"Ska felt his musk glands try to clench but he fought down the urge with a hissed breath and a shudder. He rose to his full height, feeling almost as massive in his gromril armour. He took his axe in two paws and stared down the oncoming orc. The Orc broke into a run, leaving the lesser green-things behind him and driving tiny cracks into the long-suffering stones. Ska tried to ignore the vibrations trembling through his footpaws. He was Ska Bloodtail. He would win."
- —Ska Bloodtail, preparing to face the Orc Warboss and Troll-Eater, Gorfang Rotgut.
Ska Bloodtail of Clan Mors is the right paw of Queek Headtaker and the Fangleader of Queek’s elite, the Red Guard. He is considered dimwitted, brutish and stupid. However, he is capable, loyal and fearless by Skaven standards. Although his unmatched loyalty is by far his most defining feature.
Ska has stood unflinching before one of the chosen of the Horned Rat, the Grey Seer, Razzel to protect Queek from malicious magic. Taken a dagger in the heart to save Queek from a Clan Rictus ambush led by Fangleader Toskitt, without thinking of his own well being, and has also diligently shoved his warlord out of cave-ins, consequently exposing himself to the rubble. More important yet, he is still alive to protect his superior. He is what every Skaven wants in a lackey, but sorely lacks. Despite this, Ska Bloodtail is probably the only Skaven in the entirety of the under-empire that has the strength of arm to commands Queek's respect, the loyalty to ensure his trust and meekness to survive in his position as the underling of Queek Headtaker.
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History[]
"Ska! Break them! called Queek, cutting down two more of the Black Orcs."
"Ska nodded, slammed a Black Orc out of the way, and leapt at their standardbearer. The Black Orcs' metal icon wobbled in the air as Ska attacked, then fell."
- —Ska fells the War Banner of Drillaz Killaz.
Ska Bloodtail is a fairly influential Skaven since he earned the trust of Queek, which is a powerful diplomatic tool and useful for intimidation. Although he is frightening in his own right without the threat of the Headtaker, he is sturdy, strong and unusually large even for a Stormvermin, standing as tall as a tall man, larger than Queek and even Lord Gnawdwell himself, further built into an almost geological immensity by the plates of Gromril he wears. Ska pieced together the scavenged parts of dwarfish rune-metal himself in order to fit them around his monstrous frame. Despite his own glories and feats, Ska Bloodtail is most known for being Queek's lackey, a duty he was assigned to by his previous master and mentor, Lord Gnawdwell. Ska is always where his Warlord is, with a ready clawpack of Red Guard at his disposal. With more than his share of battlefield expertise and many scars to show for it, Ska is also responsible for all military matters Queek should be doing as a Warlord, such as recruiting troops and administering the verminous hordes that accompany him. In battle he relays commands from Queek, he also keeps an eye on Queek's subordinates to make sure they don't think of betraying him.
The first recorded major battle where Ska took part, was when Queek Headtaker and Sleek Sharpwit led an army to sabotage the forges of Karak Azul, he was present during the battle as part of Queek's honour guard. In addition to this, when Queek led his army to battle the greenskins of Black Crag, Ska Bloodtail was tasked with making sure the grey seer, Razzel, died. During the hectic battle, he eventually had to give up on the frightened grey seer and engage the enemy with his Stormvermin, if only to anchor the line long enough for Queek to retrieve King Kazador's kin.
End Times[]
During the final assault on Karak Eight Peaks, together with Queek Headtaker and his Red Guard, Ska fought Belegar Ironhammer's Iron Brotherhood to seize victory. Ska Bloodtail was more than a match for even King Belegar's seasoned bodyguards, a grand testament to his strength and martial prowess.
Already a seasoned war veteran in his own right, Ska showed his resolve during the last battle against Skarsnik's horde. The Night Goblin Warboss had Black Orcs from the Darklands to butcher the already wavering Skaven, however, Queek promised breeding rights to the three of his Red Guard who killed the most. This proved sufficient to incite the Stormvermin to new heights of courage, and Ska once again was more than up to the task. He wrestled with the raw strength of the Black Orcs, using his own massive bulk to match the brutality of his adversaries. After Queek had defeated their leader he ordered Ska to kill their standardbearer, and Ska Bloodtail obliged.
Ska fought alongside his master when the Headtaker was finally slain by Thorgrim Grudgebearer, causing his army to rout. While the vast majority of his regiment fell in battle against Thorgrim's Everguard, Ska's eventual fate is unknown...