churchofdesolation

[churchofdesolation]

@apexulansis

How naive of the Priestess to think being rid of the pestilent ones would be so easy. How foolish of them both to think there would be no consequences for crossing the true sons of the Horned Rat and so brazenly!

Loyalty was a concept foreign to most Skaven, but they knew jealousy, resentment, envy, and terror. And Immiq knew well how to drive his fellow ratman, how to make them squeak, what to promise them to keep their cooperation, if only for a time.

The white-furred pair, the Grey Seer and the monster that run off with her, were not difficult to locate. Everyone had heard of the oversized She-thing that had taken command of a local Skaven Clan and many had already tried, with armies and assassins both, to wrest power away from them both. All had failed and it became clear to the High Aggregate that force wasn't the key to besting them both.

But the Horned Rat had blessed them with guile as much as with plague and numbers beyond counting. Guile woud win them to day and the blood owed for the destruction of their clan and warren.

Yeskiv would recieve word of Merchant-rats bearing rare wares for trade. "For Warlord eyes only-only" according to the messenger rat who had been sent to carry the merchants words, specifically to the non-skaven of the white-furred pair...

#apexulansis #//i completely forgot about this plot we spoke about orz

[churchofdesolation]

Immiq giggles like a thing gone mad and perhaps he is, as a rat of the pestilent faith. For a few moments he forgets Ermon is even there, eyeing his new weapon and practically salivation over it. Only once he catches a glimpse of the daemon in the corner of his rheumy eyes does he remember his end of the bargain.

The ratman beckons with a claw. He throws open the heavy stone doors of his chamber with surprising strength and a bang that resounds through the warren, startling and stumbling his Plagueguard (who he still plans to fire for the oversight of letting a Daemon Prince slip past them).

The rats blanche at the daemon, but their lord's demeanor and unharmed form keep them from doing much more than levelling spears at Ermon. Spears that Immiq bats away with his gnarled pink paws.

"Rude-rude! This daemon is a guest! A partner in business, yes-yes. You will let him pass! Take-lead him to the Church Courtyard, where Morsliebb grins down through the earth and upon us-us!" Immiq grabs a slave rat and pulls him before the Daemon Prince. Then, patting his shoulder, he leaves the two to it.

" Take him to Ing-thing. Hurry-scurry."

As for Immiq...he had some Khornates to kill-slay.

Ermon bit back a snort as the shadow reaches into the middle of the Censor. Any mortal creature would likely die a horrible and painful death, but the Daemon Prince gives no reaction at all to the lethal concoction.

The shadow's fingers become flames that fill the middle of the chamber for a moment before they dissipate; mingling into the foul mixture of pox and fog until they are indistinguishable from one another. The hand is withdrawn.

"It is done. The flames within shall eat at your enemies as surely as your poxes."

Ermon straightens.

"Now then, High Aggregate. Where is the Khornate kept? I can handle the rest from there."

#chaoscheckerboard #//LMAOOO #end thread? unless you want him and Ingvild to actually speak--

[churchofdesolation]

He's right-- The High Aggregate's patience for pleasantries and conversation is quickly waning and the excited ratman practically bounces on his footpads. He tries not to sound too impatient as he prompts the daemon.

"Yes-yes! By all means!"

Immiq rushes over, grabbing the cruel and terrible Plague Censor. It dripped a noxious green liquid, contagion and magic mixed into a truly awful concoction indeed. And yet it was to become more deadly. Grasping it with warty, gnarled hands, Immiq leaned the weapon nearer to Ermon.

Ermon's shadow-shape did not have lips, but he grinned regardless. The ghostly white pupiless irises glitter brightly. Perfect - he had been worried it may not have took, but in the end the High Aggregate was still a Skaven. His reserved, joyful demeanor hid the power-hungry instincts much of the time but if offered the right incentive.

"You honor me, High Aggregate, with such words." He swept a clawed inky arm into a bow. "No doubt this will be the start of a most favourable partnership, and my Lord will not be so quick to forget those who so generously put aside their own wishes for the sake of winning this war."

A lie, on multiple fronts, but at this point he doubted the rat was even truly listening to him. Besides, the Khornates would still doubtless storm this warren anyway, unknowing that the sage was whisked away in the meantime. Ermon certainly was not going to tell them.

The living shadow slithered across the wall, coming to rest beside the priest's horrific weapon. A hand reformed, probing, before pausing.

"May I?"

#chaoscheckerboard #//immiq is like a kid at christmas lmao

[churchofdesolation]

Immiq's eyes practically boggle out of his skull. He had looked reserve, right up until Ermon played that cared. Oh, what gifts he offered, what promises! Even the Horned Rat in his new status as a true god had not the ability to truly destroy daemons.

The ratkin clears his throat and restrains himself, reeling in that show of interest though he was sure the Daemon Prince had already seen it.

"You are kind-generous." Though with their ties to Slaanesh, however distant, maybe that wasn't so strange. "Very-very kind!" The power to kill a daemon for true? In this war against rival daemons, Immiq would rise above the common rat! The Horned One would see him and favor him and ascend him!

It was too good to resist.

" You have deal! Will trade Mage-blood thing for kill-power! Will talk-speak to the Horned Rat! I am favored, he will-will understand~"

This rodent was clever - and dangerous, in his own way. His fanaticism did not blind him - no, he was rational for one of his clan and scarily so at that.

But that made him easier to work with, at least for now.

"Perish the thought that I would dare undo such a pact between our two two parties, O'Greatest of Poxmakers. My word is my bond." He dismissed such an idea politely, though in truth he knew it would not be Malal that broke the current state of things. No, that was forever in the Skaven's court. Even so, he could not deny he longed for the day he was given an excuse.

But back to the concern at hand. He needed something of equal value to a Khornate sorcerer to be sacrified - but perhaps he could offer something that would equally play upon the Skaven's faith.

"What is but one sacrifice, High Aggregate? Surely, one so mighty as yourself wishes to both honor The Great Horned Rat and slay his enemies for him? The Four have many eyes and ears. Many hands that need removing. Would the Great Horned Rat not honour you more if you were capable of removing splinters in his plans?"

The Shadow waved a hand and a small ball of black-and-grey flame flickered into being several inches over the palm. The energy to erase Daemons - all but Malal's own, of course, by design.

"I would offer you, and you alone, a sign of our partnership, and the ability to offer more worthy sacrifices. True destruction. Perhaps I could empower your censer. By your command you would flood the area with a mist that would burn away Daemons and devour the souls of your enemies. A single blow would be enough to slay most."

He hated knowing he was offering this to a Skaven - but it was only one, and it was not something the rat could reproduce. Besides; how many of Malal's failures had lost their own empowered weaponry in battle?

A worthy sacrifice if it meant denying Khorne one of his most potent weapons and getting one step closer to what he craved most.

#chaoscheckerboard #Immiq really said: 👀👀👀👀 ayo?

[churchofdesolation]

Reminder that Immiq sounds like Thomas O'Malley The Alleycat

#ooc #:3c or Baloo

[churchofdesolation]

"So squeaks my spies. Odd thing, man-doe is. Does magic but wears Blood God colors." A strange lore too, once she had brought to bear against the Deacons and Apprentices in his own clan. Her "care", such as it was, was left to Stormvermin and Clanrats after the fact.

Immiq finds himself squinting at the Daemon's words. Beneath all his well reasons and surely genuine concerns about the well being of the Church, the High Aggregate could see the truth. He wanted the doe-thing for his own purposes. For his own god.

" Yes-yes, that is the plan-scheme. Horned One would love-like such a prize. Maybe he raise me up to be Vermin Prince, like your god does you-you?" The ratman half-joked. He considered Ermon's offer, as well as other things, such as the danger he presented just be being here. Slipping past the Aggregate's guards, still posted outside. Immiq wasn't even sure if they knew there was a daemon present.

"Morrslieb is full-bright soon-soon." Begin Immiq, " Have been praying-telling the Horned One about this feast to come-come for days. About this strange-magic blood god servant-slave."

" Horned Rat will be disappointed if he does not get what has has been promised. Disfavor brings death, disease, destruction. But favor....you speak of enemy-things at our gates and further-further away, but the Horned Rat will not let them touch us-us. Not after we have fed him well-well."

Immiq eyed his plague censor, leant against the wall of his burrow, leaking it's foul pestilence. He then looked back at the daemon prince, " Alliance between Horned Rat and Shadow-God is new-new. Would be ashamed to upset-unmake it. Spill friend-ally blood over a Khornate mortal, yes-no?"

" But. Maybe I can be persuaded-convinced if she is swapped-traded for something just as valuable-singular."

Ah. Of course the Seers would know of the state of things. That perhaps made his job easier.

Perhaps.

"The honor is all mine, honored High Aggregate." A bow, masking his distaste at kowtowing. More flies with honey and all that, he supposes. He straightens slightly. "I was made aware you are currently in possession of a rather unique follower of the accursed Blood God."

He flourishes outside of the cloister with a shadowy hand.

"Given your current guests, I believe that to be true. I also understand it is likely you intend to offer him as tribute to the Great Horned Rat. I come to offer you a warning; to do so would be to invite doom upon you, your clan and your warren. She is of great importance to Khorne, and thus she is being hunted. Your 'guests' are merely a scouting force. If you do not agree, they will return in force. And if you slay her? You will invite Khorne's wrath directly. I doubt even one so mighty as you can stand against such force, O'Greatest of the Horned Rat's faithful."

Now for the hard sell.

"There is, however, a way. My Lord's realm is hidden from Khorne's eyes in a way that not even the Horned Rat, great as he is, can manage. If you allow me to take the Khornate, it will ensure that not only do your efforts remain safe, but that Khorne is deprived of a powerful tool. And, most of all, it does not prevent your own glory at having captured such a specimen. My Lord and the Great Horned Rat are allies. It will be no trouble to gain his ear regarding your vital aid and honored service to your patron."

#chaoscheckerboard #Immiq: im a business-rat ok :3c

[churchofdesolation]

Jungles of Pahaulaxa, Lustria

The coming of the Grey Seer, Immiq had decided, had been a test from the Horned Rat. Not a boon as he originally understood, but a blight. She had been invited into their home and into their dens, only to leave death and ruin in her wake whenever she had wriggled free of their welcoming embrace alongside her monster. High Aggregate Syst was a ratman who seldom frowned, yet he found the expression etched in his face more and more lately.

Heliinx was gone...but the omen she represented lingered in their dens like a bad case of brood-blight. Their misfortunates had only begun with her escape, followed by a rash of ill dealings with neighbors, tensions between the Seers and Plague Priests under his banner, and an actual bout of Brood Blight. The coffers of the clan had been drained to replace the barren females. 

The Church of Desolation had been damn near desolated itself.

Many slaves had died in the seeking of Vermaux’s favor. Many prayers had come from the Aggregates own mouth, beseeching the newly exalted Horned Rat for his aid in these lean and desperate times. And, to Immiq’s tearful surprise, the god-rat had heard his plea. You will find-find your salvation in the Blood of the Blood God’s children. Squeaked the deity, and Immiq had urged the Church’s militants to seek the nearest Cult of the Blood God and drag out his worshippers to be sacrificed. Vermaux demanded Blood and he would have his due.

First went the spies, to find the quarry. Khornate cults were rare down south, but the noses of his minions had scented one out easily enough. Better still, they were of a number that could be overwhelmed with acceptable casualties. This is going very-very well. Immiq had thought, but not spoken, for the Horned Rat could take away his favor and bounty as quickly as he could extend it.

The spies had reported other things too. Something that smelled like magic, and looked enough like a man-thing breeder, yet milled about the followers of Khorne with no trouble. Quite the contrary, she seemed the leader of this cult. Immiq had only grinned. When the time came she would be the centerpiece of the sacrifice. Nothing but the best for their Horned Lord.

The spies spoke true. The Blood God’s followers fought, but the skaven were many and they were but men, only so deep in Kharneth’s embrace. The leader-thing stunk of magic, as Immiq had heard, but he was not the scientific mind of the clans moulder of skryre. Within this Sage of Khorne, called Ingvild the Red, Immiq only saw something rare to offer his god. A magical Khornate! What other deity could make such a claim?

Restraining her had been a tricky matter and one he left to the care of his underlings, but it was only a minor inconvience. A few lives loss; no rats of any true value anyway. A host of Khornates had set up outside, trying to treat for her release, something odd in itself. The Hound’s followers were hardly diplomatic...this ‘Ingvild’ must be a special man-thing indeed! Of course, his barter-rats were sent to talk negotiations, but there was no true intention to hand her over. Not someone this precious to a rival god, no-no! She would die. And her end would ensure their own lives would be long and bountiful!

In a few days, Morrslieb would be at it’s fullest and brightest and the Church of Desolation would runneth over with riches, slaves, and their fell god’s favor...

@chaoscheckerboard

#ignored this my stupid ass deleted the original post? #like me @ me get yourself together #chaoscheckerboard

[churchofdesolation]

The Aggregate was in his cloister, heaping praise upon the Horned One. His guard were at their typical posts, more ratman than he usually needed, but unsure times called for extra measures taken. The faith of a ratman was fickle, shakable, but not his own. He did not falter in his beliefs just because times were hard and Vermaux sought to test them.

That was why he was High Aggregate and the rest were mere monks, battle fodder, and slaves.

There was a subtle shifting in the dark, like an assassin unfurling itself for the kill. But Immiq had no fear. He had his magics, and his faith in the Horned Rat. No weapon formed against him would prosper.

It brought not blades, but words. And it's voice the Plague ratkin didn't recognize. That was what finally made Immiq turn away from incenses to behold a Daemon Prince of Malal. Seeking no quarrel? They would see about that over the course of conversation, but for now the tall ratman offered the Daemon his friendliest smile.

" A child-spawn of Malal, most powerful of our allies in the Realm of Gods! This warren truly is blessed."

" To what do we owe the pleasure-honor?"

Just as his patron, Ermon found the shadows as easy to navigate as liquid. He was not nearly as apt as either Malal or Slaanesh at it, but his shadow-selves yet roamed the land, slipping through the spaces between the veil, hunting and searching.

It had taken more time than he had wanted to find the Sage. The followers of other Gods were just as repugnant and rage-inducing as they ever were, but they whispered and talked. The Skaven were no exception, crafty as they were, which is how he had found her at all. It was frankly likely because Skaven had found her that she was still alive at all.

A cold comfort. Ermon had no more love for the Skaven than anything else. He would be glad when the day came that they were purged.

And so here he sat, within a pool of shadow where the flickering torches that lit up the High Aggregate's chambers did not quite reach. He watched and listened, having slipped from where the 'negotiations' were (hah! the very idea. It was only the risk of the Sage's death that kept the Khornates from storming the warrens and being pointlessly overwhelmed. A shame).

And so it was time to announce himself. He would have no trouble simply taking the Sage - Lustria had tunnels to Malal's realm after all - but if he could sow more chaos between the degenerates, then where was the harm?

Slowly the Daemon Prince solidified; not in his usual form but as a man-sized shadow, his face imprinted with the outline of a skull that glowed white. A fascimile of Malal's symbol.

"High Aggregate Immiq, mightiest and most favoured of the Great Horned Rat. I would have a word, if I may." The Daemon Prince spread his shadowy hands, his voice smooth but otherworldly - despite how much his own words made him want to vomit. "I do not come seeking quarrel with you, O'Greatest of Plague Bearers."

#chaoscheckerboard

[churchofdesolation]

Would you give Imiiq a hug? Comm for @xaallo / @heliinx !

#High Aggregate (Immiq Syst); #commissions #THE RAT MAN COMMETH

[churchofdesolation]

“ Oho? New-fresh blood for our family-clan? Praise be to the Horned Rat.”

#IC (Sermon of Destruction); #//ayooo

[churchofdesolation]

He’s complete! Meet Immiq Syst, Master of Clan Raze and High Aggregate of the Church of Desolation.

Immiq is a piebald-grey Skaven with horns and normally this would mean he’d be a Grey Seer, like Heliinx. However, he was born within the Pestilent Brotherhood who ignore ancient laws and keep horned ratlings for themselves.

His name is a play on the word “Immix” which means to mix or combine. “Syst” is reference to word Syst and something else that is very, very obscure but nonetheless relevant to a clan list Clan Pestilens ;)

His horns were inspired by the Great Unclean Ones and his general demeanor would be right at home among Nurglish factions. Quite nice for a Skaven (and just in general), but just as vicious, don’t let that fool you.

A chonky boy. Has a fondness for hugging his subordinates, the ones he’s pretty sure won’t stab him anyway. This wouldn’t be so horrible, aside from the fact that as a Plaguemixer, any number of contagions might be clinging to his fur at any given time. He (usually) doesn’t mean any harm with his hugs though…

Makes use of a Custom Plague Censor, which he is immune to and which only he knows how to brew.

Immiq is the religious head of the Church of Desolation. While the Order of the Grey Seers focus on the Ruin aspect of the Horned Rat and the Pestilent Brotherhood focuses on his Disease aspect, the Church pays equal attention to both and believes that without both, one cannot fully bask in the blessings of the Rat Father.

To go along with his demeanor, he’s got Phil Harris as a voice actor. Although Swain from League and Judge Claude Frollo also work, but they don’t have the ~vibe~ I’m going for.

More Religious than the Seers, more pragmatic than the Plague Monks.

Immiq considers himself the Horned Rat’s true chosen; A Grey Seer born within the Clan Pestilens and the only one able to see past the dogma and hatred of his clan towards the Seers to reveal the bigger picture.

He is born roughly around the same time as Heliinx and sees an Omen in this. Namely, that he and she are fated to bring about the Great Ascendancy together. Heliinx has quite a different opinion about that and is polite to him for diplomatic reasons only. In reality, she hopes he swallows his tongue.

His blog isn’t QUITE done, but can be found at @churchofdesolation.

#High Aggregate (Immiq Syst);

[churchofdesolation]

More Skaven art. Its Clan Pestilens’s time in the spotlight, with their legendary disciple of decay - Lord Skrolk.

#Disease That Stalks (Lord Skrolk);

[churchofdesolation]

Clan Pestilens vs Fyreslayers

Clan Pestilens vs Fyreslayers. Copyright Games Workshop.

Antonio J. Manzanedo

#Contagious Kin (Pestilent Brotherhood);

[churchofdesolation]

plaguemother

it's my personal take that females in clan pestilens are treated much better than in other clans (at least in later eras), as putting more resource to actively raising offspring ensures hardier and more enduring populations. by reverse engineering the concept of survival of the fittest, leaving females to their own devices on much more frequent occasions sees results in sounder broods; after all, only the best-preserved individuals have the proper strength to survive the blessed plagues, if they wish to ever have the chance of spreading them. for this reason, it may not be uncommon to see these broodmothers take up the mantle of plague clergy as well, honored as figures akin to reverend mothers for their contribution to the pestilent vermintide.

depicted is one such "brood-priestess". she still may never see the frontline of battle or a council seat, but the influx of warpstone trinkets as fertility offerings, choice in food share, and the ability to hold active interaction with other skaven fully conscious is gift enough.

#Contagious Kin (Pestilent Brotherhood);

[churchofdesolation]

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#tags