6+ exactly the same as an
ordinary shield.
It can be combined with ordinary armour in the usual way of shields.
If a spell is cast upon the bearer or the unit he is with, it will be dispelled
on the D6 roll of 4+.
If the SpellShield dispels an enemy spell then roll a D6.
On the roll of a 4+ the power of the spell is bounced back at the caster
inflicting 1 Strength D6 hit for each power card used to cast (and reinforce)
the spell.
No armour saves are allowed against rebounded hits.
Magic Wards
The Black
Amulet (50 points)
used by Queen Sorceress Dame Stella Artois
The Black Amulet not only protects its wearer but also wreaks a terrible
revenge upon those that would harm its master.
The bearer of the Black Amulet has a 4+ special saving throw against each wound
suffered.
Take any armour saving throw that apply first, and then take the special saves
against any remaining wounds.
In hand-to-hand combat each wound that is saved by the Black Amulet is
instantly rebounded back upon the enemy that struck the blow, inflicting 1
wound for each wound saved.
No armour saves are allowed against rebounded wounds.
For each wound rebounded by the Black Amulet roll a D6.
If any dice score a 1 the Amulet is exhausted and will not work for the rest of
the battle.
Enchanted Items
Amulet of Fire
(25 points)
used by Justin le Juste
The Amulet of Fire dispels enemy spells, which are cast upon its wearer.
The Amulet of dispels spells cast against the wearer or the unit he is with on
a D6 roll of a 4+.
The Amulet of Fire can dispel no more than 1 spell in any one turn.
Magic Standards
Banner of the
Lady of the Lake (75 points)
used by Army Standard Dame Rosarie
This is the banner given to the first king of Bretonnia by the Lady of the
Lake.
It retains its potent magic and bears her image, inspiring all Knights to stand
firm against the King's enemies.
The banner inspires such dread in the enemy fighting against the unit carrying
the banner lose their rank combat bonus.
If the banner is carried by the army's Battle Standard Bearer (as in our case)
than any Knights which fail a Break test can re-roll the result no matter where
they are on the battlefield.
The normal 12" range of the Battle Standard is extended to cover all
Knights in the army.
Only one re-roll is allowed from any source: no failed re-rolls can be
re-rolled.
Banner of Arcane Protection
(50 points)
used by Les Lances d'Artois
The Banner of Arcane Protection absorbs the power of a spell cast against it.
If a spell is cast at the unit carrying the Banner of Arcane Protection, it
will be dispelled on the D6 roll of a 4+.
In addition, the power of the Banner automatically inflicts 1 wound on each
Undead or Daemon model in base contact at the start of the bearer's magic
phase.
Banner of Defiance (50
points)
used by Les Verteux d'Artois
A unit flying the Banner of Defiance will resolutely stand its ground. Few foes
can break them, no matter how many fall.
A unit carrying the Banner of Defiance counts double its normal rank bonus when
it comes to working out combat results.
The unit carrying the Banner of Defiance will never pursue a fleeing enemy but
will hold its ground instead.
Gallery
Click on thumbnails or names for a picture of that unit
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Battle Accounts
Click on the names for the battle account