Matt Keefe’s first contribution to the Age of Sigmar setting – and first Black Library short story for some years – The Book of Transformations takes the feel of an old-school Warhammer story and updates it for the Mortal Realms. In the magic-infused streets of a Chamonite city, the alchemist-turned-apothecary Mehrigus practices his art and dreams of greater things. To Mehrigus, the pinnacle of the apothecary’s arts would be to meld art, science and magic and achieve transformation as a cure. Though scorned by the Collegiate Arcane, his obsession continues to deepen, and as plague wracks the city his efforts appear to be rewarded.
A small-scale, street level story of a wise man losing himself to bitter obsession as pestilence rises from beneath the streets, this could almost be set amongst the grimy streets of the Empire in the World-That-Was. There’s a degree of inevitability as Mehrigus draws ever closer to his goal – anyone with a passing familiarity with Warhammer will recognise the path he’s walking – but that doesn’t detract from what is a nicely written story with enjoyable hints of horror amidst the fantastical atmosphere of almost everyday magic. It could arguably have benefited from being a little longer to really make the most of the character and Keefe’s unusual choice of structure, but even so it’s an entertaining tale which should appeal to anyone interested in the quieter corners of the Mortal Realms.
Check out the main Age of Sigmar reviews page on Track of Words.
This short story is available as a digital e-short or within the Inferno! Volume 3 anthology.
Click here to buy The Book of Transformations.
