The Horned Rat

[Grumbaki]

HORNED RAT- Gnawer of the World

Description: The Horned Rat is the Chaos God of the Skaven, a race of bipedal Ratmen who infest the underground world beneath a large portion of the Known World. It is not certain when the Horned Rat came through the collapsed Warp gate, but he made his presence known in spectacular fashion.

In –1700 I.C., a meteor storm rained down on the city of Tylos north of the Tilean Sea. The falling debris was warpstone which originated from the Chaos moon, Mórrslieb. The resulting catastrophe destroyed the land and all its inhabitants except the rats that infested the town and surrounding fields. Constant exposure to the Warpstone in the newly formed marshes mutated the rodents into the children of the Horned Rat.

In a relatively short amount of time, the Skaven dug many tunnels underneath the surrounding mountains and beyond. This poised them to carry forth the Horned Rat’s schemes. At first, these plans were simply to overwhelm their opponents with sheer number. Initial success bore these assumptions out, but subsequent events forced the Skaven to redirect their efforts towards a more subtle nature. The growth of Human towns and cities provided the ideal environment for the Skaven to menace the surface dwellers from the shadowy fringes. In addition, there were always Human dupes who were more than willing to sell out their fellows for promises of riches and power.

The Horned Rat is depicted as a Skaven the size of a giant, holding the world in his hand and gnawing at it. Two sets of horns sprout from its head. The central set are long and straight while the other set curls around its temples. The Horned Rat has long fangs and each hand ends in razor-sharp claws.

Alignment: Chaos

Symbol: The symbol (and Chaos Rune) of the Horned Rat is essentially three lines that form a rough, upside down triangle (apex pointing downward). Other, lesser used symbols include a rat standing upright and a rat’s head or skull with horns growing from it. Only his Skaven followers wear these symbols openly. The Horned Rat’s Human cultists generally have a medallion with any of these symbols hidden underneath their clothing, if they carry any at all. These same Humans dress in the same manner as anyone from their same social class, which makes them virtually indistinguishable from the general populace. Human Priests of the Horned Rat may wear dark grey or brown clothing and/or robes.

Area of Worship The Horned Rat is the god of the Skaven, but there are also cults of the Horned Rat among the Human population of the Old World. Human followers of the Horned Rat are usually those who have encountered the Skaven and believe them to be very powerful. These Human agents attempt to ingratiate themselves with the Ratmen in hopes of gaining power at the expense, as well as avoiding the fate, of their fellow Humans. Not surprisingly, the Skaven do not tell their pawns that they and their god can not tell one Human from another (not that it really matters).

Temples: Skaven temples of the Horned Rat are always underground in Skaven tunnels and catacombs. They always have a great statue of the Horned Rat and an altar for sacrifice which is often imbedded with chunks of warpstone. The verminous congregation stand or lie flat on the stone floor during the ceremonies.

Human shrines dedicated to the Horned Rat are well hidden in secret cellars and concealed alcoves in the sewers. A foot tall figurine of an upright rat with two straight horns dominates the altar. Foul rituals and sacrifices are committed before the altars and the bodies of the victims dumped elsewhere.

Friends and Enemies: Among the Skaven, the cult of the Horned Rat hates all humanity and their gods. The Human cultists of the Horned Rat know little of this animosity towards them (which make them the perfect dupes), but share in the mistrust of the Human cults. The cult of the Horned Rat also hates all other races and their cults. They will join other Chaos cults if it suits their purpose, although the cult of Slaanesh is very alien to the Skaven mindset. Cults of Tzeentch and Khorne are viewed with suspicions as their goals often conflict with the schemes of the Horned Rat. The only cult in which the followers of the Horned Rat (specifically, the Plague Monks and Priests in their worship of the Horned Rat as the “Harbinger of Disease”) have some common ground are of Nurgle.

Holy Days: To the Skaven deep underground every day is like every other. In contrast, Human cultists of the Horned Rat honour him whenever Mórrslieb is full (which is a challenge to plan given the Chaos Moon’s erratic orbit).

Cult Requirements: Among Skaven, only those who wield magic (Grey Seers, Warlock Engineers and few Plague Priests) may serve as clerics of the Horned Rat. They do not generally proselytise among humans, but will recruit anyone foolhardy to join a cult of like-minded Humans. Thus, most large cities have a small cult of the Horned Rat among Humans who seek to gain power and wealth from their association with the Skaven. These may include sewer workers, night watchmen, officials who have some reason to go underground, fools looking for an easy path to influence and power, and friends and relatives of such people.

Strictures: The following tenets only apply to Human cultists:
• Always obey Skaven leaders.
• Never reveal the existence of the Skaven or the cult to anyone outside the cult.
• Sabotage all underground work on sewers or anywhere in cities which threaten to expose the Skaven.
• Thwart all investigations into the clandestine activities of the Skaven and Human agents.
• Eliminate any witness do such activities.
• Members must seek warpstone and deliver any that they find into the hands of the cult or their Skaven masters.

Spell Use: Grey Seers and Warlock Engineers are able to use any Skaven and Dark Magic spells of the appropriate level, while Plague Priests can only use Skaven spells involving disease. Human Sorcerer-Priests of Horned Rat are limited to the following spells:

1st: Shadow’s Companion, Summon Children of the Horned Rat, Vermintide, Warp Lightning
2nd: Infecting Gaze, Scorch, Summon Daemon Rat
3rd: Gnaw, Plague Source

Note: Unlike Skaven spellcasters, Human Sorcerer-Priests are limited to third level and may regain Magic Points by using the Meditation skill in the same manner as Human priests. In addition, Human Sorcerer-Priests may use a Warpstone solution created by Warlock Engineers. The solution allows the imbiber to gain d10 Magic Points (not to exceed the Sorcerer-Priest’s limit) at the risk of a 5% chance of receiving a mutation. This chance of mutation is cumulative with each solution drunk.

Skills: The Horned Rat does not grant any additional skills to his Skaven servants. He does grant one of the following skills to his Human Sorcerer-Priests for each level achieved: Concealment Urban, Night Vision, Orientation (underground), Silent Move Urban, Speak Additional Language (Queekish), Spot Traps.

Trials: Trials of the Horned Rat usually involves some act of sabotage on behalf of the Skaven. Examples include collapsing a sewer line that threatens to uncover a Skaven tunnel or removing evidence of Skaven presence in a city or town.

Blessings: Favourable skills include Concealment Urban, Silent Move Urban, and Spot Traps. Moreover, the Horned Rat favours Disease, Fear, Hide, and Poison tests. In some cases, he may grant a temporary increase to Cool and Initiative. The Horned Rat may also grant other “gifts” to those who have excelled in his service. Others may be cursed with random mutations.

[Grumbaki]

Summon Children of the Horned Rat
Spell Level: First Skaven
Magic Points: 4
Range: Nearby
Duration: 1 hour

This spells grants the caster the ability to summon and control a pack of 2d6+4 Giant Rats to attack their enemies. The Children of the Horned Rat appear within 6 yards of the caster and will follow simple instructions (like "Kill", "Hurt" or “Guard”).


Summon Servant of the Horned Rat
Spell Level: First Skaven
Magic Points: 3
Range: Not applicable
Duration: 2 hours per level

This spells grants the caster the ability to summon a Daemonic Servant of the Horned Rat. The Servant takes up the form of a large wolf-rat with flaming eyes and mouth.

Once summoned, the Servant appears within 6 yards of the caster. If the caster successfully controls the Servant (WP test), it will serve for the duration indicated above. Once the spell expires, or the caster is slain, the Servant immediately disappears.


Summon Daemon Rat (Lesser Daemon of the Horned Rat)
Spell Level: Second Skaven
Magic Points: 5
Range: Not applicable
Duration: 1 hour per level

This spells grants the caster the ability to summon Lesser Daemon of the Horned Rat. Once summoned, the Lesser Daemon appears within 6 yards of the caster. If the caster successfully passes a WP test, the Lesser Daemon will serve for the duration indicated above. Once the spell expires, or the caster is slain, the Lesser Daemon immediately disappears.

It should be noted that the caster never really controls the Lesser Daemon as the latter only serves the wishes of the Horned Rat. This could include slaying the summoner if that is the deity’s desire.


Pestilent Breath
Spell Level: Third Skaven
Magic Points: 8
Range: 20 foot cone shaped area ending in a 5 foot radius.
Duration: Instantaneous

This spells allows the caster to breathe a noxious cloud of death and disease and cover a cone-shape area that ends 20 feet from the caster in a 5 foot radius. Anyone caught in this area of effect must take an immediate T test. If successful, the victim only sustains a S3 hit (no reduction for T or armour). If the test is failed, then the victim takes 1D3 S4 hits (no reductions) with a 10% chance of catching either Black Plague or Red Pox (WFRP, pg 82-83)


Spread Plague
Spell Level: Third Skaven
Magic Points: 12
Range: Touch
Duration: Instantaneous

This spell can be cast upon any individual whom the caster touches. The form in which the disease manifests can be either Black Plague or Red Pox (WFRP, pg 82-83), GM's choice. The victim is allowed a T test to resist the effects of the disease. If infected, the victim will feel weak and queasy (-10 to WS, BS, Dex, and Int; -1 to S and T) until the next day when they succumb to the full effects of the disease. There is also a 10% chance that the victim will pass the disease to anyone in contact with them in the first 24 hours of being infected.


Summon Daemon Rat Horde
Spell Level: Third Skaven
Magic Points: 9
Range: Not applicable
Duration: 1 hour per level

This spells grants the caster the ability to summon 2D6 Lesser Daemons of the Horned Rat. Once summoned, the Lesser Daemons appear within 6 yards. If the caster successfully passes a WP test, the Lesser Daemons will serve for the duration indicated above. Once the spell expires, or the caster is slain, the Lesser Daemons immediately disappear.

It should be noted that the caster never really controls the Lesser Daemons as the latter only serve the wishes of the Horned Rat. This could include slaying the summoner if that is the deity’s desire.


Summon Vermin Lord
Spell Level: Fourth Skaven
Magic Points: 25
Range: Not applicable
Duration: Until task completed

This spells grants the caster the ability to summon a Vermin Lord, Greater Daemon of the Horned Rat. Once summoned, the Vermin Lord appears within 6 yards. If the caster successfully passes a WP test, it may give the Vermin Lord one task to complete. The Vermin Lord remains unless its task is completed, it is dispelled or until it or the caster is slain.

The danger for the caster is obvious. The Vermin Lord may well decide that the Grey Seer is not worthy of the Horned Rat’s favour and slay him before setting about on whatever purposes the Skaven deity has sent it.

[Grumbaki]

Refining Warpstone

The process of refining Warpstone is both gruesome and deadly. In fact, the most effective method of refining warpstone is through the use of unwilling victims.

For every pound of raw warpstone force fed to a Skaven subject, ½ pound of partially-refined warpstone can be retrieved. Unfortunately, the Grey Seer refining the warpstone must first wait for the eruption of mutations to subside before searching the bloody remains to find the partially-refined warpstone. Since the Skaven used in refining the warpstone can only handle one pound of warpstone, a large number of Skaven need to be used to refine a substantial quantity. Thankfully, the ability of the Skaven to breed in large numbers ensures that there is never a shortage of warpstone-refining vessels.

Should the Grey Seer wish to take the final refining step, then a new Skvaen “volunteer” must be used. As with the first refining step, half the weight of the warpstone will be lost in the second process. While the outbreak of mutations will also occur the second time, it is only 70% fatal. Thus, in 30% of the cases, the Grey Seer will have to wait for the refined warpstone to pass through whatever is left of the victim’s digestive tract. Even though the surviving “volunteer” has been reduced to a Chaos Spawn, they have further uses as experimentation subjects by either Clan Moulder or Clan Skryre.

In a pinch, either Beastmen (including mutants) or humans can be used to refine warpstone. Members of these races are inferior refining vessels, however, and have a lesser chance for converting warpstone to less dangerous states. Beastmen have a base 30% chance of using their digestive tract to refine warpstone with a modifier of +5% of each mutation. Of course, the effects of refining warpstone are just as deadly for them as it is for Skaven and humans.

Humans only have a 5% chance of converting warpstone to any of its refined states. It should be noted that this small chance does not deter determined Grey Seers if they have great need of the refined warpstone.