The Tribe of the Heavens

The Tribe that came to be called Clan Rictus was a reasonably large and successful tribe during the Age of Warlords. As with many tribes of its stature, it had numerous Demiurg crafts in its possession, scavenged or gained from their fighting with other tribes. Unlike the other tribes however, the Warlords of the Tribe had not given up on securing the Great Dream through the Demiurg crafts, and while the spoils of war of other tribes were left neglected, the technology of the Demiurg was studied intensively by their Chieftains. They alone among all tribes saw further in the fulfillment of the Great Dream than any other, harbouring in their hearts a desire to embark on a journey through the stars. In their memory, they dimly recalled the entrance of a great, big ship, from when starlight first poured into the cavern. And it was this ship that they planned to seize, freeing themselves to a life spent perpetually sailing between the stars. Thus, they decided to call themselves Tribe Rictus, or Tribe of the Heavens.

Though they did not learn to operate the mining crafts, they discovered the utility of the weaponry within the Demiurg crafts. This was highly crucial, as Warlord Skyre had began his Great Plan of subduing the Hrud tribes into submission. While each and every of the Hrud tribes fell to the power and might of Warlord Skyre's Warpstone weapons, Tribe Rictus was the one tribe that could fight them on equal footing, by equipping their warriors with Demiurg weaponry. Warlord Skyre's forces faced the strongest resistance here, in fact being the only true resistance faced throughout the Great War. The lesser tribes watched on as the battle waged between the two sides. The Demiurg weaponry proved to be the equal to Skyre's Warpstone technology, as Skyre's forces were matched in both range and firepower. As a testament to the success of Tribe Rictus, the Tribe grew in size as many lesser tribes, seeing the effectiveness of Tribe Rictus' forces, joined Tribe Rictus in droves, bringing with them their own Demiurg wargear. The fighting was fierce and hard, and Warlord Skyre was taken aback by the great resistance he faced with so many tribes backing up Tribe Rictus. Entering the fray with his elite Council of Warlords, the tide was turned with much effort, through tactically outmanoeuvring the less experienced enemy troops. Despite the size of Tribe Rictus, the warriors of the Tribe had yet to be accustomed with the utility of the Demiurg weaponry, while Skyre's forces were trained veterans of their numerous encounters during this First Great War. This, together with the disproportionate amount of warrior to weapon ratio, were thought to be the reasons why Tribe Rictus lost the war.

It was not entirely to their loss however, as the charismatic display of their resistance during the Great War had attracted those lesser tribes to join the main body of the Tribe, sharing the original Tribe's aspirations of leaving their birthplace in a starship. The Warlords congregated and decided to focus all efforts on understanding how the mining crafts work, and employed their Chieftains to secure all abandoned mining crafts for the use of the newborn Clan. They made no headway though, despite their efforts, until they were invited by the Seers of Clan Skaven to join a proposition they called, "The Great Migration", essentially a plan that centred around the Grey Seer's proposed mastery over the Warpstones to change them into portals from which travel to other worlds can be made possible. In this way, they were to achieve the Great Dream, or either build Skyre's Tower of Heaven. That was their offer. Though they had other plans, there was one sharp and quick-witted Chieftain among them, by the name of Ricttar, that made the notice on this supposed "powers" of control of the Grey Seers over the Warpstones, and what they were supposed to be. He questioned the Seer representatives before him, asking in detail, the "magick of the Grey Seers". To this, one of the Seer representative divulged that they had discovered the true nature of the Warpstones to be the solidified substance of the Warp, the very medium from which psychics tap into.

Understanding this, Ricttar had a brainwave. Dismissing the Seer representative, he convened in secret with his fellow Warlords and Chieftains, informing them that with this information from the Seer, it might be possible to gain psychic abilities through ingesting the Warpstones. When questioned as to the use of such knowledge, Ricttar replied that he had the brainwave that perhaps, the mining crafts were not piloted through physical means, but by a psychic symbiosis with the systems of the craft. Sensing that he might be on to something, the Warlords of the Clan requested the Prophets of the Clan to attempt to merge their psychic gestalt with the systems of the crafts. To their pleasure, it worked; the crafts finally reacted to their promptings, and with this realisation, the Clan committed itself to a vow of secrecy, so that none may know of their plans and jeopardise them. Greyfurs were selected over Blackfurs to become Star Navigators for their psychic propensity, and although it took several overdoses of Warpstone ingestion to discover the amount needed to induce psychic ability while remaining under the lethal dosage, the sacrifice was considered worth it, since there were too many mining crafts for all their Prophets to pilot.

All that was left was to wait for the coming of a great starship, that their mining crafts could ascend to and board, and then, infested with Hruds, be made their own. In the meantime, the Prophets had become known as Starlords, for they were regarded with a certain status as they alone held the crucial role of piloting the starship that was in time to come. The Star Navigators came under their authority, and such was the prestige they held, that they came to be referred to as an inner tribe within the greater tribe, with the name Tribe of the Star.

The Great Invasion

And then it began. The entrance of the Demiurg Stronghold Class Commerce Vessel shook the entire Hrud civilisation in its foundations. It came with a loud crash, the Demiurg blasted a death beam through the top of the Tower of Heaven, cutting it by a quarter. Toppling to the ground and causing numerous casualties, the whole of Hrudom was in upheaval. Seizing the confusion, the Star Navigators, under command of the Starlords, initiated the ascension of the mining crafts, as whole Hrud packs squeezed into the confines of the crafts due to merit of their bendable bodies. Rising upwards towards the great shell of the Commerce Vessel, it was hoped that the Demiurg would be duped enough to allow them entry. This ruse went through, as the Demiurgs aboard the vessel thought them indeed to be their crew. They rose in their hundreds, each landing into the landing dock of the Commerce Vessel. Once aboard, the Hruds initiated a surprise attack on their unwary hosts. The Demiurg had still not realised that they had allowed Hruds to come onboard, and went off to greet what they had believed to be their fellow Demiurg, when unsuspectingly, the Hruds poured forth from the mining crafts, and utilising the energy weapons of the Demiurg's own, proceeded to deliver death onto them. The Demiurgs, caught unawares by Clan Rictus, were at first sent reeling, even against the poor eyesight of the Hruds in environments of bright lights. But soon, the stubborn and stout Demiurgs mounted a counter-offensive; it takes more to shock these grim and hardy folk into yield than even a surprise assault from an unsuspecting source. They were however disadvantaged; the Demiurgs at the landing dock were unequipped for battle, given the fact they were expecting the arrival of their own crew, and perhaps it is to be admonished somewhat for the lack of prudence on their part. The Hruds of Clan Rictus soon invaded the lower sections of the Commerce Vessel, but were stymied by fierce counter-resistance from the Demiurg. The grim folk of the De'sha Brotherhood retaliated with resolute efficiency, that only the relentless and unyielding Demiurg could be capable of.

Thus the tables were swiftly turned, if there ever could be described as such in relation to the slow and stout Demiurg. Fierce fighting broke out within the lower sectors of the vessel, and the Demiurgs and the Hruds soon realised how evenly matched the setup was. Although greatly outnumbered, the Demiurgs were prevented from being overwhelmed from being better equipped and trained, and especially due to the tight enclosed confines the fighting mostly took place in, within the many corridors and sections of the Commerce Vessel, naturally disallowing the superior number of Hruds from completely overrunning their positions. Besides, the true weapons of the Demiurg, the war machines, could not be brought to bear against an enemy within their own vessel.

For the Hruds, they made up their lack by their numbers, an overwhelming tide that matched the Demiurg's resolution with pure quantity. A battle between quantity and quality took place. But the Hruds were not all without their own recourse, a quality of their own most deceptive and insidious. Ricttar, most resourceful and intelligent among Clan Rictus, concocted a plan in view of the resilience of the Demiurg. Bringing together a band of Blackfurs and Greyfurs to support his plan, he led the way into the ducts of the Commerce Vessel, gaining entry into the upper levels which so far have proved impossible to obtain, due to the fierce resistance of the Demiurgs. But it was more than just a breach of entry pass the frontline and into the flanks of the enemy's position. No, Ricttar thought much, much further. Travelling up to the very top of the Commerce Vessel with his sneak attack band, they went to the very heart of the Commerce Vessel by sneaking through the ducts and bypassing the main fighting, and right into the bridge. There, Ricttar's clever scheme proved most fruitful; as he had devised and expected, the bridge was little defended, and the captain and his flight crew were completely unwary of their intrusion. Taking hostage of the captain and his flight crew, Ricttar demanded a cessation of arms by the Demiurgs through the ship's communications system. With even their captain's life at stake, the Demiurgs had no choice but to proceed with the cease-fire.

Seeing his plan come to fruition, Ricttar announced over the intercom, "This invasion is over! Unfortunately, we have come to take over this ship for ourselves, and the idea of sharing it with another race of beings that call us Hruds, or "Pests" and "Vermin", is most repulsive to us. Kill them all and devour them in fire!" Thus, the Great Invasion was completed, and the Stronghold Class Commerce Vessel seized, through which the Great Dream of Clan Rictus was achieved.

The Great Sundering

Upon securing the Commerce Vessel as their own, Clan Rictus sent their primary delegate, Ricttar, to the emergency Great Council meeting in the event of the arrival of the Demiurg Stronghold Class Commerce Vessel, and the enaction of the Great Migration by Clan Skaven. Supreme Overlord Skyre was exceptionally displeased with the actions of Clan Skaven, and imposed great trade and economical restrictions and sanctions on Clan Skaven, hoping to reduce their influence. Tighter controls were placed over Clan Skaven, to prevent an event of this proportion from ever happening again. As a further punishment, Clan Skaven was ordered to monitor the Warpportals, for they were the remaining connection to the scattered Migratory Tribes. In the meantime, Ricttar offered to form a means of communication to the scattered tribes, plying through the stars in search for them onboard the great Commerce Vessel, which came to be known as the Starlight Voyager, and reestablish the ties and connections between the Underempire and the Migratory Tribes. For this purpose, it was established that at the end of every thirteen thousand starlight cycles, the Starlight Voyager will return, and deliver a report on its findings and the progress of the scattered tribes. Thus, every thirteen thousand starlight cycles, a Great Council will be enacted, with the Supreme Overlord and the Greater Verminlord acting as presiding authorities. Thus, the Hruds of Clan Rictus followed on towards their dream, the First Desire which they had achieved on their own account, unlike the Migratory Tribes who owe a Great Debt to Clan Skaven.

The Hruds that followed Ricttar into the bridge of the Starlight Voyager, and ultimately killed the captain and his crew, distinguished themselves as the ruling caste within the Clan, calling themselves the Tribe of the Sky. This coterie of Greyfurs and Blackfurs, decided to call themselves Skylords, and they deferred to Ricttar as the High Skylord of Clan Rictus. This band of Greyfurs and Blackfurs were in fact close associates of Ricttar, being already in notable positions of power within the conglomerate divisions of tribes within the clan structure. This proved an accepted arrangement of hierarchy within the Clan, at least at first, but there soon brewed discontent between the Tribes, of the Star, the Sky, and of the Soil; which the mass of the Hruds of Clan Rictus and the bulk of their society came to be called. The Tribe of the Soil served the function of a worker caste within the clan structure, attending to the maintenance and smooth functioning of the Starlight Voyager, and was comprised of both Blackfurs and Greyfurs. They seethed with a certain discontent in regards to the settlement of only a privileged few who lived like lords far above them within the bridge. While it is imagined they did nothing in the way productive towards the purposes of the Clan, except perhaps to direct affairs, which even then in some sense was met with dissatisfaction from the rest, for why should they live like lords while the rest of their kind worked and strived for the proper functioning of the vessel in which they reside, and even been likened to the lowest of substance, soil? In that regard, perceptive Ricttar showed some level of observation of this latent discontent. He provided a firm reminder to all who challenged the authority of the Skylords with a notice that they rightfully earned their positions from the very fact that without them, the Great Invasion would never have been won.

This notice did not go by closed ears, and the Hruds themselves possessed a certain civilised integrity that existed side by side with their Machievellian politics. Despite whatever appreciation it is felt in regards to this matter, still some of the Tribe of the Soil sought separation from the rest of the Clan. This came about at a most opportune time, according to the engineering of a group of Soillords, leaders of the Tribe of the Soil. In the bypassing of a certain star system, they hijacked the engines of the Starlight Voyager, a simple enough task given their own experience and role as the maintainers of the engine systems of the vessel. Once done, the Starlords were forced to make a force-landing of the Starlight Voyager onto a planet within that system, that so happened to be the desert world of Tallarn. Seizing the opportunity, the Soillords who sought separation boarded the great Scavenger Class Mining Tanks of the Demiurg, and embarked with their splinter tribes, as each separate part of the original Tribe of the Soil that was led by an individual Soillord was called. The Soillords that sought separation decided to call themselves Tribe Mors, or Greater Tribe, after the fact that they were comprised of many lesser splinter tribes. They brought most of the equipment within the Starlight Voyager with them, in view of the need to survive in the harshness of this new world. Splitting off from the rest of Clan Rictus, with an accompaniment of personnel from the Tribe of the Star who also sought separation, the splinter tribes of Tribe Mors departed onboard the great Scavenger Class Mining Tanks, or as called by them, Sandcrawlers. These Soillords, now christening themselves Seer Chieftains, took to an oath, to meet in a great congregation every season, to determine the workings of the greater tribe. This event was called the Great Sundering by all involved, and that is how it is known till today.

The Great Revelation

After the Great Sundering of Clan Rictus, the remaining Tribe of the Soil managed to reactivate the engines of the great Commerce Vessel, the Starlight Voyager, and with the remnant Starlords driving them off once again on their voyage, Clan Rictus continued their journey. However, it was realised that their course had been altered, because of the delays caused by the sabotaging of the engine systems. Given the rotation of the planet Tallarn upon their brief stay on the planet, they discovered that they had lost their bearings and needed to plot a new course. The Skylords decided on north, the galactic north, where the Ghoul Stars resided. Little did they know, an ancient race of amphibian masters and their reptilian subordinates resided there, in seven crown worlds. There, they made a startling discovery, a great finding.

They came upon Clan Pestilens in their voyage up north, among the deserted ruins of a world previously mastered and governed by the Slanni, as this ancient race is called. The progress of Clan Pestilens in their preoccupation with the Great Infestation had brought them up north, and it is this next race that Varmin of Clan Pestilens, Plague Prophet of the Chosen Clan of the Horned One, had planned for conquest. Ricttar was invited by Varmin to a certain ruins on the planet, where displayed before them, within the underground ruins, was a wall with ancient writings on them, and surprisingly enough, Ricttar found that he could read them. Varmin went on, speaking, "Curious isn't it? Why is it we can understand the writings on a ruined wall, so far from the heart of the galaxy which we were birthed from? If you would follow me as you read these words, you will realise a most suspicious truth. It appears we were a race of sentient beings even before the arrival of the Demiurg, and their unwitting awakening of our race. Yes, to put it more appropriately, we were awakened, and not evolved. The text on this wall reveals that, and the reason for its appearance at this specific location has to do with an ancient race, even before the Slanni; the Old Ones, they were called. The Ancestor Gods, ancestors of nearly every single biological race within this galaxy. They were ancestors not by blood or gene, but by their biological engineering and alteration of whole alien races, guiding them in subtle ways in their evolutionary process. The Slanni were their servant race, and acted as stewards in place of the Gods, chosen for their formidable psychic might, that even rivalled that of the Gods."

"There is more to this of course, then I have said, but I leave the revelation to a feast for your eyes, and the depictions of the text on this wall." Saying thus, Ricttar proceeded to read the text on the ruined wall. "Upon ancient times, the Old Ones were the sole custodians of the galaxy, travelling through advanced webway portals created with their mighty psychic powers, fashioned to be a means of swift transport across the galaxy. They had their stewards, the servant race of the Slanni, who have sought to preserve history through these writings, written in the ancient tongue of the Old Ones, of which all races can trace within their genetic memory, for the knowledge of it was embedded into their DNA. This text serves to chronicle the event of the rising of a race of beings at the centre of the galaxy; Hruds they were called. The Old Ones encountered this race of beings rather late in time, and they saw at once the potential of this race to surpass even their stewards, us, in psychic might. They sought to replace us with them as their stewards, but there was a certain contention.

The prince of the Hruds, a Blackfur by the name of Morgor, declined this offer, for the sole reason of the nature of the division between the genders of their species. The females were born with white furs, and possessed intense psychic receptivity, but the males were born black, and had none of the psychic propensity shared by their sisters, but instead, were of massive and aggressive stature. Thus, recruiting the Hruds as a race of stewards would only require half of their species, which appeared unfavourable to Morgor. Morgor was of a special breed of Hruds, from the royal lineage of the White Queen, from which all Hruds can trace their ancestry from. Although despite being a Blackfur, his royal blood conferred with him the same level of psychic power as a Whitefur female. Thus Morgor was the ideal Hrud, possessing traits of both genders, the physical might of the male, and the psychical power of the female. In order to convince him otherwise, or perhaps out of pettiness, one of the Old Ones, Chotec the tempestuous Fire God summoned a Warpstorm with his psychic powers, over the world of Hrud. Seeing the destruction wrought across the lands from the Warpstorm, Morgor gathered the best of the Whitefurs, and channelled a massive defence against the onslaught of the Warpstorm. A battle of sheer psychic might ensued, with neither giving ground.

But soon, the powers of this most exalted of races proved superior, and the world of Hrud was laid waste. In an attempt to preserve what remained of the Hruds, Morgor had no choice but to strike a bargain with the Old Ones, that they may call off the Warpstorm. This was summarily done, but at that point, the whole of Hrud had been ravaged. Left with no choice, Morgor decided on a way out; he would warp to the moon of their world with the queen consorts, including the White Queen, and breed a new population within the confines of the moon, where they will be safe from the wrath of the Gods. But unsuspectingly, Morgor had been genetically altered by the Old One Sotek, imbuing his DNA with a rare genetic virus that warped the gene code of the resulting offsprings of Morgor and his consorts. Born to him was one black-furred female, the only Black Queen, and in addition, several of his offsprings had turned a shade of grey, uniquely enough, and came in both male and female genders. This decoloration was a process that would occur over the centuries, slowly turning black-furred Hruds more feminine and more psychically receptive. Eventually, the large majority of the Hruds became comprised of these Greyfurs.

Unfortunately, the genetic virus caused the retardation of the new Hrud offsprings, dimming the light of sentience within them and returning their species to that of the form and state of animals. Having no means of combatting the biological technological superiority of the Old Ones, Morgor scried into the far future with his powers of prophecy and made a promise to his devolving people. What Morgor then did was an ultimate sacrifice. Ingesting the Warpstones found in the aftermath of the Warpstorm within the moon of their planet, he transmuted his essence into an exalted form that existed in the Warp, in order to protect his race in a way that a physical form could not. This was the gifting of the Whitefur Prophets, those females whose organs have atrophied and become androgynous, for they followed likewise in his path of ascension through the ingestion of Warpstones in order to manifest their true form. Likewise, it is done with Morgor, but unlike physical manifestations, Morgor attained his true form in the Warp, and it is said he will come back again, through manifesting his essence into a host whose DNA contained the correct proportion of Blackfur and Whitefur genes, thus allowing the assumption of Morgor into this host, gaining physical form again. It is said that he will come again in the form of a male Blackfur, who can be recognised by his propensity for psychic manifestations. This is the story of the Hruds and their Great Prophecy."

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After reading this finish, Ricttar turned to Varmin, with a most curious look on his face. "The rest of Hrudom should learn about this." "Indeed, I do so agree with you, but solely from me. You might not have realised this, but the text implies something, that the one to become possessed by Mor Gor Hrud is not a specific or unique person. He simply has to possess the genetic template of the correct proportion of Whitefur and Blackfur genes, thus allowing the manifestation of our Great Deity. If you might not have known, I being the Chosen Prophet of the Great Horned One, possess powers of my own, as we have been led to believe to be gifted to me by Him. But I have deduced that this was only possible because my gene code so happened to fit into that mould, and is close to the unique genetic proportion of the true heir of the Great Horned One. I do not believe for one that I am the Great Horned One's incarnation, for He specifically chose me as His messenger and One Prophet. However, I reveal this to you now, my great scheme, that of becoming one with Morgor and being His true successor. I thus wish to wage war on the Underempire, and seize all of Hrudom for myself, thus securing my position of power as the most powerful Clan in all of Hrudom, and in addition, to slay the true heir to Morgor and thus become the sole possessor of our Hrud God's powers." Thus saying, he departed, not before saying one last word before he went, "...It seems our race knew all along we belonged to the stars, in the origin of the First Desire within us..." Unsure of whether to bring this news to the Underempire or not, Ricttar left with many questions in his head. It was at this point the reign of Supreme Overlord Skyre once again, during what is officially recognised as the Age of Beasts, but was secretly known as the Dark Age of Skavens. Even as he pondered, the great beast of war that is Clan Pestilens was on the move, to bring war and pestilence to the Underempire and subdue it under its control.

The Fourth Great War

The Great Infestation was halted, and the plague masses of Clan Pestilens were marshalled back into the Underempire. Conjuring Warpportals right within the midst of the Underempire, they came in a storm, pouring out in a vast avalanche of diseased flesh and fangs. War was swiftly brought onto the Underempire, and from a most insidious and unsuspecting deployment, reaching into the heart of the Underempire, with the clans and tribes of the Underempire caught unawares, never suspecting a war brought from their own xenophobic kin, one dedicated to spreading the parasitic influence of the Hruds to countless alien worlds. It was a single clan against the whole of the Underempire; where did Varmin get his confidence from? The armies of Clan Pestilens are comprised primarily of melee combatants, which would be simply outgunned by the Warplock Fusiliers of the clans and tribes of the Underempire, even if they could infect their bodies through the weapon of The Plague. Besides the element of surprise and numbers, Clan Pestilens had brought the scavenged technology of the races of whose worlds they have infested, thus possessing superior firepower in terms of technological advantage. In addition, Clan Pestilens had war machines, the Plaguestone Thrower and the Plague Skiff, each bearers of the deadly and dreaded Plague. The true power of Pestilens however, was to be revealed in the sequence of the coming war. And thus the Fourth Great War ignited within the maelstrom of the Underempire.

As a prelude to the battle, and almost as if an announcement of their intentions, the Plague Seers combined their powers with Plague Prophet Varmin, Arch-Plaguelord of Clan Pestilens, summoning foul winds and plague storms across the vast underground cavern of the Underempire. This was their true trump, to infect them with the very disease of which they bore with their bodies. It was hoped that they would effectively be able to bring them to heel, but it was hoped that the natural resistance to the Plague which they carry, that all Hruds share, being the same spiritual offsprings of Mor Gor Hrud, would spare them to some degree from the certain death of the Great Plague. Thus they made heated war, with the forces of the Underempire slowly marshalling in the face of this sudden attack. This war was fierce, and the casualties suffered were to be the most extreme among all of the Great Wars fought since. Immediately at its entry, three tribes caught offguard were unwittingly subdued, but Arch-Plaguelord Varmin knew that this was immaterial; this war was not to be conquered by numbers but by quality; the heart of the Underempire was to be dug out and torn apart. Scheming Varmin, most astute of cunning minds saw the Throne and Its downfall. With a sudden attack warping into the heart of the Underempire, they were in perfect opportunity to invade and infest the Ruling Clan of the Throne of all Hrudom at that point, Clan Skyre, occupying the great Tower of Heaven, with impetuous opportunity. The whole of Hrudom was in upheaval, unsure as to the actions of Varmin, their Chosen One Prophet. They were confused; why was one dedicated to bringing war to the enemies of the Hruds initiating a war against their own kind? Perhaps One Prophet Varmin had grown power-hungry for internal politics, and seeing how each of the Great Clans had their stay in power as the Ruling Clan, had sought likewise to bask in that power?

So Varmin, having held Clan Skyre hostage, went to the top of the Tower of Heaven and declared the history of their beginnings written so many millenia ago, and the eventual coming of their Great Deity and Saviour, Mor Gor Hrud. "My plan is for Him to come incarnated in me, and I will eliminate all powers that stand between me and that goal! Stand before me chosen portal of Morgor, for we shall do battle under the eternal starlit nights of our Underempire until a victor pushes through!" Hearing this great realisation concerning the fate of their race, the passions of this among the most ambitious of species were ignited. Who would not want to wield the power of their God as his own? So many false imposters, false prophets of self-proclaimed authenticity came forth, leading their own followers, those not ambitious enough but still wanting to rally under the power that will come to dominate the whole of Hrud politics. The confusion delighted Varmin, but he knew he could not hope to battle each and every single one of these multifarious upstarts. So he watched as they fought their petty wars as they so often did, except this time with common purpose, and when all was spent and over, Varmin spoke to them again, out from the top of the Tower of Heaven. "Let it be known, that you petty tribes and clans cannot hope to match the full might of the Great Infestation Clan Pestilens. With Clan Moulder a major loser, Clan Skyre hostaged, Clan Eshin in recuperation and Clan Rictus isolated from the workings of the Underempire, the answer to the future reign of the Underempire is obvious. Bow! Bow and pay homage to me, your Supreme Overlord and One Prophet of the Chosen One!" Varmin had failed to address one significant power, and it was not Clan Verminkin. Clan Skaven had still retained much of its considerable strength, and unlike the petty tribes, had not joined in this mockery of war and battle. But still Skittar waited, ruminated while lurking in the shadows, considering his moves, for now he had come to an even more pronounced realisation of the possibility that Morskittar was indeed to be the destined vessel of their Great Deity and Saviour, Mor Gor Hrud. He had every indicator, divine gift and trait, and even the perfect rearing. No, Clan Pestilens could not have their way, but it was to be seen whether this powerful clan could be subtly subdued without use of force, given they had the Ruling Clan, or the guise of it, the puppet clan held hostage. Responding in anyway would immediately blow the cover and reveal the dark dealings in this darkest age of the Hruds.

But they were not to be the first to act. Skyre acted against everything Skittar wished, but then it might not have worked otherwise anyway. Overlord Skyre confessed to Plague Prophet Varmin, that the Ruling Clan of Clan Skyre was just a puppet clan to the true power, Clan Skaven. Holding Clan Skyre hostage would not get them what they want. Hearing the open treachery of Overlord Skyre, Second Skavenlord Skittar marshalled his forces, recalling great armed forces of Migratory Tribes, and while he waited for their arrival, in the meantime, he made preparations for the already formidable Clan Skaven's forces to mobilise for war. The whole of the Underempire became split between two sides, ones taking the side of Clan Pestilens, and others taking up the side of Clan Skaven. Meanwhile, it became obvious at this point that Clan Eshin was deeply allied with Clan Skaven, for the two were at their most cooperative and were at their most open in their defence of each other. It became clear of the treachery of the Skavens, and all saw at once its Dark Hand protruding out like an insidious claw. This caused many tribes in the Underempire to be repulsed by Clan Skaven, and as a sort of safety measure, knowing that it is Morskittar's life that Varmin wants, Skittar assigned the Lead Assassin Sneik to the task of the protection of the young master.

So the two sides waged terrible war and conflict, and Varmin, most meticulous and strategic of minds, a rival to Skyre and Skittar, among these triumvirate of the greatest minds in all Hrudom, saw victory to be won through dividing the power of the two central powers among the enemy's ranks, that of Clan Skaven and Clan Eshin. As long as these two central clans could not unite their forces, it was clear that they would fall, and Varmin could achieve Ascension. With the hatred of the tribes and clans of the Underempire already incited against Clan Skaven, it was effortless to incite and spur the hatred into a maddening frenzy that tore at the combined armies of the Skavens and Eshin, through the seasoned tongues and oratories of the Plague Abbots. It was thus and how Morskittar got separated from Skittar, but still in the care of the Lead Assassin Sneik, Morskittar spent his period of isolation and exile from his clan under the tutelage of the assassin, cultivating immense skill and many mystical arts. Seeing the battle torn from them with the great tide of the warriors of the tribes and clans of the Underempire separating them from their ally, Clan Skaven, the Council of the Night decided to retreat to the shadows. It was during this period of isolation that Morskittar was taught the shadow arts of the Nightbound, becoming the ultimate Hrud warrior, possessing potent psychic powers and physical prowess.

The Age of Plagues

The Fourth Great War lasted the eras of two ages, from the Age of Beast, otherwise known as the Dark Age of Skavens, to what became known as the Age of Plagues. It was clear that Skittar had lost, but given his ambitions, he would never reliquish his say over the Throne. And Varmin's objective was the death of The One, so the war went on, despite the fact that the Skaven's side had obviously lost. However, it was not to be forgotten that the armed forces of the Migratory Tribes recalled earlier had finally come through with their preparations and joined the fray, warping in from the Warpportals. Seeing some hope in this, having their forces now bulked up to the point of dwarfing the opposition's, Skittar weathered the storm of plague winds, in the hopes that he could outgun the forces of Clan Pestilens from range. As long as he kept them at bay, they would never get at Morskittar, and the Great Scheme could reach fruition. Morskittar must live, he is The One, and he alone held the keys to the ascension of their race, their race's Great Ascension. Weathering the violent plague storms to stall for time would be inconceivably useless to even contemplate; he could only hoped that Morskittar resided safe in the hands of Sneik. Right now, all he needed to do was draw the attention of Varmin to Clan Skaven's forces, and away from Clan Eshin.

Varmin brutally tested the limits of the Skavens, knowing their plan to put him at bay, he buffetted them with wild plague winds, encroaching slowly into their ground, inch by inch. Many died from infections and disease, even despite their natural resistance to the supernatural Plague. This most pestilential of age was called the Age of Plagues, for the constant assault of foul plague winds used as a weapon against the Skavens. All this time Varmin sought and hunted for the life of The One, any sign of him, in his belief that Skittar held posssession of his whereabouts and location. It made sense to seize the life of Skittar and break him into telling him this truth. So all efforts were concentrated on attacking the Skavens and their Migratory Tribe allies. Skittar resisted, and wisely resorted to consulting with his Scries, of future portents and the matter on how this war would turn out, and if all would go in the Skaven's favour. What of the fate of Morskittar, now that his being has been severed from the side of Skittar, and what of the actions to be taken at this point? To this, the Scries were cryptic. They made notion to what could be told to be fact, that the strands of fate remained hazy and ever-shifting, and that it would be hard to predict concretely, but it appeared the strongest measure for their side now would be to resist as well as they could. As long as Varmin and Clan Pestilens did not have the whereabouts of Morskittar, the chance of The One manifesting before too long remained strong, and that would be their strongest resort. Thus Skittar betted all on that.

Meanwhile, Varmin was on a secret agenda, ingesting raw Warpstones in the hopes of inducing a prophetic manifestation, as it is with the Whitefur Prophets. When he succeeded, the whole of the Underempire trembled under the raw power of his true form. Marching off to war ahead of the forces that had gathered at his side, he swept aside the forces of Clan Skaven and their Migratory Tribe allies and came coming upon Skittar. Skittar stood in sheer spellbound terror, but he lifted up his Warpfang, for his will to survive was strong; the one who is arguably the most resourceful and intelligent of all Greyfurs had a tenacity surpassing the bravest and greatest of Warlords. But before even Varmin could strike, a bolt of Warplightning struck his side, blasting him off his feet. It was Jaelarnak, off to the aid of Skittar, most surprisingly. "You are not The One. We recognise Him," was all that Jaelarnak said. "If you wish to pass you must go through us, or Me."

It was said as a rumour that the Verminlords were beings of great mystery and many plans, and they foresaw deep into the future, and their plans thus went deep in manifold ways, threading off as strands into myriad patterns that go beyond description. They held a greater hold over the workings of Hrudom than belaid the eye, and indirectly manipulated the rest of Hrudom in subtle ways, slowly but surely shaping It into an ideal state of their liking. This might all sound fantastic and too far-fetched, but these are beings of untold power, who resided as gods amongst the Hruds, and in possession of power that can match the military might of a single Lesser Tribe. The chosen champion of the Verminlords, the Greater Verminlord Jaelarnak, stood a towering 13 feet over the felled body of Varmin in his Essence Form, unmoved and unyielding. Varmin attempted to get up, but at the slightest motion of his body detected by Jaelarnak, another Warplightning bolt was sent flying towards him. Varmin was sent sprawling all over again, but this time he was quicker. With a speed belying his towering form of 15 feet, Varmin darted up with the reflexes of lightning, and bolted forth. From the sheer pressure created about his outreached fingertips from the speed of moving like a whiplash with his body, a bright light was emitted. Varmin crashed into Jaelarnak with that bright light, searing holes the size of his fingers into his body. He called it the Warplight Dash, using the speed and gathered Warp energy at the foretips of his fingers into a blade that cuts through anything. And given his greater physical size compared to a Whitefur Prophet like Jaelarnak, the damage even to a Verminlord was sizeable. Jaelarnak got up despite Its injuries, and Its fellow Verminlords motioned to help It in this fight, but Jaelarnak shook them off, saying It could manage just fine. Pointing a wiry finger at Varmin, Its left hand over the holes at Its side where blood was gushing out, It said "By our dictates, we refuse to acknowledge you as the manifestation of our Great Deity Mor Gor Hrud. Being Verminlords ourselves, we would naturally be able to identify Him, and it too clashes with reason to see a being chosen to be the One Prophet of the Chosen Hand of Pestilence being the very vessel for the manifesting of the Deity. So refute your claim over the Throne now, at our insistence!" Saying that, a single Warplightning bolt exploded from that same right finger, striking the very place where Varmin stood. Varmin disappeared in a flash, and in that flash of a few microseconds, exploded into view behind Jaelarnak, with his hand delivering the Warplight Dash. But he was deceived. In Jaelarnak's left hand covering Its wounds, the Warp energy needed for a Crimson Inferno, a heated psychic shockwave that explodes out in a radius of infernal destruction was silently gathered, and at the predicted movements of Varmin, Jaelarnak punched the gathered compression of psychic energy into Varmin's chest, and the shockwaves rippled through his body, flinging him across the battlefield, rupturing his internal organs along the way.

Jaelarnak was victorious. It proceeded in a flash towards the fallen Varmin, and It stood, waiting to give the deathblow. "You have to cease to exist for the greater good of all Hrudom," bespoke Jaelarnak. "Nay, he shall live, for the Great Mor Gor loves all His children and sees talent and strength where it exists." A shadow as fast as a bolt suddenly appeared between the fallen Varmin and Jaelarnak. Stopping the killing hand of Jaelarnak with one finger, all stood in awe at the fact a mere 8 feet Blackfur warrior could stop the blow of a fully manifested Prophet! He appeared to be no ordinary Blackfur, for he had two horns jutting from his crown. Could he be the one? "And how would you identify yourself as The One, may I inquire?" spoke Jaelarnak. Without saying a word, Morskittar manifested his right hand into an Essence Form, and touched the half-dead body of Varmin. At that instance, Varmin's body repaired itself, as if new Warpstones were injected into his body. "Only one containing the Essence Form of the very Father of our Divine Race could restore one of His children through touch alone. You must be That One!" said Jaelarnak, bowing deeply to the Third Skavenlord Morskittar, Chosen One of the Hruds.

The Great Age of the Hruds

So came the final age of the Hruds, one where they were all united under a single banner, by one fateful and decisive fight between gods, the Great Age of the Hruds. Morskittar ruled as the Underemperor of Hrudom then, and as Third Skavenlord of Clan Skaven, with his father Skittar at his side, as advisor and aide. This great age signified a grand stage of cooperation among the Hruds at all levels of society, and the greatest and most impactful of all effects taken place during this time was the seeding of many Infested Worlds with the presence of Hruds, in the hopes of bringing the Divine Infestation to as many worlds as possible and war with them, all in preparation for the great coming of the Rhana Dhandra, the Great End of Times, the "Vermintime", the final battle that will consume the entire galaxy in flames, and in which all life will be extinguished. For that grand participation in that final battle, when the fate of all sentient species throughout the galaxy are considered, the Hruds, notable or noble, prepare for war.

The Mor Hrud of Mor Gor Hrud

Now Mor Gor Hrud, sensing the final unity of the Hrud collective, knew that the time was at hand and sought manifestation within His chosen portal, and by this it was revealed that indeed Morskittar had the necessary genetics, in fact so perfectly did he match the correct proportion of not just Whitefur or Blackfur genes, but Greyfur as well, was such that the manifestation of Mor Gor Hrud within the vessel of Morskittar proved to have a power of influence, that was psychic in nature, over all of Hrudom and Its inhabitants of all colours, from White, to Grey, to Black. In other words, Morskittar could affect or influence the actions of any Hrud, compelling them to his will. And now, as Mor Gor Hrud the Great Horned One found residence within his being, Mor Gor Hrud addressed His children as their Deity and God. From His words of address, He called all of Hrudom a term that had been previously taken as offensive, but now used to represent their identity: "Us The Great Hrud, or Mor Hrud!", as the Great Unification of the collective Hruds is called. They had assumed a new identity by the birthing of their God back into the material plane, now regarded and acknowledged by themselves as the "Great Ones" in the rawest interpretation of this term of their self-address, and it is recognised in this unity that the identity of the Hruds is as now defined: Mor Hrud, as the children of Mor Gor Hrud seemingly having derived this name as a contraction from His true title, in a sense dedicating them officially as His spiritual children. In this way, the Mor Hruds or Great Hruds, attaining this new title in their last incarnation, made known their stand with all their forces in union, mustered and prepared for the Great Ending, the burning of worlds that is the Rhana Dandra, or "Vermintime", as it is in their tongue. For this part of the Great Scheme, is given the name "The Great Domination", the great act of conclusion on the part of this Great Scheme of incalculable cunning and brilliance, rising the Great Hruds to a state of unchallenged supremacy, an action of the confrontation of war against all that are not Hrud that lives. This threefold scheme is thus finalised and achieved, with the Great Migration leading to the initial separation and division of Hrudom, to the Great Unification, the bringing together of the divided Hrudom into one Underempire again, and finally the Great Domination, the conquering of the Galaxy through the united Hrudom.

The Final Act

As a last act, Mor Gor Hrud, now manifested, sought the buried body of Gorisnak at the centre of the Underempire, where the location of the Tower of Heaven is situated. There, he revived him with the restorative powers gifted to Him as the Sire of their Great Race. Seeing the power and potential of the great Gorisnak while he was alive, marking out for his bravery and strength, Mor Gor Hrud sought to incorporate him into the Hrud army, by his mystical revival. Having another powerful agent working for him, the success of their Race is further guaranteed. This thus begins the Final Act of the Hrud's Race encroachment into the sentient races of the galaxy, a threat that cannot be easily dismissed.