Grey Seer: A Thanquol & Boneripper Novel (Warhammer)

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Upon his entrance, the Council explained their need for the Grey Seer in a mission that requires the utmost urgency. An artefact of incredible power was lost long ago, but recently a band of Ratmen have found its location, and fearing that someone might take it, the Council had no choice but to send a representative of the Council to retrieve it before it was stolen. Giving Thanquol a chance of redemption, the Council provided the Grey Seer with his staff and amulet and proceeded to give him two Albino Stormvermins to watch over him on his mission into the grand Skaven city of Under-Altdorf. Along with him came Kratch, a former apprentice of one of his colleagues, the only Skaven to know its true whereabouts. Using the underground rivers as a means of transport, Thanquol and his regime stepped out of their barges and into the ports of the city of Under-Altdorf. There, he was greeted by the representatives of the Council of Under-Altdorf, bringing the Grey Seer into the fancy and decorated Chamber that mimics the Council of Thirteens very own. [5b] However, during the assault, Grey Seer Skraekual disappeared from sight. Worst still, Klarak Bronzehammer knew of the Grey Seer's infamy and led a counter-assault against him. Fortunately, thanks to the blessings of the Horned Rat, Thanquol survived the encounter when the mineshaft collapsed just as the Engineer aimed his pistol at him. Brushing dust from his robes, Thanquol stalked the tunnel after Skraekual alongside his new bodyguard Boneripper. [7i] Brother Skavens! Consider this... Until the coming of Vermek Skab, the Council of Thirteen placed me in command of this army. Since Vermek Skab is sadly no longer with us, the leaders place in the rear must still fall to me by edict of the Council. Of course, if any of you wishes to challenge the Council's ruling I will notify them of this at once." Like all Rat Ogres, Boneripper was covered in all manner of stitches and sutures which held the beast together. Loyal and more-or-less obedient to Thanquol, Boneripper seeks the approval of his master even if the Grey Seer is often verbally abusive and more than willing to put his well-being before the Rat Ogre's own. [2b]

Das Buch ist nicht von William King und daher hat sich Thanquol ein wenig verändert. Dieser ist etwas vorsichtiger und etwas weniger Größenwahnsinnig als der, den wir aus den 'Felix und Gotrek'-Romanen kennen. (Könnte das ein psychische Spätfolge der Traumatisierung durch einen gewissen elenden Zwerg sein?). Thanquol spawns on turn 2. When you level up you could choose assistant skill. Each assistant skill opens acces to certain version of Boneripper Leeches! Mosquitos! Poisonous Spiders! Blinding clouds of Gnats! Snakes! Thanquol's fur crawled as he thought of the snakes. The loathsome things were everywhere, watching them with their unblinking eyes, sniffing at them with their forked tongues. He'd lost count of all the hideous snakes they'd seen!"The mirroring of the two stories is really brought to light by one fact: the qualities that we find reprehensible in the human world are the attributes that make a Skaven attain power and status in the society of the Underdark. It is Werner's depiction of Skaven society that really helps make Grey Seer shine. Thanquol's story is, simply put, hilarious. Were he a human, he would be a completely unlikable character. As he is a Skaven, one can't help but like him. He embodies all the foul and terrible attributes a Skaven should; he is deceitful, he is cowardly, and above all, he is out for himself above anything. For the story, this is a great thing, as it turns Thanquol into a delightful character to read about. Though a powerful sorcerer with great and malicious ambitions, Thanquol tends to leave his plans in the paws of less capable underlings and consistently underestimates his foes, flaws which hamper his desire to rise through the ranks of skaven society. The invasion of Nuln in 2499 IC [2a] which he oversaw ultimately ended in failure due to a number of factors, including the mutation of a Clan Pestilens plague causing it to affect skaven as well as humans, the unstoppable spread of rats specifically bred to devour all available foodstuffs, and the interference of Gotrek and Felix. Despite managing to penetrate Nuln's palace with a company of stormvermin, Thanquol was prevented from murdering Countess Emmanuelle von Liebwitz and fled in his defeat, justifying his cowardice as prudent skaven caution. Grey Seer Thanquol, inspiring his army against Karak Angkul with notions of glory, food and a lie. [7l] As is going to be a common occurrence with Thanquol, the Grey Seer returned to Skavenblight as a failure, but a failure which had unexpected consequences, whether good or ill. When the Grey Seer returned to the Council and reported the results of his mission, some were disappointed in the loss of the Wormstone but many more are glad that such a powerful weapon did not fall into the hands of Clan Pestilens. Adding more insults to injury, when Thanquol tried to explain the reason for his failure that it was Grey Seer Thratquee who manipulated the events, the Council unexpectedly congratulate his efforts in preventing Clan Pestilen from taking the powerful weapon, even going as far as giving him the power to control and steer the progress of Under-Altdorf. [6a]

Of course, our own entry into the life of the city was made at a level far lower on the social scale. Short of cash, hungry and weary from our long journey, we were forced to take employment in what was possibly the very worst occupation we were to pursue in our long wanderings. And during that period we encountered a fiend who was to bedevil our paths for long years to come."Very few know the true origins of Grey Seer Thanquol, the identity of his previous clan, nor even early records of his first few exploits. Like all of his kind, Thanquol was born from one of the many breeder mothers that provide the Under-Empire with an inexhaustible supply of warriors and slaves for the clans. [7d] For many days Thanquol travelled north, only stopping to change the Slave-rats carrying his palanquin along with his luggage. From Lurks latest report, he stated that the airship had already left the city of Middenheim, moving through the waters of the Sea of Claws, until the lands below looked more empty and bleak. [2g] A highly educated Skaven, Thanquol knew that the airship was heading towards the ice-encrusted Kingdom of Kislev. With the only closest Clan within the vicinity of the human kingdom being the Clan Moulder city of Hell-pit, Thanquol had no other option but to ask and hire their assistance, at least ensuring that he did not let loose his plans of capturing the airship to the greedy Moulders. [2t] Sparing his life, Queek led the assault against Karak Angkul and managed to penetrate Sixth Deep before the Dwarfs finally regrouped and formed up in the higher levels. Worst still, the army of Klarak Bronzehammer have managed to return just in time as they used large Warp-grinders from the armour of Clan Skyre to tunnel their way upwards. Caught between two armies, Queek forced the cowering Thanquol to summon forth Vecteek as he promised under pain of death. [7q]

Quotes I am Grey Seer Thanquol. I am the chosen representative of their malevolent majesties, the Lords of Decay, the Council of Thirteen of holy Skavenblight and the living claws of his most vengeful divinity the Horned Rat. I am the eyes, nose and ears of Skavenblight. I am their judge and their dagger! Know me and tremble, spleenless-mouse, and beg my indulgence for your Impiety!

Insgesamt ist das Buch vielleicht nicht so, wie man es beim ersten Lesen erwartet, aber es ist dennoch eine unterhaltsame Lektüre, die zum Ende hin Spannung aufbaut. Boneripper 7 - Boneripper 7 was the re-animated body of the first Boneripper. This resurrection was made possible by Clan Skyre's combined use of sorcery and their warpstone-derived technology. Boneripper 7 was gifted to Thanquol in the novel Thanquol's Doom. Despite suffering heavy damage, the seventh Boneripper is still up and running. In total, there have been thirteen Bonerippers that are known to have been employed at different times by Grey Seer Thanquol. With the coming of the End Times, it can be assumed all of the Bonerippers that were introduced following the novel Manslayer, which takes place in the alternate timeline of where the Storm of Chaos unfolded, are no longer considered canon. Tonight is the night you have all been waiting for! Tonight we will smash-crush the humans once and for all. Tonight we will invade the city and enslave all the occupants. Tonight we will strike a blow for the Under-Empire and the Skaven nation that will long be remembered!" Grey Seer Thanquol is without a doubt (in his mind) the greatest nemesis of the Slayer, Gotrek Gurnisson and his companion Felix Jaeger. He, and his stalwart Rat Ogre bodyguard, Boneripper, have engaged in innumerable nefarious schemes and adventures across the World-That-Was, including…