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The plaguelords, also spelled plague lords, are the seven highest-ranking Plague Priests within the theocratic Skaven Clan Pestilens who serve as its collective leadership beneath the rule of the current Nurglitch, Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch VII.[1a]
As is said in the Book of Woe, there were seven plaguelords, and their number always remained unchanged. With the hierarchy and efficiency typical of Clan Pestilens, each of the plaguelord titles carried with it specific duties related to the post.[1a]
Plaguelord Titles[]
- Right-Claw of the Arch-Plaguelord - The Right-Claw of the Arch-Plaguelord is the title of the first seat of the ruling plaguelord council of Clan Pestilens, and has long been held by Lord Skrolk.
- Archdeacon of Disease - The Archdeacon of Disease is the title of the second seat of the plaguelord council. It was most currently held by Lord Skrimanx before his death.
- Great Potentate of Pustulates - The Great Potentate of Pustulates is the title of the third seat of the plaguelord council. It was held by Lord Gritch until his demise at Itza during the End Times, after which it was held by Lord Seep.[1c]
- The fourth plaguelord's specific title is unclear. This seat was held by Lord Kreegix the Ravener until he was slain by the comet which demolished Tlaxtlan during the End Times, after which it was held by Lord Grule.
- Spreader of the Word - The Spreader of the Word is the title for the fifth plaguelord seat. Its holder is also the head of the Pestilent Brotherhood, the alliance of Clan Pestilens' Thrall Clans. It is currently held by Lord Blistrox.
- Pontifex of Plagues - The Pontifex of Plagues is the title of the sixth seat of the plaguelord council, and its holder also serves as the head of the Contagion Conclave. It is held by Lord Grilok.
- The seventh plaguelord's title, role, whereabouts, and identity are all unknown to those outside of Clan Pestilens, much to the consternation of the other Skaven Great Clans. Even the greatest of the Verminlords, Skreech Verminking, does not know this plaguelord's identity.
Other Notable Plaguelords[]
- Plaguelord Variolus - Variolus was the sponsor of Grilok. He was slain by Skrolk for displeasing him.[1d]
- Plaguelord Skratquik - Skratquik was a plaguelord who was assassinated thanks to the machinations of Thanquol. He was near to completing an improved strain of Yellow Pox; Nurglitch VII was forced to disavow him when he was discovered. He tried to avenge his fellow plaguelord during the pursuit of the Skaven artefact known as the Wormstone.
- Plaguelord Puskab Foulfur - A plaguelord during the era of the Black Death in 1111 IC, Puskab Foulfur was a possible creator of the original strain of the Black Death. He earned a place on the Council of Thirteen after winning the seat from Blight Tenscratch, the ratman who ironically allowed him to challenge the council in the first place. After taking the position, Foulfur became the right-claw of Nurglitch IV, who had been his mentor. After a variant of his plague ravaged Skavenblight as a result of the machinations of the Grey Seers who sought to erode the growing political power of Clan Pestilens, Foulfur was torn apart by an angry mob, killed in a plot set up by Seer Lord Queekual, the leader of the Order of the Grey Seers at that time.
- Plaguelord Vrask Bilebroth - Vrask Bilebroth was the great rival of Puskab Foulfur and also claimed to have been the creator of the Black Death pathogen in 1111 IC. He gained his rank of plaguelord after the Grey Lord Skrittar's death, when he deceived Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch IV and claimed that he had a paw in causing the Grey Lord's demise.
- Arch-Plaguelord Nurglitch I - The first of the plaguelords, Nurglitch I was also the strongest of their number in his day. It was he who first travelled from Clan Pestilens' home on the continent of Lustria to the Under-Empire's capital of Skavenblight in the Old World in order to challenge one of the Council of Thirteen for their position as a Lord of Decay. Lord Vask was the Skaven Nurglitch I proceeded to duel, slay and ultimately replace. Clan Pestilens has continuously maintained representation on the Council of Thirteen as one of the Great Clans since then. Due to his great deeds, Nurglitch's name would be taken as a title by all of the future arch-plaguelords of Clan Pestilens.