Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Issue 7
Skavenblight Gazette
Voices from the dark
Editors
Skaven Lord Vinshqueek, Clanlord Trask
Contents Greet-greetings dear reader, The Painting & Hobby moderators at the Under-
Empire are planning a ‘Prepare For War’ week in
Whether you are currently reading this editorial which members are going to build and paint a 1000
Proofer Ask Seer Squeek pg 3 on the screen of your computer or from a printed points army (for any game system and any army). I
Demagorgon Seer Squeek version, before you is the (already) seventh issue suspect a fair few Skaven armies ending up on the
of the Skavenblight Gazette web magazine. It has list. I am still wondering whether I will include my
Writers
Skavenblight Cup pg 5 been quite the journey up to this date, though a Skaven army (it really needs a re-paint) on that list.
Clanlord Trask, Matthew Lee, Morgoth,
Pinapple Skitter, Seer Squeek, Skaven Skaven Lord Vinshqueek very interesting one is to come for every Skaven I hope the new army book will persuade my notori-
Lord Vinshqueek. Warlord and Grey Seer with the 7th edition Skaven ously slow painting speed to give it a go. *grins*...
Book Review: Grey Seer pg 9 army book scheduled to be released in November.
Artwork and miniatures Matthew Lee This new issue has a fair stack of articles. Seer
Craig Lee, Curseofbeers, Cyanide Studio,
While I have become much more of a Blood Bowl Squeek once more graciously enters to share his in-
Demagorgon, Ganymede, Pinapple Skitter,
UnderEmpire Get pg 10 coach then a Warhammer Fantasy general these finite wisdom, we also have an Assassin Adept with
Shadowklaw, Skaven Lord Vinshqueek,
Trag Sifarin. Together Report last few years (I play about five games of Warham- a diary of his forays into Mordheim, an overview
Skaven Lord Vinshqueek mer Fantasy on average in a year), the new army on all-Skaven leagues for Blood Bowl, a review of
Cover book will most certainly have its effect on me. It the Black Library novel Grey Seer and much, much
Demagorgon and Clanlord Trask The Underdark Campaign pg 13 gives me enough reason to get my army up and run- more. Simply said, it’s a full issue!
Production
ning again. Of course, the editors are always looking for input,
Clanlord Trask
Diary of a Mordheim pg 14 feedback and (more) articles. So, if you wish to
Warband I have been collecting, building and playing my contribute to the Skavenblight Gazette, contact
All material appearing in Skavenblight Morgoth Skaven army for over a decade now, and while the either Clanlord Trask or myself on the UnderEmpire.
Gazette is copyright of its author or
creator. Reproduction in whole or part in
expansion of my force has somewhat diminished net communities and we will gladly listen to your
not permitted without permission.
Fall of Clan Mawrl pg 18 the past few year (not that surprising, considering messages. Other then that, enjoy the read.
Clanlord Trask it is already over 6500 points), there is still more
Opinions expressed herein are not then enough for me to paint. What better reason is
necessarily those of Skavenblight The Horned One Finds pg 20
Gazette, The UnderEmpire, Supporters
there to start than with a new army book release!
or the staff. Information is published
Work For Idle Hands Skaven Lord Vinshqueek
in good faith and we do not accept any Pinapple Skitter
Editor, Skavenblight Gazette
responsibility for damage that may arise
from any possible inaccuracies. All rights
reserved, none of the contents may be
used in any other media without prior
consent of its creator.
Warhammer, and associated intellectual
property, is copyright of Games
Workshop. A full list of Games Workshop
trademarks can be found at www.games-
workshop.com/Legal/legal.html
All complainers will be fed to the Mutant
Rat Ogre.
www.skavenblightgazette.com
by Seer Squeek
Ask Seer Squeek
Skavenblight Gazette’s very own Agony Uncle answering your questions. Oh most powerfull seer,
My clan owes Skryre much warpstone for many many ratling guns,
pesky toad-mage keeps zapping gun with magic. Slaves fail to block
LOS (counts as a large target when casting only), I offer much much
warpstone if you tell me how to get guns into range other than dispel
Dear Seer Squeek, scrolls which need-need for comet spell and clan not have many wizards
Last night I dreamt I was a butterfly, today I woke, in my usual skaven for dispel dice (grey seer and 1 warlock).
form, and a question dawned on me. Am I a skaven, who dreamt I was a Thank you most blessed one.
butterfly, or am I butterfly, dreaming that I’m a skaven?
NightBirdFlying
Your Humble Servant,
General Vor
Dear unknowing one,
A wise old Warlock once told me: If you can’t get your guns within
Dear Sleepyhead, range of your enemy, make sure you get the enemy closer on their own
At times, it is most certainly refreshing to stop and think of our role initiative. (Unfortunately, an enemy with weaponry that had longer
here beneath the lands of the man-things. However, as you awoke as range thought the same thing, so the warlock is no longer around to
a Skaven, I am fairly sure that you are not a butterfly. Next to that, I tell the tale).
do believe that there do not exist butterflies that either have fur, or I think that for a large part, you’ve already pointed out where the
long fleshy tails. Of course, since a colleague of mine has pointed out problem lies. Your opponent out-magics you and your own Seer and
the existence of a nine-legged human-skinned frog, I guess we might Warlock do not have enough dispel scrolls to counter every magic spell
eventually still find one eventually... With the imagination of those thrown in your direction. If on top of that the opposing toad-mage in
weird rats up north in Hell Pit, you never know what to expect. question can see your weapon team due to counting as large target
Keep on dreaming, when casting, then the most direct solution available would be to (i)
make sure he is FAR out of range to target your weapon team, or (ii)
Seer Squeek just make sure he has no way of seeing your weapon teams.
Despite the fact that various lores of magic have spells that do not
require line of sight, there are still many more that still fall under
that rule. As such, playing a game of ‘peek and boo’ (apparently quite
famous amongst the young man-things, although they use a name that
has more to do with hiding and seeking) seems to be the most easiest
way of keeping them relatively untouched... While this might mean
that you also hit less, it serves a nice purpose of keeping your flanks
clean, as no unit possible can march around a piece of scenery and
directly charge you.
All the best for your next battle... As you’ll be paying me off for quite
some time.
Now where’s my first payment?
Seer Squeek
i Skavenblight Gazette Issue 07 page
Many greetings wise and carbuncular Seer, Greetings-greetings mighty Seer Squeek,
Forgive me for sending this rather tattered parchment... Circumstances I have recently-recently discovered a stash of Sykoteen, a drug-drug that
urge me towards being discreet. It seems my enemies have gotten has a death penalty ordained by the holy Inquisition of the Horned Rat
rather too powerful of late, as such I send this in sharp-haste... Oh for possession of it. It was found in a part-part of my lab that I rarely
please Horned Rat, don’t let them get me... Intercede for me, please use, and I have no idea-idea how it ended up there.
Seer Squeek... There’ll be many warp-tokens in it for you; well, what little
I suspect a trial Moulder is attempting to frame-frame me, but I have
I have left - I’m sure you can appreciate.
no idea who, and I don’t know what to do. Any advice-advice, oh mighty
I spent all of them financing that thrice-poxed clan Skryre... Their infernal one?
mechanisms have nearly cost me my life, and my stash. I am quite sure
Killfang
they plot against me - just today a warpfire cannon, or whatever you call
those damned things nearly blew my tail off... needless to say, I now
fear-fear for my life. This is most definitely an attempt on my life. Grey
Dear ‘high’ and (apparently not so) mighty Killfang,
Seer, please, divine what the Horned Rat believes necessary for me to
do in order to escape their blasphemous machinations. Yes, I too suspect that another Moulder is out to get you and
attempting to get you framed, cause we Skaven are absolutely known
A thousand curses upon that most usurious clan,
for our tendency to play fair. (He said with a strong undertone of utter
Chieftain Snikitch of Clan Kazan sarcasm). Seriously, if you manage to let another Moulder enter your
laboratory, plant a stash of some sort of drug, get out without you
noticing and have the Inquisi-Rats find it apparently without trouble,
Dear sniveling Chieftain, then either it is a sign from the Horned One that you need to step your
game up, or you are really a too easy target for the Moulders around
When a Warp-Lightning Cannon from clan Skryre nearly blows your
you... Of course, in both cases, I would try to go for a less obvious
tail off, I would say it’s pretty obvious what path the Horned One has
excuse to make others believe that the stash is not yours.
deemed worthy for you and you honestly wouldn’t need me to figure
that out, now would you? However, if you want me to give you a hint, it A “He/ she/ it did it” comment will sound to everyone like an excuse,
involves yourself and an eternal debate with the Horned One in person though if you believed it would worked, by all means continue to do so.
whether his dominion is a worse place to be in, then the line of sight Nature tends to deal with such an amount of naivity in its own ways,
of the Warp-Lightning Cannon in question that brought you there in the or otherwise a Grey Seer that performs your trial will... In the end, the
first place. As the so-called hip man-things in the area of Marienburg only thing that would work for you would be to attempt and convince
tend to say, “It’s a karma thing.” those that put you in trial how the stash of Sytokeen was basically
evidence to ‘mob up’ the larger fish, namely the one that provided the
Now apparently, the Horned One is not pleased with your actions. But
drug to you. You’re a Skaven, so turning others in to save your own
be glad you appear to have come out of his wake-up call relatively
hide raises less of an eyebrow.
unscatched. I can assure you, the moment you wake up with a large
Rat Ogre guard looming over you, while muttering “Is it breakfast time Next time you’re in a rehab meeting, make sure it’s an anonymous one,
already?” you’d rather appreciate the things you see coming your way.
Seer Squeek
Still, when you do need to get into the good graces of our deity again,
the one simple thing to do is being sneaky and cunning. Make sure that
whatever wrath and havoc your opponents are causing on your forces,
you pay them back double. Use market places to sell broken Clan
Skryre equipment to your enemy for a cheap, CHEAP price. They might
be a bit wary, but greed is one of the most common traits within a
Skaven, so usually your enemy ought to fall for that one. All you usually
need to do then is to sit back, have your minions provide you with
enough popcorn and SkavenAde at all times, and enjoy the fireworks!
Can’t wait ‘til it’s New Years eve again,
Seer Squeek
It has taken a long time, but finally With it they believe the skaven The rest of the cast is an The Wormstone itself is a
the master race gets the novel could finally destroy the hated interesting mix of skaven and fascinating, and slightly scary,
it deserves. Mad chittering will world above. Skaven domination humans. In typical skaven fashion, item that propels the story along.
issue forth from the very depths of is nigh! there are multiple factions all It is interesting that the main
the earth as Grey Seer is hungrily vying for the Wormstone and focus of the characters is not only
With a plot that is pulled in many
lapped up by the skaven masses. baying for Thanquol’s blood. a source of power, but also the
directions, thanks to the various
Thanquol’s hour has arrived! The skaven from Under-Altdorf bringer of almost certain death
parties after the Wormstone,
are an interesting collection to any who possess it. But this
Grey Seer is written by C. L. Grey Seer is a thrilling read set
of characters, and they give a doesn’t stop everyone trying to
Werner, who also wrote Runefang on a backdrop of mystery and
pretty good insight into the layers take ownership of it.
and Mathias Thulmann Witch deception.
of skaven society. Because of
Hunter, as well as the Brunner The story is fairly easy to follow,
As a central character Thanquol Under-Altdorf’s close association
the Bounty Hunter trilogy. He is but it is still an interesting tale
is interesting and fallible enough with humans, they have picked
certainly a prolific writer in the of danger and death set in the
to be a believable individual. up some human characteristics,
Warhammer world setting, and Warhammer world. While there are
While he has a skaven’s disregard and what Thanquol thinks of these
an excellent choice to bring the multiple threads of intrigue it is all
for his fellow rat, his internal almost heretical leanings gives a
life and schemes of Grey Seer presented in a way that makes it
monologue and logic really helps good impression of the skaven’s
Thanquol to the page. easy to follow. The locations are
you to understand the skaven overall view of humanity.
interesting, and it is especially
The book revolves around an sensibility and morals. You get a
While the skaven characters good to see the intricacies of the
artefact from the Second Plague good sense of what Thanquol is
include some of the high hitters world beneath explored in more
War of the skaven, a mysterious about, what motivates him and
in the Under-Empire, the humans detail.
object called the Wormstone. how he has managed to elude
are the dregs and criminals.
Thought lost for hundreds of death so many times. Overall Grey Seer is an enjoyable
Most of the action from the
years, its sudden reappearance read. Those interested in skaven
Don’t be mistaken though, humans’ perspective occurs with
heralds intrigue, mystery and will be able to pull delicious
Thanquol is still one mean piece characters from and in the slums
death in both the human city of titbits of the ratmens culture and
of work. A rat on a mission, he and docks of Altdorf. The men are
Altdorf and the skaven stronghold personalities from it that they can
has no second thoughts about almost all desperate criminals
Under-Altdorf. further use in their own projects.
lying to, stealing from, or deceiving and lowly scum, meaning that they
Everyone else will get an excellent
Fresh from a series of all he comes across. Ally and foe are nowhere near equipped and
novel that moves along at a good
misadventures, Grey Seer alike are butchered and destroyed, trained to deal with an attack by
pace and is entertaining to read.
Thanquol is despatched by the all for the glory of Grey Seer monsters that should not exist.
Council of Thirteen to retrieve the Thanquol. They do have some help though, in Somehow, though, I don’t think
Wormstone. It is believed to be a the form of a mysterious stranger this is the last we have seen of
weapon of immense power, and whose network of informants and Grey Seer Thanquol.
the Council does not want it to fall servants stretches the entire city.
into the wrong hands.
i Skavenblight Gazette Issue 07 page
written by: Skaven Lord Vinshqueek
For the third year in a row, the Having the date set usually somewhere Still, arriving late in the evening, we were
UnderEmpire.net community recently during the last two weeks of August, shortly introduced by Dan to dominating
had its very own annual (European) Get the UE GT has so far had fairly good the world with the French in Total Empire,
Together. What once begun as an online weather each year. Where the weather which shortly before had been installed
joke on ‘who of the community you would in Antwerpen allowed us to have a on a newly built computer. The game
like to play against in real life’ ended up dinner of spaghetti in the garden and the would certainly make its presence known
as a week in Antwerpen (Belgium), where weather in Nottingham somewhat forced during the week with the various accents
seven members from the Netherlands, us to enjoy the comfort of Bugman’s coming out of the speaker, commanding
Belgium, the United Kingdom and Bar at some (very) rainy occasions, the to charge, hold, or beat those that
Canada met up with one another. The weather in Norwich brought us mainly weren’t French (or Swedish, later on).
following year, the event moved towards bright sun and humidity. As most of the
Nottingham, the headquarters of all gaming occurred indoors, this meant that As mentioned earlier, the Get Together
things Games Workshop. This year, curtains were closed before noon and had become less of a tournament then
however, saw a somewhat less occupied windows being put wide open as long as the previous year and more a set of loose
The hord e’s all here ! version of the Get Together, as some of the sun shone. games, including Xbox and Gamecube
the regular participants could not attemd. games. It became clear quite quickly that
Both Bodacious and myself arrived I was severely outclassed by some (read:
As such, the Get Together became on Saturday the 16th of August, after just about everyone) in games like Halo
somewhat more of a get together again, a boat trip from Hoek van Holland or Monkeyball. Of course, the advantage
in comparison to the extremely well (the Netherlands) to Harwich (United of having multiple gamers in the group
organized tournament of the previous Kingdom). In total, the whole trip took us meant that enough controllers were
year. Hosted at the house of Warlord about twelve to thirteen hours of which present to ensure multiplayer games to
Stinkhair (Bob) in Norwich (which the half was taken up by the ferry itself, but run in which people got blown up in the
British kept pronouncing as Norrich, for compared to the (long) train trip of the most spectacular fashions possible. All
some reason), the event was visited by previous year, it was most certainly a lot in all, a way to keep everyone occupied
Akai-Chan (Red), Underlord Burrows more comfortable. for hours.
(Dan), Glod-Unbaraki (Olly), Tom (the
house mate of Bob), Bodacious (Daan)
and myself, Skaven Lord Vinshqueek
(Vincent).
If it could be called a home. The UnderDark Campaign is While the campaign is largely
Barren it is, yes, and desolate. the underempire.net’s latest driven by the fight for wealth
You won’t see much out here, campaign, and our second after and territory, this is a skaven
and be thankful that you don’t. the epic Civil War campaign, which campaign after all, so the plotting
But underneath our feet, deep ran for just over two years. Set in and politics of skaven culture
beneath the rock and sand, the underground tunnels beneath has to be very much a part of the
things are rising to a fever pitch. the Dark Lands, the campaign is game. The UnderDark Campaign
You wouldn’t know it by what you a tangled political tale of warring also includes mechanisms
see here on the surface, but it’s generals striving for supremacy to encourage backstabbing,
pandemonium down there. over enemy and ally alike. Bringing sabotage, trodding on underlings
them to this battlefield is the and treachery: with four factions
Armies mobilising, forges ringing
rumour of an untold hoard of (for now) and the loosest of
with hammer blows. Something
warpstone, but that is only the allegiances, as much of the war
has stirred the skaven to a
beginnning. will occur in secret talks and
frenzy, and even amongst the
around negotiation tables, as it
hordes you’d see many warriors Unlike most forum campaigns
will occur on the actual field of
of other races come to join the which run for a set number of
battle.
fray. Something’s gotten them intense and excitement-filled
all worked up. Word on the wind months, the UnderDark Campaign With its uniquely convoluted
is that it’s warpstone, more is a slower-paced game that will system and indepth story, the
warpstone than has ever been run indefinitely for a year or two, UnderDark Campaign promises
found in one place for many with each turn lasting 2 weeks. that you will be fighting a war as
centuries. This way, players can immerse has never been fought before.
themselves in the backstory and
This is the Dark lands, that barren But that can’t be all, can it? Visit underempire.net to learn the
gradually develop their game
and blasted desolation that lies Warpstone may be what it is, but rules and sign up today.
characters, and also even the
east of the World’s Edge. Few it’s still just warpstone. The way
most casual players will have
things can live here; the land is things are going, this is a emnity
ample time to plot their moves,
dead and haunted, polluted with that runs deep and a war that is
negotiate with allies and enemies,
tar and ash, tainted by chaos. long overdue.
and write their tales of conquest.
The greenskin tribes, the chaos And it’s beginning now. Not much is needed to participate
dwarves, skaven, ogres, beastmen besides a working knowledge of
and worse things even, many dark the rules; players are not required
creatures make this place their to sign up as the army race they
home. own or even to play games on a
regular basis.
This part is the hardest the that was the only work needed the arm if it didn’t reach) I stuck
I like the Rat Ogre models,
first time. I’m always careful to allow everything to fit the supporting arm in place. and I needed another Ratling
with things I own and there together. When you come to Gun. Thus the ‘Ratling Ogre
is an innate wrongness with convert something, make sure Step 6
Gun’ was born. The right arm
is the Rat Ogre mini-warpfire
dismembering a finely crafted that when two pieced are joined Celabrate! thrower arm with the addition
weapon to complete a they have a flat edge so there’s of a tau burst cannon and
Your model is complete! Well, kroot rifles.
conversion. no gap.
almost. Last you’ll base your
In this stage you have to decide model and paint it. I fail at
what parts to lop off the original Step 5 painting, sadly. However, I hear
model to make the new bits fit Assembly and cleaning that there’s a handy publication
together. I removed the flail’s Assemble the model, and then called Skavenblight Gazette that
shaft so that only the head, use Greenstuff on any cracks. may be able to help me with
chain and the plastic attached to I glued the monk body to the that. If only I could find it...
the other end of the chain were base and, while the glue dried,
Anyway, congratulations, as
left. glued the flail to the cudgel.
you’re model is assembled! Now
Once dry I glued the arm that I hope I’ve given you something
I also shaved off parts of the to get back to assembling those
held the flail to the body and to think about, and please, post
monk’s robes where they rank and file Clanrats.
attached the head. After the anything you make online!
overhung the shoulders so that
Skavenblight Gazette Issue 07 page 21
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