Isabel

Empress Isabel Greyhound
Character information
Introduced	Heroes of Might and Magic V
Class	Knight
Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Holy Griffin Empire Greyhound Duchy Shadowbrand Clan
Occupation	Empress of the Holy Griffin Empire (formerly)
Appearances
Mentioned in
Voiced by	Anna Graves (Heroes V)
Background
Native world	Ashan
Status	Alive (as of Tribes of the East)
Birth	949 YSD
Family	Sareth - son

Isabel Greyhound is a Knight and the main protagonist of Heroes of Might and Magic V, the former Empress of the Holy Griffin Empire who succeeded her husband, Emperor Nicolai Griffin. Marked at birth to act as a pawn in Kha-Beleth's schemes, she is also the mother of the Dark Messiah, Sareth.

Biography

Early days

Only child of the ruling family of the Greyhound Duchy, Isabel was brought up in isolation surrounded by nannies and servants. Now that war has come, the young Queen feels driven to go to the aid of the Empire. Dedicated to her goals, Isabel exploits the few things she has - her wealth and nobility - without hesitation.^OffBck

The only child in the ruling family of the Greyhound Duchy, Isabel was predestined to be a key figure in the history of Ashan ever since her birth. During a Blood Moon eclipse in 951 YSD, which started the War of the Gray Alliance, Kha-Beleth the Demon Sovereign marked an infant girl - the future mother of the Demon Messiah. This girl, as Tieru would later - too late - deduce, was Isabel.

Raised by nannies in far-from-warlike conditions, Isabel was nevertheless engaged by Nicolai Griffin, then-King of the Holy Griffin Empire, and agreed to a marriage. However, their wedding ceremony in 969 YSD was disrupted by demons, signifying a new major demon invasion and the start of a military conflict that became known as Queen Isabel's War.

Queen Isabel's War

Isabel's theme

Nicolai went to the battlefront, commanding his loyal knight, Godric, to bring Isabel to the Whitecliff Summer Palace. While at first Isabel obeyed the order to stay in the Palace's relative safety, she decided to help her husband after receiving news that the demons were pressing Nicolai hard, capturing more and more cities - for she believed that it would be only a matter of time before the war would come to them. She told Godric and abbess Beatrice to seek help from Cyrus of the Silver League and King Alaron of the Elven kingdom of Irollan, respectively. Meanwhile, Isabel herself stayed in the center of the Empire, forming a battle-worthy army out of militia and resolving local disorders - clueless that the demons were, in fact, sent to capture her and had no interest in the rest of the Empire.

The botched marriage of Nicolai and Isabel.

Eventually, she was lured into a trap by Biara, a succubus disguised as Beatrice (whom Agrael had killed earlier to be able to spy on Isabel) - expecting two legions of elven Blade dancers under the command of Findan, she found Agrael instead, and Biara revealed her true form. Isabel was taken into a prison near the old fortress of Dunmoor, bound to be brought to the Demon Sovereign, but Godric - whose diplomatic mission to the Silver Cities had failed - freed her before Agrael had a chance to take her to Sheogh. Isabel sent Godric to her fiancé, Nicolai, to warn him about the demon armies marching on Dunmoor.

A fierce battle followed, during which Nicolai was fatally wounded by Agrael - so fatal that even the Archangels of Elrath were unable to help - and while Isabel managed to fight through Agrael's forces, it was too late. With his dying words, Nicolai ordered Godric to protect his would-be wife; little did he know, however, what he would unleash by naming Isabel his successor on the throne.

Alliance with Markal

Determined to bring back her husband - in part motivated by love, in part due to the growing political resistance proposing their own pretenders to the throne - Isabel did the unthinkable: she made a deal with the outcast necromancer Markal, who promised to do what even the power of Elrath could not. Markal, for his part, told Isabel that he needed to recapture and rebuild the town of Lorekeep, destroyed by the Wizards a long time ago, and to retrieve four parts of the Vampire's Garment, separated by Cyrus: the Amulet of Necromancy, the Staff of the Netherworld, the Cloak of Death's Shadow, and the Ring of the Unrepentant.

Godric, too, initially joined Isabel and Markal on this quest, because of his oath to the Queen and because of his fresh memories about Cyrus' attitude to the suffering Empire. However, seeing how Markal, manipulating Isabel, conquered the Silver Cities and killed Cyrus just to obtain the artifacts, Godric defected, disregarding the oath and taking the Amulet with him to the fortified town of Hikm, a former Silver City. In an attempt to recover the Amulet, Markal kidnapped Godric's daughter Freyda and eventually defeated Godric himself; however, at Isabel's request, he was spared, only imprisoned.

On their way back to the Griffin Empire, Isabel was attacked by the Demon Lord Veyer, who was, however, defeated by Raelag, the leader of the Dark Elven Shadowbrand Clan. Isabel thanked him for saving her life, and Raelag explained that the demons were only interested in her, suggesting she hide. Markal, however, discarded his claims and told the Queen to head to Nicolai's tomb before she had time for second thoughts.

As promised, Markal brought Nicolai back from the dead - in a sense. The former King actually became an undead being, a Vampire lord, and a pawn of Markal. As Isabel kneeled before her former love in tears, the Necromancer assumed control over the Griffin Empire - not so holy anymore.

Capture and return

For the duration of Nicolai's invasion of Irollan, Isabel was effectively cut off from any real power in the Empire. Markal and his undead were now the masters, resulting in a wave of refugees settling in uninhabited lands between the Empire and Irollan — only for a short time, until the undead Nicolai started his invasion.

After the triumvirate - Findan, Cyrus' son Zehir, and the freed Godric - liberated most of the Empire and put an end to Markal's rule, they were joined by Raelag and besieged Talonguard, the capital city, where Isabel resided. Zehir tried to purge her of Kha-Beleth's influence by performing the Rite of True Nature, the instructions for which had been written by Tieru on a scroll. However, in the middle of the ritual, Biara - this time masquerading as Raelag's aide, Shadya - revealed herself and, holding Isabel, teleported to Sheogh, finally bringing her to the Demon Sovereign.

With the help of the Heart of the Griffin, the four heroes followed Biara. They assaulted the Demon Sovereign's citadel and confronted and defeated Kha-Beleth himself. However, they were too late, and Isabel had already given birth to Sareth, the Dark Messiah. The heroes decided to take who they thought was Isabel back to Ashan, despite Findan's plea to leave her in the demon realm. However, they took Biara, disguised as Isabel, as Raelag took the real Isabel away from the realm of Sheogh.

Post-Sheogh

Queen of the Griffin Empire, Isabel was the unwitting victim of the centuries-old plans of the Demon Sovereign. Luckily, she was saved by troops of Rangers, Wizards, Warlocks and Knights from Sheogh itself in the final moments of the war that bears her name. Though she has literally been through hell, her faith has remained steady and her troops benefit from her holy blessings.^OffBck

While Biara under the guise of Isabel returned to the Empire with Godric, the real queen retreated with Raelag, her new love, to a secluded location in Ygg-Chall, allowing her doppelganger to sow chaos and provoke civil war. She went out of hiding when Ylaya approached her and Raelag, and soon parted ways with him when Raelag headed to the east under the guidance of Tieru's spirit. Isabel joined Freyda's rebellion, participating in the sieges of Tor Hrall and Talonguard and eventually killing Biara, her impostor. However, she subsequently abdicated from the throne in favor of Freyda, founding the Holy Unicorn Empire.

Gameplay

Abilities

Heroes V

Hero Trait
	Suzerain
	Hero contributes 250 gold pieces in kingdom treasury per day. Hero has a 2% per level discount for troop training in Haven towns.OffBck

	Skills
	Basic Counterstrike
	Advanced Leadership

Tribes of the East

Hero Trait
	Dragonblessed
	All creatures in hero's army get a Bless effect for the whole combat.OffBck

	Skills
	Basic Counterstrike

Scenarios

Heroes of Might and Magic V

The Queen

• The Queen: Isabel needs to recruit the militia and defeat the rebels.
• Rebellion: Isabel needs to recruit archers and capture Ashwick.
• The Siege: Kraal's presence threatens Ashwick, so Isabel's forces need to send him back to Sheogh.
• The Trap: Isabel has to reach Brightwood and study magic there to defeat the demon invasion.
• The Fall of the King: Godric needs to rescue her. After that, she is put in charge of defense of Dunmoor while Godric goes to get help.

The Necromancer

• The Temptation: Markal speaks with Isabel about raising Nicolai.
• The Attack: Isabel convinces Godric to go help Markal. Later, she gives the Amulet of Necromancy to Godric.
• The Invasion: Isabel tems up with Markal to regain the three other artifacts.
• The Regicide: Isabel is pleased to hear that Markal took the last artifact.
• The Lord of Heresh: Isabel goes with Markal to defeat Godric, the usurper.

The Warlock

Raelag's Offer: Isabel shows her gratitude to Raelag after defeating Veyer, though she still continues to go to Hall of Heroes with Markal.

The Ranger

The Refugees: Isabel witnesses Nicolai's revival, being shocked when he tried to attack her.

The Mage

The Alliance: Isabel needs to be defeated so Zehir can perform the ritual. When she is, however, Biara takes her to Sheogh.

Hammers of Fate

Ylaya's Quest

• The Meeting: Isabel is revealed to be with Raelag than in the Griffin Empire.
• Dragons: Isabel goes with Raelag to stop the Soulscar cultists.
• The Decoupling: Isabel goes with Ylaya to attack Horncrest.

Tribes of the East

The Will of Asha

Heart of Darkness: Arantir frees Isabel's soul, shattering Biara's illusion.

Flying to the Rescue

A Flamboyant Exit: Isabel slays Biara and abdicates, ending the war.

Appearances

Isabel appears in Heroes of Might and Magic V and its add-ons, Hammers of Fate and Tribes of the East. She is also mentioned in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

Trivia

• Isabel concept sketch
• Artwork of Isabel and Nymus
• Early Isabel model
• Early Isabel portrait
• A wallpaper featuring the early Isabel
• High-quality 3D rendering of Isabel from the prerelease teasers

1/6

• A high-quality 3D model of Isabel makes an appearance in a prerelease teaser trailer for Heroes V.
• Isabel's facial design underwent a major redesign between beta versions and the finished game. Her original character model was more faithful to her initial artwork.
• Isabel was negatively received by fans, who dubbed her the most annoying character in the game. After the release of Heroes V, series fansite Celestial Heavens unveiled the Queen Isabel Kicking Game in response to this reception.

Gallery

The first released sketch of Isabel

Isabel portrait sketch by Olivier Ledroit

Isabel concept sketch by Olivier Ledroit

Animation layout for Isabel

Animation layout for Isabel

Isabel, in the intro

Isabel's headshot

Isabel's artwork

Isabel's in-game portrait