Albino Stormvermin

"In a society as corrupt and perfidious as this, the law-makers must be protected from those over whom they rule."

—The Skaven military elite.^[2]

A pair of Albino Stormvermin carrying a representative of the Council.

Albino Stormvermin, also known as the Albino Guard and the Council Guard, are perhaps the deadliest of all Skaven warriors. They serve as the hulking, elite Stormvermin bodyguard of the Under-Empire's ruling Council of Thirteen and the guardians of their council chambers in the Shattered Tower of Skavenblight.

Albino Stormvermin also serve as guards for other Skaven figures of import, such as the Grey Seers.

Role

"Was that the secret? Some hidden clutch of brood-mothers kept by the council that only produced these hulking, white-furred specimens? It would not be the first time the Skaven used Warpstone and other substances to influence the ratlings forming in the bellies of the broodmothers."

—Grey Seer Thanquol considers the origins of the Albino Stormvermin

A trio of Albino Stormvermin depicted within the background books, Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven

The Albino Stormvermin are one of the greatest and most disciplined military forces within the Under-Empire, taken from birth due to their albino colouration and trained by the Council of Thirteen to be near-incorruptible and loyal bodyguards. They are some of the best warriors the Council of Thirteen has to offer, and serve as a symbol of power and prestige to those that have them as their bodyguards, for it means that the Skaven holds the favour of the council.^[1a]

Each Albino Stormvermin is as large as any Skaven Warlord, but possesses a near-alien level of obedience and loyalty to those they protect. One of their most notable characteristics is Albino Stormvermin are all mute, perhaps as a way to ensure that should one of their numbers defect, they will not be able to compromise the secrets of the Council of Thirteen.^[1a]

The true cause of the Albino Guards' appearance is unknown. Some believe they simply dye their fur white, or that it turns white the very moment they are inducted into the service of the Thirteen. It is even rumoured that they are all Skaven mutants, purchased at vast expense from the breeding-stocks of Clan Moulder.^[3]

The infamous Grey Seer Thanquol considered the subject once, and postulated that the Council of Thirteen possessed a hidden stock of specially-bred Skaven brood-mothers who only produce albino ratlings, noting that it would not be the first time the Skaven altered the brood-mothers and, by extension, the spawn they birthed. ^[4a]

In ages past, the Albino Stormvermin's duty to guard the Shattered Tower in Skavenblight and the Council of Thirteen was held by the Verminguard. However, they did still guard Grey Seers and Seer Lords.

Trivia

The "Grand Supreme Warlord of All Skavendom" during the time of the Black Death in 1111 IC, Vrrmik of Clan Mors, was himself an albino Skaven, yet he was never inducted into the Council Guard. Indeed, he possessed his own seat on the Council of Thirteen. Vrrmik sat on the council long before the establishment of the Albino Stormvermin as the Council Guard, which is most likely the reason he never served among their ranks.

Sources

• 1: Thanquol and Boneripper: Temple of the Serpent (Novel) by C.L Werner
  • 1a: Ch. 1: "Shadows of Skavenblight"
• 2: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
• 3: Warhammer Armies: The Skaven (4th Edition), pg.79
• 4: Grey Seer (Novel) by C.L. Werner
  • 4a: pg. 97

Gallery

• Portrait of a Council Guard

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