Clan Skryre specialises in the insane blending of sorcery and arcane Skaven technology. Its members, known as Warlock Engineers, are inventors that build infernal devices capable of fiendish destruction and constantly experiment to create newer and more powerful weapons of mass destruction. They often steal war machines from other races and then strive to 'improve' them in their own unique way. This almost invariably involves the inclusion of warpstone-based mechanisms that increase the weapons' potential for destruction, but also tend to make them much more unstable. Other races would consider such weapons far too dangerous for large scale use on the battlefield, but Skaven have a different attitude, normally accepting a few losses from their own weapons as normal. After all, that's what slaves are for!
Many are sorcerers in their own right, able to manipulate the Winds of Magic to cast spells and intertwine enchantments into mechanical form. From their warpforges under the verminous capital of Skavenblight, Clan Skryre has produced untold weaponry, including the poisoned wind globe, the Warpfire Thrower, and the deadly Warp Lightning Cannon. Clan Skryre has risen to become, arguably, the most influential of all clans. By selling their weird arsenal of devastation to the Warlord clans as quickly as slaves can churn them off the assembly lines, Clan Skryre has grown as wealthy as Clan Moulder. None dare offend Clan Skryre for fear of ending up at the wrong end of any number of weapons that could melt, blast, desiccate, or otherwise cause grievous death.
The Warlock Engineers of Clan Skryre presently have the most power and thus, the most influence with the Lords of Decay. They specialise in the creation and utilization of strange sorcerous machines powered by a variety of Warpstone based devices, some of which they've taken from other races for "modification"
others being entirely original to them. Ultimately, all of their machines are designed to kill others and
occasionally, their wielders.
Power struggles drive competing Warlords to seek any advantage they can buy (although stealing or coercing are fine options too). At times a mere show of might is enough to win the day. In this regard, a Warlord clan cannot have too much of Clan Skryre's wicked weaponry. The fact that the Warlock Engineers sell to all sides in the constant Skaven struggle for dominance is well known; the fact that for a very high price they offer to withhold their services is widely guessed. None but the Grey Seers know the exorbitant extent of Clan Skryre's double-dealing and treachery.
Clan Skryre holds sway in Skavenblight, a teeming Skaven metropolis considered by many to be the capital of the Under-Empire. So powerful did Clan Skryre become that they and their allies once took complete control of the city, usurping whole clan-quarters to house their sorcerous machinery. They hold many of the more prestigious precincts to this day, cavernous areas in vie cathedral-sized warpforges and workshops build devastating warpstone weaponry. This eclectic arsenal is sold to Warlord clans as quickly as the slaves can churn it off the assembly lines, making Clan Skryre one of the most influential clans in all of Skavendom. The weapons and machinery of Clan Skryre are often inscribed with magical runes and symbols of dark power. These same markings are displayed on the clan's pennants and banners. Access to the city's plentiful veins of Warpstone allows the Clan to expand upon the technologies for which they are renowned. The city reflects the nature of its Skryre masters, being atypically modern when compared to most other Skaven settlements.
Without a doubt, Skryre is the wealthiest and most powerful of all the Great Clans. The Clan's strength rests on artifice and sorcery in equal measures. Much of their technology is geared towards war, mixing equal amounts of magic and Warpstone to create weapons unparalleled anywhere in the Old World.
Fortunately for Clan Skryre's foes, their weapons are often as dangerous to the Skaven as they are to their targets.
Because weapons are Skryre's stock in trade, the clan's other mechanical feats are easily overlooked. Skryre succeeded in creating many exciting devices, from the Warprail, connecting one end of the Under-Empire to the other, to the Farsqueaker, a device allowing instant communication between Skaven over great distances.
Indeed, much of the Under-Empire's mining is accomplished by way of Skryre-manufactured earthmovers and rock drills.
The Clan's Warlock Engineers are constantly
researching new technologies. Skryre's experiments are just as likely to succeed as they are to fail, however, often with catastrophic results. The Warlock Engineers feel that such Failures are to be expected, especially those riding on the cutting edge of technology. The number of labourers, mechanics, and engineers that die as a result of this research is irrelevant when compared to the value of a successful experiment.
Clan Skryre expands its own power by augmenting its access to items of high technology. By delving into new areas of research and making great discoveries, the clan increases irs prestige amongst its rivals. In
addition, Skryre-manufactured equipment proven on the battlefield is often sold or leased to other Clans, creating a widespread reliance on Clan Skryre equipment, ensuring their place on the Council.
The Warlock Engineers of Clan Skryre are in no way ashamed of adapting and improving the technologies of the other races. The warplock jezzail is an example of a piece of mundane equipment stolen by Skryre and perfected with liberal amounts of Warpstone-laced iron and steel. Their heavier weapons, such as the ratling gun and warpfire thrower, resemble designs that were originally produced by Dwarf engineers in years long past. Though Skryre ingenuity is capable of great invention and original design, it is also capable of modification as well.
Clan Skryre utilises its technological superiority to great advantage on the battlefield. Though Clan Skryre relies on Clanrats to shoulder much of the military burden, their warriors are far better equipped than typical Clanrats of other lesser Clans, and their weapons are capable of destruction on a massive scale.
Heavy weapon teams using ratling guns and warpfire throwers, while the better-trained Clanrats are equipped with warplock pistols. Enemies are softened up by Poison Wind Globadiers, specially-trained Skaven who fling poison gas-filled glass spheres into the ranks of their foes. Skaven snipers set up away from the front lines with their warplock jezzails, where they pick off important targets at will. Closer to the rear of Skryre formations sit large cannons that are capable of launching bolts of destructive warp lightning. Serviced by numerous technicians and engineers, warplighting cannons are prone to exploding if they are improperly maintained.
Like all other Skaven clans, Skryre is willing make great sacrifices if it means that they will achieve ultimate victory over their enemies. Firing a warp-lighting cannon or ratling gun through their own troops in order to destroy a powerful enemy or weapon is perfectly acceptable to Skryre's warlords.
By supplying the Council of Thirteen with infernal machines, Clan Skryre ensures its own position of power within the Under-Empire. Each member of the Council is well aware of Skryre's value, and the Clan will never allow them to forget it. New inventions and
devices of war are constantly demonstrated to the Lords of Decay, and the most promising of these receive funding from the rest of the Great and Lesser Clans. Many victories have been achieved by the deeds of the Warlock Engineers and their lackeys, who were in turn supported by the inventions of Clan Skryre.
Other, less destructive, devices are also put to use in the name of the Skaven people as a whole. The Farsqueaker, for example, allows the Council to communicate with its agents in the field. In addition, Skryre maintains the Warprail, a system of tracks and warp-powered transport cars allowing fast subterranean transport of troops and equipment. The powerful machines that are used to mine tunnels and move rocks and soil away from the Under-Empire's byways are also Skryre designs. So long as Clan Skryre continues to supply the Under-Empire with valuable services and (somewhat) reliable weaponry, it shall remain the most powerful of the Great Clans.
By selling the services of their specialised weapon teams to the constantly warring clans, the Masters of Clan Skryre have achieved an unparalleled level of influence and are at the moment the most important of the four greater clans.
The bulk of Clan Skryre's armies is made up of Clanrats and slaves, and these forces therefore look deceptively similar to normal Warlord clans' armies.
The real difference is suddenly noticed when the enemy comes within range of Skryre's lethal weapons.
At that point they all open fire at once, showering the foes with a rain of alchemical fire, poisonous gases and searing warpstone-powered bolts of lightning.
The Warlock Engineer stood motionless, his eyes filled with malevolent amusement as the screams of the dying echoed up the dark passage. Chieftain Skritt of Clan Liskit glanced nervously towards the figure standing at his side as the rival clan attacked once more. Skritt found his gaze unconsciously drawn once again to his Clan Skryre ally's left arm, The hand had been roughly severed, replaced by an arcane looking pronged device. Strange, green-tinged electricity danced over its dark blades, lighting the darkness.
From his position, atop the rough barricade, the chieftain could see the enemy Clanrats swarming up the dark, circular tunnel. They moved as an unstoppable wave, overrunning the defenders bellow through sheer weight of numbers. Skritt looked around hurriedly for an escape route, for the living tide of Skaven would surely smash aside the hastily erected Clan Liskit defences.
The arcane scientist twisted a few knobs built into his arm and a humming sound erupted from the arcane machinery worn on his back. Skritt backed slowly away from the Warlock as he felt the air fill with hardy controlled energy, making his fur stand on end and his whiskers twitch uncomfortably.
As the Warlock thrust his arm over the barricade, energy began to course through his form. His body acted as a living conduit for the arcane power that suddenly erupted from the blades embedded in his arm. Green lightning sprang from the tips of the bizarre contraption, arcing down into the sea of brown fur scampering towards the barricade. The lightning split into a number of contorting arcs of sight, passing through Skaven and striking those behind while other tendrils of power earthed harmlessly into the stone floor.
Clanrats convulsed in their death throes as energy coursed through their bodies.
With a sharp twist of another knob, the energy flowing, through the Warlock came abruptly to a twit. His body continued to tremble with the aftermath of the power, and sparks flashed around his eyes. He shook his head, dissipating the last of the energy.
Flickering sparks danced over the foetid water pooling on the grown low, before they too died out. Still the wave of Skavcn scampered up the passageway, trampling those killed by the techno-sorcery of Clan Skryre beneath countless clawed feet.
A quick glance was exchanged between the Warlock and the chieftain and they turned as one leaping from the barricade into the refuse below their position. They scurried across the ground until they reached the massed ranks of the Clan Liskit warriors. Behind the two fleeing Skaven, the barricade was quickly overrun, the raiders clambering over each other, their cruel blades clamped tightly between their teeth.
Turning his head, the Engineer motioned forwards with his one heavily gloved hand. From out of the gloom, a large shape rated forwards, an unearthly green glow pulsing from within. A pair of misshapen Skaven pushed the wheeled contraption forwards, their milky eyes staring blindly forwards. The chieftain watched the ungodly Clan Skryre war machine as it was heaved between ranks of the Clanrats, the Skaven scrambling over each other to keep away from the glowing contraption. The Warlock's eyes lit up with an insane gleam,
The assaulting Skaven swarmed down the passage, packing the circular tunnel with their overwhelming numbers. The Engineer turned his mad gaze on Skritt.
"Send in your slaves now, quick-quick!"
Bobbing his head in response, the chieftain barked his orders at his subordinates, gesturing wildly at the approaching Skaven. With the crack of whips, the slaves were led forwards, their emaciated bodies covered in weeping sores and whiplashes. Heavy brass collars bound their scrawny necks, and the clinking of rusting chains echoed through the corridor as they shuffled forwards.
The slaves. Skaven captured on one of Clan Liskit's many raids, were whipped forwards until they stood before the tide of invading Clanrats. The enemy smashed into the slaves in a fury, carving through their ranks with ease.
Many of the slaves turned to flee, panic washing over them, but they were whipped and struck from those behind who urged them ever forwards. Caught between these two forces, the slaves were being ripped limb from limb and trampled beneath the surging crowd.
The Warlock Engineer nodded to the Skaven standing atop the bizarre Clan Skryre contraption. Raising a paw to his arcane goggles, the Engineer tapped button on his temple and a pair of mirrored lenses flicked down to cover his eyes.
Skritt stood uncomprehending, watching as a lever was clicked forwards on the immense arcane creation.
A sudden surge of painful light filled the dark corridor, and Skaven dropped to the ground, clutching at their burning eyes. The Warlock smirked behind his protective, goggles as a wave of heat washed over him. A huge, twisting bolt of green-tinged light erupted from the barrel of the warp cannon, shooting forwards into the mass of tightly packed Skaven, bouncing- around the corridor and enveloping all in its path. The Skaven slaves and enemy Clanrats were engulfed as one, the contorting bolt punching scaring boles through all in its path.
Smaller green arcs separated from the main beam, leaping around the corridor in a frenzied dance of devastation, lunging from one Skaven to another. The surge of energy struck the barricade, splintering the rotting wood that exploded outwards under the intense force. The bolt continued up the corridor, bouncing along the walls into the distance, and darkness descended once more.
The corridor floor was strewn with twitching furred bodies, innumerable Skaven figures lying broken and burnt, and the whimpers of the dying cut through the unearthly silence.
The foul smell of burnt flesh and fur filled the corridor as the Warlock Engineer turned to Chieftain Skritt, who cowered on his knees in the filth, paws clutched tightly over his aching eyes.
"Price for aid of almighty Clan Skryre most agreeable, yes-yes?"