Council of Thirteen

From Warhammer - The Old World - Lexicanum
Revision as of 12:00, 1 January 2022 by Viktor (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
The Council in Total War Warhammer II

The Council of Thirteen is the ruling body of the Skaven.

Overview

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. The members of the Council are under constant protection from the mighty Albino Stormvermin, pale furred Skaven who are larger than many Warlords.

Known members of the Council

Position Occupant Sources
13 Figuratively held by the Horned Rat. Needs Citation
1 Lord Kritislik the Seerlord, head of the Order of the Grey Seers Uniforms & Heraldry of the Skaven, pg. 6
Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 9
Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition), pgs. 11, 25, 29, 41
2 Lord Gnawdwell, Warlord of Clan Mors Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pgs. 7, 74
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
3 Lord Kratch Doomclaw, Warlord of Clan Rictus Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 7
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
4 Lord Paskrit, Warlord-General of all Skavendom Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 8
5 Lord Viskit Ironscratch, Fleetmaster of Clan Skurvy Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition), pg. 31
Thanquol's Doom (novel) by C.L. Werner, pg. 21
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
6 Lord Griznekt Mancarver, Warlord of Clan Skab Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition), pg. 31
Thanquol's Doom (novel) by C.L. Werner, Needs Citation, pg. 19
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
7 Unknown Lord possibly Clan Morbidus White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
8 Unknown Lord possibly Clan Carrion White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
9 Lord Sneek, Nightlord of Clan Eshin Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 73
Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition), pgs. 29, 75
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19
10 Lord Nurglitch, Arch-Plaguelord of Clan Pestilens Uniforms & Heraldry of the Skaven, pg. 6
Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pgs. 17, 70
Warhammer Armies: Skaven (7th Edition), pgs. 44, 45, 74
11 Lord Verminkin, Packlord of Clan Moulder Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 8
White Dwarf 49 (January 3, 2015), pg. 19.
12 Lord Morskittar, Lord Warlock of Clan Skryre Warhammer Armies: Skaven (4th Edition), pg. 9, 71

The two remaining members are also Warlords [2] but their names, positions and clans are currently unknown.

Organization

The Horned Rat figuratively holds the position 13. At his immediate right and left are 1 and 12, considered the two most important positions. Then come the remaining pairs in the following order of importance: 2 and 11, followed by 3 and 10, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, and finally the positions 6 and 7 who are the furtherest away and the least important ones.

Faced with a proposal a council member may vote in favour, against it, or abstain; in the last case he vetoes the vote of his numerical counterpart.

As an example: If Lord Kritislik dislikes a particular proposal he may choose to wait for Lord Morskittar's vote.

If Lord Morskittar votes against the proposal, Lord Kritislik may safely also vote against it, thereby ensuring that the two most influential votes are firmly placed against it. This show of unity of the two most important members of the council will very likely carry a certain weight to other members.

If Lord Morskittar votes in favour of the proposal, Lord Kritilik can choose between voting against it or abstain. The first option is somewhat safer solution if a clear majority voted against the proposal already and will not antagonize Lord Morskittar needlessly. The second option may antagonize Lord Morskittar, especially if Morskittar's vote is vital to secure a majority.

However even if a proposal is in favour of Lord Kritilik's interests he may still vote against the proposal (or abstain) purely to spite Lord Morskittar...

This state-of-affairs ensures that higher ranking members of the council usually need the support of some of the lower ranking members, and vice-versa. All of this leads to manipulations, bribes, rivalries, backroom deals, shady agreements, favouritism and conspiracies, resulting in simple political corruption.

Assassination attempts among the members of the council are considered rather too crude (and simply non-effective). Its members usually try to manipulate the greater circumstances to force an appropriate resolution of the council. These manipulations often involve the realms of men and the kingdoms of Dwarfs.

Quotes

Skaven society is a tyranny moderated by assassination.

~ Bagrian, Master of La Masiontaal [1b][3c]

Notes

  • Kritislik often vetoes the orders of Morskittar; therefore Morskittar is his opposite number (i.e.: 12).
  • Verminkin's position is a bit unclear – "Lord Verminkin, the Packlord of Clan Moulder and he-who-is-eleventh accused..."[3a]. However the precise meaning of this passage is unclear. It might refer to the name itself (i.e.: Verminkin XI), or to his position in the council which would clearly contradict older information which states that he holds the 9th position [1a].
  • A certain Paskrit the vast is a member of the council [3b]; this probably refers to the Warlord-General of all Skavendom or to a different Paskrit (highly unlikely).
  • It's unclear if the Warlord of Clan Skab is a council member (highly unlikely); Grey Seer Thanquol announces that, "Mighty Warlord Vermek Skab is dead, killed in a terrible accident involving a loaded crossbow and a exploding donkey [4]."
  • "The assassins of Clan Eshin, the fanatics of Clan Pestilens, the brutal warriors of Clan Mors and Clan Skab, all had their representative upon the Council of Thirteen. [5]." The sentence is simply too vague: the Warlord-General might ostensibly represent all Warlord clans who lack a member in the council. Notice also that no Lord Skab is mentioned in the ensuing dialogue (that's certainly no proof - only a handful of the council members are mentioned).

See also

Sources

Skaven
Units Aberration - Brood Horror - Burrowing Behemoth - Cauldron of a Thousand Poxes - Chimaerat - Clanrat - Doomwheel - Doom-Flayer - Eshin Sorceror - Eshin Triad - Festering Chantor - Flayerkin - Giant Rat - Grey Seer - Gutter Runner - Hell-Pit Abomination - Master Assassin - Master Moulder - Night Runner - Packmaster - Plague Censer Bearer - Plagueclaw Catapult - Plague Furnace - Plague Lord - Plague Pontifex - Plague Monk - Plague Priest - Poisoned-Wind Globadier - Poisoned-Wind Mortar - Rat Ogre - Rat Rider - Rat Spawn - Rat Swarm - Ratling Gun - Rotten Rodent - Screaming Bell - Skaven Assassin - Skaven Chieftain - Skaven Warlord - Skavenslave - Stinking Thing - Stormfiend - Stormvermin - Throtling - Troll - Verminlord - Warlock Engineer - Warp-Grinder - Warp-lightning Cannon - Warplock Jezzail - Warpfire Thrower - Wolf-Rat
Characters Asorak Steeleye - Bokha - Chang Fang - Chang Kritch - Chang Squik - Drib Bentblade - Eekrit Backbiter - Feskit - Fleer Twitchkill - Flych Sharptail - Frothrend - Gashslik - Ghoritch - Gnawdoom - Gnawdwell - Goji - Grasshk Warpeye - Griktrode Boltspear - Griskit - Gritlok - Grootose - Grotchrot - Ibkikk Snatchclaw - Ikit Claw - Iskar - Kaskitt Steelgrin - Kong Krakback - Krasslik - Kratch - Kratch Doomclaw - Kratch Gristleclaw - Kreekit - Kritch Dwarf-slicer - Kritislik - Lurkwoal - Lynsh Blacktail - Malkrit - Manxrot - Moltskin Searflesh - Morskittar - Natty Buboe - Naktwitch Nosetaker - Nartik - Nelrich - Nikkitt - Nurglitch - Paskrit - Poxtix - Queek Headtaker - Quilisk - Quirrik - Qweeqwol - Ratchitt - Rikzik Seepage - Rikkit Snapfang - Rusk - Scarskrex - Scrench - Shen Tsinge - Shissik - Shiwan Stalkscent - Skabritt - Skraekual - Skratsquik - Skrattch Scarpaw - Skreek Deathstrike - Skreek Tailblade - Skreet Verminkin - Skretch Half-Dead - Skribolt - Skrish Charwhiskers - Skrittar - Skrolk - Skweel Gnawtooth - Sleekfur - Sleekit - Slike - Sneek - Snikch - Spinetail - Squeegie Quick-Death - Squiktat - Staabnash - Szik Vilepot - Thanquol - Thratquee - Thratsnik - Throt - Tisquik - Tretch Craventail - Tsang Kweek - Twitchtail Burnpaw - Vecteek - Verminkin - Vermisch - Veskit - Viskis - Viskit Ironscratch - Viskitt Burnfang - Visktrin - Visquit Furblak - Weezil Gutgnaw - Zingetail
Skaven Clans Clan Carrion - Clan Ektrik - Clan Eshin - Clan Feesik - Clan Ferrik - Clan Flem - Clan Gangrous - Clan Griblobe - Clan Gritak - Clan Gritus - Clan Grutnik - Clan Klaw - Clan Krizzor - Clan Mange - Clan Mawrl - Clan Merkit - Clan Morbus - Clan Mors - Clan Morbidus - Clan Mordkin - Clan Moulder - Clan Pestilens - Clan Rabidscar - Clan Rictus - Clan Rikek - Clan Scruten - Clan Septik - Clan Skaar - Clan Skab - Clan Skaul - Clan Skrapp - Clan Skryre - Clan Skurvy - Clan Skuttel - Clan Sleekit - Clan Treecherik - Clan Volkn - Clan Vrrtkin
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles