Tails of The Blackhand Network – Hergig Faction, Skaven Civil War.

Rat & Beast, The Pact – Pawed by Vang Three Claws**:
**The line "Pawed by...” graciously on loan from Khilkhret Foe-slayer.

Accompanied by Master Skarvile and a massive Rat Ogre, Warlord Vang Three claws and his stormvermin bodyguard moved through the beastman encampment led by Bray-Shaman Yarchiel. Arrangements had already been made between Vang and Beastlord Vaprak. They merely had to play out the ceremony to secure the alliance. Vang grew tired of such diplomacy, but knew that a show of strength was required to secure the respect of the Beastlord’s herd. Besides, Vang would not let a little inconvenience rob him of a potentially profitable ally.

It was strange to walk the surface so openly again. Memories of his surface battles fought during the Storm of Skaven flooded his mind. Vang had grown so used to the tunnel fighting of the Ulricsberg and his subsequent return home to the warrens of Skrakr’s Broodwarren and Hergig. The relatively dense forest helped ease his natural Skaven-born fear of open places, however, the hungry eyes of beastmen along their path did little to settle him. Those beasts that did not shrink away from the party at the sight of the immense Rat Ogre at least gave grudging respect at the sign of their own Bray-Shaman leading the retinue.

Finally the path opened into a clearing. In the center of the clearing, a make-shift herdstone had been erected. Apparently Sclaw’s report had been correct, Beastlord Vaprak and The White Hand of Haastur had only recently arrived in the area – it was the only thing that would explain the small herdstone, especially considering the large ring of Minotaurs in a rough semi-circle behind the monument. The path to the fledgling stone was lined with the elite of the herd – the Bestigors. In front of the impromptu herdstone rested a stone altar.

Before the altar, stood the massive and shaggy form that could only be Beastlord Vaprak. To the Beastlord’s left stood another Shaman, though this one bore the markings of the pleasure god. Behind this Shaman stood another massive gor, who Vang recognized as Belial. So, thought Vang, Belial had finally succumbed and chosen the path of the lord of excess. Things had become interesting indeed within Vaprak’s warherd. Vang Three Claws was instantly sure that there were advantages to be pressed in securing the Beastlord’s loyalty even further.

Bray-Shaman Yarchiel halted and bowed to the Beastlord. “Beastlord!” spoke the shaman, waving his braystaff before the knot of skaven, “Warlord Vang Three Claws and the Shaman Skarvile.”

“Welcome, Rat,” intoned the Beastlord as he eyed the hardened group of stormvermin and the huge Rat Ogre, “you seem to have done well for yourself since last we met.”

“Yesss,” replied Vang, “as have you. We would work-work together again. Yes-yesss?”

“What could you give that The Hand of Haastur needs. Haastur provides,” replied Vaprak solemnly.

“You war-war with green-things. We know thisss. Yes-yesss? Give weapons, armor, and scouts. Beast-things give things not want from green-things. Give-give slaves and shiny-things,” nodded Vang Three Claws confidently.

“Perhaps you have something usefull to us afterall, Warlord,” replied the Beastlord. “Very well, we are agreed. The slaves and shiny-bits are yours. We will trade for your forges and your sneak-rats.”

The Beastlord drew a long-bladed knife across his palm. As the blood began to flow, Vaprak shook his arm back and forth, spattering the ground before them with blood. “Let there be no bad blood between our tribes,” he said.

Vang Three Claws drew his dagger. He wished he could simply slit a slave’s throat to seal the deal, but he knew these savages. Only his own blood would do to seal the pact. With a grimace, Vang slit his paw and repeated the Beastlord’s actions. “Yes-yesss, so be it,” replied Vang with annoyance.

The Warlord and Beastlord eyed each other warily. The deed was done, their agreement completed, but their relationship had only just begun…