"So perish, all who defy me!"
- —Sneek, as he kills Clan Pestilens ratman Hakflem
Sneek, also called the Grand Nightlord, is the current Nightlord of Clan Eshin, the title used by the leader of that clan of furtive Skaven killers. This ancient Skaven is one of the terrifying and powerful Lords of Decay who rule over the Under-Empire as a member of the Council of Thirteen.
Not much is known about the Nightlord; he is as secretive as any ratman in his clan; perhaps even more so. Even his fellow Lords of Decay are never sure where his loyalties lie, as he rarely offers his opinion on the matter at hand in Council of Thirteen meetings. This results in the other Council of Thirteen members always distrusting the motives of the reticent ratman.[2a]
As is typical, Sneek's instrument of choice when it came to assassinating high-profile targets was his favored Deathmaster, an Eshin Skaven named Snikch. However, despite his advanced age, Sneek was just as deadly as his Deathmaster. A representative of Clan Pestilens tried to assassinate Sneek and his clanrats with a vial of Red Pox by throwing it amidst the ratmen. In a blur of speed, Sneek caught the vial before it broke and ordered his followers to eliminate the would-be assassin. Afterwards, he casually resumed business with the remaining Clan Moulder representative.[3a]
Sneek has a fairly active role in overseeing the progress and skill of the Eshin Assassins. It is the Nightlord who decides which of his dojo's ratmen will progress to be Master Assassins, a rank which the chosen Skaven must undergo a trial to attain. This is inevitably an incredibly difficult mission of some kind -- the assassination of a high-ranking Skaven or Imperial official, for example -- and it must be completed according to a very strict timetable.[2b]
Skilled ratmen, typically Gutter Runners, come to the attention of the Nightlord through the chitterings of his close subordinates. If convinced of their skill, Sneek will summon them before him and the trials for the title of Eshin Assassin begin.[2b]
History[]
Council of Thirteen[]
At some point before or during the Great Summoning, Sneek joined the Council of Thirteen and has been on in the two centuries since. It is Sneek's forces that are partially responsible for the long tenure of each of the current Lords of Decay, as the Council of Thirteen sends Eshin's black-clad rats to murder anyone they feel is a threat to them.[3a]
Assassination of Xiuhcoatl[]
"Kritislik and Tisqueek are even now selling your mangy pelt to curry favor with Nurglitch."
The Nightlord took an interest in Thanquol following the infamous Grey Seer's debacle with the Wormstone and Clan Pestilens.[4a]
The Grey Seer thought this interest indicated Sneek's intent to dispose of him, but it was for a different purpose: Kritislik, the seer lord of the Order of the Grey Seers, and Nurglitch VII, the arch-plaguelord of Clan Pestilens, were, despite their mutual loathing, working together to tamp down the ambitions of Clan Skryre. Both leaders of the Skaven's rival religious sects despised the impious Warlock-Engineers of Skryre, but Sneek was concerned about this alliance and determined to weaken it. He sent one of his Eshin Assassins to fetch Thanquol, though his earlier comments implied he wanted the ratman dead. Thanquol was transported to Sneek's pagoda, which lay somewhere deep in Skavenblight.[4a]
Sneek had sent his Eshin Sorcerer Shen Tsinge and his Master Assassin Shiwan Stalkscent on a mission to kill a Lizardman deep in the jungles of Lustria. Thanquol was to go with them, to ensure their honor-task was a success. Thanquol tried to slip away with the excuse that her had too many duties in Skavenblight to leave on such a quest, but Sneek threatened to unleash his Deathmaster, Snikch, on Thanquol if he did. That was enough to change the Grey Seer's mind.[4a]
Sneek explained that many breedings before, during the when the Grey Lords still ruled over Skavendom, Clan Pestilens built their power in Lustria and tried to take over the continent before being warded off by the Lizardmen's Cult of Sotek and their god, Sotek himself. Sneek revealed that the ratmen of Clan Eshin had a map to a particular temple where Sotek was said to lurk, being fed the hearts of Skaven by his prophet Xiuhcoatl. In order to treat with Clan Pestilens from a position of dominance, Sneek planned to kill the high priest of the arch-foe of the plaguelords of Pestilens.[4a]
When Thanquol spoke of a rogue Eshin Assassin tailing him, Sneek did not believe it, but sent Deathmaster Snikch to look into the matter. It was indeed true and Chang Fang, the rogue assassin, joined forces with the Plaguelord Skrolk in order to see Thanquol fail in his mission.[4a]
Appearance[]
Sneek was a black-furred Skaven with long fingers and equally long talons on each digit. On each nail were etched strange symbols, known only to the Men of Grand Cathay, the Nightlord, and his closest disciples. Sneek's eyes were sinister, hooded and red.[1a]
Sneeek was known to wear a mask and rarely joined in the bickering of his fellow Lords of Decay, speaking either in whispers or not at all. Like all the Skaven of Clan Eshin, he had his scent glands removed, so they could not betray his thoughts.[1a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy: Rise of The Horned Rat (Novel) by Guy Haley
- 1a Prologue
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: The Enemy Within Campaign - The Horned Rat Companion (RPG)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition)
- 3a: Pg. 20
- 4: Temple of the Serpent by C. L. Werner
- 4a: Ch. 2
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (6th Edition)
- 3a: pg. 7
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition)
- 4a: pg. 25