Chapter 1

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It is the year 1114 IC, the Empire of Man amidst a large-scale massive war with the self proclaimed "Horned Rats" - the Skaven.
Nearly three in every four imperials died in this time, most of whom passed away due to the plagues that the Skaven unleashed upon them.

Here we have the brutal aftermath of one such devastating battle, around ten or more thousand dead bodies of mostly Skaven slaves, with some higher ranking Soldiers strewn about as well. Most of those slaves died due to Friendly fire, as the notorious Ratling gunners could barely look through their Spectacles, making out that there was movement that needed to be seized.
The humans themselves lost nearly all of their men, death and disease were sown all where the eye could see, that is, all that wasn't hidden by the fog of war.

Both sides lost most of their standing army, it couldn't even be called a Pyrrhic victory by either side, the only winners in this war were those who were left alive, and needn't return to another front.
Live, to die another day. That was the philosophy of one of the Mercenaries hired by the Skaven army. "Morskikt, of the Skittering Horde" He knew that this wasn't gonna end good, he took his men and ordered them to stay back, to hide out with him on a Wooded hill, being able to overlook the battle and flank the enemy with his relentless Ratling gunners. While Morskikt didnt want for any of his men to get hurt, he didn't care so much for the army of either the Imperials, nor the other Skaven, so his men had a free fire command.

As soon as the battle was over, he met with the Leader of the Skaven army, sacked his earnings and gave it to his loyal Squire, then he ordered his men to plunder and loot everything that they could get their hands on, most of the Skaven were shot into pieces, some Imperials still alive or clinging to it just barely. His men made short work of them, grabbed their valuables and returned to their master and overseer. Morskikt himself wasn't too shy of some looting and joined his rat-men, he looked over the deceased imperials and saw one that he just could not leave be. He was still alive, badly wounded and the left half of his face splattered with Skaven acid. Morskikt nudged his body with a dull end of his Glaive.
Quickly the Man regained consciousness, thinking he was only out of it for a few minutes, he grabbed a nearby sword and pointed it at Morskikt, ready to fight him.

"AH! Man-thing still has some fight-power in him!"

Morskikt's loud voice shrieked with a painfully high pitched yelp of surprise.

"I will not be defeated by mere Ratscum! Go on you disgusting beast! My spirit is strengthened by my Faith in the Emperor!"

Usually if this happened, Morskikt would have just ordered his Ratling gunners to shoot him down. Yet... It was different this time

"Rats! Hold fire-shoot!"

Morskikt threw his rusty glaive to his Squire who followed all his steps, he was his apprentice, so to say.

"Idiotic Man-thing! Look around yourself! All the other man-things all dead! Gone! Destroy-killed by horned rat masterwork! Lay down your weapon-loot! And I will show my mercy-peace! Under one-one condition... Strip of your armor-armor, but leave on your undercloth. And come-follow me. Squire rat will put shackle-chains on man-thing. Or Horned Rats will unleash death-death by Ratling squad... Your call-say, man-thing... "

The Battlefield was now filled with only three noises, the cawing of crows, the howling of the wind and the whirring of the readied Ratling gunners, yearning for one more kill.
As the Imperial looked around himself he quickly figured out that this wasn't a battle he could win.

"very well! Fine. You disgusting beasts! I despise your very being! You bring nothing but death and disease wherever you step!"

He gestures around himself, pointing out the places that were now uninhabitable because of the Skavens chemical weaponry.
The Imperial tossed aside his clean, shining weapon, which the Squire was quick to pick back up and put in his backpack. Shortly after, the soldier also undressed from his armor, which was also graciously donated to the Squire of Morskikt.

"Smart man-thing! Give us your loot-weapon and be my prisoner! I'll take very good-nice care of you... Now..."

WHACK

The Imperial soldier got knocked out cold.

Morskikt the Skaven and Sigmir the ImperialWhere stories live. Discover now