"Shamans are nasty buggers as it iz, but Raknik is one depraved gobbo!"
- —Description of Raknik Spiderclaw in Total War: Warhammer II.[4]
Raknik Spiderclaw, the self-proclaimed "Spider King," was a Goblin Shaman and the leader of the Spiderclaw tribe of Forest Goblins.[3]
History[]
Raknik and his tribe were hired by a servant of Tzeentch to capture Karl Franz in 2502 IC in order to stop him from being elected as the new Emperor of Man. They ambushed the Prince of Altdorf while he and a group of Reiksguard were patroling the forest near the Imperial capital city. While the Forest Goblins had the element of surprise, they retreated after Karl Franz slew one of their shamans and his Arachnarok Spider mount with the blade of his Runefang. Angered by the loss of the Arachnarok, which the Forest Goblins venerate as an aspect of their Spider-god, Raknik swore revenge and started plotting an attack on Altdorf.[1]
The Spider King returned to the Bloodpine Woods south of Altdorf to regroup where, throughout the early 26th century IC, his tribe managed to tame several Giant Spiders. Few dared to enter the woods Raknik had taken as his domain, and several mercenaries were hired by the Imperial government to get rid of the [Spiderclaw Tribe]].[2a]
By 2517 IC, Raknik had gathered a large Goblin horde to his banner, including several Arachnarok Spiders, and began rampaging across Reikland. The first move of Karl Franz's army was to strike at the Goblin heartland. Although they nearly succeeded in slaying the emperor at what became known as the Battle of Bloodpine Woods, the Goblin army was ultimately crushed. Raknik was slain and the Spiderclaw Tribe obliterated by the forces of the Empire.[3a]
Total War: Warhammer[]
In Total War: Warhammer II and Total War: Warhammer III, Raknik can be recruited by any of the major Greenskin factions -- either in the two games' primary Vortex and Realms of Chaos campaigns or in the combined Mortal Empires and Immortal Empires campaigns.