Trachos, a Lord-Ordinator of the Celestial Vindicators, journeys back to his brethren, tortured by the horrors he has experienced in the underworlds of Shyish – and by his own failings. A voice in his head berates him… and he's sure it's not his own. A chance encounter with fellow travellers – an aelf agent of the Order of the Azyr, and a strange duardin who calls himself Gotrek – give Trachos new purpose – and a chance to gain what he seeks. As he leads the pair to the sinister Neverspike, he plans to be rid of them. But around such a being as Gotrek Gurnisson, plans have a habit of going wrong…

In the bleak, haunted underworld of Shyish, a vengeful Slayer seeks the Lord of Undeath. Gotrek Gurnisson returns, his oaths now ashes alongside the world-that-was, his fury undiminished. Branded with the Master Rune of Grimnir, the God that betrayed him, and joined by Maleneth Witchblade, a former Daughter of Khaine turned agent of the Order of Azyr, the hunt has taken them far and wide through the Realm of Death. Will Gotrek find a path to the Undying King or will the underworlds claim him as their own?