Lorebeards

The rather unconventional and debatably insane Dwarf engineer, Malakai Makaisson, arrives boisterously upon the stage! An incredibly strange Dawi, even by the exceptional standard of Slayers, this fellow is a key member of the legendary tales surrounding Gotrek & Felix. His story doesn't end there though, having aided in the defense of Kislev, Nuln, and Karak Kadrin. Some rumors even state Malakai is from the misty isle of Albion in the north...but regardless, there are many things for Andy and Sotek to ask this Professor from Nuln about! Dwarfen Engineering, Norscan Dwarfs, and Slayers are all on the itinerary!

The time for exploring another city has arrived at last as Sotek & Andy lead the charge into Altdorf, the Heart of the Old World and Capital of the Empire! A truly staggering amount of information can be unveiled regarding its history, geography, districts, notable figures, and much more! This definitely serves more as an introduction more than anything as Altdorf is truly a DEEP well to fall down.

A dark and foreboding aura looms over Andy & Sotek this week as the time has come to explore one of the most terrifying and tragic figures to be found in all of Warhammer Fantasy. Galrauch, the Golden Drake, was once one of the most noble creatures to be found upon the paradise that was Ulthuan. But when Chaos came tearing into existence, his body, mind, and spirit would be dragged forever onto a path of horror and change. Listen cautiously as the Father of the Chaos Dragons tale is revealed.

At long last, the dynamic duo of Gotrek & Felix have managed to stumble into the tavern alongside Andy & Sotek! We'll spend the evening rambling through the various tales and legends of this fierce pair, from the various threats they've faced to the dark tragedy that started the entire story. Beware of spoilers in the second half of the podcast!

Grab a stein of frothy dwarf beer and take a seat by the fire lads, lasses, and non-binary manlings. For Andy & Sotek have a tale to tell! An epic saga about brotherhood, oaths, betrayal, tragedy, and VENGEANCE! This is the story of Grombrindal, the White Dwarf, a figure who may be purely a myth if some are be believed but there are some undeniable truths. Just where did Grombrindal come from? Is he truly a restless spirit of some Dawi? Or is he the last Ancestor God to remain awake in this world? What is his purpose and what does he hope to achieve? Listen close...and you'll learn the truth.

The dead do not rest easy during this week's episode as Andy & Sotek open ancient tomes of necromantic lore to study Vlad von Carstein! The legendary founder of the Vampire Counts and father to the von Carstein bloodline, there are few individuals as storied. From his ancient origins in Nehekhara to traveling the world as an explorer, all the way to his takeover in Sylvania and unleashing of the Vampire Wars. Such a fascinating unlife populated with figures larger than life such as Neferata, Mannfred von Carstein, and of course his true love Isabella von Carstein. But just what are the takeaways of this dark tale? What can we learn from the stories about Warhammer greatest dark majesty?

One of the most tragic figures in all of Warhammer Fantasy is said to be Durthu, Eldest of Ancients. A figure solely responsible for the creation of an entire nation and one of the last remaining entities from an age long since past. What secrets are contained within his troubled dreams as he slumbers amidst the deep woods of Athel Loren? How much has he had to sacrifice in order to bring the world to the point it is at and how does his story play out? Join Andy and Sotek as they peel back the gnarled bark to reveal the brutal truths lurking beneath.

Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek embark once more on the road to the glorious city of Middenheim, one of the most ancient and powerful bastions of civilization to be found in the Old World. A critical focal point in the Empire for all of Mankind due to its importance politically, religiously, defensively, and economically with a staggering amount of mysteries concealed within to boot. We'll head deep into the Fauschlag Rock to uncover the secrets of Ulric, the God of Winter, Wolves, and Battle while also encountering much about Dwarfs, Elves, and even Halflings. With a storied history and several sites of interest such as the legendary Silver Flame of Ulric, there's much to discuss ahead!

Join the Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law as they're drawn into the creeping depths of the dark forests in pursuit of a truly nightmarish entity. For centuries there have been legends of the Crowfather, a malignant creature that enacts the will of the Dark Gods to bring ruin and destruction to the so-called civilized world. Malagor the Dark Omen is the foul architect behind the sprawling brayherds that make up the Beastmen, he who is capable of directing these the Children of Chaos in order to achieve the greater goals that alone they could never hope to accomplish. We'll be exploring his history, design, themes, and all things related to He who Heralds the Age of the Beast!

With the Shadows of Change DLC finalized thanks to the arrival of Patch 4.2 for Total War Warhammer 3, the time has come to really take a look at all of the additions to the lore and what they might mean for the future of Warhammer. Grand Cathay, Kislev, and Tzeentch all feature quite heavily in this episode, though there is many potential ramifications for the other factions to be found within the Warhammer world as well.

The grand finale of the trilogy has arrived as Sotek and Andy Law conclude their exploration of the Old World, at least for now. With the general lore, timeline, and most of the faction-specific lore out of the way now all that remains is a couple of final factions along with the new magic lore of the Old World! There's some significant alterations to be discovered on the last leg of this journey, so without further ado let's see what Games Workshop has conjured up.

Join Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek (who's survived another rotation around the sun!) as they continue their winding journey into the depths of the Old World! After spending most of the first episode dealing with specific stories and tales, this one will focus heavily on the new timeline for Warhammer the Old World to see the good and bad found within!

Amidst the usual chaos of Lorebeards, a trio of episodes shall stand out as being parts of a larger whole! For the Old World has returned from the realm of Morr to delight us all once more, but that comes with quite the long list of changes to the lore! So join Andy and Sotek as they delve into what all has changed about the lore of Warhammer Fantasy since the End Times!

Join Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek as we venture into the haunted deserts known to most as the Land of the Dead. Here we'll explore a fair bit of lore not only about the fallen nation of Nehekhara, but also about the Tomb Kings themselves all in pursuit of understanding the one and only King of Kings. That's right, Settra the Imperishable has arrived on Lorebeards at long last to grace listeners with his divine presence! So let's make sure to show proper respect towards Khemrikhara lest we draw his ire. Settra Does Not Serve! Settra RULES!

The holidays are finally past and the plague daemon of COVID defeated, which means the time has finally arrived for a brand new season of Lorebeards! Join Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek as we step back a bit to start 2024 on a fresh note, really taking the time to explain the Warhammer World and many of its fundamentals from concepts to species. We hope you'll enjoy this fairly dense dive into the wondrous world of Warhammer Fantasy to prepare yourselves for a full year of Lorebeards ahead!

THE FINAL EPISODE OF 2023 IS HERE! Join Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek for one final journey as we attempt to track down and understand the mysterious Advisor of the Total War Warhammer trilogy. Some believe him to be a simple tutorial mechanic, but what if there was something much...deeper to this old man's story? What if he was no simple mechanic, but instead the central figure who the entire Total War Warhammer storyline revolves around? Come along as we crack open the Tome of Fates to find out just what happened to this mysterious man and the tragic mistakes he made along the way.

Join Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law as they take one of the greatest mysteries in the Warhammer world. The true identity of the Lady of the Lake. Just who is this enigmatic aquatic Goddess? Is she Lileath, the Elven Goddess of the Moon? Perhaps she is Ladrielle, the Elven Goddess of Mists? Or perhaps there may be even stranger answers lurking within the purifying mist. Take the Questing Vow and come along as we search for the truth behind this labyrinthine character.

Join Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law as the titanic gates of Mingol-Zharr-Naggrund are swung open to reveal the hellish environs within! The capital of the Chaos Dwarfs, or Dawi Zharr as they call themselves, is an immense ziggurat of obsidian that looms upon the Plain of Zharr out in the Dark Lands. Today we'll be delving deep into the choking mines to try and uncover all of the secrets that may be found within the city. From the structures and history of the city itself to mysteries it may be hiding such as the true nature of the God Hashut, Father of Darkness.

Join Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law on a journey to understand the divine mystery that is Myrmidia, the Goddess of War hailing from the lands of Tilea and Estalia. An immensely powerful and beloved deity, Myrmidia holds the unique position of being one of the few, if only, Gods in Warhammer to willingly take on a mortal form so that she might experience what it is to be human. We'll explore this fascinating tale while also uncovering the secrets of Tylos, a story that shows the incredible dangers of hubris.

Careful what you touch or breathe in on this episode of Lorebeards as Andy and Sotek venture into the diseased tunnels of Clan Pestilens to find the infamous Lord Skrolk! A truly ancient Skaven possessed of sorcerous might, the Plaguelord is swarmed with mysteries as anything else would surely die from his aura of pestilence. What might we discover behind this strange Plague Priest? What happened to his eyes? Just how old is he? All this and more we'll find on the journey ahead!

Down from the Misty Mountain rides the Lorebeards alongside the WAAAGH! of Grom the Paunch! Everyone's favorite fat goblin is truly a figure of legend, having smashed his way across the Old World and beyond. We'll delve fully into the stories behind this legend, from his humble beginnings all the way to his epic invasion of Ulthuan, the island home of the High Elves!

Lorebeards emerges from the darkness of Geheimnisnacht, guided by the holy light of none other than the Grand Theogonist, Volkmar the Grim! Join Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek as they delve into the history and themes behind the iconic leader for the Cult of Sigmar!

GEHEIMNISNACHT HAS COME! Morrslieb waxes full over the Great Ocean and something stirs in the depths beneath the waves...but what is known about those pale, scaly horrors found in the deepest trenches carved into the sea floor? Join Loremaster of Sotek & Andy Law as they illuminate the shadows hiding away this mysterious race of so-called "Fishmen"!

As we rapidly approach the end of Spooktober, there is no better (or rather worse) place we can go than the most cursed city in all of the Warhammer world! Mordheim, the City of the Damned. A place abandoned by the Gods and devoured by the ambition of one singular entity who sought to conquer all of reality. Join Loremaster of Sotek & Andy Law as they cast light into the darkness of Mordheim to reveal the machinations of the Dark Master!

Geheimnisnacht is upon us and the Winds of Magic are blowing into a whirlwind! The dead don't rest easy and daemons manifest in the shadows as the Chaos Moon, Morrslieb, rises over the horizon. What is the history of the Gravid Orb? Where did it come from? What effects does it have upon the world? All this and more shall be unveiled by Loremaster of Sotek & Andy Law so be sure to bring your lead box-hats!

Welcome to a special guest episode of Lorebeards where Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek are joined by none other than literary legend Gav Thorpe! One of the most critical creators in giving us the Elves and Dwarfs that we have today in Warhammer Fantasy, Join us as we chat with Gav all about his various writings in Black Library, Army Books, and more so we can fully understand what inspired so much of the Warhammer world!

Lorebeards returns once more to delve deep into the myths of the ancient world as Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek explore the history of the race known to mortals as the Dragon Ogres. A story that could be interpreted as tragedy or triumph as one of the primordial species of the Warhammer World strikes their dark bargain with the Chaos Gods. So join us as we attempt to unravel their secrets!

Welcome to another frightening episode of Spooktober! This time Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek attempt to delve into the horrifying secrets hidden within the Great Maw, that nightmarish God whom the Ogres worship after it nearly devoured their entire race. This horrid journey will lead through the planet itself and even beyond into the realms of Undeath when we sails the high seas to find the Galleon's Graveyard!

Welcome to a another episode of Lorebeards! Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law take on the mysteries of the Dwarf Slayers! Also known to be members of the Cult of Grimnir, just what is the deal with these bizarre red-haired warriors? Why do some Dwarfs become Slayers? What secrets lie behind this group of doomseekers? Let's find out!

Welcome to a very special episode of Lorebeards! Loremaster of Sotek conducts a solo interview with the one and only Mark Gibbons, one of the most prolific artists to ever bless the Warhammer Fantasy (and 40k) worlds with his incredible talent. We'll be talking about his various works across the years along with a host of questions for how he manages to create such incredible pieces. So please enjoy listening to a true master of the arts!

This episode features a rather unique situation as Loremaster of Sotek & Andy the Lawmaster attempt to take on the very apocalypse itself, whispered about in angry circles as The End Times! What all happened with the death of the Warhammer Fantasy world? What were the worst parts of the story? What were some of the good parts, if any? If Andy and Sotek were to change things, what are some major alterations we would recommend? Let's grab our weapons with a great gnashing of teeth and take on...the End Times! (Part 1)

Andy and Sotek explore the humid jungles of Lustria to find the Sacred Plaques revealing the truth behind Tehenhauin, the Prophet of Sotek! What secrets can be discovered about the herald of the Serpent God who managed to bring a literal God forth into the world? Just what all did he accomplish and how did Tehenhauin's ambitions interact with the Great Plan? What did the other Lizardmen make of this prophet? How does his prophecy affect the wider world? Be sure to tune in to find out!

Andy and Sotek journey to the Far East to arrive in Grand Cathay! Diving into a deep sea of new lore that has been released alongside Total War Warhammer 3 and other releases since, we will be focusing on the legendary Dragon Children of Grand Cathay. What information can we discovery about these nine powerful Dragons? What of their parents? Furthermore, how does this new lore for Grand Cathay impact the wider Warhammer world? Let's find out!

Andy Law and Loremaster of Sotek wander into the deep forests of Kislev, where only the truly lost and foolish would dare wander! Here we search for the infamous Wise Women of Kislev, more commonly known as the Hags. Just who are these mysterious old women? What is the source of their powers and what price do they pay for such magic? Let's see if the Ancient Widow will answer our prayers, hopefully the cost for such knowledge won't be too high!

Join Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law as they venture into the dark depths of necromancy to find the secrets behind Nagash, the Great Necromancer! What could have drove what was once one of the most gifted Mortuary Priests to ever live next to Khatep himself into inventing the foul lore of Necromancy? How does Arkhan the Black tie into this story? What about Neferata, Sigmar, or Krell? Well then allow us to raise your interest from the grave as we delve fully into the story, artefacts, and more when it comes to Nagash!

Join Loremaster of Sotek and Andy Law as we delve into chatting about the Winds of Magic! Delving into the true nature of the winds that bellow out from the Realm of Chaos through the Polar Gates. What secrets can be gleaned about its nature? What truths can be discovered about the 8 known Winds of Magic? What about the other lores of Magic? Is there perhaps other hidden or forgotten lores of Magic? Let's find out!

Lorebeards has reached it's ultimate form with the arrival of a brand new season! Andy Law has arrived as the official co-host of Lorebeards going forward and his brilliant wisdom and endless knowledge shall be the guiding beacon for many incredible episodes! Join Andy and Loremaster of Sotek for the first new episode as they dive into telling the tale of Malekith, the Witch King. Not only is the Lord of the Druchii's story told, but there's quite a few in-depth tangents and no small amount of looking at the evolution of Warhammer Fantasy over the years! So without further ado, we're off to Naggoroth!

Welcome to the grand finale episode of Season 4 for Lorebeards! Andy Law returns to give instruction and guidance on how to be the best possible Gamesmaster you can be regardless of which game system you may be playing. Whether trying to be your best Dungeonmaster in D&D, Warhammer Fantasy, or something else you'll find your answers with Andy Law!

Join me as I interview the marvelous Andy Leask, one of the main genius minds behind the creation of the grand city of Ubersreik! He'll be taking us on a tour of how to create and envision cities within the Warhammer universe as well as delving deep into the pie that is chatting about Halflings!

Join me with the wondrous and fantastical Lindsay Law as she takes us on a journey through how to roleplay unique characters like Elves! Lindsay brings her expertise from writing and editing as well to explore unique dynamics within the Warhammer world and how to explore subjects that us mere mortals rarely comprehend! If you want to know how to be an expert roleplayer and to see the Warhammer world from a fresh angle, this one is for you!

Today a very special guest attends Lorebeards, the one and only David Guymer! The author behind spectacular books such as Thorgrim, Headtaker, Gotrek & Felix, and the recent Gotrek audiodramas! Join us as we delve into discussions about the various subjects he has written on for Warhammer Fantasy and Age of Sigmar.

Join me as I interview Jude Hornburg, a freelance writer who has worked on Cubicle 7's Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition most notably contributing on the "Forest of Hate", "Lustria", and "Archives of the Empire vol. 1". Here we discuss the nature of Elves, the Vampire Coast, and what an intersection between Elves and Vampires might look like, how heretical!

This is a very unique and special interview! I want to thank Creative Assembly in particular setting up this chat with Andy Hall to delve into a newly revealed language for the Warhammer universe, Zharralid! The cursed tongue of the Chaos Dwarfs, let's waste no time delving into the secrets that went into creating Hashut's speech.

Join me this week as I am joined by Steve Dee, also known as Steve Darlington, who is often credited as having created much of what we currently love about the Halflings of Warhammer Fantasy! However, rumors also abound that he may also have dealings with the nefarious Vampires that lurk among the shadows of the world...but surely those are jests! Let's find out.

Welcome back to the Lorebeards podcast! I'm your host, Loremaster of Sotek, and it is my unrivaled pleasure to welcome none other than Andy Law to the show! Andy Hall is an absolute legend within the Warhammer lore sphere, being one of the writers who has cultivated and expanded the Warhammer Fantasy Universe over the last 30+ years into the beauteous masterpiece it has become. Currently he's working as one of the co-owners of the Rookery which can be found over on Youtube as can his personal Youtube, Patreon, and Discord under the LAWhammer name. Join us as I pick his brain all about Warhammer Fantasy lore, literature, roleplaying games, game creation, world building, cartography, and so much more!

Lorebeards returns after a long hiatus with your humble host, Loremaster of Sotek! Something stirs in the deep darkness of the earth, where magma flows and nightmarish horrors dwell. The Chaos Dwarfs are emerging at long last! To celebrate this occasion and really nerd out over what awaits us in the Dark Lands, I have invited the Chaos Dwarf Online community leaders to come chat with me about the faction they love so dearly! We talk everything from lore and tabletop to mechanics and visual design! Come join as we lay bare the secrets of Hashut and delve into the God of Tyranny's realm.

For this podcast we spend just a bit of time going over all the various tabletop news before hoping full head and heels into Immortal Empires.

Another Sunday means another episode of Lorebeards! After briefly discussing our respective week, Nathan and I quickly launch into the usual Tale of Two Gamers! After that we dive into our Who Would Win of Azazel vs. Malus Darkblade! Following this showdown, it's time to discuss the new Age of Sigmar leaks and reveals for Warcry with all of these things revolving around mortal worshippers of Be'lakor, the First Damned, After that it's time to return to Azazel with Total War Warhammer 3 news which takes quite a bit of time! Finally we briefly discuss some teasers for Dr. Festus and the old races of Warhammer 1 and 2.

Another week means another episode of Lorebeards! After a brief chat about our week, we launch into Tale of Two Gamers to check out everyone's awesome mini submissions! Thanks so much for all the amazing paint jobs. After that we switch into discussing the exciting recent reveal of a Snakeman in Bloodbowl! Could this be a hint for the Naga of Khuresh in the future...? We then conclude the tabletop discussion with some chatter about Ka'bandha's truly disturbing price tag and then the fun new big guy among the Squats of Necromunda. With that all wrapped up, Nathan and I turn our attention to the completed Immortal Empires map provided by Xenon. The discussion focuses on the future of Total War Warhammer in addition to the many changes made for Immortal Empires. After that comes the signature Who Would Win showdown of Aranessa Saltspite vs. Wulfrik the Wanderer! From there we cover a potential leak that the voice actor for Teclis has apparently completed a new voiceover role for a "High Elf Prince Aravael". What could it mean? Perhaps a new DLC?Finally we end with a lore discussion about our favorite Vampiric Bloodline! And that's it for this week, see you next time!

Lorebeards has returned after popular demand and a long break! After covering the Games Workshop Mini-game livestream, Nathan and I dive into discussing various aspects of Total War Warhammer 3, Tale of Two Gamers, and miscellaneous subjects. Good to be back!