Council of Thirteen

The insidious Council of Thirteen is the nefarious body comprised of twelve of the most powerful Skaven clan lords that rules over the Skaven Under-Empire. Its eponymous thirteenth member is symbolically the Horned Rat. Its mortal members are known as the "Lords of Decay."

The mortal Council of Thirteen also has a daemonic counterpart in the Horned Rat's Realm of Ruin in the Aethyr known as the Shadow Council of Thirteen comprised of the most powerful and influential of the Skaven deity's Verminlord Daemons and the Great Horned One himself.

Role[]

The Council of Thirteen's members, known as the "Lords of Decay," are always twelve in number, being completed symbolically by the Horned Rat. The positions on the council command a descending order of precedence. The first and twelfth places (the right and left hand of the Horned Rat) are the most important seats and the sixth and seventh places the least.

The seats on the council are occupied by the most wicked and cunning of Skaven. In times past any clan leaders strong and devious enough could seize power if only he could depose a rival and "create" a vacancy. However, not since the Second Skaven Civil War and the coming of the Horned Rat have any challengers defeated, disposed of or else supplanted any of the existing Lords of Decay.^[1a]

The Council of Thirteen was reformed under the commands of the Horned Rat who laid out the dictates of rulership on the 13-sided Black Pillar of Commandments. This unholy monument, made of purest Warpstone, was also a test for any aspirant to the Council, as only the favoured of the Horned Rat could touch its rune-inscribed surface and survive.

However, those that lived became the most powerful of all Skaven, gifted with unnatural longevity and imbued with dark power. The Horned Rat ordered all Skaven to obey his new council or else feel his wrath. The Skaven, notoriously craven, dared not defy their god or his favoured servants.^[1a]

Skaven politics are convoluted and labyrinthine beyond imagining. There exists many complex and intricate laws that must be obeyed, including a system whereby a Council member can veto his opposite number, a method of overruling and proxy voting.

The results are a circle of maze-like plots, blackmails, manipulations and even assassination attempts. However, scheming and plotting come naturally to Skaven and no doubt even these machinations amuse the Horned Rat greatly.^[1a]

Current Lords of Decay[]

Milek-jakubiec-skaven016 — A meeting of the twelve Lords of Decay who make up the Council of Thirteen.

1st Seat: Seerlord Kritislik -- Grand Grey Seer of all Skavendom, and secret ruler of Clan Scruten.
- This seat, called the Seerseat, always serves as the head of the Order of the Grey Seers.

2nd Seat: Warlord Gnawdwell -- Ruler of Clan Mors.^[4b]

3rd Seat Warlord Kratch Doomclaw -- Ruler of Clan Rictus.^[4a]

4th Seat: Paskrit the Vast -- Warlord-General of all Skavendom^[5b]. No known Clan affiliation.
- The corresponding rune matches one used by Clan Morbidus, so it is possible that he hails from that clan.

5th Seat: Warlord Vrisk Ironscratch -- Fleetmaster of the Skaven Clanfleet, ruler of Clan Skurvy.^[8]

6th Seat: Arch-Brutelord Hesh Vrakspine of Clan Krizzor, noted political rivals to Clan Moulder.

7th Seat: Arch-Pontifex Sitch -- Ruler of Clan Morbidus.^[7a]
- As a thrall clan, this seat grants Clan Pestilens additional sway despite its low rank on the council, always voting or vetoing in line with Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch's lead.

8th Seat: Lord Griznekt Mancarver of Clan Skab.^[7b]
- Clan Skab's ownership of this seat is determined by process of elimination in recent sources^[7b] but was previously said to have been in the 6th seat instead. This is further complicated by Clan Skab's apparent near-destruction at Nuln in 2499 IC.

9th Seat: Grand Nightlord Sneek -- Ruler of the Great Clan Eshin.^[3a]
- Despite Eshin being one of the Four Great Clans, Clan Mors and Clan Rictus, both Warlord Clans, have 'stronger' seats among the Lords of Decay.

10th Seat: Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch VII -- Ruler of the Great Clan Pestilens and leader of the Plaguelords.

11th Seat: Packlord Verminkin -- Packlord of Moulders ruler of the Great Clan Moulder.^[2a]

12th Seat: Lord-Warlock Morskittar -- Emperor of Warlocks, ruler of the Great Clan Skryre.^[4a]

13th Seat: The Horned Rat -- The Unholy God of all Skaven, seated symbolically with his will interpreted by the Grey Seers when needed.^[1a]

Lords of Decay Ca. 1111 IC[]

Seer Lord Skrittar of the Order of the Grey Seers, seated in the Seerseat (1st seat)^[9a] - Fearing the power of Clan Pestilens and the prospect of its dominance over all Skavendom, Seer Lord Skrittar, who was also one of the last Skaven to be called a Grey Lord, undertook a dangerous ritual of sorcery to loose shards of warpstone from the face of Morrslieb, the Chaos Moon. Skrittar sat on the council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Pontifex and Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch IV of Clan Pestilens^[9a] - The arch-plaguelord was a great, bloated ratman covered in the signature green robes of the Pestilent Brotherhood. He wore a hood and was covered in many scabs and buboes which threatened to burst free of his raiments and his breath was so rancid it caused flies to drop from the air. As is typical between the arch-plaguelord and Seer Lord of the Pestilent Brotherhood and the Order of the Grey Seers, respectively, he was the rival of Skrittar. The Pontifex had something of an accord with the Rictus Overlord, Vecteek, thinking their many Stormvermin were the key to the Great Ascendancy. His apprentice was Puskab Foulfur, possibly creator of the Black Death plague. Nurglitch IV sat on the Council of Thirteen during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Warpmaster Sythar Doom of Clan Skryre^[9a] - A wizened Skaven with flowing black robes and various contraptions and copper wires laced into and about his body. Warp electricity danced about the Warpmaster's teeth and his various bodily replacements were evidence of the assassination attempts he'd survived. His body was rigged to explode, should his heart ever stop beating. Sythar was no fan of Seerlord Skrittar and took pleasure in watching the Arch-Plaguelord gain an edge over him. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Great Warlord Vrrmik of Clan Mors, seated in the 2nd seat^[9a] - Vrrmik was the paramount Warlord of Clan Mors, and the rival of Vecteek. No one on the council hated Vecteek more than Vrrmik did as the other ratman would often steal all of the glory of battle for his own Clan, leaving none for Mors. He had bone white fur and contrasting ebony Warpstone Armour forged by Clan Skryre, which stood starkly against it. Even out of his armor, Vrrmik was huge and formidable, hefting a stolen dwarven hammer called Drakdrazh over his shoulder. He would rise in rank after Vecteek's death, taking the second seat, and renames the hammer Skavenbite when he does.

Wormlord Blight Tenscratch of Clan Verms^[9a] - The wormlord or leader of Clan Verms. Tenscratch revealed the secrets of the twelve tests to Puskab Foulfur, allowing the Plague Priest the chance to sit the Council. Shocking the Wormlord, however, Puskab turned on him and named him the traitor in the midst of the ratkin and challenging him for his spot. Blight was faster and stronger, but Puskab had cunning, magic, and the favor of the Horned Rat. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC before his demise.

Shadowmaster Kreep of Clan Eshin^[9a] - Kreep was the ruling nightlord of Clan Eshin and the master of the most lethal assassins in the Under-Empire. The Shadowmaster had long black robes and spoke in a whisper. Religious ferver and bribes made him a reliable backer of Seerlord Skrittar's plans, which made others on the council see him as Skrittar's "lap-rat". Sat on the council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

High Vivisectionist Rattnak Vile of Clan Moulder^[9a] - Rattnak was a massive, warpsnuff-abusing Skaven; his bulk was such that only a heavily poison-coated Eshin blade could reliably down him. He had a favored apprentice in Slavemaster Skuzzyl. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Bonelord Nekrot of Clan Mordkin^[9a] - Nekrot was the unnerving Supreme Warlord of Clan Mordkin. He wore the bones of his predecessor and bleached the fur of his body white to appear as skeletal as his boney assemblage. The Bonelord had a broad bronze Khopesh for a weapon which he kept in a scabbard made from the pelt of late Bonelord Karkus. His clan assisted Seerlord Skrittar, excited at the prospect of killing and eating the Undead. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Murderlord Raksheed Deathclaw of Clan Skully^[9a] - A large Skaven, Deatchclaw's appearance was hidden within a red hood. Raksheed was the rival of Kreep and his Clan had warrens pocked underneath the sands of Araby. Their nearness to the powerful Clan Pestilens incentivized the Murderlord to curry and maintain favor with the Plague Skaven. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

General Bonestab of Clan Grikk^[9a] - Bonestab was the master of Clan Grikk, a large ratman encased in steel. He sat upon the Council of Thirteen during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Warlord Manglrr Baneburrow of Clan Fester^[9a] - Manglrr Baneburrow was the commander of all of Clan Fester's teeming hordes. Eventually, however, clan Fester would fall under Pestilens' sway and Manglrr would forfeit his seat to Vrask Bilebroth. Before this came to pass, Baneburrow was a partner of the Seerlord and the pair set out to gather Warpstone meteorite shards that the Skrittar had loosed the year prior to the expedition from the face of Morrslieb. Sat the Council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Vecteek the Murderous of Clan Rictus seated in the 12th seat^[9a] - With silky black fur and baleful grey eyes, Vecteek was one of the Greatest and Fiercest Warlords in Skaven history. Also the Leader of the Verminguard, charged with guarding the Shattered Tower, he was the Warmonger of Clan Rictus. Vecteek had an accord with Pontifex Nurglitch IV, who had brewed a plague that would affect humans but not skaven. The hope was that the killing power of the plague and Rictus' many Stormvermin would be a powerful enough force to bring about the Great Ascendency. He was one of the Grey Lords and was ascended as a Verminlord. Vecteek sat on the council during the time of the Black Death in the year 1111 IC.

Poxmaster Puskab Foulfur of Clan Pestilens - Once a mere Plague Priest, Puskab gained prominence when he single-handedly brought low the warren of Clan Verms and later killed it's leader, Blight Tenscratch, in a challenge for his position on the Council. Ironically, Tenscratch was also the Skave who made his ascent possible, sponsoring the Poxmaster and conniving to get him through the Twelve Tests designed to kill any would-be challengers to the Council's places and power.

Plaguelord Vrask Bilebroth of Clan Pestilens - The hated rival of Puskab Foulfur, it is possible that the credit for the Black Death was stolen from Vrask. Bilebroth made alliances with several ratmen in order to usurp Foulfur's place as Nurglitch IV's favorite, including Warlord Krritch of Clan Mors and even the Seerlord himself, but ultimately it is the abdication of a Council seat by Manglrr Baneburrow, most recent Thrall of Clan Pestilens, that sees Vrask stepping into his own seat and once again on equal footing with his rival, Puskab Foulfur.

Former Notable Lords of Decay[]

Plaguelord Nurglitch I of Clan Pestilens^[10a] - The first ratmen of Pestilens to sit the Council, Nurglitch won his place in a trial-by-combat against Vask. Vask was stronger, but a lethal bite from the Plaguelord proved to be his undoing. Ever since his victory, susequent Arch-Plaguelords, the leaders and representatives of Pestilens, have taken his name in lieu of their own.

Warlord Grassk of Clan Rikek^[10a] - Grassk was a Warlord from the powerful clan of Rikek. His clan had been appointed to mine Nagashizzar and became rich and powerful on the Warpstone deposits found there. The clan was later crushed by Nagash and his forces in a single night. As the entire clan was destroyed, it is presumed Grassk perished in the attack with his fellow ratmen.

Warlord Kreptitch of Clan Rictus^[11a] - Following Vecteek's demise at the hands of Graf Gunthar, Kreptitch rose in his place as a Lord of Decay. He occupied a lower seat, as Vrrmik had laid claim to the coveted 12th seat. Kreptitch was a simpering, nervous ratman wholly unfit to be Vecteek's replacement. Such were all of Vecteek's subordinates, as the Warmonger ensured no Warlord would ever threaten his place by murdering any he felt posed the slightest threat to him.

Lord Vask, lost the 10th seat to Nurglitch I ^[10a] - Vask sat on the Council of Thirteen between the First and Second Skaven Civil Wars. He was a burly Skaven, wielding twin cleavers, which he used in his duel with Nurglitch I atop the Shattered Tower. The plaguelord finally killed him with a bite to the throat, which quickly became infected. Vask fell to his death, off the edge of the Belfry's platform, losing his seat to Nurglitch.

Canon Conflicts[]

Griznekt Mancarver was said to hold the 6th seat on the Council of Thirteen in earlier Warhammer canon material, but must actually be placed in the 8th seat by process of elimination according to more current sources.^[7b]

The sourcebook Children of the Horned Rat for the 2nd Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay holds that the Warlord Clans currently sitting on the council include: Clan Mors, Clan Skab, Clan Flem, Clan Skaar, Clan Sleekit, Clan Skaul, and Clan Verms. This information is drastically inconsistent with other sources, notably missing Clan Rictus and Clan Skurvy.

Sources[]

1: Warhammer: Uniforms & Heraldry of the Skaven (Background Book)
- 1a: pg. 6
- 1b: pp. 56-57
- 1c: pg. 34
2: Thanquol and Boneripper: Grey Seer (Novel) by C.L Werner
- 2a: Ch. 2: Maze of Merciless Penance
3: Thanquol and Boneripper: Temple of the Serpent (Novel) by C.L Werner
- 3a: Ch. 2: "Streets of Skavenblight"
4: Rise of the Horned Rat (Novel) by Guy Haley
- 4a: Prologue
- 4b: Ch.2: "Lord Gnawdwell"
5: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 17
- 5b: pg. 8
6: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition)
- 6a: pg. 25
- 6b: pg. 30
- 6c: pg. 31
7: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Horned Rat Companion (RPG)
- 7a: pg. 9
- 7b: pg. 10
- 7c: pg. 12
8: All Tunnels Lead To Skavenblight (Short Story) by Andy Hall and Chris Gambold
9: Dead Winter (Novel) by C.L. Werner
- 9a: Ch. 2
106:Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition)
- 10a pg. 20
11: Blighted Empire (Novel) by C.L. Werner
- 11a: Epilogue