A very old commission done by the very talented  comfycushion of a Spotted Hyena done up in the style of a Bretonnian Man-at-Arms from Warhammer Fantasy.

When I got this artwork commissioned of this character, I'd begun to broaden my horizons of interest in tot he realms of Medieval History, more specifically of Military history. At the same time I'd begun to dabble in to Warhammer Fantasy Battles and had fallen head over heels for Bretonnia and all of it's quirks. Arthurian Legend wrapped up in the midst of a country seemingly forever held in the technological constraints of 13th/14th century Medieval France, with all of the pageantry of Chivalry with just a hint of Monty Python? Yes. A thousand times yes.

I came to love those dirty, diseased, under-equipped and poorly-trained Men-at-Arms that formed the bulk of Bretonnian armies.. Something about rows of those over sized shields, with dented and rusted helmets and often little more than a padded coat to weather the worst of what the Old World could throw at them. All so the brave, valiant knights could be the hammer to their anvil, sweeping in at the last moment to save the day and to declare victory in the name of King, Country and the Lady of the Lake herself! ... never mind how many peasants had to die in order to achieve that.

This character was done up in the heraldry of my original Bretonnian knight, before I began to tweak the heraldry. He was also given a Falchion, a single-edged medieval sword typically associated with the lower classes even though many were used by well-trained and well-equipped knights for their versatility and quickness in the hand. Given that usually Bretonnian peasants are disallowed the use of a sword given Sumptuary laws, it can be explained that either he had been bequeathed the weapon (likely a chipped, worn, or seemingly unfashionable weapon) by his Lord for outstanding service (again, no longer cared for it) or happened to come across one upon the field of battle and seized it for himself. It is not unknown for the 'Elite' of the Peasant soldier caste, the Yeomen and Yeoman Wardens to be allowed to carry blades as a sign of their status, as insignificant as it is.