The forces of Grand Cathay are getting their first Black Library novel – Blood of the Bastion by Evan Dicken.
Following hot on the heels of their stunning miniatures range, it’s another way to explore the Empire of the Celestial Dragon.
A veteran soldier, Yao Kai, finally achieves his dream of being named a Master of the Snake Gate – part of the Great Bastion that shields the north from the Chaos Wastes – only to discover a plot to bring it down that comes from within, rather than without. This exciting new novel is filled with intrigue, conspiracies, and secrets that Yao Kai must navigate to protect his realm, and he may just have to sacrifice everything he’s earned to do it.
We couldn’t wait to learn more about the novel, so we collared author Evan Dicken for a few questions.
Warhammer Community: Without venturing too far into spoiler territory, what is Blood of the Bastion all about?
Evan Dicken: Family, friendship, and the friction between the self and societal expectation. Bastion’s characters struggle through loss of power and noble privilege against the backdrop of an existential threat to Grand Cathay. They must uncover a deep-rooted Chaos conspiracy, defend the Great Bastion, and foil a potential invasion, all while fighting to reclaim their reputation and their place in Cathayan society.
Of course, it’s also a Warhammer novel, so the path to vengeance and redemption leads from desperate street fights to deadly court intrigues, to bloody set-piece battles.
WarCom: What has excited you the most about getting to bring this corner of Grand Cathay to life?
Evan: I’ve been dreaming of Grand Cathay since I first encountered it in a bit of Old World ephemera as a kid back in the ’90s. So, it was really a wish come true to have the chance to help shape this bit of the Old World. I never really had any doubt that I wanted to set the story in north-eastern Cathay.
Despite boasting one of the largest and oldest cities in the empire, its proximity to the Great Bastion makes for a gritty, frontier feel. It was fun to show how much Grand Cathay stands to lose should Chaos manage to batter down the walls.
Also, it’s the only part of the empire currently without a Dragon in the ongoing narrative. Granted, the Celestial Emperor’s children are cool as hell, but I knew I wanted to tell a fundamentally human story of loss and redemption. Having an ancient, incredibly powerful demigod in the proverbial room risks overwhelming the mortal characters. Miao Ying’s journey to the west with a substantial portion of the region’s military has put Nan-Gau in a particularly precarious position. This not only provides a weakness for the servants of Chaos to exploit, but also considerably ups the stakes for the Bastion’s mortal defenders.
WarCom: Blood of the Bastion is told through the eyes of Yao Kai, Master of the Snake Gate. What made him the right character through whom to explore Grand Cathay?
Evan: Yao Kai begins the novel as a model son, citizen, and soldier, grimly dedicated to his family and empire. He is granted tremendous responsibility at an especially dangerous time, and struggles to balance who he actually is with what the empire requires of him. Ultimately, none of this matters as his carefully constructed life unravels.
Honestly, having Kai as a character feels a bit like cheating. As Master of the Snake Gate, we get to explore the Cathayan military, the Great Bastion, and the eternal struggle against Chaos. As a noble he provides insight into Nan-Gau’s fractious and supremely dangerous court. His fall gives us the chance to examine the role of power and privilege in Nan-Gau, and shift Kai’s perspective.
WarCom: How did you flesh out the smoky, industrial heart of Grand Cathay – the city of Nan-Gau? What makes this city stand out?
Evan: Nan-Gau is an incredible juxtaposition – a truly ancient city freighted with millennia of culture (not to mention the home of a draconic demigod), but also an industrial centre bursting with vitality and innovation. I tried to bring these aspects to the fore whenever I described Nan-Gau’s architecture and urban geography – underlying structures repaired and built upon for generations, new and old coexisting in exuberant harmony.
Its closeness to the Bastion is also an important feature. Nan-Gau may be a metropolis, a center of trade and manufacturing, but it is also a fortress. Although the city’s many walls ward against the threat of Chaos, they also serve as ever-present reminders of societal stratification, physical barriers that separate noble from commoner, scholar from merchant, and soldier from farmer. This could easily stumble into old feudal class tropes if not for Miao Ying.
What makes Nan-Gau stand out the most for me is a character who does not even appear in the novel. Unlike her siblings, Miao Ying exercises a much softer grip on her city. Noble houses are allowed to scheme against one another, just as commoners can challenge their supposed betters. Lineage and reputation are still important, but merit, foresight, strength, and cleverness play a much larger role in Nan-Gau than in other Cathayan cities.
WarCom: This is one of the first Black Library novels set during the timeline of Warhammer: The Old World. What was it like exploring this setting?
Evan: It feels like coming home. I grew up reading Old World novels, playing RPGs set in the Old World, and collecting Old World armies (Orcs, Empire, and High Elves, if you must know). I never stopped bothering my long-suffering editors about writing a novel set in the Old World. I guess it finally paid off.
Although Grand Cathay is far removed from the imaginary lands I used to roam, it still has that Old World feel. Gritty, grimy, more than a little bit desperate, a world with less magic and more history, if no less conflict. Having the chance to not only write in the Old World but flesh out an entirely new faction was a wonderful (and daunting) experience. Grand Cathay may have existed for millennia, but its sourcebooks are only a few years old. Don’t get me wrong, I love lore, but it was a bit freeing to dive into a setting without having to contend with decades of pre-existing history.
WarCom: What particular aspect of Cathayan lore that you had the most fun with?
Evan: Two words: Sky! Lanterns!
Thanks, Evan! Blood of the Bastion will be available to pre-order soon as a regular hardback and a special edition, which features a leather-effect cover and red page edges. Keep your eyes on Warhammer Community as we’ll be launching our own Sky Lantern* when the book goes on sale.
* Or Sunday Preview article!
