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Just finished the short book Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives. As the first new Eldar fiction of any sort, and one post-Ynnari, it was interesting to see what is happening with the Eldar. Basically Vect's grip on the city might be slipping and the Harlequins may be manipulating Lelith to be an alternative center of power within Commorragh, though the Harlequins view this as throwing the Dark City off balance so that it may move into the future rather than be stuck in stasis under Vect alone.

It also reveals Lelith to no longer be completely unscarred, as she keeps a scar for every time she is wounded in close combat as a reminder to herself of when she fell short of perfection. More interestingly, the book reveals she has a weakness, as foreshadowed in the book's beginning by the Harlequins:



It is uncertain what if anything GW is actually planning to go with this and Vect's apparent misstep in the book. Was it really a misstep or was it one of those plans within plans Vect has? The book makes it seem like a genuine misstep that he is now trying to cover up as part of his plan all along.

For what it's worth, the Kin make a brief cameo as cannon-fodder (knife fodder?) in the Thirteenth Night's arena. Is this one of the first few times they have appeared in BL fiction since the Leagues of Votann were released?

Finally, it's shown that Yvraine still seems to be searching for the final Crone Sword, not fully believing it is in Slaanesh's palace, and it is shown that Yvraine's presence subdues the soulthirst that Dark Eldar have. Lelith feels no need to feed so long as she is near Yvraine, but when separated for long enough, the thirst returns.

I think there have been a few threads hinting at Vect's grip on Commoragh slipping, such as the warp portal failing at the heart of the city and insinuations that Lady Malys is working her own counter plots.

Whether GW does anything with these is another matter, but they have been willing to shake up the status quo a little. It would be ironic if Vect got a new model just as he is knocked off his perch, but I suppose he would have to get his hands dirtier again if he survived that.

Hope so - Vect is dull and always "everything you did I had planned for if not actually organised" - enough of that nonsense with Tzeentch,....



Ahh thats cute

Iracundus wrote:

Spoiler:

She seems to have a mutual fascination with another Succubus named Morghana Nathrax of the Cult of the Thirteenth Night. However both of them seem almost comically unaware or denying of their feelings for each other since such feelings are seen as a weakness within Commorragh. To use an anime term, they almost seem tsundere for each other, in a love/hate relationship with each other.

this is a better ad for this book than GW could have ever conceived of

 Mr Morden wrote:
Hope so - Vect is dull and always "everything you did I had planned for if not actually organised" - enough of that nonsense with Tzeentch,....

I was never a fan of Commorragh having a supreme ruler anyway. It's as if the Penguin were the mayor of Gotham. I prefer Vect being merely the leader of the biggest and most powerful kabal, and still needing to resort to soft power and diplomacy if he wants other kabals to play nice. Besides, since Commorragh is spread over many dimensions, it's probably not too hard to find a corner of it that's outside of Vect's reach (if only by virtue of being beneath his notice).

 StudentOfEtherium wrote:

Iracundus wrote:

Spoiler:

She seems to have a mutual fascination with another Succubus named Morghana Nathrax of the Cult of the Thirteenth Night. However both of them seem almost comically unaware or denying of their feelings for each other since such feelings are seen as a weakness within Commorragh. To use an anime term, they almost seem tsundere for each other, in a love/hate relationship with each other.

this is a better ad for this book than GW could have ever conceived of

Ha ha, agreed.

.

"It's...It's not like I like you! I just find you fascinating. Your fury and skill in the arena interests me and I think you would be an asset fighting beside me. Yeah that's it."

"You saved me then you left me! I hate you!"

While not true quotes from the book, that's actually something like what their interaction is like. Lelith also realizes that this other Succubus, Morghana, while professing to hate Lelith and wanting to supplant her as top Succubus in the Dark City, is actually emulating Lelith more and more in terms of fighting style, poise, and stagecraft. Basically, Morghana feels spurned by her idol and seems to be trying to out-Lelith Lelith, even though their two fighting styles are quite different.

Vect's control has been slipping ever since his model went OOP.