Deathmaster

"Before the first victim had even hit the floor, the Deathmaster was springing across the circle to open the throat of another witless sorcerer. It was exciting to watch the slaughter, thrilling to see an accomplished killer at work."

—Grey Lord Skrittar watches Deathmaster Silke as the Eshin Assassin murders his Grey Seer underlings

A deadly Skaven Deathmaster, wielding three blades.

Deathmaster is the title given to the most lethal Skaven in Clan Eshin's order of assassins. A Deathmaster is the deadliest and most skilled of the clan's Master Assassins, of which there were thirteen.^[3a]

Role

Skaven Deathmasters are the most deadly killers of Clan Eshin, masters of murder and sabotage. In battle they are a shadow able to appear at will and are the last thing many leaders see before joining the countless warlords, princes and notables who have already fallen before their blades.^[1]

The Deathmaster is second only to the ruling Nightlord of Clan Eshin, and is often personally dispatched by him in order to carry out operations, typically on high-profile targets. The Deathmaster may also be taught by the Nightlord, a gruelling process that includes being beaten and tortured among other agonies. This was to ensure that the assassin had no fear and did not falter in his tasks.^[2a]

Snikch, the current Clan Eshin Deathmaster

Extremely nimble Skaven, Deathmasters are some of the fastest Eshin agents, ratmen who are already quicker and more dextrous than the standard Clanrat.^[3][4a]

A Deathmaster may have several apprentices, these being the Master Assassins that serve the clan beneath him. Like all master-apprentice relationships in the Under-Empire, there was always enmity between teacher and student, with the Deathmaster and his Master Assassins perpetually scheming to bring about the downfall of one another.^[2a]

Wargear

• Weeping Blades - Deathmasters were skilled at Tail Fighting, enabling them to wade into battle with not one, not two, but three deadly Weeping Blades.
• Cloak of Shadows - All known Deathmasters have possessed a ,magical Cloak of Shadows, a cloak woven from the hair of their victims and integrated with Ulgu, the Grey Wind of Magic, which improves both its user's capability to remain unseen and their physical constitution.

Notable Deathmasters

• Deathmaster Silke - Deathmaster Silke was active during the time of the Black Death in 1111 IC. He was notably the ratman who killed Lord Vilner, the father of the great Imperial hero and future emperor Mandred Skavenslayer. He was later slain by Mandred himself, after he was betrayed by his underling Nartik. He had a Cloak of Shadows, woven from the hair of Changelings and Daemons.
• Deathmaster Nartik - Nartik attained his place as Deathmaster after the death of his master Silke, having had a paw in his demise. He assassinated Emperor Mandred II in 1152 IC. He attempted to assassinate the necromancer Frederick van Hal, but failed, barely escaping with his life.
• Deathmaster Snikch - Snikch is the chosen instrument of Nightlord Sneek, an infamous ratman with a reputation for grisly murders. No one can ever really tell where Snikch is at any given time, heightening the terror surrounding him.

Sources

• 1: Games Workshop Website: Skaven Deathmaster (Product Description)
• 2: Blighted Empire (Novel) by C. L. Werner
  • 2a: Ch. 21
• 3: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
  • 3a: The Shadow & The Blade (DLC)
• 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Children of the Horned Rat (RPG)
  • 4a: pp. 96-100

Gallery

Deathmaster Snikch of Clan Eshin