End Times: Nagash - the 'Good'
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:02 am
SPOILER ALERT: The Return of Nagash novel
Given that it chronicles the extinction of the Warhammer world we all know and love - 'the world that was' as GW term it now - there has long seemed litle point reading the End Times stories, as the events in them will not come to fruition in most WFRP games. However, I have decided to plough through them to divine what nuggets, if any, can be utilised in my future games. If Warpstone magazine were still running, I'd put my thoughts into an article, but for the time being this forum will suffice. I'll split my observation into the useful and thought-provoking (the 'Good'), the stuff I loathe (the 'Bad') and the funny or quirky bits (the 'Ugly'). This was the first novel of the End Times series and sees Manfred von Carstein and Arkhan the Black join forces to summon Nagash back from the dead.
Here are the 'Good' bits:
1. 'Named' characters die
Games Workshop should have done this years ago, I believe. If they had done so, the setting would have seemed more dynamic and less frozen in aspic - indeed, it might still exist! The Fay Enchantress gets turned into a vampire then she and Aliathra (High Elf Princess) are sacrificed. Eltharion (High Elf Prince) is killed in battle and Grand Theogonist Volkmar gets possessed and mutates into the reborn Nagash.
For WFRP, I think some of this stuff can be modified or utilised. Could the Thousand Thrones prophecy be worked into this?
2. Undead vs Chaos
The Gods of Law barely feature in the End Times but their effective proxy is the undead. Basically, the credible case is made that Nagash and his world of the dead are the true opposite of the Ruinous Powers - unchanging and permanent, if Nagash destoys all life, then the Chaos Gods will die. This is an interesting take on matters and provides plenty of food for thought for enterprising GMs, where alliances of convenience can be forged.
3. Flesh vs Bone
Another interesting conflict that is outlined is that between the Vampires (flesh) and the Tomb King Liche (bone). Basically, it is acknowledged that Nagash's plan would also lead to the true death of all vampires, as they would lose access to the blood they require for maintaining unlife. This leaves the vampire faction in a delicious quandary, as they basically require the status quo secured, so their parasitic existence can continue.
Given that it chronicles the extinction of the Warhammer world we all know and love - 'the world that was' as GW term it now - there has long seemed litle point reading the End Times stories, as the events in them will not come to fruition in most WFRP games. However, I have decided to plough through them to divine what nuggets, if any, can be utilised in my future games. If Warpstone magazine were still running, I'd put my thoughts into an article, but for the time being this forum will suffice. I'll split my observation into the useful and thought-provoking (the 'Good'), the stuff I loathe (the 'Bad') and the funny or quirky bits (the 'Ugly'). This was the first novel of the End Times series and sees Manfred von Carstein and Arkhan the Black join forces to summon Nagash back from the dead.
Here are the 'Good' bits:
1. 'Named' characters die
Games Workshop should have done this years ago, I believe. If they had done so, the setting would have seemed more dynamic and less frozen in aspic - indeed, it might still exist! The Fay Enchantress gets turned into a vampire then she and Aliathra (High Elf Princess) are sacrificed. Eltharion (High Elf Prince) is killed in battle and Grand Theogonist Volkmar gets possessed and mutates into the reborn Nagash.
For WFRP, I think some of this stuff can be modified or utilised. Could the Thousand Thrones prophecy be worked into this?
2. Undead vs Chaos
The Gods of Law barely feature in the End Times but their effective proxy is the undead. Basically, the credible case is made that Nagash and his world of the dead are the true opposite of the Ruinous Powers - unchanging and permanent, if Nagash destoys all life, then the Chaos Gods will die. This is an interesting take on matters and provides plenty of food for thought for enterprising GMs, where alliances of convenience can be forged.
3. Flesh vs Bone
Another interesting conflict that is outlined is that between the Vampires (flesh) and the Tomb King Liche (bone). Basically, it is acknowledged that Nagash's plan would also lead to the true death of all vampires, as they would lose access to the blood they require for maintaining unlife. This leaves the vampire faction in a delicious quandary, as they basically require the status quo secured, so their parasitic existence can continue.