Under Empire

"An endless series of tunnels that team with an unimaginable number of Skaven. We twiddle our thumbs and fight amongst ourselves while our very doom is skurrying beneath us."

-Mandred Efferet The Under Empire is the empire that the Skaven race ows its loyalty. The empire consists of a network of Skaven tunnels and strongholds that stretches all across the globe. Although the majority of Skaven strongholds are situated in Europe, the tunnels stretch under Nehekhara , the lands of Africanas , the continent of Nord America , South America , and even distant Cathay, and Ind.

No continent except Ulthuan remains untouched, and this is only because the Skaven cannot penetrate the magical defences, and there are creatures that can detect even the stealthiest Clan Eshin assassin. However, it is only a matter of time before the Council of Thirteen find a way.

Only the Dwarfs have the faintest knowledge of how large the Under-Empire truly is. Many Dwarf Holds have already been lost to the Skaven, whilst the rest are constantly under siege from below. Even the lower levels of Karaz-a-Karak, the Karak Ankor capital, are sealed and guarded to prevent the Skaven rising up to destroy the city. Likewise, the realms of men are riddled with Skaven tunnels. Most men remain completely unaware of this, but whether this is due to simple ignorance or the magic of the Grey Seers is unknown. Regardless, the Skaven have major lairs underneath Nuln, Marienburg and Middenheim in the Empire.

Skavenblight
Main Article : Skavenblight Skavenblight is the capital of the Under Empire. The birthplace of the Skaven race, the city is located in central Italy. The Council of Thirteen, rulers of Skavendom, gathers in Skavenblight. The city is inhabited by several Warlord clans while the four Great Clans seem to hold their own separate districts. The population of the city is unknown, but very likely runs in the hundreds of thousand. It is largely fed by black corn which is harvested by slaves in the surrounding Blighted Marches.

Goverment
Main Article : The Council of 13

"Skaven society is a tyranny moderated by assassination."

-Slave in Skavenblight

The Council of 13
The Council of Thirteen is the ruling body of the Skaven. The council actually consists only of 12 members, titled the Lords of Decay, the Horned Rat being figuratively the 13th member. It gathers in Skavenblight and attempts to lead all Skavendom, a most difficult task. Their political predecessors were the Grey Lords.

Their main agents are the Grey Seers, who often advise and coerce the individual Skaven Warlords, rulers of the Warlord clans, towards the appointed goal. Counted amongst their most important assets are the adepts of Clan Eshin. These stealthy assassins are sent to murder rebellious Warlords or individual opponents. This creates a reign of fear and terror in which internal rebellions are kept to a minimum. The adepts of Clan Eshin are also vital in the conspiracy of silence, intended to hide the Skaven threat from humanity and from The Empire in particular.

An ambitious Skaven may seek to become a Lord of Decay. To fulfil his ambition he must first touch the Pillar of Commandments and survive. Afterwards he must challenge an established member to a fight to the death. If the challenger wins he will then become a full member of the council. Some have touched the pillar and a few have even survived, but none has managed to defeat any of the current members of the council, who have survived all challenges for over 200 years. The workings of the council are very complex. Each member casts a single vote but his respective position also influences the proceedings. A simply majority seems to suffice for most occasions.

Known members of the council
Position 13, figuratively held by the Horned Rat.

Position 1, Lord Kritislik the Seerlord, head of the Order of the Grey Seers

Position 12, Lord Morskittar, Lord Warlock of Clan Skryre

Position 10, Lord Nurglitch, Arch-Plaguelord of Clan Pestilens

Position 4, Lord Paskrit, Warlord-General of all Skavendom

Position 9, Lord Verminkin, Packlord of Clan Moulder

unknown position, Lord Sneek, Nightlord of Clan Eshin

unknown position, Lord Gnawdwell, Warlord of Clan Mors

unknown position, Lord Kratch Doomclaw, Warlord of Clan Rictus

unknown position, Lord Vrisk Ironscratch, Fleetmaster of Clan Skurvy

unknown position, Lord Griznekt Mancarver, Warlord of Clan Skab

The two remaining members are also Warlords [12] but their names, positions and clans are currently unknown.

Religion
Main Article : The Horned Rat

See Also : The Pillar of Commandments

The Horned Rat is the only god worshipped by the Skaven, his symbol is the rough equilateral triangle and his sacred number is 13. He is usually depicted as a great rat with curved horns. He is a deity of Chaos and longs for the destruction of civilisation. Clan Pestilens focuses itself in his aspect of bringer of disease, plague and pestilence. The Pillar of Commandments is held his most sacred gift to his children, the Skaven. Every candidate for the Council of Thirteen has to touch it, effectively surrendering his fate into the paws of the Horned Rat. Most perish immediately while others become his chosen ones.

His prophets, the 169 Grey Seers, are extremely influential throughout all Skavendom. Very important agents of the council, they also preach of the Great Ascendancy, a time in which the innumerable Skaven hordes will rise to the surface to the surface and finally conquer and enslave all surface nations. The centre of his cult is located in Skavenblight, the capital of the Skaven.

His arch-enemies are Sigmar, patron god of The Empire, and Sotek, the Great Serpent God of the Lizardmen.