Another Brief GOTREK & FELIX: ROAD OF SKULLS FAQ

Well, it’s that time. We all knew this was coming, didn’t we? I like to think we did. My inbox continues to creak beneath a variety of missives regarding Gotrek & Felix: Road of Skulls, most of them nice, some decidedly not so nice, but hey, whatever. I’m of the opinion that if you paid good money for a book, you can say what you like.

That said, I’m seeing more reoccurring questions to add to my previous FAQ. So, in order to clear up these new questions, hey, presto, new FAQ!

Q. Why is Snorri different?

A. It’s a different character. Snorri Thungrimsson is not Snorri Nosebiter. You can tell, because the former doesn’t have nails in his head. He’s also not a Slayer. Thungrimsson is a minor character from the game lore–he’s (or was…or will be?) Karak Kadrin’s envoy during the Storm of Chaos (who remembers SoC?).

That said, if you want more of ol’ Rust-Skull, why not check out my story “A Cask of Wynters” in Gotrek & Felix: The Anthology?

Q. Why don’t their weapons glow when they confront Chaos?

A. Authorial fiat. It happens haphazardly in the series itself, so I was uncertain as to whether to include it or not. Too, it seemed a bit unnecessary to have their weapons glow to herald the presence of Chaos when there’s a big-damn-all Chaos army right in front of them. There’s no reason to flash the Bat-Signal when Batman’s already chasing the Joker or have Spider-Man’s spider sense flare when he’s already fighting someone, you dig?

But, hey, just to double-check, why not grab a copy of “Berthold’s Beard” and see whether I had them glow in that? Just as a favour to me?

Q. Have you actually even READ the series?

A. No. 

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Wait…you were serious? Are you honestly implying that I would be ALLOWED to add to the series without having read it? Yes, I’ve read it. More than once, in fact. Have you? Because if not, BL is coming out with some wicked awesome new omnibuses that you should totally check out.

Actually, you should buy them anyway. There’s a bunch of new stuff in them that you’d probably enjoy.

Q. It sure doesn’t seem like you’ve read it!

A. That’s not a question. Also, because of the nature of book (i.e. ’continuity-free’), I was limited in what I could refer to. So, I kept the references to Trollslayer and my own novella, ‘Charnel Congress’. I mention them just in case you were feeling the need to read them in the proper order.

Q. Why is it continuity free? Why couldn’t you just follow the story? Why did you have to ignore the series? 

A. That’s three questions. And why do you assume it was my call? How influential do you think I am, dude? People way above my pay-grade made that call, just like they’ll make the call as to whether I write another one or not.

Also, as has been stated ad nauseum, the series proper will continue. Just not right now. Chill. If it makes you feel any better, it probably won’t be by me.

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Then again, it might. But probably not.

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Or maybe so. Who can say what the future holds?

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I can! It’s Curse of the Everliving! If you loved (or hated) Road of Skulls, you’ll enjoy David Guymer’s first whack at the series. He’s also writing a book featuring the duo, I hear tell.

Oh, and there’s also ‘The Reckoning’, by Jordan Ellinger, for those whose tastes run to the electronic.

Q.  Why does the book read like an advertisement for the new Warriors of Chaos army book?

A. You ARE aware of what tie-in fiction is, right? That said, the books need to represent the game lore as it stands, thus, any book dealing with a Chaos army in WHF is going to refer to the newest version of the WoC army book. Which is available HERE, by the by, complete with some stunning interior illustrations and a glossy map of the Chaos Wastes.

Also, if you’d like your very own Ulfrgandr, you can get one HERE. He doubles as a paperweight.

Oh, and if you’d like to learn more about Valkia (who’s mentioned several times in Road of Skulls, as you might have noticed) why not grab a copy of Valkia the Bloody?

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them via the comments section here, Facebook, or Twitter. I will be happy to answer them in a forthright and honest manner.

Or I’ll attempt to sell you something. Maybe both.