"You owe your fur to the Nightlord...!"
- —Deathmaster Snikch, Chief Assassin of Clan Eshin.[3a]
Snikch is the Deathmaster, chief assassin and prime agent of Sneek, a Lord of Decay and the ruling Nightlord of the Skaven's Clan Eshin. His infamy is only exceeded by the mystery which surrounds his whereabouts at any particular time. Sneek ensures that this is the case -- as long as no one knows the location of his chief assassin no one can feel safe. Deathmaster Snikch has appeared all over the Old World at one time or another, seldom being seen but always leaving his distinctive symbol traced in blood beside the decapitated heads of his victims.[2a]
No one truly knows what horrors the Deathmaster has perpetrated during his long and mysterious existence. Of how many ships have been sunk or foundered with mysterious leaks or severed rigging, of how many towns have been consumed by fire or pestilence released from the sewers below or even how many people the Deathmaster has killed in his lifetime. It is only on the battlefield that the Deathmaster's presence can at least be known to dwell, stalking his victims, concealed beneath the magical Cloak of Shadows, its ensorcelled power strong enough to make a mockery of the most intricate defences. Where the stealthy tread of Deathmaster Snikch falls, no prince or warlord is safe from his blades.[1a]
History[]
"Slay kill. Poison for man-things, point-ears and dwarf-thing alike."
- —Deathmaster Snikch, Chief Assassin of Clan Eshin[4a]
Ever since Snikch became the Deathmaster of Clan Eshin, his deeds have become legend amongst the Warlord Clans. When acting on the orders of the Council of Thirteen, Snikch leaves his distinctive symbols behind so that all will know who was responsible for whatever grisly act he has completed.
Deathmaster Snikch, the deadliest Eshin Assassin known to Skavendom.
For instance, Warlord Sskut of Murkpit had his neatly removed head stacked atop 100 other heads taken from his slain Stormvermin bodyguard. When Clan Festerlingus began selling their own mutated mix of Giant Rat and alligator, it was Snikch's mark that was scrawled over the mutator's bodies. Such rituals are enacted when the Nightlord of Clan Eshin wants to seed terror, as an example to those that cross Clan Eshin or the Council of Thirteen.[2a]
Of course, such gory rituals are only enacted when the Nightlord feels that an example should be made, usually to other defiant Skaven. In the lands of Men, Elves, and Dwarfs it is harder still to divine the Deathmaster's presence, save perhaps by effect and implication only. For example, the bizarre deaths of Frederick Hasselhoffen and his entire household in Altdorf have never been explained to this day. And the fate of the Celestial Wizard Heinrich Frisen, found flayed in his observatory tower with the door still locked from the inside, left city watch officials mystified. Many muttered about Daemons but the truly erudite know that Daemons seldom leave so few clues.[2a]
Almost assuredly the fate of the Heinrich Frisen was the work of Snikch. The Dwarf Lord Dromgar, brother to King Belegar of Karak Eight Peaks, was slain in a heavily fortified stronghold. That Dromgar is still missing his head points strongly to the ultimate killer. While a master of murder, it is likely that Snikch is also behind many of the ratmen's most devious acts of sabotage. The Great Fire of Lothern, the bombing of the Imperial Navy in the Reiksport, and the destruction of Dwarf Engineer Thornik Thorson's Iron Cog-dragon on the eve of the Battle of the Bitter Peak, yet no one truly knows if this is the work of the mysterious Deathmaster.[1a]
Storm of Chaos[]
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Attention, Empire Citizens!
This article or this section of the article contains information regarding the Storm of Chaos campaign and its aftermath, which is now considered a non-canon, alternate timeline.
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Sigil of Deathmaster Snikch and his Skaven Clan Eshin army, in Total War: Warhammer III.
In the alternate, non-canon timeline of the Storm of Chaos, Deathmaster Snikch returned from the Far East, leading Clan Eshin to support Archaon, the thirteenth Everchosen of Chaos Undivided. His assassins mainly focused on eliminating high-ranking Imperial officials, often within earshot of their personal guard.[6a]
In recent years, many of the most baffling and awe-inspiring killings in the Empire have been attributed to the feared Deathmaster. Some say that he dwelt within the halls of the Dwarf Hold of Karaz-a-Karak for an entire winter, preying relentlessly upon the inhabitants. As much as the Dwarfs searched their most ancient and well defended hold, they could never find the silent assassin. Many a noble Dwarf joined the Slayer Cult in dishonour as the Deathmaster continually evaded capture and circumvented even the most vigilant of guards to strike his lethal blows.[6b]
High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer lost two of his sons and his daughters to the blades of Snikch, so it is said, and yet the unseen assassin was barely glimpsed by the Dwarfs. None were more angered, frustrated and grief-stricken by this than the high king, and to make things worse, he knew not what name to add to the famed Great Book of Grudges other than Gorakthag-throk, which translates roughly to "murder-daemon of darkness."[6b]
The high king ordered the gates of Karaz-a-Karak sealed, locking the assassin in with the Dwarfs, for he believed that none could remain hidden indefinitely. This was proven wrong, however, when it was discovered that one of the many cunningly hidden secret entrances to the hold had been opened from the inside and its guards slain, each one found with a throwing star embedded in their neck.[6b]
Other stories attributed to the Deathmaster in recent years involve the killing of the famed Grail Knight Boragild of L'Anguille, a noble knight and victor of countless wars who was beloved across the entirety of Bretonnia. This epitome of knightly honour had his spine severed as he prayed, sending the entire kingdom into mourning.[6b]
As Archaon's forces pushed towards Middenheim on their quest to despoil the Empire during the Storm of Chaos, the Deathmaster returned to the Old World. Any appearance by this masterful assassin is much feared, but to make matters worse, he had not returned from the Far East alone, hfor he brought with him his Triad adepts -- Eshin Assassins personally trained by Snikch who work in closely bonded teams of three.[6b]
It is known that the Deathmaster has met with Throt the Unclean of Clan Moulder, and negotiated the purchase of one of the largest and most fearsome mutated creations ever spawned by the Master Mutators. What Clan Eshin intended with this immense burrowing creature is unknown.[6b]
It was the blade of Snikch that ended the life of Valten, the chosen of Sigmar, as he lay dying in his tent after his duel with the Everchosen. With the Empire reeling after its phyrric victory against the armies of Chaos, the Skaven prepared to strike against the realm of Men on their own.[7a]
Wargear[]
- Whirl of Weeping Blades - Deathmaster Snikch uses a secret three-sword technique when he goes on the hunt for the next target. With a poisoned Weeping Blade in both hands and his own tail, few warriors can survive long against the Deathmaster.[1a]
- Warpstone Stars - These throwing weapons are coated with deadly poison that eats through armour and flesh.[6c]
- Cloak of Shadows - Woven from stolen Human hair and spider silk, the Cloak of Shadows conceals and silences the wearer, making Snikch near-invisible when in darkness.[1a]
Miniatures[]
.jpg "Skaven Assassin Deathmaster Snikch (1).jpg (36 KB)")
.jpg "Skaven Assassin Deathmaster Snikch (2).jpg (50 KB)")
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 75
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 73
- 3: Thanquol and Boneripper: Thanquol's Doom (Novel) by C.L. Werner
- 3a: Ch. 2: "Streets of Skavenblight"
- 4: Warhammer Invasion Card
- 5: Unseen (Short Story) by David Guymer
- 5a: Ch. 1
- 6: White Dwarf 296 (UK)
- 7: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Children of the Horned Rat - A Guide to the Skaven (RPG)
- 7a: pg. 34
Gallery[]
