Skavenslayer
| Author | William King |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Gotrek and Felix |
| Genre | Fantasy novels |
| Publisher | Black Library |
|
Publication date
|
1999 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Preceded by | Trollslayer |
| Followed by | Daemonslayer |
Skavenslayer by William King is the second volume in the Gotrek and Felix series in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. It was first published in 1999 and a second edition was released in 2003. It was also included in Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus, released in 2006.
It is notable for introducing the character of Grey Seer Thanquol, who becomes a recurring antagonist in subsequent volumes of the series, and also inspired a series of his own, written by Clint Werner.
In his introduction to the 2013 edition of Trollslayer, William King revealed that he wrote Skaven's Claw as one of three novella-length stories, after being commissioned to write a full-length novel featuring Gotrek and Felix. The other two, The Mark of Slaanesh and Blood and Darkness were eventually published as part of Trollslayer, while Skaven's Claw became the first chapter of Skavenslayer.
Having reached Nuln, Gotrek and Felix are broke. Since they are still wanted men in the city of Altdorf, the only employment they can find is - literally - at the bottom: as "sewerjacks," watchmen who patrol the city sewers for goblins and other threats. During a patrol they encounter a band of skaven and kill several, but Felix sees their leader meeting with a man, who flees the scene.
Above ground, Felix is invited to dinner by his older brother Otto, who runs the Nuln branch of the Jaeger family's business. Felix is surprised to be offered a job with the family, and is sorely tempted, even though accepting would mean renouncing his oath to stay with Gotrek. In the restaurant, Felix recognizes another diner as the man from the sewers; Otto says he must be mistaken: the man is Fritz von Halstadt, the head of Nuln's secret police force, renowned for his fanatic devotion to Nuln's ruler, Grand Countess Emmanuelle (the Elector of Wissenland) and his equally fanatic hatred of heretics, mutants, and non-humans in general - the last person who would be consorting with Skaven.
...
Wikipedia