This was too good not to release. Probably wont be more of this, but enjoy everyone.
The Skaven are a small, despicable race that lies in the bowls of their under-empire. Forever are they shunned by sunlight, becoming similar to the plagues that they all employ. If the Old Ones were asked to identify a festering infection within their carefully crafted world, it would not be the bleeding north but instead Skavenblight is where they shall point.
Within the bowls of Skavenblight is the Temple of Warlock Engineers, all of which serve under the one known as Ikit Claw.
The Master of Mad Engineering, of whom all Skaven wish to steal his secrets to Warpstone Technology. However the truth was that Ikit Claw is much smarter than any of his brethren. Only the likes of the Mad Master Mutator Throt the Unclean could match him in wits, however neither really cared for one another. Thus only the skeletons and flesh of amateurs are used in his most recent experiments.
However Ikit Claw was not the only inventor among the masses of Skaven. While his weapons were always the most sought after and devastating in the Under-Empire, the Warlock has several servants and engineers that serve underneath him. All of which are much more vulnerable to treachery than their ultimate master.
Within the decrepit tower that holds Ikit's Workshop also houses numerous other workshops above it. It is a mockery to humanity that this place works in the inverse, that the deeper in the earth you go the higher rank the Skaven are. Thus the Skaven we watch resides somewhere in the middle of this grand structure.
His workshop was similar to others, the place a disheveled mess of a workshop. About the place were ratling guns, corpses, and warpstone. However unlike many workshops both above and below him, the rat had gotten himself a cauldron the size of several men.
Those who scurried among his trash wondered why the Rat got himself such a large vat, though many others were even more curious whether his experiments were going to be a success.
The rat reached off to the side and picked up a book that had numerous drawings upon it. They were by their very nature nonsensical, however it was the text underneath that the rat paid most of his attention towards.
"Hmmm, Von Carstein you keep keep your secrets from me for too long." He muttered to himself while looking at the text as closely as he could, "But I, Itch Warpsnout have already learned many of your secretsss."
With that he placed the book back onto the table once again, an observant viewer noting that the leather bound book was just written in a harsh cursive. Translating such dreadful cursive however was not on his mind, as instead the rat's attention was being drawn to the experiment he was performing.
The Cauldron was glowing with a sickly green sludge swimming around it. The rat waited until the largest bubble popped, quickly dumping the Skaven Corpses he had been holding onto into the mass.
He watched with intent as the chemical seemed to fizzle for a moment, slowly devouring the corpses as he left them to rot in the container. However the rat was not satisfied with the rate, and snapped a piece of his warpstone. He sniffed the material, the magic stinging his nose as he did so.
"Hmm, purity 70.6%. Perfect perfect!" He chittered before dropping the stone into the sludge.
The sludge did not consume the stone in the normal sense, instead the stone seemed to simply disintegrate and become one with the mass.
Smiling he looked over the sludge, a grin forming at the edges of his monstrously large snout. However as he teetered just a little too far, a large bubble within the concoction quickly popped near his face.
"AGH!" he screamed while dropping off his stool and grabbing a warpstone green rag. Quickly he rubbed the green away, trying his best to keep that shiney white coat that he loved more than anything else in the world.
Once he was sure all the sludge was removed, he thanked the Horned One as he saw none of his fur had died to a sickly green color.
"Precious precious fur, you are not like any of the others." He mumbled while petting the fluff, "Why don't I brush you? Yes I shall make sure you are the shiniest coat of them all."
So he began to work at it with an old brush he had stolen from another skaven who stole it from some poor woman miles away from Skavenblight. While many just wondered why he did this, it was really just a way for the rat to pass time as his experiment consumed all the raw materials, turn, and seperate.
If one were to study the writing of the powerful Vampire Count, they would soon realize what exactly the rat was trying to replicate. While it was originally worth its weight in firewood, the rat read the cursive for what it truly was saying.
It has come to my attention that the amount of Warpstone underneath my domain is much higher than any of the Empire's lands. I believe the reason for this is the dead who walk my land, that their presence collolesses seeps into the ground and becomes solidified into pure magic. Such is the reason Necromancy is the greatest art, for its sheer presence is enough to produce magic separate from the Gods.
However what was not known to Von Carstein, was that Warpstone is littered about Skaven Under-Cities. Thus the Question soon became what was really behind the creation of Warstone?
As Itch cleaned his fur of all the impurities, the concoction within his vat ate the corpses and began to change them. The residual spirit that was residing in the corpse was turned into a physical form, becoming one with the deathly powerful Warp Tar.
The Warpsnout sniffed the air as he finished cleaning his white fur, growing an even more dangerous smile as he glided to the vat and sniffed the contents.
"Ninety Percent Purity, ten percent more than Ikit's personal Warstone Thrower." He cheered while getting out a small bottle and dipping it into the sludge.
There was another thing that Itch gained from his habit of brushing his hair, something that few Skaven ever learn in their lifetime. Though even a mortal man cannot blame the other rats, as they have such short lifetimes that it would never develop.
That idea, of course, was patience.
Quickly he stowed away the bottle into his cheeks, as many times before he had accidently shattered his Cauldron while doing this next step. It would be bothersome if he needed to get his hands on more Warstone, as without it he would need to find another chunk to start his Culture with.
With that done, he picked up the magazine belonging to the Ratling gun and started feeding it the juices. Each drop of near pure magic sludge was enough to intoxicate even the greatest of humans.
For a Skaven, it took all of Itch's willpower to not devour his new supply of Warpsludge whole.
Soon the magazine was filled, and the rat-man took the weapon and pointed it at a ruined painting on the wall. With the same smirk, he released a turrent of gunfire right into the painting, turning the Skaven that was hiding behind it into nothing more than a sludge of green.
"Hehe, you think yourself smart-smarter than me." He gloated while pointing to his small skull, "Hiding behind a painting I never hanged, you fool!"
"It's you who are the fool-fool." A voice from behind Itch said from the darkness.
Quickly the vermin tried to bring his weapon around, but he was too slow for the Assassin who knocked it out of his hand. Seeing as one of his options were defeated, Itch went for a small dagger at his side. However that too was defeated, this time with a blade stabbing him in the shoulder and pinning him to the floor.
"Agh!" He screamed while flailing about, "Who sent you!? Was it Clan Mors!?"
"Hehe, who do you think-think?" The Assassin said while lowing himself to Itch's face.
"... Ikit."
"Hehe, you are too smart-smart rat." the Rodent Assassin said while twisting the blade in Itch's shoulder, "Ikit knows-knows everything all you are doing here. Soon with this recipe he will bring-host Vermintide!"
"It's my work-work!" Itch yelled back while clawing for the assassin's face, "Damn you! My name would have been sung at the council!"
"Keep a better eye for things then." The other said before taking another blade and stabbing it into Itch's stomach, "Your work will be Ikit's, and I will become his personal Assassin!"
Itch felt all strength begin to leave, letting himself go limp as the Assassin walked over and grabbed the books Itch's notes were in. However as the Assassin was about to go for the door there was a loud bang that went about the room.
A smirk on his face, Itch held up a Flintlock pistol leveled at his killer's head. Being a Dwarf made weapon, it struck the Skaven with pinpoint accuracy and destroyed the head.
"You weren't so smart, idiot-fool." Itch said with a smirk as the gallery of his work fell into his mixing Cauldron and kicking it over.
It was a simple Skaven thought, that if he was not going to publish his research, no one would.
He did not want to die of course, but he knew that cracking the bottle of Warpsludge in his mouth was by far a worse fate than death. At such a high concentration, it would likely eradicate all brain-smarts of Itch and replace the vermine's brilliant mind with an imbecile.
So he waited to die, unaware of the summoning happening a realm away from him.
Louise de La Vallière was a powerful girl in many respects. She was the daughter of a prestigious family who doubled as the greatest land holders in all of Tristain. If she pressed her father hard enough, she could easily cause a war between the Nobles Houses and cause absolute mayhem in not only Tristain but the entire Medieval world itself.
However that was not her ambition, she was no psychopath wanting to bring ruin to the realms of man. Actually, if you asked her Louise would say something about being the weakest of the entire school. Foolish, but we need to measure power in what a little noble girl like her thinks in.
That of course, was Magic.
It was common knowledge that every Noble in the realm of Tristain, no, the entirety of Halkeginia were in some way a Mage. Whether they were dot, line, triangle, or even the mythical square Mage they were all in some way or form a Noble. The most obvious way of showing this was of course to cast spells or possess vibrant colored hair.
However for Louise she was not able to cast any magic.
"Please whoever desires to, come forward and be the first to summon your Familiar." The professor announced to the class as he looked over everyone.
Today was the day of the Spring Familiar Summoning, the time in which you bring to reality your future friend for life. They would serve you to gather ingredients, spy upon others, and become a symbol of your power.
Yes that was the biggest part of them all, they were the symbol of one being a Mage. And in being a mage, they would be a noble.
"Bravo Tabitha!" The Professor announced while taking a few steps back, "To think that you would summon a Dragon! Such an elegant one no less."
The girl simply gave a nod, moving away from the platform as other students began to summon their own Familiars.
Though all Louise could dread was the fact a fucking Dragon was summoned! Yeah she was not planning to top Tabitha of all people, but is there really anything that can be summoned that is greater to the might of those who rule the skies!?
While her fear began to wane after watching a few of the students summon normal creatures, Louise was still feeling that sickening feeling since morning.
What would happen if she failed to summon anything?
If she failed, she would likely be disinherited by her family. Sure she might still be able to Marry Lord Wardes, but to stain her family's history like that would cause her heart to sink further than any boat could.
Just when she was about at her lowest, Louise looked up to see the one who she hated more than anything else at this damned academy.
With a smirk on her face, Kirche Zerbst had summoned probably the second most powerful creature here, a Fire Salamander.
The large girl with a bosom many times larger than Louise's kissed the creature on the snout, soon happily parading the creature from her vantage point through the crowd. Everyone of course was ewing and awing at her summon, however Zerbst was making sure she was going right by Louise as she showed off the creature.
"I hope you summon something today Louise." The girl said with a smirk on her face, "If I was you, I could only imagine you are going to summon some kind of rat. Something small and weak just like you, well, that is if you can summon anything."
Those words hit hard, really fucking hard.
Normally Louise would just fire back at the pain in her ass, just as she always had against Kirche. However those words, they just drilled too far deep into her heart. Instead she just stared at her foe, hoping that if her eyes were sharp enough she might just be able to kill Zerbst with their sheer intensity.
While Kirche did not get her a nice rise out of Louise, the smile told Louise the girl was happy with just getting the silent treatment.
If only Louise could get a beast like hers, no, even stronger than her. Then she would surely shove it right into the germaine's face!
Time went by, with Louise dreading what in the end she was going to summon. Her heart was so wounded that she even wondered if she should have just called in sick today. Yes everyone would have known she was lying, but they also wouldn't have been able to do anything about it.
"A magnificent Mole you have summoned Guiche." The professor announced while turning to the rest of the class, "I believe that is about all the summons for today class."
"What about Louise!" Zerbst heckled from the rear of the students, causing the Pinkette's heart to skip a beat.
"Ah yes, Louise!" Professor Colbert confirmed while turning towards the small girl, "It is your time to shine. Please come forward with your wand out!"
Louise wanted to run away at that moment, but quickly she steeled herself for the task ahead of her. It would be unbecoming of herself and her family if she stood back any longer, and if she was going to fail she was going to fail with grace!
"Great, stand over there." The middle aged professor said as Louise arrived at the large rune placed upon the ground, "Now remember the words that I have taught you in class."
Louise gave a steady nod and wielded her wand, "Oh great, majestic, and wise familiar somewhere in the universe."
Those words were carried through the fabric of multiple realities, crawling its way through the Warp that connected so many worlds together. With each word the girl commited, the farther her words would reach.
The magics she used began to touch multiple realities, ranging from the universe where mankind warred over the stars to one where man was at its most peaceful.
None of these though held the magician's true calling.
She was a spiteful being, filled with an envious malous from years of being ridiculed and mocked as some sort of subhuman. However it is also known to the magics that within her was someone who seeked to dominate and rule, meaning a human with a strong personality was completely out of the question.
Soon though the eye of magic found itself a creature that would be easy for the little girl to rule over. It was also special enough in that their interests would align with one another.
So it reached into the world where Chaos, Plague, and the Warhammer lie.
Within moments a green portal appeared infront of Itch, the rat's eyes widening as he looked upon the grand green portal that was before it. The two wounds that were inflicted upon its body seemed to seal themselves at the blessed event before him, a wicked smile appearing upon his monstrous mouth.
It seems that the Horned Rat had blessed his sickly form, granting him a new life away from these dreadful fools.
Yes, Itch Warpsnout is the one to be blessed, not Ikit or his Assassin!
Not thinking any more about what fate had in store for the dreadful little rat, he reached forward and did not even hesitate to look back as he was yanked out of this dreadful world to an unsuspecting one.
While many were already taking cover, the rest only had a slip second until the largest explosion that they have seen Louise create rock the entire Academy. Black smoke spread itself across the courtyard as the people who were too slow got caught in darkness.
A moment later everyone caught a sudden whiff of something so disgusting that it was detering of scent-less. Some of the girls dropped right on the spot upon smelling such a scent, while a couple of the boys drew their wands in response.
Thus the question that rested upon everyone's minds was what in the world did Louise just summon!?
Even though she was at the epicenter, Louise still stood her ground against the dreadful smell and her sightlessness. It was the Rule of Steel that caused her to stand her ground, watching as the smoke finally left and the smell moved towards a more manageable level.
The first thing she saw was a pair of beady red eyes, as if the devil itself was looking in her direction. Upon sight of that, she tightened her grip upon her wand as she waited to see the rest of the creature's form.
The next thing that she could tell was the grotesque form, somehow both thin to the bone but obviously meant for dexterous activity. After that Louise saw the creature's fur, and how it was almost marble white. Soon the smoke finally faded away, and Louise got a look at the creature's form.
A very very large rat.
"That is… quite the summon Louise." Colbert announced with a confused look about him.
"Yes, but… I summoned him." Louise said before approaching the rat who matched her in height.
"Man-humans!" the creature said while taking a few steps away from Louise, "Man-child! S-stay away from Itch!"
"He… talks?" Louise felt herself take a few steps back before she looked over the creature another time. He was wearing clothes, like, real clothes!
Is it not only sentient, but has some degree of thought shame?
Does it… have a soul!?
"Stay away man thing-things!?" He said before quickly taking out a small musket and pointing it at Louise, "Stay away!"
Louise's eyes widened as she realized her Familar produced a fucking gun from underneath his cloak.
"Louise!"
Colbert was too late to take out his wand though, and Louise watched as the hammer came down. This might soon be her last few moments of life, but damn this was not the way she expected to go.
The only regret she really had was not seeing her sister, Cattleya.
*Click*
"Oh shoot-shoot, I already used it."
"..."
"..."
The two looked at one another for a moment, Louise's belly and heart blazing as she ran right towards her familiar. The damned treacherous creature tried to run away from her, but the pink petite little girl scared him so much the fool tripped over himself.
"FAMILIAR!" Louise yelled before grabbing the other by the snout and wacking him over the head, "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO SHOOT ME!"
"S-scary human!" He yelled trying his best to escape Louise, but the little girl had already taken her wand and smacked the rat over the head several times.
"L-Louise." Colbert did not really know what to do here, since his student was currently beating her familiar senseless. But then again, he also pulled a gun on her and even pulled the damned trigger.
Just… what in Brimir's sake was happening.
"So you idiot, know what you did wrong!"
"I tried to shoot-shoot human-girl!"
"Good, you are pretty quick to learn." Louise answered with a smirk on her face, "Now you are going to be my familiar, got it you stinky damned rat!"
"F-familiar? You making Itch Servant!? Nev-!"
Before the rat could complete his sentence Louise had already begun beating him. Though this time it was more like beating him over the head with a broken branch, since the wand had all but broken by this point.
"Got it got it! Man-human new overboss!" The rat submitted like the coward he was.
"Good." Louise said before shaking her head, "Guh, grr… May our fates entwine, as you become my shield and friend."
And with a disgusted look on her face, Louise kissed the Skaven on the Snout.