Tretch Craventail vs Cluny the Scourge[]
Tretch Craventail, the very embodiment of Verminous Valor. A rat who has made fleeing, betrayal, and sneaking an artform.
Cluny the Scourge, the most feared Bilge Rat who ever stepped foot on land.
Tretch Craventail[]
Tretch Craventail is the current warlord of Clan Rictus, having secured the position after dropping down on his predecessor while ingeniously disguised as a stalactite. Craventail was not born a Stormvermin like many warlords but pulled himself up the ranks of Skavendom in the most Skaven-like way imaginable: by cheating, lying, and stealing until everything worked out. His first opportunity came when he was a mere clan rat, having been placed in charge of protecting a group of goblin prisoners. According to Tretch himself, this was due to his innate leadership. It is more likely, however, that Tretch was given the job because he was deemed too scrawny to usurp leadership. This proved false as Tretch promptly spiked the goblins with Mad Cap Mushrooms and released them on where the Clawleaders and Chieftains were convening over which passage to take. The result of several goblins chained together and whirling together proved bloody and several positions were left open. Tretch was all too happy to scurry into position and take the position of Clawleader. The rest was history and only ended after Tretch managed to become the warlord of his clan.
Tretch has a reputation for surviving the unsurvivable. He was seen running into the water while alit with burning green warpfire, only to promptly return a few hours later like nothing happened. Tretch was the sole survivor of a disastrous naval mission that killed everyone else involved, it is not uncommon for high-ranking to send Tretch off on suicide missions in an attempt to get him killed. Yet Tretch always seems to return, none the worst for wear. It can truly be said that Tretch has a sense for victory and a deep knowledge of when exactly to run away.
- Trident: Tretch's primary weapon is a short trident used for thrusting and slashing. The trident appears to be three daggers stuck together on a short pole, with leather wrapped around the hilt.
- Hand flail: In addition to his trident, Tretch wields a hand flail in his offhand. This flail is used to penetrate through armor and consists of three different chains, each topped with a spiked ball.
- Lucky Skullhelm: Tretch wears the skull of a former rival as a good-luck charm.
- Plate Armor: Tretch wears iron plates on his chest and back. There is a hole in the back to allow for his tail to move. His armor is complete with a pair of iron bracers to protect the wrists and forearms.
Stormvermin are amongst the most talented warriors in all of Skavendom. A Stormvermin is created when a singular rat is born larger than the rest of his litter, allowing him to devour his siblings and grow to larger than average sizes. A Stormvermin stands between six and seven feet tall and are clad in solid plate armor.
Stormvermin are considered to be roughly equal to Empire Knights in training and physicality. Yet despite this increased training, Stormvermin are still prone to betraying their leaders at the drop of a hat, as is the custom of Skaven society. At this rate, most have learned not to try and backstab Tretch Craventail, who has a reputation for surviving the unsurvivable.
Clan Rictus is known for its above-average amount of Stormvermin and Tretch is certainly no exception. In this match-up, Tretch Craventail will be accompanied by fifty Stormvermin. His Stormvermin will be armed with the following weapons:
- Skaven Sword and Shield: Stormvermin often wield swords and shields as backup weapons for their glaive, in the coincidence that their enemies get too close. The sword is effectively a broad-bladed falchion, while the shield is a simplistic rounded metal shield.
- Skaven Halberd: The iconic weapon of the Stormvermin is a halberd which is roughly seven feet long, longer than the Stormvermin is tall. This weapon is occasionally wielded along with a shield, however, it is generally used in two hands. The halberd can be used to either slash or thrust and is capable of piercing almost all forms of nonmagical armor.
Cluny the Scourge[]
Cluny the Scourge is a rat commanding a rather sizeable army that rampages along the coastline. Initially beginning his life on the seas, Cluny would eventually come ashore seeking destruction and treasure. He has committed crimes during his time on land, to the point where his name is used to scare unruly children. Cluny is particularly large for a rat and is famed for his speed and strength, making him peerless in his army.
Much of Cluny's heritage is unknown, however, it is known that at one point he destroyed a mine full of badgers, burned down several farmhouses, stampeded a village, and faced a pike in single combat. During his fight against the pike, Cluny lost his eye. However, the pike lost its eye. Cluny remains the only warlord in history to have successfully (even if just momentarily) taken the Abbey of Redwall.
- Cluny's Tail: Cluny's primary weapon is his tail, which can be used as a whip. In addition, Cluny attaches a spike on his tail in preparation for battle, made all the more lethal through the use of poison.
- Wrought Iron Fence: A metal spike taken from the fence of a church used as an improvised spear by Cluny and much of his horde.
- Armor: Cluny tends to enter battle in only light armor, consisting of a cloak made from batwings and an iron helmet adorned with blackbird feathers and stag beetle horns.
Cluny leads a horde of fellow rats into battle. These rats are poorly trained and disciplined, the army effectively held together by Cluny's charisma. While there is plenty of infighting within the ranks, very little of this violence is directed toward Cluny himself. From the lowliest rat to his second in command, the horde appears to be highly loyal to Cluny himself. Most of the rats are poorly armored if armored at all. The finest of Cluny's men wear iron caps, while the majority enter battle in little more than rags. An average rat stands between four and five feet tall.
For this match-up, Cluny will be accompanied by two hundred of his rats.
- Cutlass: The most elite of Cluny's army (around fifty rats) will be armed with cutlasses.
- Improvised Spears: The rest of Cluny's army will be armed with improvised spears crafted from wrought iron church fencing. These spears are quite short, measuring around four feet.
| Tretch Craventail | X-Factors | Cluny the Scourge |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Troop Discipline | 50 |
| 90 | Single Combat | 80 |
| 100 | Troop Equipment | 50 |
| 50 | Troop Loyalty | 75 |
| 80 | Tactics | 60 |
Explanations:
- While the Skaven are undisciplined as a rule, the Stormvermin tend to at least somewhat operate as trained and professional soldiers. Stormvermin know how to hold a formation and know how to maintain cohesion in the face of an enemy assault. In addition, Stormvermin are significantly better trained and are far more used to their opponents actually fighting back.
- While Cluny is no slouch in single combat, Tretch likely has him beat. Tretch is wearing superior armor and is more experienced at dueling opponents (even if Tretch rarely fights cleanly).
- The Stormvermin are fully armored in plate and carry weapons made out of steel. In comparison, Cluny's army is poorly armored (if armored at all) and generally wield improvised weaponry.
- While Tretch might be better at tactics than Cluny, ultimately he is despised by his own army. While Cluny's army may have infighting, none of that infighting is focused around Cluny. His rats are simply too afraid of him to attempt a coup in the middle of battle. The same cannot be said of Tretch, who may find himself being backstabbed by his own men should he leave an opportunity.
- Cluny is a capable tactician, however, he has limited battle experience where he was facing an enemy actually capable of fighting back. Tretch, on the other hand, is nothing if not crafty and has crafted plans that have confounded opponents all across the Warhammer world.
Scenario:[]
- Tretch and fifty of his Stormvermin will be attempting to exert dominance over their section of the city warrens, while Cluny and two hundred of his rats will be attempting to wrest control.
- Neither party of rats is familiar with the layout of the sewer.
- The battle ends when one party flees and relinquishes their claim on the sewers.