The Skorruci Blighthost

## Description

One after another, one planet here, one planet there. I speak of it as a triviality, but believe me, for the Skorruci planetary destruction is *ordinary*.
- Unknown Veteran of a *Lost Planet*.

"How can one not look at a force of such devotion, of such zealotry, and not freeze in terror?"
- Salai the Fallen

The Skorruci are a faction of *ratmen* devoted to one cause and one cause alone: To serve their beloved god, the one and supreme: Skorus. Their appearance is that of manged and disheveled rats whom have thrived in destruction and filth for far too long. The ways they serve their god can be aptly summarized into the destruction of life, of beauty, of anything that is *not them*.

Their weaponry consists of infected melee weapons as well as plague guns. Most of their weapons are about destroying the enemy from within. Entire sieges have been won by the aftermath of the chemical weapons.

Though many believe the Skorruci are merely a nuisance, the Skorruci are one of the greater threats of the galaxy, despite a long history of decline of power.

## Lore

*Long ago. There was a collection of creatures called The Fae. They hunted The Skorruci to near extinction. Where are The Fae now? Everyone knows but none dare admit.*
- Unknown

It was 20 years before the Dawn of Skorus. The original micemen, creatures of order and protectors of forest realms, were driven into the sewers by the vicious fae. It was a time of turmoil, and great panic. The Fae, seeing the micemen as inadequate and destructive to their purpose, sought to destroy them, but little did they know the chitterers of the sewer would become their end.

*The ratmen knew not at first his origin. But he spoke with such authority that as he placed himself on the throne the wispers came: "He's a king." "No. he's a god."*

The origins of Skorus are unknown, and any indication of humble origins have been vanquished from history. Skorus was and is the latest and current ratking, his legacy so impressive that none dared succeed him. Though his crowning was commence on his and only his authority the other ratmen submitted to him quickly as he reeked of power and a golden destiny. Quickly Skorus became seen as a king sent by the gods and later a god himself.

With a sword made out of a hilt of metal scrap and a blade which was a remnant of an old sewer pipe Skorus proceeded to unite the ratmen and counter The Fae, saving the ratmen from extinction. His conquests expanded over the planet and quickly he drove out the Fae from the original realm.

*The only ones who know the name of Icurroks before its destruction. The only one who knows where it hides are those whose bodies have since long been turned to dust.*
- Unknown

During Skorus's lifetime the ratmen grew to be an empire, a force to be reckoned with with a vision of defiling and despoiling the whole galaxy, corrupting it with Skorus's influence. Skorus and his supreme followers expanded the reign and would eventually exterminate the fae.

Skorus was unstoppable. For a long time it seemed like the whole world was doomed to be subjugated by him with only a few competing forces. But when Skorus died of age the ratmen has been in a long stagnation and what was once one of their greatest weapons, corruption, turned on them, for the ratmen has twisted Skorus's conquest so well they have been doomed to never reach his legacy.

### The Origin of The Clans

In due time Skorus would find primary followers, supreme devotees to his cause, one of them being Vulskra, and these followers would take over parts of the ratmen population and specialize themselves to suit the needs of the war. Though there is only one founder of the clans, Skorus, the leaders of the clans became important to the Skorruci society, for the clans in The Skorruci society were mainly ways to build expertise and mastery.

Though Skorus always knew that the clans were needed finding leaders was in particular a difficulty. Finding rats willing to serve was easy, finding competent leaders was not so easy, despite the first clan leader being found and bowing down to him relatively quickly.

##### Thanqor, the Titan

*Thanqor the Titan was frightened. The Fae would not relent and though he could not word it. Two wars was not good. Still, this mysterious warrior from far off in the underbelly could not be unlike the others. He could not be anything else than just another one frightened of them. Could he?*

Thanqor was a brute but quite a powerful one. His blows were known to shatter metal. When Skorus found him Thanqor immediately understood two things. One: Skorus was a rat unlike any other and two: a war against him was futile. He pledged servitude immediately.

##### Retchen the Madmage

Found bathing in the sewage that would kill most rats. Retchen had an affinity for magic and was always found biting in crystals. He was known as a rat with an extreme sense of magic. Though he had no followers, finding ratmen willing to follow his lead was no difficulty when Skorus welcomed him in among his company.

Convincing Retchen was difficult though. For Retchen did not ever truly share the grander purpose. Ultimately Retchen joined for selfish reasons but through the unity with Skorus and the others found friendship and ultimately a joy in being devoted to a greater cause.

##### Vulskra The Ancient

Found both reading symbols off sewer pipes, Vulskra is the only living devotee. Vulskra was first labelled *The Master Scribe* for his ability to document made him a master tactician. His clan is one of the few clans not only devoted to violence. Vulskra became quickly a prominent figure in Skorus's life as his intellect contributed significantly to the war effort.

##### Skreo, The Masterblade,

The great longtooth (ratsamurai). One-eyed and keen to battle. An agile and nimble fighter, though always outmatched by Skorus in battle. Skorus and Skreo often dueled and honed their skills together. Skreo was the founder of the warrior clan, and his soldiers would become a terror in their own right.

Some of the clans were later founded as new needs spawned, but the original leaders, first created by Skorus, stayed with him until the end.

### The Great Fae War

*Donned with blood and metal, Skorus gave one look upon his enemies, and this look alone could kill the weak.*

The Great Fae War was the period in which The Ratmen, led by Skorus, exterminated the Fae Empire. The Fae Empire, is one of the few Empires whose racial members have been completely wiped out. The war was relentless and Skorus refused to surrender. There were a plenty of losses but, oddly enough, with every defeat the ratmen grew stronger.

Over a span of *an amount of decades*, The Ratmen were relentless. When the last citadel of The Fae was defeated, and the great king killed by Skorus himself, then the ratmen bowed, renaming themselves Skorruci.

## Races

The ratmen are divided primarily into two races: One of birthed rats and others of mutated rats. These two are equally respected due to that *Skorus* respected all rats of quality, regardless of origin.

## Allies

Skorruci has no allies and will never seek any allies ever. Skorus had it as one of the first decrees that The Skorruci will stand on their own and never consider another species or race equals. This was law to him as the Skorruci had often humbled themselves in their past lives and this Skorus wished to steer away from.

## Enemies

What can bleed and is not rat you stab-stab, first rule of Skorucci. Most important rule of Skorruci.

## Lore of Magic

### School of Pestilence

1. **Hostile Coughs: Casting value 7. On a successful roll, target 1 enemy unit within 10'' from the caster; reduce their to hit rolls by 1.**
2. **Tongues of Pus: Casting Value 8. On a successful roll, the casting value of all enemy wizards within 9'' from the caster loses 1 to their casting value. On a successful roll of 10, lower the casting value by an additional 1. On a successful roll of 12, this affects all enemy wizards on the map.**
3. **Feast of Plagues: Casting Value 13. On a successful roll, the casting wizard may point at a unit of 5 models or less wholly within 10'' from the caster that is visible. That unit dies and is replaced by a unit of ten Vermin-Thralls for every model slain in that unit, to a maximum of a unit of 30.**
4. **Decay and Rot: (Requires corpse markers) Casting value of 9. On a successful roll, roll 1D4 and select an equal amount of models within 8'' from the caster. Remove their markers and deal grievous wounds to all enemy units within 3'' of the markers. Infantry marker: 1 GW, Monstrous Infantry or Cavalry: 2 GW, Heroes: D3 GW, Behemoths: D6 GW**
5. **Mauling Blisters: Casting value of 6. On a successful roll, target an enemy unit with models missing within 12'' from the caster: count up to 2 of those dead models and leave corpse markers in their place.**
6. **Soul Pox: Casting Value 11. On a successful roll,** **mark 1 enemy unit on the map. When any model from that unit is slain, they leave a corpse marker.**