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By Angela McIntosh   The Main Players Gotrek Gurnisson  - the mighty dwarf slayer who hates trees, boats and elves with a vengeance. It’s a pity, then, that all three play a role in his latest adventure in Albion.   The forces of Chaos are on the verge of bringing about the destruction of the entire world - unless the Slayer can swallow his pride, and work alongside a hated elf to stop it! Felix Jaeger - his human companion, who never fails to be amazed at the situations he finds himself in. And just when he thought it couldn't get any worse too...   Their Trusty Companions Maximilian Schrieber  - a powerful mage, who must battle daemons, personal and otherwise, as he struggles to come to terms with his loss. But will he be strong enough to survive...? Snorri Nosebiter - a slayer who seems second only to Gotrek Gurnisson himself when it comes to ferocity and battle prowess. In a stupidity contest, however, he wins hands down every time! Teclis – of the White Tower. A mighty Elven arch-mage and twin to Tyrion.  In his youth, he was frail and sickly but then he learned to strengthen himself with spells and potions so now the only visible legacy of this former weakness is a slight limp in his left leg.  He bears the War Crown of Saphery and the staff of Lileath, artefacts of considerable power. His first encounter with Gotrek Gurnisson is within the Paths of the Old Ones and it is not an auspicious one.  The Villains of the Piece Grume of the Night Fang – a massive and foul smelling Khorne warlord who is in league with the Tzeentch sorcerers, Kelmain and Lhoigor. He wants to kill Gotrek and claim his Axe for his own, and carries the fearsome Skull Mace of Malarak to help him achieve his goal. Kelmain Blackstaff - An albino Tzeentchian sorcerer of immense power, he is also the identical twin of Lhoigor. Both he and his brother served as advisors to Arek Daemonclaw (see Beastslayer) and also had a hand in the corruption of the dragon Skjalandir (see Dragonslayer). Kelmain carries a staff of ebony and silver, which he found in ruins in the Chaos Wastes. He and Lhoigor are also responsible for opening the Paths of Old Ones and unwittingly putting the whole of the old World in jeopardy by doing so. Lhoigor Goldenrod – A tall, vulpine albino sorcerer of immense power, he is evenly matched with his identical twin, Kelmain. Both Lhoigor and his brother come from the strange Weirdblood tribe and from birth they were marked by the favour of the Changer of Ways, by being born with teeth and claws so they could have meat as their first meal.  Lhoigor carries a gold-sheathed staff which was unearthed in the Ruins of Ulangor in the Chaos Wastes.  Magrig One Eye – the fearsome guardian of the Temple of the Old Ones. He was the mightiest of the giants of old before his brain became clouded and he acquired the lust for manflesh. He lost an eye in a ferocious battle to the death with his brother and is worshipped as a God by the local Orc tribes. The Supporting Cast & Historical Figures Aldreth - one of the oldest servants of Teclis & his brother. Baldurach – a member of the Council of Truthsayers in Albion Bran MacKerog - the bear-like chieftain of the mountain men of Carn Mallog whose main passion seems to be greed.   Caledor, Lord of Dragons – One of the Undying Ones, ghostly elven wizards who sacrificed themselves in order to save Ulthuan and their people. He and his brethren are mighty mages, responsible for maintaining the web of spells that keeps the island continent of Ulthuan afloat and it is he who brings the danger facing the island to Teclis’s attention.   Culum – a massive and extremely well muscled Albion tribesman who challenges Gotrek to an arm wrestling competition. He is related to Murdo MacBaldoch in some way and married to Klara. Dugal - one of the Crannogmen of Albion Forgast Gaptooth - acquaintance of Snorri who killed a troll in a most unusual way. Gurni Grimmson – leader of a Snorri’s warband who chased orcs through the High Passes of World’s Edge Mountains in the dim and distant past Klara - Culum’s pretty and somewhat inquisitive wife. Her attempt to wheedle information out of Felix only succeeds in earning him the enmity of her husband. Konark – historical figure who united the Albion Tribes to drive Orcish invaders back into the mountains two centuries before Kron – claims to be a descendant of Konark. A hero said to be uniting the tribes of Albion once again to battle the ever increasing Orcish menace Laera – former chieftain of the Oracle’s guardians Logi – one of the Crannog Mere men who accompany the companions on their journey to see the Oracle. Malyria - one of Teclis’ female companions. She and her twin, Shienara are courtesans Mariadh – another of the Oracle’s guard Morag - one of the Oracle's guardians. Pretty with a freckled face and snub nose and short cropped reddish brown hair. Murdo MacBaldoch – the old but surprisingly tough chieftain of Crannog Mere. He is also a member of the Order of Truthsayers of Albion and a canny man. He wears trews and a pleated cloak of a tartan colour that blends into the undergrowth, and he also sports the same strange tattoos that all his people do, tattoos that bear a marked resemblance to some of the engravings in the Paths of the Old Ones. He has a longsword which he wears slung across his back and a long spear which he doubles as a staff of sorts. Old Ones - A race of gods older than the gods. Some claim they created the world, others that they never existed at all. Oracle of Truthsayers – a tall woman, sharp faced, but still beautiful. She is a respected wise woman throughout Albion and lives with her guardians in sacred caves up in the mountains. She has been gifted with visions though had to pay a heavy price for the power. Teclis is told to seek her out and ask her advice on how to close the Paths of the Old Ones. There are tattoos on her face too, but they have faded to near invisibility, like markings on parchment that have been left too long in the sun. Prophet of Law – a fanatic in Araby who is stirring up the natives, telling them to cleanse their land of evil, and his definition of evil includes anyone who is not human Ranagor – a renowned breeder of Gryphons who raised Teclis’s one from an egg she found on the slopes of Mount Brood. Shienara – one of Teclis’ female companions. She and her twin are courtesans Siobhain – One of the Oracle’s Guardians and an accomplished warrior.  She is almost as tall as Felix and tattoos cover her face and arms in the style of her people, giving her a wild barbaric look. Tasirion – an Elven mage who broke Elvish law by unlocking the Paths of the Old Ones. The venture ended in his ultimate madness and his fate is considered a warning to others who might attempt to do the same. He has left some documented accounts about the Paths which Teclis consults. (See Legacy of the Old Ones) Truthsayers - the order of wizards of Albion. The formation of the order of Truthsayers apparently dates back to the legendary times when the Old Ones walked the earth. Tyrion – Teclis’ twin brother. A handsome warrior and consort to the Everqueen. The deadliest elvish warrior in twenty generations. Wulfgar – ranking leader of the Kislevites after Ivan Straghov   Servants of Darkness, Greenskins & Monsters Gurag – a monstrously obese Orc shaman who pits his powers and his wits against Teclis, with surprising results.      Kestranor the Castrator – a Slaaneshi Worshipper mentioned in passing by Kelmain and Lhoigor. Kur – one of the battered survivors of Gurag’s orcs. Lurkers Within – ancient spider daemons who guard the Haunted Citadel in Albion. They are naturally resistant to magic. Tchulaz Khan – a festering follower of Nurgle mentioned in passing by Kelmain and Lhoigor. Tzeshi - A youthful mage and Kelmain and Lhoigors' acolyte. Zarkhul – A prophet and the uniter of the orc tribes of Albion. He intends to lead them into the great Waaargh to reclaim the Temple of Old Ones.   Miscellaneous Beard, the – A reference to the War of the Beard which came about when an elven king insulted a dwarf ambassador in a shameful way.  Suffice to say that because of it, the elves and dwarves fought the bloodiest war in history. It’s an insult the dwarves still wish to avenge to this day Black Lotus – Teclis uses candles of hallucinogenic incense, concentrated from the leaves of the plant to help him focus when he is doing his viewing Book of Isha - A copy resides within the Library of the Phoenix Kings. It was written in the time before Aenarion and is a record of the golden age when Elves and Dwarves were at peace, and the Old Ones still watched over the world.  Book of Valaya – Sacred Dwarfish text Book Of Stone And Pain – tells how the god Grimnir passed into the North in search of mighty portal at the Northern Pole. Gryphon – a rare winged eagle-headed lion used as an aerial steed by the Elves Legends of Sylvania – A book written by Neumann. It mentions that the caves around Drakenhof were meant to be haunted Manheim’s Reflections on Mortality, Immortality and Immorality - fascinating book from the period of the vampire counts which is written from the vampires' point of view. The author was one of the Arisen, a lackey of one of the Von Carsteins. He fancied himself as something of a philosopher and his books were privately printed and distributed among his kind. Some of them fell into the hands of Finreir after the wars of the vampire counts and he brought them back to Ulthuan with him. Ogham Rings - great stone circles, which attract dark magical energy in Albion and somehow render it harmless. Orb of Seeing – artifact Kelmain & Lhoigor found in the ruins of ancient Lahmia Skull Mace of Malarak - a weapon wielded by Grume of the Nightfang. Made of some odd metal, its head is shaped like the skull of a daemon and the empty eye-sockets glow with an infernal light. It freezes the limbs and chills the hearts of those who face it. Sphere of Destiny - strange apparatus Teclis found in the ruins of an ancient Cathayan city nearly two centuries ago. A massive sphere of bronze, engraved with strange runes, he uses it to augment his powers when performing a particular spell of viewing.  Swamp beasts - Big, bad things all covered in moss-like stuff and strong enough to uproot trees - or so the locals in Albion say. Fortunately for the beasts, they never met Gotrek! Treescuttle - resembles a giant millipede but its jaws are enormous and ant-like. Poisonous Trollslayer’s Doom – the alternate name Felix considered for his ‘My travels with Gotrek’ Journals. Top