Nurglitch I, known as "Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch," was the first of the ruling plaguelords of the Skaven Clan Pestilens, and the bearer of the name Nurglitch that would eventually become a title for all of his successors.[1a]
Nurglitch I was responsible not only for Pestilens' ascension as a Great Clan and their seat on the Council of Thirteen, but also for the corruption that gnarls their bodies and marks their souls.[1a]
History[]
Challenging Lord Vask[]
Nurglitch I rose to become the leader of Clan Pestilens because he was considered the mightiest of the clan's ruling plaguelords at the time of his ascension. He devastated the Southlands with terrible plagues, enslaving or destroying any Skaven Warlord Clans who would not willingly come under his clan's thrall.[3b]
It was he who called a meeting of the Skaven Under-Empire's ruling Council of Thirteen towards the end of the First Skaven Civil War. Though promises were made by the Grey Seers that no assassination attempts would be made against the plaguelord, he came under assault multiple times. However, all of these attacks failed and Nurglitch arrived before the council in Skavenblight with his delegates. When he arrived, he humbly submitted to the authority of the council but demanded a trial-by-combat for a place among the ruling Lords of Decay.[3a][2a]
For added assurance, he informed them that he and his entourage were carrying a strain of Yellow Skull Fever that would be released should the meeting end unsatisfactorily. However, the council had its own black-clad murder-rats from Clan Eshin ready to kill their guests, should they not comply. Nurglitch agreed to engage in a duel against the Lord of Decay Vask high on top of the Shattered Tower's belfry platform, as Skaven tradition demanded for any who sought a seat on the Council of Thirteen. The outcome of the duel proved a near-thing, but ultimately Nuglitch prevailed.[3a][2a]
The arch-plaguelord had only abased himself to partake in such a combat to claim his position on the council due to the interference of Clan Eshin, which had recently returned from Grand Cathay after disappearing from the Under-Empire for centuries. When faced with the choice of joining with Clan Pestilens and its allied Pestilent Brotherhood to seize power over the Under-Empire directly or supporting the position of the Council of Thirteen, the assassins of Clan Eshin sided with the council, thus earning the eternal enmity of Nurglitch and the Pestilent Brotherhood. Clan Pestilens would have simply overthrown the combined might of Clan Moulder, Clan Skryre, and the Order of the Grey Seers to seize political control of the council had it not been for the timely intervention of the Eshin ratmen.[3a][2a]
After the passing of Lord Vask and the acquisition of his council seat by Clan Pestilens, a new tradition began among the clan. Whoever represented Clan Pestilens on the council as the arch-plaguelord and leader of the clan also took the name of the ancient and legendary Nurglitch I. Further, the Lords of Decay had a new, deadly weapon in their arsenal: the plagues and pathogens of Clan Pestilens.[2a]
Appearance[]
Nurglitch I was accompanied by his attendant, Bilios, and rode atop a gigantic mutant rat Nurglitch simply called Pox. So great was the aura of vileness around Nurglitch I that he caused great fear in his foes. Such was his passion for all things putrid that Nurglitch I was not only constantly filled with hatred for his foes, but also remained perpetually in a state of religious frenzy and fanaticism that inspired the same in his followers in Clan Pestilens and the Pestilent Brotherhood.[1a]
Nurglitch is the carrier of the Grim Ague, a horrible disease that permeates even the air that he breathes. However, this disease does not have any effect on red-crested skinks.
Wargear[]
- Blade of Nurglitch[1a]
- Censer- Bilios and Nurglitch both carry censers that leak unholy gas with the same effect as the Warpstone vapours of a Plague Censer.[1a]
- Bubonic Sceptre- This unremarkable-looking sceptre throbs with the essence of every disease indigenous to Lustria. The Bubonic Sceptre can be used to inflict vile contagions on Nurglitch's enemies.[1a]
Trivia[]
"Nurglitch" is an alternate name for the Chaos God Nurgle used in Norsca. It is unknown if there was a relationship between Nurglitch I and the Plague Lord.