Dogs of War – The Brotherhood, Skaven Civil War.

Enemies on All Sides – Pawed by Vang Three Claws**:
**The line "Pawed by...” graciously on loan from Khilkhret Foe-slayer.

Vang Three Claws, Warlord of Clan Thunderpaw and Leader of The Brotherhood, sat hunched over his desk, his paws steepled before his muzzle in thought. His tail twitched in irritation. His new chair just wasn’t up to snuff. He regretted smashing the old one over his desk at the news the Nibbler had refused to see him during the darkest hours of The Blackhand Network’s existence. That old chair had spoken to him. Its broken pieces called out to him. It had led him to splinter the Network and bring The Brotherhood to glory. Memories… thoughts… wasted time…

Vang came back from his reverie. He was introspective for a Skaven Warlord, but it was often in these calming moments of introspection that creativity would spark. He needed that creativity now, but it would not come. He could not force it. It had to be courted, much like a young breeder. Ahh… there he was, woolgathering again when many other pressing issues warranted his attention. The Brotherhood faced enemies on all sides and he could scarcely rouse himself from his daydreams.

The door to The Warlord’s office opened slowly, even the slight motion snapping Vang’s attention in to focus and on the only source of movement in the otherwise still room. The black-clad form of Sclaw, his head of intelligence and house assassin, flowed in to the room.

Sclaw gave a slight bow before The Warlord before raising his muzzle and fixing him with his milky right eye. “I have newsss, Lord,” hissed Sclaw. His paw slid in to his black body-wrap and produced a man-thing-hide scroll.

Vang Three Claws encouraged the assassin to come forward with a nod and a wave of his paw.

Sclaw delivered the missive in to the claws of his master and resumed a respectful distance to await his Lords pleasure.

Vang popped off the congealed blood seal and unfurled the message. As he scanned the page, his eyes grew wide with shock. Setting down the scroll and fixing it to the desk with one of his augmented claws, he addressed his assassin.

“You’re certain of this-this?” inquired Vang.

“Yesss, Lord.” replied Sclaw crisply.

“This is good-good newsss indeed. Yes-yes.” said The Warlord as he sprung from his chair.

“Assemble the Lords and Ladies of the faction, quick-quick,” commanded Vang as he paced back and forth behind his desk. “We-we have much-much to discusss. Much-much to decide. Quickly now-now. Quick-quick.”

Vang Three Claws dismissed his head of intelligence with a wave of his paw. Sclaw flowed from the room as quickly and smoothly as he had entered it, leaving his Warlord to pace in thought.

It seemed that creativity was not that far away after all. It only needed an opportunity to take root and blossom.

Good-good indeed, thought Vang. There was much to do. Much-much…