The Birth of the Skaven

All Hrud tribes begin with their Queen. There so happens to be one Queen, called the Black Queen, for all her Blackfur offsprings are especially large and aggressive, and for the fact that her fur is black.

The event that triggered the Great Uprising, the First War against the Demiurgs, was due to the arising of sentience on a massive scale within their species, and upon observing the conditions of their existence within the cavern that was their birthplace, the thought of venturing into the great unknown that lay beyond the roof of the cavern possessed the whole of their race, instilling in them the desire to seize the mining crafts of the Demiurg for their own. Once in possession of the mining crafts, they would be able to escape the confines of their birthplace and explore the myriad of worlds that lie beyond. Thus the Hruds set about, sharing a single desire, to take the mining crafts by force, rising against the Demiurg in a war that was known as the Great Uprising.

During the Great Uprising, the Blackfurs of the Black Queen were at the front of the fighting, in fact being the key leaders in the First War against the Demiurg. The Demiurg had the technology and the firearms, but they were caught unawares and the Hruds had overwhelming numbers. Still the technology of the Demiurg was not to be underestimated. The Demiurg was quick to respond to the sudden attack and mounted their defences within their mining crafts. Demiurg guards manned the exits of the crafts, equipped with Ion Rifles, while the Navigators used the great excavator-arms of the mining crafts to crush any Hrud who came within reach. The mining lasers of the mining craft were turned against the Hruds, vaporising them in a shower of steam and blood. The metallic shell of the mining crafts were impervious to the attacks of the Hruds, but the offsprings of the Black Queen were up to the task. Even among these strongest of Blackfurs, there were those whose raw power were a notch above the rest. These were the first Warlords, the Warchiefs of the Black Queen. With their tremendous strength, they tore apart the steel doors of the mining crafts and proceeded to crush the inhabitants within. The Blackfurs of the Black Queen were thus instrumental in the Great Uprising, without which victory would not have been so assured for the Hruds.

The event of the Great Uprising was especially significant for it was the first act of their race as a whole, a symbolic rise out of the primordial darkness they had dwelled in before the light of sentience descended upon them. When the last of the Demiurgs were killed, the entire race of Hruds degraded into infighting, as the Hruds became splintered into tribes and squabbled among themselves for the spoils of war. Even then the legend of the Warchiefs remained, and none of the other tribes would dare provoke the offsprings of the Black Queen willingly. Such was the mystique the Warchiefs enjoyed that soon conceit grew in them, and the offsprings of the Black Queen, both Grey and Black alike, referred to themselves as Skaven, "Chosen" in the tongue of the Hruds. Thus, Tribe Skaven was born.

The Age of Warlords

In the Age of Warlords, Tribe Skaven was one of the foremost powers of that era, unrivalled in might with the exception of a few major tribes. The Tribe that Warlord Skyre belonged to was considered one of the few powers that could contend with Tribe Skaven, but even then only with the joint alliance of a lesser tribe. So for a time, Tribe Skaven was the most powerful force in all Hrudom. The Blackfurs of the Black Queen were physically stronger and more aggressive than the average Blackfur, which was the key reason for the strength of the Tribe. They had by far the largest territory and the greatest spoils of that age. While the leaders of the lesser tribes called themselves Warlords, the strongest Blackfurs of Tribe Skaven referred to themselves as Warchiefs, after the first generation of Blackfurs that led the assault on the Demiurg during the Great Uprising. Due to the aggressive nature of the Warchiefs, Tribe Skaven was known to enter into unnecessary fights with border tribes over the slightest disagreements. It took very little to provoke the Warchiefs into war, even at the later half of the Age of Warlords, when some semblance of peace was restored. When the Warchiefs no longer had an excuse to go to war with rival tribes, they fought among themselves, dividing up the Tribe into sections and entering into mock warfare with each other. This led to a highly precarious situation for the Tribe, for they were at their most vulnerable to forces external to the Tribe. During this time of internal strife, the Warlord Skyre grasped his opportunity, with the temporary lapse in organisation of Tribe Skaven, to move on their territories and seized them for his own. It was at this time that Warlord Skyre was putting his Great Plan into action, delving into the workings of the Warpstones and tapping into their latent power to develop weapons of war from which the Tribe could then dominate the rest of the Hrud tribes. Warlord Skyre slowly and deliberately carved up the lands of Tribe Skaven, seizing those areas with the highest concentration of Warpstone deposits.

This development did not go unnoticed however by Tribe Skaven. Warchief Gorisnak saw the dangers to the survival of the Tribe if Warlord Skyre's actions were left unchecked. He then broke from tradition by challenging the rival Warchiefs to a duel of single combat. One by one, Gorisnak broke each and every Warchief that accepted his challenge, slowly uniting the separate sections of the Tribe and ending the civil strife that left the Tribe vulnerable to the lesser tribes. By defeating every other Warchief and uniting the Tribe as one, Gorisnak became the first Skavenlord, undisputed and unchallenged leader of all of Tribe Skaven. Once having risen to the rank of Skavenlord, Gorisnak began his campaign of retaliation against Warlord Skyre, proceeding to reclaim the lost territories of the Tribe. However, he was too late; Warlord Skyre had succeeded with his Great Plan, and having put that into action, had turned his entire Tribe into an unstoppable war machine, equipped with bizarre Warpstone technology. Skavenlord Gorisnak, believing in the superiority of his troops, sent them forth to crush Skyre's forces. Warlord Skyre saw this as the perfect opportunity to test the newly developed Warpstone technology.

As the mass of Blackfurs charged towards the frontline of Skyre's forces, the troops of Skyre's Tribe, wielding their bizarre Warpstone weapons, opened fire. Vicious explosions of Warpplasma rocked through the lines of the charging Blackfurs, sending them into a screeching halt. Those that did manage to survive the explosions were incapacitated by the Warpplasma acid. The forces of Tribe Skaven were bombarded mercilessly with Warpplasma and could not proceed anywhere close to the frontline of Skyre's forces. Those that did manage somehow to get close enough were engulfed in gouts of pink Warpfire and were burnt to a crisp. Gorisnak in his desperation, thought to outmanoeuvre the slower and clumsier troops of Warlord Skyre, in the wielding of their heavy Warpstone weapons, by attacking his flanks. Together with his most trusted Chiefs, Gorisnak led the assault directly, in a pincer attack at the sides of Skyre's army. However, Skyre was well-prepared for such a manoeuvre, and commanded his Warpwind Grenadiers to lob their Warpwind Grenades in an arc around the flanks of his army. The Warpwind Grenades exploded and unleashed their noxious fumes into the air. The entire area surrounding Skyre's forces was filled with this noxious gas. The forces of Tribe Skaven, encountering this pink cloud that stretched beyond as far as they could see, saw no way around it except to proceed through the cloud. The first through quickly expended their lives as they breathed in the noxious fumes. Seeing this, the Blackfurs were greatly discouraged and refused to enter the cloud. In his frustration, Gorisnak bellowed at the Blackfurs for their cowardice, and seeing as how even his most trusted Chiefs had quelled, the great Skavenlord entered the pink clouds of noxious gas alone.

Somehow, he came through them unscathed, with much of his life force intact. Seeing the looks of surprise upon Skyre's forces, Gorisnak charged through them, slaughtering his way through as he sought to bring Warlord Skyre himself to single combat. Once in the melee, Skyre's Warpstone weapons of war were ineffectual and could not be used to stop Gorisnak. In this manner, Gorisnak was able to fight his way through into the centre of Skyre's army and face the Warlord himself, with his retinue of Blackguard. It is a testament to the raw power possessed by Gorisnak that, surrounded by enemies on all sides at the very heart of Skyre's army, he did not succumb and simply waded a path of blood through. It has been said that there has never been a stronger Warchief born to the Black Queen after Gorisnak. At the centre of Skyre's army, Warlord Skyre and his Blackguard met and clashed with Skavenlord Gorisnak in a titanic struggle. The strongest Blackfur ever was face to face with the Blackfur that would become the most powerful individual in all Hrudom, the Supreme Overlord of the Underempire. The strength of the Skaven was flowing through Gorisnak, and his blows were strong enough to rip apart a Blackfur from head to toe. One by one, each of Skyre's elite Blackguard fell to the blades of Gorisnak until only Skyre was left. The two struggled, the skill of Warlord Skyre being a match for the brute force of Gorisnak. None of his death-dealing blows were able to touch the Warlord, as he skillfully parried away each attempt at his life. Gorisnak grew more frustrated and started aiming his blows at the jugular, in an attempt to end the battle quick, a necessity in light of how he was deep within the heart of the enemy's army. Warlord Skyre knew that the battle was drawing near its end. With Gorisnak's attacks becoming more predictable, Skyre no longer had to parry with his blade but could dodge instead, freeing his blade to be used on the offence. Timing his movements with that of Gorisnak, Gorisnak made the fatal mistake of committing too much to a single strike, causing him to break his stance and miss Skyre. Skyre steadily dodged this last attack, and seizing this golden moment when Gorisnak would be slow to recover, slit a deep cut across the chest of Gorisnak. Skyre stepped back in relief and exhaustion; the battle was won. That was no ordinary blade, no ordinary cut. It was a Weeping Blade, a blade soaked in the corrosive venom of the Hell Vipers that roam the land on their bellies. In a matter of seconds, the poison would work its way throughout the body of Gorisnak, incapacitating him before finally killing him. In this way, the first Skavenlord of Tribe Skaven lost his life. The news of Gorisnak's demise quickly scattered the remaining forces of Tribe Skaven. This major defeat was the first ever suffered by Tribe Skaven and it destroyed the mystique of the Blackfurs of the Black Queen. No longer were they seen as invincible or untouchable by the lesser tribes. The body of Gorisnak, in honour of his strength and bravery, was buried by Skyre at the centre of the cavern of the Underempire, where the table for the Great Council was to be placed in the future.

The Rise of the Grey

In the wake of Gorisnak's death, with the mystique of the Blackfurs shattered, the Greyfurs of Tribe Skaven started their own agenda of recovery, attempting to seize the exalted position of Skavenlord for their own. All along in order to survive alongside their more aggressive brethen, the Greyfurs of Tribe Skaven had developed methods of manipulation and deceit in their climb up the social ladder. In a world where power and aggression are all and everything, the weaker, passive Greyfurs had no means of achieving equal standing with the Blackfurs. However, the cunning and willpower of the Greyfurs would not simply allow this. By marketing their values to the Blackfurs and proving their worth, certain determined individuals have managed to break into a realm dominated by their darker kindred. Due to the Machiavellian setting in which the Greyfurs are brought up in, they are ruthless, manipulative individuals, reputed for their increased intellectual capacity in comparison to the Greyfurs of the lesser tribes. The Greyfurs of Tribe Skaven are regarded as more intelligent because the increased aggression of the Blackfurs forces the Greyfurs to live in a tremendously harsh setting which promotes the succession of only the smartest and most cunning.

The chiefs of the Greyfurs, realising the fate of their race was twined inevitably with the Warpstones, sought to seize power before the other tribes by uncovering the secrets of the Warpstones first. Towards this end, they expended their energies towards studying the Warpstones and began secret experiments with them. It was at this point of time that the chiefs of the Greyfurs started referring to themselves as Seers, after their study of the Warpstones. The oldest of the Seers were referred to as Grey Seers, and they are among the wisest beings in all Hrudom. The Grey Seers convened among themselves and decided on the path of ascension that all would-be Grey Seers would walk from then onwards. The Grey Skavens, as the Greyfurs of Tribe Skaven called themselves, would be the starting ground for all future Grey Seers. From there, any who would vie for power and status would have to rise up among the mass of Grey Skavens, and through means of deceit and manipulation, prove their worth to the Grey Seers and thus be inducted into the circle of Seers. Once a Seer, they would be taught the secrets of the Warpstones, while the highest secrets would be withheld from them, for those are only accessible to the Grey Seers.

In actuality, the Seers are simply a means in which to further bring apart the exalted Grey Seers from the lowly Grey Skavens. While the Grey Skavens have to contend with each other in their constant backstabbing and manipulation, the Seers have to contend with the Grey Seers as they attempt to replace existing Grey Seers, either through assassination or political manoeuvring. Therefore, it is not unheard of for senior Grey Seers to be demoted to Seers, but often times this action is checked by existing alliances between the Grey Seers themselves. The Grey Seers see themselves as too important and being occupied with the higher matters of the Tribe to be concerned with petty disputes of seniority or the contention of the Seers beneath them. Therefore they cease with their backstabbing and manipulation, and instead consolidate their positions against ambitious Seers by committing into joint alliances of mutual cooperation with other Grey Seers. The Grey Seers are as such a tightly knit group with little divisions between them. These first Grey Seers who came into allegiance with each other became the Grey Council, the highest social order among the Greyfurs, and only individuals of high intellectual capacity are allowed into this elite circle. They are the Grey Council, the gathering of the wisest and smartest Grey Seers within the Tribe.

The Grey Council is responsible for which Grey Skaven becomes a Seer, and which existing Grey Seer is replaced with one of the Seers. The reason why they keep only a select number of Grey Seers is so that the social order of the Tribe would not be too top-heavy, and most importantly, so that there would not be sufficient Grey Seers outside of the Council to form a coven of their own and threaten the standing of the Grey Council as the sole leaders of the Greyfurs. They are responsible for all movements of personnel up and down the social ladder of the Greyfurs, and while the Grey Seers' main responsibility is the study and unlocking of the highest secrets of the Warpstones, the Grey Council's overriding concern is that of the Tribe's status and prominence among the lesser tribes. To them, the lesser tribes are meant to be exploited and only exist to substantiate the glory of the Skaven as the chosen of the Hruds. In their dealings and meetings, they congregate to formalise plans from which they could further the extent of their Tribe's influence over the lesser tribes.

All about this time, Warlord Skyre was midway through his campaign of conquest, quelling the lesser tribes into submission with his superior firepower. The mystique of the Warpstones grew during those troubling times, as a source of incalculable power as proven by the superiority of Skyre's forces. The Grey Council seized this opportunity by sending their agents among the lesser tribes, spreading misinformation and lies of the mysticism and abilities of the Grey Seers of Tribe Skaven. Rumours abound of their mystic powers of control over the Warpstones, harnessing the essence within through secret means. Although not altogether believed in, during those times of hopelessness, it was a beacon of light for many of the lesser tribes who had suffered defeat at the hands of Skyre, and in this way Tribe Skaven gained the backing of many hundreds of tribes. As the first Great War drew to a close, the Grey Seers busied themselves with the studying of the Warpstones, while their agents continued spreading their tendrils of lies and misinformation among the defeated populace. Finally, with the defeat of Tribe Rictus, the last and only real major power, besides Tribe Skaven, to face off against Skyre's Warpstone-empowered forces, the event known as the Great War came to an end. It was the time of the reign of the Supreme Overlord of the Underempire, backed by Clan Skyre, the greatest power in all Hrudom. Skyre created the divisions between Tribes and Clans as one of his first act as Supreme Overlord. From then onwards, the major Tribes which have rose to prominence in strength, wealth, power or size would regard themselves as Clans. Clans while being essentially Tribes, have the influence and power to dominate the sociopolitical workings of Hrud society at large. Thus, Tribe Skaven became known as Clan Skaven with the aftermath of the Great War, and being all along one of the foremost powers throughout the Hrud's turbulent history, was given a seat in the first Great Council, as one of the twelve representatives of the Hruds before the Great Horned One. This marked the beginning of the Age of Trade, a period of time of much technological exchange and mutual cooperation between the Tribes. It can be said to be the first era of peace enjoyed by the Hruds since their genesis as a species.

Even with all these great developments and movements occurring outside of the Clan, the Grey Council have not forgotten their sacred duty of raising their Clan from the ashes of defeat, remembering those times long gone when the mystique of their Tribe left them unchallenged and lauded as the strongest among all the tribes of the Hruds. Such a return was their greatest desire, but first they had to seize power amongst their own kind. The seat of Skavenlord had long since been neglected after the demise of Gorisnak, and the Tribe had splintered into various factions of Warchiefs. There was little unity left within the Tribe except for the recognition that they all came from the same brood, being the only offspring of the Black Queen. This circumstance could not be left as it is if the Tribe was to maintain its status as a Clan, and more importantly, the plans of the Grey Council could not reach fruition if they had not the entire backing of the Clan behind them. Also, a representative had yet to be selected among the Clan to occupy the seat in the first Great Council. It was at about this time, faced with such pressing matters, that a Grey Seer by the name of Skittar deduced the ultimate nature of the Warpstones as the solidified substance of the Immaterium. The Immaterium was defined by Skittar as the billions of untold realities yet to be fulfilled or realised. Within each Warpstone is a drop of manifest reality, thus the incredible power contained within even a single Warpstone. The raw mutagenic essence of Chaos is solidified as Warpstone, and nearly all manner of things could be achieved with Warpstone as implements. By freeing the essence of Chaos within the core of the Warpstones, Skittar was able to break through the fabric of reality and reach into other worlds beyond their own. These Warpportals Orbs were viewing points from which Skittar and his fellow Grey Seers could study the populations of other worlds, which were mainly Human worlds. From there, Skittar and the Grey Council concocted a great plan, dubbed by them "The Great Migration", a plan to transform the Warpstone mines into Warpportals from which the tribes of the Underempire could travel to the worlds beyond. Understanding that it was the deepest wish of nearly every single individual among the Hrud collective to escape the confines of their birthplace and venture into the great unknown, Skittar's Great Migration was such a plan that would enable their desires to be achieved while at the same time indebting them to Clan Skaven for all time. The Great Dream as It was known, or the First Desire, the hidden intention that underlaid all movements and decisions of the sociopolitical workings of the collective Hrud Tribes, was never forgotten to the Hruds at any point throughout time, and it was this desire the insidious Grey Seers of Clan Skaven so wish to manipulate and control.

First, in the order of Skittar's plan, was to reunite their Clan under a single leadership. With his fellow Grey Seers deferring to him as the mastermind of "The Great Migration", all Skittar needed was the backing of the Warchiefs to become Skavenlord of the Clan. He gathered the Warchiefs in a huge meeting, and laid bare the secret workings and plans of the Grey Council. The complexity of "The Great Migration" extended into the indeterminate reaches of time, and was such that by the Great Debt of the Migratory Tribes as they were henceforth called, Clan Skaven would forever hold a special place of recognition among the scattered tribes of their race, as well as within the Underempire. Within the Council of Thirteen, they would be the voice of hundreds of tribes, possibly thousands. During times of war, the Great Debt between Clan Skaven and the Migratory Tribes would allow the Warchiefs to field armies consisting of troops from other tribes. With so many tribes answering the call to war whenever the security of Clan Skaven is threatened, there was no longer a need to maintain their own army and Clan Skaven could simply rely on the tribes that were in their debt to fight their wars for them, with the Hruds of the other tribes dying in place of their Clan's instead. But of course the bloodthirst of the Black Skavens of the Black Queen would not be able to resist the prospect of battle, and ultimately, the Warchiefs would have to lead their own battles. The entire scheme of "The Great Migration" would ensure a place of power and influence permanently for Clan Skaven within the domain of the Underempire, while at the same time diminishing greatly the power and esteem of the Ruling Clan at that time, Clan Skyre.

Ultimately, Skittar hoped to replace Clan Skyre as the foremost power within Hrudom and once again become the strongest Clan of their race, as it was during the times of the Great Uprising. Upon accomplishing that, they would lead their race in a new age of conquest against the races of Man, Orks and Tau. The sentient races of the galaxy would come to recognise the race of the Hruds as a substantial threat not to be overlooked, one that will shake and challenge their foundations at the end. "The Great Migration" was the first step within this Greater Scheme, laying the foundations for the eventual invasions of these worlds by first seeding them with the presence of the Migratory Tribes. Once Clan Skaven has finally seized power as the strongest Clan in all Hrudom, plans could be made underway to spread the influence of the Hruds into these lands. The young race of the Hruds would be acknowledged by the standing races of the galaxy in their climb towards ascendancy or face the might of the Hruds in the field of battle. That was Skittar's ultimate intention, which he shared with the Warchiefs gathered in that fateful meeting, hoping to stir their ambition and want for power. The Warchiefs received all this with much fervour and enthusiasm. They had grown tired of all the infighting while, all this time, rival tribes grew in power. On top of that, with the humiliation of losing their mystique as the offsprings of the Black Queen and their decline from that lofty position as the strongest Tribe in all Hrudom, have left them dissatisfied and disillusioned. They had indeed so wish to regain their position as the chosen of their kind, living up to the name which they had selected for themselves, and for that they needed a plan in this new age where the strongest were no longer dictated by brute force or military strength. Thus, they decided to leave the workings of this Great Scheme to the minds of their more intelligent kin and only interfered whenever they saw necessary. To this end, they championed the cause of Skittar's and collectively recognised him as the new Skavenlord of Clan Skaven. Thus, the second Skavenlord of Clan Skaven was born.

This marked the rising of the Greyfurs within the Clan as a prominent force within the sociopolitical workings of the Clan. No longer were they trodded upon by their darker brethen and had to take to their whims and dictates. Now they were faced as equals, a position they never used to enjoy as the offsprings of the Black Queen, for besides giving birth to larger, more aggressive Blackfurs, the Black Queen produce more Blackfurs than the Queens of other tribes, such that the ratio of Greyfurs to Blackfurs is three is to one. Thus, the Greyfurs never had the security of numbers against their larger kindred and had to resort to subtle manoeuvrings of cunning in order to survive. This resulted in a large part of their increased intelligence compared to the Greyfurs of other tribes. Now, with the rise of Skittar as the Second Skavenlord, a position of leadership universally recognised by the Warchiefs despite being a Greyfur, it heralded a new era of freedom and liberation for the Greyfurs of Clan Skaven as a whole.

The Great Migration

At the first Great Council, Skavenlord Skittar was present before the representatives of Clan Skyre, Clan Moulder, Clan Rictus, Tribe Verminkin, Tribe Whitempest, Tribe Blackstorm, Tribe Fester, Tribe Chittin, Tribe Scrye and Tribe Skaar. These were the members for the first Council of Thirteen, a total of 11 tribes together with the Greater Verminlord of all Verminkin, Verminlord representative of all Verminlords, and the seat of the Great Horned One, Deity and Ruler of the entire Hrud race. There, once again, the question of the Great Dream was answered by Supreme Overlord Skyre, as the acting voice of the Great Horned One in that first council. Overlord Skyre wanted a return to the times during the Great Uprising when their race shared one common purpose, and that was to escape the suffocating confines of the cavern they were born in and explode out into the greater worlds observable through that patch of sky at the roof of the cavern. And this would be achieved through whatever means possible. In his high, authoritative voice, Skyre addressed the representatives assembled before him, initiating the start of the council. "Remember, remember what motivated us to attack the occupants of those shiny vessels, in the hopes that we could seize them for our own? It was the belief that we could somehow control them and use them to ascend into the space beyond that hole at the roof of the cavern, forever leaving this dark existence behind us as we explode out into the great unknown. But yet it seems, even with the obtaining of these shiny vessels, the task of escaping our birthplace would not be so easily achieved. I am sure as it is with you, your attempts at understanding and ultimately mastering these vessels have proven fruitless and in vain. If the greatest of my Warplords are unable to discover the workings of these vessels, I am confident enough to declare that none from within the Clans and Tribes gathered here would be able to progress much in that department. It would be best to leave the plan we initially had a side, for the vessels seem beyond our grasp of comprehension at this very moment. Thus I suggest instead, of the construction of a great tower, one that would reach the roof of the cavern at its height, and jut out into the space beyond. May I suggest the construction of The Tower of Heaven, made from the very rocks and gravel that form the composition of the ground beneath us. It would be the answer to the Great Dream, the key to our constant desire to leave this wretched cavern and escape into what is promised in that distant patch of sky, that there may indeed be a greater world beyond the one we know of."

This was Skyre's answer to the Great Dream, the construction of a huge tower that would span the entire height of the cavern, reaching into that hole at the roof of the cavern and jutting into the space beyond. That would be how Skyre attempted to reach into the realm of the other worlds that lie beyond our own. This was the new propaganda spread by the agents of the Grey Seers among the tribes already within their clutches and to those yet to be caught in their tendrils. Ultimately, the Grey Seers threw down Skyre's Tower of Heaven as fatuitous and naive. Worlds could not be reached by the simple piling of gravel upon gravel. If that would be possible, they would not be stuck here in the first place. Their only course of hope if the Great Dream was ever to be achieved was to trust in the intellect and magicks of the Grey Seers, hoping that all goes well and they could proceed with their plan and finally begin the Great Migration. Every tribe that committed to the Great Migration entered with a resolve that they were severing their collective voice from the Council of Thirteen and had to depend on a medium from which to communicate their ideas and wishes to the Great Council. This burden would fall upon the shoulders of Clan Skaven, and the Grey Council would ensure that the wishes and demands of the Migratory Tribes would be heard through them. In return, for their favour of fulfilling the Great Dream, and to pay off the Great Debt incurred with the Great Migration, the armies of the Migratory Tribes were at the disposal of Clan Skaven, and could be recalled in the event of war.

As the Grey Seers worked within the Warpstone mines in their attempts at converting them into Warpportals, the Tower of Heaven progressed ever upwards, reaching into the space beyond the roof of the cavern. It was only a matter of time before its completion, and at the same time, the Grey Seers had nearly succeeded with transforming the Warpstone mines into dimensional portals that could reach other worlds. They had only wait for some significant event or other that would turn the attention of Skyre away from them and thus begin the process of the Great Migration. This significant event came about when the Stronghold Class Commerce Vessel of the Demiurg returned to reclaim the mining crafts they had left behind to harvest the Warpstones. The Vessel announced its return by blasting off a quarter of the near-completed Tower, to allow it room to descend into the confines of the cavern. With Supreme Overlord Skyre momentarily distracted by this turn of events, there was no agent or force that could stop the Grey Council from enacting their plan. They proceeded with it thus, initiating the start of the Great Migration with the activation of the Warpportals. A total of more than a thousand tribes left the Underempire that day, in one massive wave as they broke away from the control of Clan Skyre and founded a new life on another world. Although Skyre was helpless to stop the process of the Great Migration, he proceeded to quickly take hold of the remaining Warpstone mines and extended the territories of the Clan into the areas left by the Migratory Tribes.

Clan Skaven was charged with high treason for concealing such a massive plan from the eyes of the Council, and Overlord Skyre intended to remove their seat and have them replaced by a lesser tribe within the Council of Thirteen. However Skavenlord Skittar was shrewd enough to warn that by removing Clan Skaven from the Council of Thirteen, they were in effect sealing off the voices of the thousand-strong Migratory Tribes and risked forever losing their connections to the Underempire. Could Skyre risk such an event? After all, Clan Skaven oversaw the Warpportals from which the Migratory Tribes still maintained their links to the rest of Hrudom. With that move thwarted, Skyre as Supreme Overlord, resorted to placing sanctions over the movements of Clan Skaven, limiting their influence over the remaining tribes, such that an event as massive as the Great Migration could not transpire again. Despite having a large part of their influence and power stripped from them, Clan Skyre was still the foremost power in all Hrudom, and they would not be ousted so easily from their position of strength without a more forward approach. Thus, such a case remained, and although the Great Migration had greatly rewarded Clan Skaven with much success, it was not without its repercussions. With much of their power and influence over the lesser tribes removed from them, it seemed the next step in Skittar's Great Scheme was to go to war against Clan Skyre, a manoeuvre that would result in the scenario of Clan Skaven's total defeat, given the two Clan's current military strength. Much had to be done now if the Clan was to hope to challenge Clan Skyre in direct confrontation and seize the title of the strongest Tribe in all Hrudom from them. As such, the Seers turned their accumulated knowledge of the Warpstones towards manufacturing their own potent weapons of war to match those of Clan Skyre.

The Age of Starlight

With the exodus of Clan Rictus, and the event of the Great Migration, the Age of Trade was succeeded by the Age of Starlight. A second Great Council was immediately called to discuss the course of actions to be taken up in the light of recent events. In this second Council, the order of rank of the members is as follows: Clan Skyre, Clan Moulder, Clan Rictus, Clan Verminkin, Clan Skaven, Tribe Whitempest, Tribe Blackstorm, Tribe Fester, Tribe Chittin, Tribe Rancour and a Warlord representative from the Lesser Tribes of the Underempire. Through Overlord Skyre's insistence, a law was passed forbidding anymore tribes from using the Warpportals to migrate to other worlds. This was one of the means in which Skyre limited the powers of Clan Skaven. However, the Warpportals of Clan Skaven were to remain active, as they were the one means of contact between the Migratory Tribes and the Underempire. No mention of the Great Dream was made at that second Council. At some level, the Great Dream had indeed been achieved by a large part of their race, yet somehow despite it all, It had become taboo. The Great Dream had become cursed by Skyre as the actions of Clan Skaven had diminished much of the influence and power of his Clan. Clan Skyre would never fully recover from this and Skyre seeked Clan Skaven to pay for their losses. From then on the actions of the Grey Council were closely watched by the agents of Clan Skyre, and Skyre used the motive of the second Council to place many such strictures and embargoes upon Clan Skaven, reducing much of their sociopolitical influence. In addition, sanctions were placed over the trade of weapons between Clan Skaven and the other tribes, such that Clan Skaven even now is unable to field Warplock Fusils in its army. The Tower of Heaven was left neglected in its half-finished construction, but it became occupied by Clan Skyre as their Warren, from then on known as the Sky Warren. It was the only Warren to ever be constructed above ground, and due to its location right at the centre of the entire cavern, was the perfect base of operations from which Clan Skyre could maintain its dominion over the rest of the tribes within the Underempire.

Ultimately, the Age of Starlight was so called for it was a time marked by the ascension of their race into the deep depths of space and beyond. Much of the events of that age transpired in the worlds occupied by the tribes that had left the Underempire during the Great Migration. Most were successful in settling themselves into their world of adoption, while a rare few were completely obliterated while trying to survive the harshness of their new environment, or by their Human hosts, who were not so welcoming of their new neighbours. There were those too who had to turn back and return to the Underempire, as they found their situation within the new worlds unfavourable.

However, what marked the new age was the founding of Clan Rictus, after the event of the Great Invasion, in which the Stronghold Class Commerce Vessel of the Demiurg was seized in a ruthless war of attrition. In the aftermath of that war, Clan Rictus was in full position to accomplish their dream, which was to sail the spaces between the stars in a grand starship, but they had not forgotten their kindred tribes within the Underempire. They sent their delegates in the second Great Council at the end of the Age of Trade, and were officially recognised by the Supreme Overlord and the delegates gathered there as a Clan by the standards of size, technology and power. As the largest Tribe in all Hrudom, and possessing of technology to rival that of Clan Skyre, Tribe Rictus was henceforth known as Clan Rictus. In that second Great Council, the Skylord representative of Clan Rictus, High Skylord Ricttar, made known his intention of mapping out the stars in the Clan's travels through space, and from there discover the locations of the scattered Migratory Tribes in the worlds they encountered. The Clan would then act as a medium of communication between the Migratory Tribes and the Underempire. Clan Rictus would be the means in which trade and information could be carried out between the Migratory Tribes and those of the Underempire. After visiting the world of every Migratory Tribe, the Clan would plot its way back to the Underempire and begin the cycle anew.

This series of cycles came to be known as the Great Cycle, as it was discovered that the time it took for Clan Rictus to visit every Migratory World was the time it took for thirteen thousand starlight cycles of the Underempire. At the end of every Great Cycle, a new Council would be held to determine the policies of the Underempire against the conditions of the Migratory Tribes. Clan Rictus would begin the Great Council with their report on the situations of the Migratory Tribes and the presence of any outstanding findings, while the Supreme Overlord of the Underempire, Overlord Skyre, would start the dicussions with the actions to be taken by the Underempire as a whole against such reports. Thus, the movements of Clan Rictus came to determine the political motions within all Hrudom, which was especially significant as Clan Rictus became an unreplaceable entity within the Council of Thirteen. Even then, Clan Rictus was never recognised as one of the four Great Clans, as that title was only ever entitled to Clan Skyre, Clan Moulder, Clan Pestilens and Clan Eshin. Clan Skyre was the most powerful Clan before being superceded by Clan Eshin, while Clan Moulder is the wealthiest Clan, even wealthier than Clan Rictus; Clan Pestilens is the Chosen Hand of the Great Horned One, and thus these four are considered the Great Clans of the Hruds.

The Chosen One

All this while, Skitter had other plans in the works, plans that remained hidden from even his closest associates in the Grey Council. In secret, he was rearing a child, a Blackfur pup whom he named Morskittar, or Great Skittar, after his own name. It was an offspring of his own blood, by his secret mating with the Black Queen. Normally a Greyfur would not be allowed to mate with the Black Queen, as that was a right reserved only to the Blackfur Warchiefs, in order that the fabled strength of the Black Skavens would be passed on through the generations. Skittar, with the influence he wielded as the Skavenlord of the Clan, managed to gain access to the Queen's Chamber, and in secret, bonded with the Black Queen. There, in the next batch of pups produced by the Black Queen, Skittar chose the Hrud that would succeed him, the Blackfur pup that was the largest of the lot. Even as a pup he stood out among the other Blackfurs by merit of his greater size. As the largest Blackfur pup in the litter, he quelled the infighting of the Blackfur pups and established himself as the leader of the pack, commanding through a mixture of fear and respect. Interestingly enough, even the Greyfur pups obeyed Morskittar, and without the slightest need for aggression on his part, almost as if willingly. This is a phenomenon only attributed to Whitefurs, which Morskittar clearly is not. His most unique feature however, is the twin horns that protruded from the crown of his head. Although they called their God the Great Horned Hrud, growth of horns in Hruds is a phenomenon that is only recorded in manifested Prophets, the Verminlords, and it both disturbed and puzzled Skittar greatly.

Morskittar would carry on the legacy of his father and become the third Skavenlord of Clan Skaven. What was so promising of Morskittar was that he is a Blackfur, yet trained under the tutelage of the most intelligent Greyfur of that generation, and thus possessed the intellect of a Greyfur at the same time. In Morskittar's time, he would carry out the remaining half of the Great Scheme, fulfilling the plans that had been already put in place before his birth. Skittar would pave the way during his generation, creating the circumstances that would allow the rise of their Clan as the strongest in all Hrudom. Morskittar would accomplish the final leg of the Great Scheme, turning the banner of their race as one against the standing races of the Galaxy, and lead them in a path of ascendancy towards complete dominion over all races. He is the chosen one, born to the chosen Tribe of the Hruds, the Skavens of the Black Queen.

The Great Downfall of Skyre

The Grey Council tasked their Seers with maintaining a vigilant watch over the doings of the Migratory Tribes in the new worlds through the Warpportal Orbs. Thus, when the Warpportal of the tribe that would rise to become Clan Eshin malfunctioned, it was all the workings of the Grey Council of Clan Skaven. This tribe had been so chosen by the Grey Council for they knew that the world they were in was a martial world of many arcane mysteries and dark secrets. By exiling them within the world of Grand Cathay, they had hoped that the tribe would learn of these secrets and return to the Underempire with deadly powers to rival the Warpstone technology of Clan Skyre. The tribe would then be a great aid in the downfall of Clan Skyre. In the worst possible scenario, the tribe would be annihilated by those very deadly powers that they had so wish to harness. As such, the Grey Council placed many trusted Seers to the tasks of overseeing the progress of this particular tribe, and were quick to reactivate the Warpportal that led to Cathay should the tribe's existence be threatened. It so happen that the tribe succeeded in surviving the harsh conditions of existence in Cathay, and had been reborn as Tribe Nightbound. They had consecrated themselves to the vow of redeeming themselves from the humiliation they had suffered by raising their Tribe into the strongest Clan in all Hrudom. When the Grey Council learnt of this change within the Tribe, they knew the Tribe was ready to return to the Underempire, and that the engineering of their plan had succeeded. Although it was made to them as if the Sorcerers of the Tribe were responsible for the restarting of the Warpportal, in reality it was the Grey Council that had enabled it. Their return marked the beginning of the downfall of Clan Skyre.

Meanwhile, Clan Skaven waited patiently within the shadows, watching the progress of this Tribe Nightbound that had come to challenge the might of Skyre's forces. What followed was the Great Skirmishes, a series of battles fought over the Warpstone mines in the possession of Clan Skyre, resulting ultimately in a stalemate between both forces. However, this stalemate was broken when Tribe Nightbound learnt to fashion the Warpstones into tools of war that suited their own ends, with the knowledge possessed by the Bladesmiths and Sorcerers, acquired from their stay in Cathay. Most important of these tools was the Warptunnel Orb, and it is this particular device that proved the downfall of Supreme Overlord Skyre and his Clan. Employing the best of their assassins, the Warp Runners, Clan Eshin as they now called themselves, hunted down the key leaders of Clan Skyre in a ruthless agenda. However, the Supreme Overlord managed to escape with his life under the barest of luck. He managed to convince the Warlords of the Lesser Tribes of the substantial threat the assassins of Clan Eshin posed to their own standings within their tribes and roused them to war. Thus the Second Great War was fought, between Clan Eshin and the Great Kinship, the combined might of all the Lesser Tribes. Clan Eshin lost the Great War, but ultimately, it ended to the benefit of Clan Eshin, for although it was Clan Eshin's defeat officially, the signing of the Great Treaty between Clan Eshin and the Great Kinship meant that the Runner Assassins of Clan Eshin would be employed by the Warlords in their petty wars. The Warlords of the Lesser Tribes saw the Runner Assassins as being used by them in their own agendas, but in actuality, the Runner Assassins were being used by the Council of the Night as a means of regulating the flow of power among the Lesser Tribes. The downfall of Clan Skyre and the rise of Clan Eshin marked the end of the Age of Starlight and the beginning of the Age of Assassins, a dark time noted for the numerous Night Wars fought among the Lesser Tribes in their bid for power and dominance.

The Great Clan War

All this while Morskittar studied under the tutelage of Skavenlord Skittar, observing the events of the world transpire before him, in the acceptance and knowledge that one day, he would have to transcend beyond all the great works done till this day and outdo them. As Morskittar grew and matured, Skavenlord Skittar knew that his time was drawing to a close and he must make haste his preparations for his only son, by his will and decision, to ascend to his position of authority as Skavenlord of the Clan. As Clan Pestilens furthered the work of their race into the worlds of Man, Ork and Tau, they were closely compatible with the Great Scheme and thus Clan Skaven had little need to interfere with their policies. Only Clan Skyre and Clan Eshin had ever made aims upon the Throne, the supreme position as the strongest Clan in all Hrudom, and thus these two must be dealt with closely. The only other remaining power to have any right of contention was Clan Moulder, and despite being one of the Great Clans, was largely content with their great wealth and asked for nothing more. Thus, Skittar attempted to initiate the downfall of Clan Eshin by first rousing the latent discontent within Clan Moulder, and once setting their ambition on fire, provoked Clan Moulder into fighting against Clan Eshin. Ultimately, Skittar hoped that the winner of the war would be so severely depleted in numbers and armament that it would be an easy victory for Clan Skaven when they marched in to seize the Throne for themselves. Thus, Skittar as Skavenlord organised a series of meetings with the Master Packlord of Clan Moulder, Master Packlord Griffkin, within the Hell Warren, home of Clan Moulder.

During those meetings, Skittar poisoned Griffkin's ears with lies, stating that it was a popular rumour among the Lesser Tribes that Clan Moulder was the weakest of the Great Clans, having achieved nothing outstanding or particular since their rise to the status of a Great Clan. He further roused his spirit, stating that was he simply to be content on hiring out his Rat beasts to fight the wars of other tribes while his Clan remained passive and disassociated from the affairs of the Underempire? Griffkin countered that the wealth of the Clan allows them such a privileged position while the lesser tribes have to struggle for their rights. Skittar argued back that what use is so much wealth if not to fuel the machine of war? Such were the arguments that went back and forth between the two. Slowly, Skavenlord Skittar could see his arguments affecting the Master Packlord. He further poisoned him, suggesting that the Clan would only ever be seen as weak if they did not interfere at any point within the greater workings of the Underempire. Would Griffkin be content if the other Great Clans took all the glory? It was time for Clan Moulder to rise and claim their fair share of rights over the Throne of all Hrudom.

With that said, the last of the meetings concluded between Clan Moulder and Clan Skaven. On that very day itself, Clan Moulder issued a declaration of war towards Clan Eshin, announcing their claim over the Throne. Master Packlord Griffkin proudly proclaimed that on this very day forth, the Age of Assassins was no more, and that it was the time of the Age of Beasts. Clan Eshin responded by accepting the challenge, sending their best general, Nightlord Queek, to lead the army itself. Every tribe within the Underempire ceased with their petty activities and all eyes fell on these two warrior clans as they marched to battle. Despite being defeated by Clan Eshin, Clan Skyre still had much of their troops and armaments, due to the fact that only the leaders of the Clan were assassinated by the Warp Runners of Clan Eshin. However, the bulk of the Clan were now left wandering the lands of the Underempire, while Clan Eshin had taken residence in their previous home, the Sky Warren, and renamed it the Night Warren. The Tower of Heaven was of high strategic importance as it contained the seats of the Council of Thirteen. Thus, control of the Tower of Heaven would be of great political and strategic importance as the Great Council would be held within your very own grounds. For this insult, Clan Skyre sought revenge by aiding Clan Moulder in their war effort with supplies of their own troops and armaments. As per the deal, Clan Skyre would aid Clan Moulder in becoming the strongest Clan in all Hrudom, while in exchange Clan Skyre would have their home back. In effect, it was a battle fought between Clan Eshin and a joint alliance between Clan Moulder and Clan Skyre. The situation looked bleaked for Clan Eshin as they were outnumbered in this coming battle. However, they had the trump of the Warp Runners, who could easily attack the forces of Clan Moulder at their linchpin, which were the Hrud Packmasters that kept the Rat beasts under control. If the Packmasters were to fall, the Rat beasts were likely to turn against their own masters, a situation which would fare well in Clan Eshin's favour.

The joint alliance of Clan Moulder and Clan Skyre marched out from the depths of the Hell Warren, while the Runner Assassins of Clan Eshin issued forth from the Night Warren. They clashed midway between both Warrens, within the Starlit Field, the very place that which the starlight that seeped through the roof of the cavern shone upon. A massive battle was fought under the stars, one that shook the foundations of the Underempire, as three of the Great Clans engaged in war. Knowing full well of Clan Eshin's plan to take down the Packmasters and Packlords of the army, Master Packlord Griffkin ordered the Packmasters to whip the Vermin beast packs into a tight circle around themselves, forming a living shield. Meanwhile, Clan Moulder would stay their ground while the forces of Clan Skyre would attack Clan Eshin from range. This set-up proved nigh inpenetrable to Clan Eshin, having their trump checked and their moves countered. Nightlord Queek, being one of the commanders delegated to lead the army by the Council of the Night, decided to outwit the Master Packlord by sending his Warp Runners among the forces of Clan Skyre instead. This was an unprecedented move, for it was thought that the Warp Runners were only ever employed to assassinate key targets within the opposing army. Chaos and confusion reigned over the forces of Clan Skyre, as the Warp Runners suddenly appeared among them and took to attacking the heavy Infantry. While the Warp Runners distracted the Fusiliers of Clan Skyre from firing, the rest of the forces of Clan Eshin could proceed untouched towards the forces of Clan Moulder. Master Packlord Griffkin, seeing this change of events, ordered the Packmasters to charge full steam and engage the mainstay of Clan Eshin, while the Slavemasters were to send their Pawslaves against the Warp Runners and relieve the forces of Clan Skyre. The superior skill of the Warp Runners was to be countered with the massive bodies of expendable slaves. Once the Warp Runners were defeated and scattered away, the forces of Clan Skyre could then aid Clan Moulder in dealing with the bulk of Clan Eshin's forces.

Nightlord Queek saw that it was a hopeless war with the odds stacked greatly against Clan Eshin. In order to win, he would have to resort to underhanded means to dampen the morale and sap the strength of the opposing force. He decided to turn the charge of the Runner Assassins into a feint, withdrawing them back towards the Night Warren. The forces of Clan Moulder seeing them withdraw, thought it a sign of weakness and charged heedlessly onwards, hoping to slaughter the fleeing troops from behind. However, Nightlord Queek was only withdrawing the troops from the Starlit Field, back into the darkness of the Inner Domains of the Underempire, where the Runner Assassins would have the advantage of fighting under the cover of darkness. As the forces of Clan Moulder left the Starlit Field into the darkness of the Inner Domains, the sorcerous magics of the Sorcerers summoned a cloud of dense shadows to envelop the Runner Assassins, shielding them from the eyes of Clan Moulder. The true power of the Runner Assassins lay in their ability to strike at the enemy while their backs were turned, catching them unawares and dealing the deathblow before they could react. Out in the open of the Starlit Field, this would be impossible, but within the shadows, the Runner Assassins would be able to employ their stealth techniques. The forces of Clan Moulder stood by in confusion as the Runner Assassins apparently vanished into thin air. Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, the Night Runners dashed out from cover and attacked the Packmasters while their backs were turned. By the time it took for the Packmasters to retaliate, the Night Runners had vanished back into the enveloping darkness. In this way, Clan Eshin attempted to thin the numbers of Clan Moulder, for they had not the raw muscle to face the Rat beasts in direct combat. The Packmasters were not to be outwitted however. Summoning to the fore the Dire Beasts, the Packmasters used the heightened sense of smell of the Rat beasts to track down the locations of the oncoming Night Runners. With the Dire Beasts on full alert, several attacks of the Night Runners were thwarted with some difficulty, and as such, the two forces were drawn into a stalemate.

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Meanwhile, the forces of Clan Skyre had managed to chase away the Warp Runners with the aid of the Pawslaves and were proceeding onwards to help with the main bulk of the fighting. Master Packlord Griffkin saw the means to their predicament by attempting to flush out the Runner Assassins by having the Fusiliers of Clan Skyre fire their weapons into the shadows in which the Runner Assassins were taking cover. This was summarily done, but the forces of Clan Eshin were not to be outdone so easily. Bolts of pure Ki energy were shot back in retaliation at the forces of Clan Skyre, no doubt the magics of the Sorcerers again. This exchange of shots became a drawn-out firefight, with neither side giving ground. Ultimately, the Sorcerers could not keep up their fusillade of Ki attacks while maintaining the cloud of shadows that enveloped them at the same time. Thus, the darkness was scattered, the spell of the Sorcerers was dispelled and undone. Now out in the open in full view of the enemy, the forces of Clan Eshin were forced into direct confrontation with the combined forces of Clan Moulder and Clan Skyre. Nightlord Queek, knowing full well the Council of the Night would not accept the terms of surrender, saw no way around this most desperate of situations except by engaging Clan Moulder full on and hoping against hope that they will prove victorious. Thus, both sides tore at the other in the melee, Vermin beast against Runner Assassin in a vicious dance of death. Ultimately, the numbers and brute strength of Clan Moulder won the day, but it was a victory won with much sacrifice. Nightlord Queek hastily called for a truce between both forces, lest the forces of Clan Eshin were completely obliterated. He offered their utter surrender and stated that the Council of the Night would accede to the demands of Clan Moulder as long as they were let to live. Master Packlord Griffkin was well pleased with this gesture and promised that the lives of all that remained among the forces of Clan Eshin would be spared. In exchange, Clan Moulder would be recognised as the strongest of the Great Clans, and thus of all Hrudom. In addition, Clan Eshin would be forced to evacuate the Tower of Heaven and return it to its rightful owner, Clan Skyre.

The Age of Beasts

Thus, the event of the Great Clan War led to the transition of the Age of Assassins to that of the Age of Beasts, a time characterised by constant warfare between the tribes. The Age of Beasts was so called for Clan Moulder saw a need to replenish the countless Rat beasts that it lost during the war with Clan Eshin. To do so, it would have to use its wealth to acquire great amounts of Warpstones. In order to regain their lost wealth which was a major component of their status as a Great Clan, they would have to sell the use of their Rat beasts towards the lesser tribes in their petty wars, extensively. Exploiting its newly gained position as the strongest Clan in all Hrudom, Clan Moulder used its political influence to stir the Warlords of the Lesser Tribes into fighting among themselves, thus creating demand for their Vermin beast packs in the resulting wars. In this way, Clan Moulder was slowly able to recover much of its wealth.

The Claiming of the Throne

Meanwhile, it seemed all went according to the plans of Skittar. Now all that was left was for the armies of Clan Skaven to move on Clan Moulder before they could replenish their Vermin beast packs. Unbeknownst to the Great Clans within the Underempire, Clan Skaven had used the commotion of the war between the Great Clans to secretly warp in large amounts of Greyfur packs and Blackfangs from the Migratory Tribes. The Blackscars of Tribe Skaar, previously one of the Council Tribes before it took to migrating to another world, were specially requisitioned for the coming war with Clan Moulder. Tribe Skaar was an especially warlike tribe among the lesser tribes and their constant warfare had made their Blackfangs into a seasoned breed of tough warriors. Such is the prowess of these warriors in battle that they have earned themselves a name to distinguish themselves from the Blackfangs of other tribes. They were so called due to the innumerable scars etched across their bodies from their constant waging of warfare. Tribe Scrye, another Council Tribe before migrating away from the Underempire, sent their Scries, Prophets who possessed powers of prophetic vision and foresight to aid and advise the Warchiefs in the coming war. In addition, the experimentation of the Seers of Clan Skaven had given rise to various weapons of war that were either based or made of Warpstone. These weapons had yet to be tested in the field of battle, and in the coming war they would make their debut.

Thus, Clan Skaven marshalled its forces and readied for war. The largest army ever, one to rival the mustering of Clan Rictus, was assembled before Skavenlord Skittar. By his calculations, Clan Moulder had no way of standing up to such a large host in its current state. It would be an easy victory. Without forewarning, the greatest host ever assembled by any Warlord marched off from the depths of the Skaven Warren towards the Hell Warren of Clan Moulder. The lesser tribes of the Underempire had to make way for the coming of this great host or risked being trampled under foot. Certain tribes however moved ahead of the great host and warned Griffkin of the treachery of the Skavens. Hearing this, Griffkin made haste, sending his envoys to the major tribes and clans of the Underempire, requesting their aid in facing Skittar's army. A special envoy was sent to the Overlord of the Great Kinship, in the hopes that Griffkin could earn the backing of the Lesser Tribes in this coming ordeal. With the combined might of the Lesser Tribes on his side during the coming war, the chance of victory would be all the more certain.

The Hell Warren has a defence network of burrow tunnels that form the outer perimeters of the Hell Warren. Using these burrow tunnels, Griffkin forestalled the forces of Clan Skaven with his Vermin beast packs, ambushing parts of the large host, then retreating before a sufficient defence could be mounted against them. In the meantime, the Overlord of the Great Kinship acceded to the request for aid of Clan Moulder, and promptly mobilised the Lesser Tribes for war. As the great host drew ever closer, the frequency of ambushes of the Rat beasts increased, desperately forestalling time for the combined armies of the Great Kinship to arrive. When the great host of Clan Skaven finally arrived at the Hell Warren, the Rat beasts of Clan Moulder were there to greet them. Griffkin knew he could not win against such overwhelming numbers and sought to hold them off until help could arrive. Skavenlord Skittar was not foolhardy to engage the Rat beasts in close combat. Rather, he would shoot them down from the safety of range. The Greyfur packs, armed with their Warplock Fusils, were brought to the fore, and made bear their weapons on the Rat beasts. A wave of Warpplasma shots blazed through the ranks of the Rat beasts. Against this onslaught, the already thin numbers of Rat beasts were further diminished. Master Packlord Griffkin had his Blackfangs return fire with their own Warplock Fusils, and as the Greyfurs were momentarily distracted, sent forth the Rat beasts to engage the bulk of Skittar's forces in the melee. Seeing this, the Blackscars of Tribe Skaar were brought to the fore, together with the Black Skavens of Clan Skaven. Vicious fighting broke out at the frontline of Skittar's forces as the Rat beasts clashed with the Blackscars and Black Skavens. However, even the brute might of the already diminished Rat beasts could not face such overwhelming numbers. Slowly, the forces of Clan Skaven were gaining the upperhand. Meanwhile, the division of the Blackfangs of Clan Moulder that were armed for close combat advanced upon the Greyfur packs, hoping to tie them up in the melee where they would be most vulnerable. This was successfully achieved, and for a time the forces of Clan Moulder held back the great host of Clan Skaven.

Knowing the desperate situation faced by Clan Moulder even now, Verminkin III, Overlord of the Great Kinship had sent a relief force far in advance of the coming great host assembled to aid Clan Moulder. The coming war would be equivalent to the Third Great War to be fought among the Hruds, one involving the participation of all the Clans and Tribes of the Underempire. With the coming of the relief force formed from the Lesser Tribes, Griffkin withdrew his Vermin beast packs, while the Master Moulders tended to the healing of the wounds suffered by the Vermin beasts with their Warprestore Orbs. The relief force was led by Great Stormlord Blackstorm and his Stormlords. The mercenary tribe was hired by the Great Kinship in the coming endeavour, and they were sent as an advance guard to relieve the forces of Clan Moulder against Clan Skaven. Relieving the wounded Vermin beast packs, Great Stormlord Blackstorm led his Storm Runners against the Blackscars and Black Skavens of Clan Skaven, clashing with them in the melee. The fighting was fast and brutal, and with the Great Stormlord himself leading the side of Clan Moulder, the Blackscars and Black Skavens were summarily defeated. In response to this, the thirteen Warchiefs of Clan Skaven were sent forth by Skittar to face the Great Stormlord in single combat, as only the power of a Warchief could hope to best one of their kind. The Great Stormlord Blackstorm was a renegade Warchief from the days of the Age of Warlords. As Gorisnak attempted to unite the Warchiefs and become the supreme leader of the Tribe, Blackstorm challenged Gorisnak to a duel, a gamble with the winner becoming the first Skavenlord of the Tribe. Having lost to Gorisnak, Blackstorm left the Clan to pursue his own agenda, founding Tribe Blackstorm in the process. Now, he was to face his own kin once again, the Black Skavens, and this time in the theatre of war. Blackstorm was not alone however as he always go to war with his personal guard of six Stormlords. Those six Stormlords were the very same Warchiefs that left with Blackstorm when he went renegade. As such, the two sides were roughly matched, Blackstorm himself being able to handle three of the Warchiefs at the same time. But however, the numbers were unevened and eventually Blackstorm was pushed back.

Blackstorm and his Storm Runners were sent as a relief force due to the great speed of the Storm Runners. Accompanying them were the War Skiffs of Clan Verminkin, current Dominant Tribe within the Great Kinship, and thus the Overlord's Clan itself. It was a vehicle never before seen by the eyes of Skittar and indeed the rest of the Skavens, for the Warchiefs had stopped participating in the petty conflicts of the lesser tribes with the rise of their second Skavenlord, Skittar. As such, they were ignorant of the developments and advancements of warfare that had occurred within the rest of the Underempire, as they had isolated themselves, to keep secret their works, during the time spent plotting for the fulfillment of the Great Scheme. As Blackstorm and his Storm Runners retreated, the War Skiffs powered up their Wardrives under the orders of Verminkin III himself, for he had come in advance with the relief force upon his own personal War Skiff, the Blazing Crimson, to oversee the actions of the relief force, leaving the mobilisation of the assembled armies of the Lesser Tribes to his Regent, Warlord Verdecur. The War Skiffs proceeded to zip around the battlefield at breakneck speeds, showering shots of Warpplasma into the ranks of Skittar's host. The army of the Skavens was sent reeling in confusion, for it proved to be impossible to even aim at such fast moving targets. Furthermore, the War Skiffs held massive, powerful Warpplasma Cannons which shot multiple shots of Warpplasma in a single salvo. It would seem the great host of Skittar would be halted at this point and place. All was not lost for Clan Skaven though, for Skittar had a trump up his sleeve. He issued an order to the Chiefs, to use the Warpfire Jetpacks and board the War Skiffs. The Warpfire Jetpacks are an innovation of the Seers of Clan Skaven, created by the Skavensmiths. They use Warpstone as fuel to fire up a Jetpack that allows short jumps, crossing intervening terrain by lifting its bearer off the ground. The distance it can travel in a single jump is highly unpredictable however, as the technology is still new and experimental. Equipped with the Warpfire Jetpacks, groups of Black Skaven led by their Chiefs attempted to chase down the speeding War Skiffs. Skillfully manoeuvring to the positions of the War Skiffs, the Black Skavens boarded the War Skiffs and mercilessly slaughtered the Wardrivers and the Greyfurs onboard. Seeing his beloved War Skiffs so brutally countered, Verminkin III departed on the Blazing Crimson, to see to the quick departure of the assembled host of the Lesser Tribes. The Skavens will pay dearly for their arrogance.

Midway on his flight back to the Vermin Warren, Verminkin III met the combined host of the Lesser Tribes as they were marching to the place of conflict, led by his Regent, Warlord Verdecur. Reporting to Verminkin III of the total assembly of the Tribes and Hruds, Regent Verdecur came aboard the Overlord's personal Skiff, and together the two rode ahead of the vast army of the Great Kinship. Meanwhile, the massive host of Clan Skaven was slowly closing in on the remaining forces of Clan Moulder, with the relief force barely withstanding the legions of Blackfangs. The War Skiffs continued their bombardment of the Greyfur Fusiliers, pinning them down and preventing them from firing at the Rat beasts. Meanwhile, the Rat beasts, renewed and repaired by the Master Moulders, had return to the fray once more, engaging the Blackscars and the Black Skavens in a vicious melee. Griffkin knew he only had to hold on not much longer. Soon, the combined host of the Great Kinship would arrive and final victory would be at hand. The treachery of the Skavens would be paid back twicefold to them.

The Abominations, huge, monstrous freaks, created from torturous experimenting with the joining of separate mutated Greyfur parts through Warpstones into bizarre monstrosities, that even dwarf the power of the Skaven's Warchiefs, lumbered forth, crashing into the tide of Blackfurs and Blackscars recklessly, pulverising them into bloody pulp with their great fists, appearing nigh-invincible. Even after being shot through with deadly and vicious Warpplasma rounds, they faltered not, showing incredible toughness, the likes most unnatural, as it is with the origins of these creatures. Their size belied their speed, and they move with such alacrity as to be deceptive, the only seeming weakness in how they blundered forth with an apparent inherent clumsiness from their make and composition. Soaking up the targets and garnering the attention from the frightened Greyfur Warplock Fusiliers of the great Skaven force, the Abominations absorbed the shots and blows for the rest of the Vermin beasts, the Vermin Packs and Dire Beasts, to close in unharmed and tear into the melee. It would seem the turning point is now, the strength of the Rat beasts prevailing for once. But even with the overwhelming brute force of the Abominations, they were ultimately no match agains the ranged fusillade of the Warplock Fusiliers, pouring forth their fire en masse. Faced with such considerable firepower, the Abominations were ultimately forced to give ground, something they tried to shrug off with their sheer toughness, of which several succumbed to eventually.

At last, the assembled host of the Great Kinship arrived at the scene of the battle. The host of the Great Kinship immediately rushed to engage the bulk of Clan Skaven's army, and fierce fighting ensued between the two great hosts. Many rounds of Warpplasma were exchanged, with none giving ground. The tribes assembled on both sides numbered in the thousands; this was a war of massive proportions, and had the participation of nearly every single Tribe and Clan in all of Hrudom. This would clearly be the Third Great War of the Hruds, by far the largest yet, not since the First Great War a thousand starlight cycles ago. It seemed both sides' forces were equally matched. The air was so thick with Warpplasma rounds, it was unthinkable to even attempt to engage in close assault. A No Man's Land was established between the two sides, and all who stepped within that zone faced the surety of death. However, it was the Skavens and their secret Warp technology that eventually broke the stalemate. Black Skavens equipped with Warpfire Jetpacks crossed the No Man's Land in a single jump, engaging with the Warplock Fusiliers and tying them up in the melee. This freed the other elements of the Skaven host to move across the No Man's Land, and for a time they proceeded untouched. However, soon the overwhelming numbers of the Great Kinship proved impossible to contain, and the Black Skavens had to retreat or face certain death. Firing resumed in short order, and the host of Clan Skaven was shot down as they crossed the No Man's Land.

However, there were a surprisingly large number that survived within the zone. In fact, they appeared completely unfazed by the fusillade of Warpplasma shots. The Warpplasma balls simply exploded harmlessly around them, as if an invisible barrier protected them from the shots. In fact, it was another of the secret technology of the Skavens, developed by the Seers of the Clan. It was the Warpbarrier Orb, a Warpstone orb that generates an immense shield of Warp energy around its bearer. The Seers of Clan Skaven are the ones to bear them, and acting as shields, protected the Grey Skavens who were being sent to the fore by the orders of Skittar, under the counsel of the Scries, who foresaw that this was the turning point of the battle. The Grey Skavens carried an immense gun that required at least two of the Skavens to carry. It was another of the technology the Seers of Clan Skaven had secretly engineered, and was seeing its first ever use on the practical field of war. The immense guns were carried forward by the Grey Skavens, who proceeded behind the Seers while they maintained the barriers of protective Warp energy. All the while, the Greyfurs of the Great Kinship kept up with their fusillade, but the Warpbarriers seemed impervious to all that the Greyfurs threw at them. Finally, the Grey Skavens came within range to fire their massive guns.

At first nothing happened. Then all of a sudden, rifts and tears in the very fabric of reality started appearing before the assembled host of the Great Kinship. Pink Chaos energy was leaking from these holes, and as they expanded, they engulfed the Greyfurs and pulled them screaming into the Warp, where they met an untimely demise, being devoured by Daemons and such like. This indeed proved the turning point for Clan Skaven, for the soldiers of the Great Kinship, terrified of suffering the fate of being torn apart by a miniature Warphole, started fleeing in panic. The Warphole Launchers of the engineering of the Seers and the forging of the Skavensmiths proved to be exceedingly well worth their cost of production, although some did malfunction, as the Warphole generators within the Launchers destabilised and manifested a Warphole upon its carriers, killing them in the process.

Seeing the desperation of their circumstances, Master Packlord Griffkin and Overlord Verminkin III formulated a desperate plan. They would board the personally modified Skiff of the Overlord, the Blazing Crimson, and dash into the heart of the Skaven army and bring Skittar down in personal combat. There, they would pluck out the heart of Clan Skaven by killing its leader, and cause the entire host of the Skavens to crumble. All this was to be done while the thirteen Warchiefs of Clan Skaven were busy leading the troops at the perimeters of the great host and thus would not be able to reach their Skavenlord in time. However, to the great alarm of the Warlords, Skittar was able to match their combined skill and strength. A mere Greyfur besting two of the greatest Blackfurs! It was unheard of! Skittar was able to do so not for any merit of personal or physical strength, but because in his hands he wielded a great weapon, a secret weapon of his own: the Warpfang. With this great weapon, Skittar fought a fierce battle with the two Warlords, for his very survival, for even with such an immensely powerful weapon, a Greyfur is hopelessly outmatched by even a single Blackfur in single combat, and here present before him were two of the most exceptional of their kind! Imbued with eldritch powers, such was the power of the blade that it forced the two Warlords back. With the Warchiefs proceeding even now back into the heart of the Skaven host in defence of their Lord, Griffkin and Verminkin III knew instinctively that it was over. The Great War was lost. They quickly boarded the Blazing Crimson, lest the Warchiefs arrived and they were further detained, and in the worst case became trapped. As they sped away aboard the Skiff, they thought they would be able to reach the safety of their lines. However, Fate did not take so kindly to Verminkin III. Skittar, focussing at the fleeing back of Verminlord III, slashed a perfectly aimed blow with the Warpfang. The slash created a gash in the fabric of reality, and travelling through that gash, tore its way through the very Immaterium and manifested on the back of Verminlord III. The Warp energies within the blade travelled with the slash, and suffusing Verminkin III, tore his mind asunder. In this way, the third Lord-Warlord of Clan Verminkin perished. With their last gamble failed and the Overlord of the Great Kinship dead, the Third Great War was won by Clan Skaven. Although the conflict was of massive proportions, the casualties were minimal on both sides.

The Great Unification

Having ousted Clan Moulder from the Throne of all Hrudom, it would appear Clan Skaven now held that title as the strongest Clan in all Hrudom. It would seem the way was paved for Morskittar's Great Ascent, but Morskittar was still too young at the moment to become Skavenlord of the Clan, and much still had to be done to reunite the different Hrud tribes under one banner. Thus, the next phase of the Great Scheme would be "The Great Unification", a slow, arduous process of eliminating the political enmity that existed between the various tribes and clans, and uniting them under the leadership of Clan Skaven. Skittar held a Great Council, the Twentieth Great Council, as his first action as the new Supreme Overlord of the Underempire. Now having seized the Throne, all that was left was to rekindle the sullied ties and heal the embitterment between the two sides in the war. Once having attained the backing of all the Great Clans and Lesser Tribes, "The Great Unification" would be achieved. The order of rank of the representatives of that Council are as follows: Clan Skaven, Clan Rictus, Clan Skyre, Clan Eshin, Clan Verminkin, Clan Moulder, Tribe Mors, Tribe Whitempest, Tribe Blackstorm, Tribe Fester and Tribe Rancour. In that Great Council, Skittar, as the newly established Supreme Overlord of the Underempire, began the dialogues of the Council by first proclaiming that the short-lived Age of Beasts had been superceded by the Age of Skavens. "Long live the Age of Skavens!" His next course of actions was to compliment Verminkin IV on his great War Skiffs. "Never before have I seen vessels that flew so fast and so elegantly!" Deeply impressed by the War Skiffs, Skavenlord Skittar requested rather politely that the skimmer technology be handed to them in a trade of fair terms. "Would a tonne of Warpstone ore be of agreeable terms with you? I heard you need plenty for the fuel of those war crafts." In this way, Skittar attempted to establish the unification of the Hruds through diplomacy and cordiality.

In order to maintain its position as the Dominant Tribe within the Great Kinship, the Warlords of Clan Verminkin had quickly chosen a new Lord-Warlord from among them, within a short span of time, unanimously deciding on the Regent of the previous Lord-Warlord, Verdecur, now known as Verminkin IV. Verminkin IV was one of the losers of this most recent Third War, and necessarily, he would harbour resentment towards Skittar and the Skavens. By beginning with such a move as to address the defeated party on the impressiveness of his War Skiffs was a boldly played manoeuvre on the part of Skittar. After all, flattery works to some level. But indeed the interest was there, for indeed the War Skiffs had impressed him deeply, and he was secretly ashamed that the isolation of the Clan from the rest of Hrudom, as they were occupied with the Great Scheme, had left them so ill-informed of such a powerful technology. In any case, the outcome of the war was secured, so the technology of the War Skiffs would only prove necessary in the event of a future war. If the desire for the skimmer technology so overcame him though, he would manoeuvre the dialogues back to that point with Verminkin IV, and hopefully establish some level of accord between the two Clans. Befriending the Overlord of the Great Kinship would severely reduce his enemies among the Lesser Tribes, and that would be that much less trouble to work with.

Skittar ultimately knew however, that such measures had limits to their effectiveness and would not work for all parties, for rancour and ill will is the nature of the politics of the Underempire. Ignoring the weaker Council Tribes in that Thirteenth Council, Skittar sought to gain an alliance instead with Clan Eshin. With the power of their assassins, should there be discontent and ambitious Warlords coveting the Throne, the Skavenlord could silence them with the omnipresent Warp Runners. They would be the means in which Clan Skaven would become an omniscient force within the politics of the Underempire. Nothing would escape their notice. The Clans and Tribes of the Underempire would come to dread their very shadows, and that would be how Skittar would keep them in line, through the power of fear. The political enemies that he will inevitably make will be kept at bay, frightened into impotence for fear of facing the Shadow Arm of the Law. Clan Eshin would be Clan Skaven's political police force, the hand that delivers judgement upon the treacherous and scheming. This would be most ideal, and thus Skittar gave highest priority for Clan Eshin to be the first major power to be inducted into the Skavens. Nightlord Queek had been replaced on the Council, no longer the Council Representative of Clan Eshin. This was expected, given his defeat of the forces of Clan Eshin during the Great Clan War. Queek had lost some standing within the Council of the Night as a result. In his place was Warp Runner Sneik. It was rare to see a Warp Runner representing the Clan, for only the most senior members of the Council of the Night had that privilege. It showed to Skittar that Sneik was no ordinary Warp Runner, and it would be of great benefit to Skittar's side should he come to befriend this enigma.

The Council dialogues had now gone into discussions of the spoils of war to be gained by the winners in the Third Great War, and the amount of reparations the losers were to pay. Skittar would be sure to play his cards right in this dialogue, finding an open opportunity to speak to the Council Representative of Clan Eshin. This came when the two sides in the Third Great War could not come to terms with the cost of reparations to be compensated by the losers. Naturally, the losers wanted to pay less, while the winners wanted more. Seizing the motive, Skittar voiced out his opinion, that the two sides leave the decisions of the aftermath of this most recent war to the neutral parties that did not participate in either side, which naturally fell onto Clan Eshin and Clan Skyre. "Since the involved parties are unable to come to a firm agreement with each other, would it not be best if we let the neutral parties in the affair arbitrate the matter? Shall Clan Eshin do us the honours?" In this manner, Skittar attempted to gain a level of trust with the representative of Clan Eshin. By placing with him the power to decide such an important matter, Skittar was giving weight to the voice of Clan Eshin. The Council Representative, Warp Runner Sneik was most pleased with this gesture, for the action of Skittar gave rise to the opportunity for Sneik to exert and extend the influence of Clan Eshin. By his decisions, new political ties will be forged, and enemies made. After much deliberation, Sneik carefully stated his verdict. "Seeing as how the casualties on both sides were minimal, the cost of reparations should likewise be minimal too, logically speaking..." With this, it seemed obvious that Sneik would side with the losers, being chiefly Clan Moulder, the major loser in the war, and Clan Verminkin. Clan Eshin could not possibly have known that Skittar engineered their loss in the Great Clan War, by provoking Clan Moulder to do battle with Clan Eshin and seize the Throne. Thus, Skittar was still confident that he could forge a secret alliance with Clan Eshin, that it was in the face of statistics that the Council Representative had no choice but to present the facts as such.

With this statement by Clan Eshin, the blow had not come down hard on Clan Moulder, as least as hard as Griffkin feared it would be. He rested easy, somewhat, with the knowledge that the wealth of his Clan, the source of their power as a Great Clan, was left largely unscathed. He could then focus his attentions in gathering the Council to his side, and through subtle manoeuvring, force the opinion that Clan Skaven was unworthy to hold the Throne. With enough voices sharing that opinion, it would be then possible to force, through collective pressure, the Skavenlord to give up his claim on the Throne. Needless to say, Griffkin was extremely bitter about losing the war. His rule was too short-lived, and the feeling of being backstabbed stung. Having gained confidence that at the very least Clan Eshin was on the side of Clan Moulder and Clan Verminkin, all he had left to do was gain the support of Clan Rictus. Clan Skyre in all possibilities will choose to side with the side that Clan Eshin was not on, so he could not count on their support. In any case, it would be the voice of four Clans to two. The Council Tribes could easily be swayed, so they were of little consequence. Only the voice of the major players, the Clans of Hrudom would matter.

As the representative of Clan Eshin finished his speech regarding the verdict on the aftermath of the Third Great War, Griffkin made his move. "Speaking of which, now that the verdict has been decided, regarding the reparations, would not the matter of the claim on the Throne would be of most pressing consideration? It would seem that Clan Skaven has taken the liberty of installing itself as the new Ruling Clan, without the consent of the Council, simply on merit of this most recent war. Yes, indeed you were the winners of this conflict, but there were others on your side that were involved as well. You are not the only victor in that war, so I do not see the strength of your claim to be the new Great Power." A murmur of agreement broke out among the Council members. Seeing this, Griffkin gained confidence, and with renewed momentum continued his assault. "As a large part of the fighting was done by forces not directly from Clan Skaven, having little relationship except through some supposed Great Debt that is not even officially recognised by the Great Council, it would seem your claim over the Throne isn't too strong. Perhaps one of the tribes that came along with you be given that right? We could do a census and calculate the losses suffered by each individual participant in the war..."

"Preposterous! A Lesser Tribe becoming the Ruling Clan and taking leadership of the Underempire? And indeed the whole of Hrudom? Have you gone mad? Besides, they are Migratory Tribes that I had involved in this conflict, by personal request. It would be strange indeed for one of the Migratory Tribes which do not even reside in the Underempire to take the helm of Its leadership."

"Such an arrangement of having that Migratory Tribe warped back in full order could easily be settled. After all, who could refuse this most exalted position of Supreme Overlord of the Underempire, and Ruling Clan of all Hrudom?" Interestingly, it was Clan Rictus who voiced out this latest argument.

This voicing out of Clan Rictus was most unexpected, and had certainly been the decisive moment in this Council dialogue, which could be said to be ultimately the purpose of this Twentieth Great Council. With that said, it was clear on which of the two sides the six Clan Representatives stood. "Four against two, counting Clan Skyre's obvious embitterment towards Clan Eshin for the Great Skirmishes," Skittar mentally counted. Skittar was under tremendous pressure now. If he was to relinquish the Throne from the grasp of the Skavens, so dearly won by them, all their efforts would be for nought, and the Great Scheme would come tumbling down like a pack of cards. This was a case of circumstance that could not happen no matter the cost. He must defend his Clan's position, with all the wit, every single ounce of eloquence and political tact he could muster. Desperately, he must act.

"Hmm, indeed? Has the Great Debt between Clan Skaven and the Migratory Tribes not been recognised at any level by the Council of Thirteen? If my powers of memory serve me well, at a much earlier Council, the Lord-Warlord of Clan Skyre, our dear beloved Overlord Skyre himself, was forced to admit to our key significance in the matter of the Great Migration. We were the core perpetrators in that most treasonous matter, yet we are indispensable as well. It was agreed, however forcibly, that without our presence in the Great Council, the voice of nearly half of the whole of Hrudom would be lost forever to the far reaches of space. We alone hold access to the Warpportals, that fact, and the power we hold as the Voice of the Migratory Tribes cannot be denied. At some level, the Council of Thirteen has come to acknowledge this, "Great Debt", this firm bond between us and the Migratory Tribes, even if not officially admitted to. Surely, Overlord Skyre remembered that incident dearly, the decisions he made when he was once our most august Supreme Overlord." Skittar hoped that by tactfully reminding Skyre of the grandeur and prestige he once held as the Supreme Overlord, the sting of the incident of the Great Migration, and the central part Clan Skaven played in that matter, would not hurt so earnestly. "...Well, yes indeed. Now that you put it that way, this "Great Debt", this relationship has been established by the Great Council, unwittingly on our part, when we tried to address the matter by absolving your position from the Council of Thirteen, a move which we admit was most unwise and not thoroughly thought through on our part. Besides, we cannot doubt the strength and intimacy of this unique bond which your Clan shares with the Migratory Tribes."

So indeed, it was four against two. Skittar had cleverly secured the alliance of Clan Skyre in this affair. Now, what if it became five against four? "Indeed, this Great Debt that the Migratory Tribes have so incurred with Clan Skaven, can be easily confirmed with not just one Representative, but three others as well! The invitation of the Great Migration has been offered to Tribe Whitempest, Tribe Fester, and Tribe Rancour, prior, and it was clearly written in that deal, that should they so accept the conditions of the Great Migration, they were to be forever indebted to Clan Skaven, in honour of Clan Skaven's most integral part in fulfilling the Great Dream for their respective Tribes. Furthermore, they were relinquishing their voice from the politics of the Underempire, and Clan Skaven was to remain their only viable link to the Underempire, thus effectively they were surrendering their rights to Clan Skaven. Such is the nature of the agreement that is the Great Debt. Its strength can be attested by the testimony of Prophetlord Psyre, Smithlord Skrolk, and the Lord-Warlord of Tribe Rancour, Warlord Rancur, for such is the weight of the matter of the Great Migration, that the invitation was delivered directly to the Lord-Warlords of the respective Tribes themselves. And yet, can we doubt the service that Clan Skaven has provided to the thousand-strong Migratory Tribes through the Great Debt? We have done what was once just a mere dream, delivering them from the confines of this iron cage of night we call the Underempire. That is a privilege no other Clan or Tribe can claim to possess. Even Clan Rictus has achieved the Great Dream on their own power and for their sake alone. We alone have been so selfless, for indeed what manner of possession or acquirement could so outshine the Great Dream, for is It not the longing that we all harbour collectively, deep within our hearts? This Great Dream, is no mere desire or longing. It is an instinct, inbred into our very soul."

So moving was Skittar's speech that the three Council Representatives that were being so addressed stood up and applauded with much approval and consent. That gesture alone was enough testimony. Indeed, it has become four against five, but three of the five are Council Tribes. Would that be enough to tip the scales? By the dictates of the Council of Thirteen, all the Representatives were equal before the Thirteenth Seat, the Great Horned One Himself, who held supreme authority within that great table. But in reality, the flow of power shifted according to the economical and military standing of the Clans and Tribes of the Council Representatives. There was one voice however, who belonged to no Clan or Tribe, a power onto itself, that could easily tilt this most precarious situation to either side. That voice was held by the Greater Verminlord, indeed the most powerful individual of Hrudom, next to the Supreme Overlord.

All of a sudden, Jaelanak, Greater Verminlord of all Verminkin, rose to Its full height, a towering 13 feet. In Its high, androgynous voice, It spoke, an ethereal thunder that rolled over the assembled Clans and Tribes, and filled the spaces of the Underempire, to the very corners. "So it would seem that it is the time of the Age of Skavens, the time of the rule of Skittar and his Clan. Five stand against four now, the voice of Clan Skaven, Clan Skyre, Tribe Whitempest, Tribe Fester and Tribe Rancour, united against the voices of Clan Moulder, Clan Verminkin, Clan Eshin and Clan Rictus. But they shall never ascent to be the dominant political power within the Underempire, and all of Hrudom, at least not on My watch. For the eyes of the Great Horned One sees all, and as His physical representative, I am duty bound to uphold His Law. I have seen the treachery of the Skavens, their scheming and their plots, and what they plan to do. Indeed, you think all that is done in shadow and secrecy escapes the eyes of the righteous, and your dark dealings shall come to fruition as none have the knowledge to oppose you openly, but I know of your dark acts, and your perpetrations. Thus, I stand, alone if I must, that the Dark Clan of the Skavens shall not stand to be the Ruling Clan that will come to decide and steer the course of the fate of the rest of Hrudom. I call for a vote to be taken by each member of the Council of Thirteen, and know that My vote equals two, for I am the Great Horned One's very own mortal Representative in the affairs of this world, as you have acknowledged by your own insistence."

"Recess! I call for a Recess!" In desperation, Skittar called for a temporary cessation of discussions. The Recess can only be called once during a Great Council, and was only used, usually, should the Council dragged on too long for the comfort of the Representatives. Now Skittar was using it to recollect himself and consider his moves, for a vote would most certainly mean the ceding of his Clan's claim on the Throne. The fact that the Greater Verminlord held such influence, and that It alone counted for two votes...the thought was too unbearable to contemplate. But to which Clan would he yield the Throne to in such a circumstance...and then a brainwave occurred to Skittar. If he could somehow strike a deal with one of the Clans with the time he had during the Recess, he could then install a puppet Clan from which outwardly would appear to hold authority, but in truth, the puppet Clan would be steered by Skittar from behind the shadows. The Skavens would be the ones in control, with Clan Eshin as their police force, and the puppet regime maintaining a veneer of stability, hiding their true deception. In this way, he could outwit the Greater Verminlord, and the Great Scheme could still reach fruition. The Clan who would enter into such a dark agreement with Clan Skaven could not be Clan Eshin, for that Clan is destined to be the Shadow Hand of the Law of the new regime. Nay, it had to be Clan Skyre. In secret, Skittar met with Skyre in his King's Chamber, the resting quarters that are delegated specially to each Council Representative.

The Dark Hand of the Puppeteer

"My dear Skyre, our once most lauded Supreme Overlord. It would not be sufficient praise to call you the mastermind of our entire civilisation, for indeed it is you who created the positions of Ruling Clan and Supreme Overlord, positions I am now facing the dreadful prospect of losing. It would seem my term would be even more short-lived than Griffkin's, lasting only as long as a single Great Council. How was it, may I ask, like to be in that supreme position of power? Do you still lust for it, hunger to stand in that exalted position of the Throne, having everything before you happen on a mere whim or fancy? Overseeing the rise and fall of the Ages as if it was a simple play, a puppet show put up for your mere amusement, that at the end of it, the ceasing of the drama and suspense, you would know that it is but a passing wind, strong and free-willed, but ultimately harmless?"

"As amused as I am by your...antics, pray do tell, to what do I hold the honour of your presence?" Skyre drawled, seemingly unimpressed by this flattering speech.

Undeterred, Skittar pressed on, "Have you considered much of your options ever since the Great Downfall, Skyre? Surely you see an opportunity for the rise of your Clan once again?

"And by that, do you mean?" Skittar could see the interest emerging in Skyre's face.

"I mean of course this most recent affair, the most pressing case which I face now. In all likelihood, I would be forced to hand over the Throne to another of the Council Clans, but the question is, to whom? Clan Moulder? They were the major loser in the Third Great War, they are too far reduced in strength to be considered for the position of Ruling Clan. This was an emergency Great Council that I enacted with the authority I held as Supreme Overlord, a temporary position it seems. As such, Clan Pestilens was unable to participate as one of the Council Representatives, given their preoccupation with the Great Infestation. They would not be considered a candidate for the Throne. No, It would fall to either Clan Eshin, or you. Who do you think the Council will choose?"

"Hmm...that is uncertain, if given what you said is to be true, then it could go either way...although it would appear the Council favours Clan Eshin currently, with how the sides are set up against each other."

"Indeed, indeed, you have seen it exactly as I have seen it. This could be said to be the very opportunity for your Clan to revive itself ever since the Great Downfall, and would you miss this chance without even a gamble? There is an almost surefire method of securing approval of your Clan's claim on the Throne from all the Council Representatives, but it is not without a price. If I were to relinquish my hold over the position of Supreme Overlord and Ruling Clan of all Hrudom voluntarily, then I may attempt to offer the Throne to a Representative of my choosing. The Representative simply has to concur, and we will have a new Supreme Overlord for a new Age. Of course, you will realise by now that the Representative I have chosen is none other than you, Overlord Skyre. Once again, you will hold absolute authority as the Supreme Overlord of the Clans, and indeed all Hrudom. However, I will not hand over the Throne without a fight. Which is why I have expressedly come to confer with you, for I wish for a grand alliance between our two Clans to emerge from this entire affair. I will willingly bestow you the Throne, but in return, we shall forge a secret alliance between our two Clans. With the combined power of our two Clans, your rule shall be much more stable. You can expect to have my firm support in all matters of the Council, in addition to the influence I already hold over the Council Tribes, as you have seen and witnessed in this latest Council. Furthermore, even if you were to be chosen legitimately by the Council to be the next Ruling Clan, you are far too weak at present, with many of your subordinates who held power killed during the Great Skirmishes. You would do well to have a committed supporter in the form of an alliance with one of the Council Clans in your future endeavours. What do you say to that, O soon-to-be Supreme Overlord?" Skittar was careful not to address his true intentions of using Skyre to maintain a facade of control, but in actuality, they were to be the puppet and the Skavens the puppeteer. Would Skyre fall for it though?

"My my my...such an offer...it would seem all wisdom to simply accept the power that is being presented to me, what could only appear as absolute, unchallenged...but is this simply to be an illusion, a deception to cover my eyes to some greater vice? After all, I suspect, and as the Greater Verminlord has confirmed, it would seem Clan Skaven has played a much more vital role in the recent affairs of the Underempire than what is apparent. This is a case that is less simple than it would appear to be. Pray, what do you get out of this deal?" Skyre has not after all became Supreme Overlord on brawn alone. A person of great strength and personality, he has the foresight and wisdom to not fall blindly into his desire for want of power, and take the bait of the Skavens unwittingly.

"You are wise, Overlord Skyre, for you realise all good things have a price in this world. I expect out of this alliance, that I would have full autonomous control within the Underempire. I shall have your consent in the activities of my Clan whatever they may be, and should I arouse opposition from conflicting parties, I can expect your voice in full support of my dealings. Do not worry, you will not regret your decision to join with me, if you would do so that is." Realising that Skyre was not to be deceived so easily, Skittar was forced to reveal more than he wanted to on the matter. Without a doubt, if he had played otherwise, Skyre's suspicions would only increase, and thus the likelihood of his plan failing.

"A highly tempting offer, but it would appear you would use me as a puppet, while you hold true control...Having autonomous control within the Underempire means you are effectively sealed off from my leadership, but I expect that to be of little consequence if you are to be my ally. Very well, I shall give due consideration to your offer. Know this, the Great Clan of Skyre shall not be made used of!"

Skyre's proud speech impressed Skittar greatly. Surely this is an alliance of unchallenged might! With strong support from such a formidable Supreme Overlord in the Skavens' future undertakings, Skittar could only expect the smooth fruition of the Great Scheme, and the complete dominance of the Skavens in the far future.

With that last statement, Skittar realised there was nothing he could do to further persuade the Overlord. It was now all left to the hands of Fate. Taking his leave, he made his next stop before the cessation of the Recess towards the King's Chamber of the mysterious Warp Runner Sneik. It was there that the true course of the Great Scheme would be decided.

~

"Good evening, fellow Council Representative. I have urgent matters to discuss with you, pertaining to your role in the new coming Age. If you would allow me in..."

"...we can begin discussions on this most serious issue." Skittar made sure the door was firmly locked before proceeding. Nothing to be said in this chamber was to get out.

"Good evening, Skavenlord Skittar. What is this pressing matter you have come to address me about?"

"Before that, I would like to ask how is it that a Warp Runner come to occupy a seat that is more suited to a Nightlord?"

"I will not disclose such information willingly, at least without a clear reason to."

"And a clear reason you will have, soon. As you know, the decision of the claim on the Throne is to be decided soon, at the end of this Recess. I have already made plans to have that claim transferred to a most trusted source, delivering us all from the need of a vote. And I trust your seconding of my choice for the new Ruling Clan, after all that has been said in this chamber."

"And why should I not instead place my trust and counsel with this new Supreme Overlord?' queried Sneik.

"That is because the new Ruling Clan would merely be a puppet to the real power behind the scenes."

"And you have come to me..."

"In order to secure that power."

"Hmm...and to what gain does Clan Eshin benefit from this dark dealing? You would use our power over the shadows, I am sure you know how much you are asking?"

"You have caught on quick, my fellow Council Representative, or should I say Lead Assassin Sneik?" A look of surprise enveloped Sneik's face. "Do not be surprised. It took me a while to deduce that the seat as important as the Council Representative would only be attended to by someone as important as you...all the more you have to hear what I have to say." With the Lead Assassin's own hand in this darkest of dealings, the Skavens would gain a powerful card, a power that cannot be denied by any in the tangled workings of the Underempire.

"As you know, your Clan has been much diminished ever since the Great Clan War fought a few Starlight Cycles ago. It has left your Clan severely depleted of numbers, and thus your Clan would benefit most from an alliance with a strong clan. Which would be us, Clan Skaven, as I am so kindly offering to you right now, but even us, the winner in this most recent war, would require political support in order for things to move in favour of our side. Do not forget that it was all due to Clan Moulder that your Clan is in its current state." Skittar could see Sneik clenched up in hatred at the very mention of their tragic loss.

"Besides, your Clan has yet to fulfill its duty as bound by the Great Debt. I shall let you know now that it was us who saved your lives back in Grand Cathay. It was our Seers that reactivated the Warpportal, for without so doing would mean certain doom to your Tribe then. I insist that you remember the Great Debt, and I shall consider it repaid as long as I have your full cooperation as my trusted aide, my own personal Assassin."

Sneik knew he was right. The Warpportals proved far too complex to be reactivated even by their Sorcerers, and they simply accepted they had done it on their own merit without knowing better. It is interesting too to note, that a clan of assassins would hold such high regard for integrity and honour. Understanding that it is a mere personal sacrifice for the greater good of his Clan, as it will undoubtedly strengthen his Clan's influence with this newfound alliance, Sneik bowed low before Skavenlord Skittar. "It would be my personal honour to be so duty-bound in your service."

"Keep this secret from your fellows and superiors in the Council of the Night. It would do no good and only add complications should they learn of this, but you shall be my hand in forcing the opinion of the Council in acting in favour of the Skavens. You may however reveal to them our secret allegiance that was forged in this very chamber today. Let us join the power of the Skavens with that of Eshin!"

"Clan Skyre shall be a mere puppet in the coming of this new Age. You will see great things happening, Lead Assassin Sneik, things that will change the course of events within the Underempire, and indeed the whole of Hrudom. You have to remember, if support is not given to my move to pass on the claim of the Throne to a Representative of my choice, Clan Moulder and other supporters on his side may easily shift opinion to voting as a means to elect a new Supreme Overlord, which will be to our undoing!"

At that point, a voice sounded from the Council Chamber, alerting all to the end of the Recess.

~

"So now, it has come back to the business of the claim on the Throne. Shall we have our voting session now?" Griffkin was keen to see to the end of the rulership of the Skavens.

"I will relinquish my position as Supreme Overlord of all Hrudom should the Great Treaty that was signed between Clan Eshin and the Great Kinship be opened to Clan Skaven," bursts Skittar, before any other actions could be taken. "In addition, I choose Clan Skyre as the new Ruling Clan, and Overlord Skyre as the new Supreme Overlord of the Underempire."

"What better a choice than the very first Supreme Overlord, Overlord Skyre, and the Ruling Clan of Clan Skyre?" quipped Warp Runner Sneik.

"If none object, then I am open to accept the offer for my Clan being the Ruling Clan, as long as all are in accord to the terms of agreement that shall be established between Clan Skaven and Clan Eshin...after all, Clan Skaven has indeed relinquish the great boon of the Throne. As Clan Moulder is a major loser in the recent war, and Clan Pestilens away in this emergency Great Council, none of the Great Clans but mine is free to take up the burden of the Throne. I think all is set in order."

"All that has been said is true and sounds well...indeed, this might be the best arrangement for the coming age, which shall be called..." the Greater Verminlord remarked.

"I think we shall keep it as it is for now, that is, the Age of Beasts." said Overlord Skyre.

The Dark Age of Skavens

With Clan Moulder suffering huge losses in the recent Third War, while Clan Skyre having most of its key leaders assassinated in the Great Skirmishes, the succession of the Great Clans and their hold over the Throne had been overthrown. Now it was the time of the Skavens, the Dark Age of Skavens. It was called the Dark Age because it was the time of the rule of the Skavens despite Skyre and his Clan possessing the front and status of Supreme Overlord and Ruling Clan, when in truth, it was the Skavens who held power. They led from the shadows, the Shadow Hand of Clan Eshin their police force, an omnipresent entity within the Underempire. Chiefly however, it was called the Dark Age for it was the darkest time ever in the Hrud's turbulent history. The power of the Skavens was so absolute that none could oppose them openly, and they behaved as lords among their serfs, taking whatever they wanted, and doing as they pleased. Should any object to them, they would be sure to face swift death in the form of Skittar's most trusted servant, the Lead Assassin himself, Sneik.