Skaven



Climate / Terrain: Any Subteranean
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Pack
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal / Any
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Average
Treasure:
Alignment: Any Evil
Number Appearing: 1-20
Armor Class: 5 (8)
Move: 15, Leap 10
Hit Dice: 1/2
ThAC0: 20
Number of Attacks: 3 / 1
Damage per Attack: 1d4/1d4/1d6 + Disease or by weapon type
Special Attacks: Leap, Disease, Attack as fighter of the same level
Special Defenses: +3 versus natural Disease, Hide in Shadows: 50%, Move Silently: 50%
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (5' Tall)
Morale: Low (5+){See Below}
XP Value:



Appearing as wererats, Skaven are a relatively new race to the planes. Unlike wererats, Skaven only have one form, that of a half-man, half-rat. They infest sewers and swamps like the vermin they sprang from.

Combat

Skaven can attack using weapons or by using their claws and teeth. When using their natural weapons a save versus poison must be made. If successful, nothing further happens. If it is failed the victem has contracted a virulent disease. It causes the loss of 1 point of constitution and strength per day. A new save may be made each day (apply any penalties from lowered constitution). Lost points are regained at the rate of one per day. That is one point of strength OR constitution. Not both.

Skaven can leap 10' forward, 5' straight up or 5' straight back from a standing start. They can leap 20' forward or 10' straight up with a running start. This counts as charging if used in combat.

For every 10 skaven present they add 1 to their morale. For every 5 warriors present they also add 1 to ther morale. For every 2 champions present they add 1 to their morale. For every cheiften present they also add 1 to the morale. If there is a Grey Seer within 20' their morale jumps to fearless (20). This is due more to fear than respect.

For every 20 skaven present there will be 1 warrior who has a hit dice of 1. For every 10 warriors present there will be 1 champion of 3 hit dice. For every 10 champions present there will be 1 cheiften of five hit dice. And for every 250 skaven present their will be 1 war leader of 5+ hit dice. An army of 500+ will have at least 1 war leader of 10+ hit dice. Skaven can reach a maximum of 12 hit dice.

Habitat / Society

Not much is known of the skaven. They appeared out of the swamps of the Abyss (it is beleived) and have been trying to conquer the multiverse ever since. They attack through a city's sewers spreading disease and pestilence long before they actually try to invade.

It is known that the skaven worship a being known as the Great Horned Rat, beleved to be a former Tanar'ri Lord who has acheived godhood. They regularly scrifice large numbers of slaves and prisoners to him hoping to gain his favor. Wether this works or not is irrelevant.

The skaven are led by the Council of Thirteen. The Council of Thirteen consists of 12 Skaven Liches and The Great Horned Rat. Any skaven can challenge one of the Skaven Liches for the right to be on the council. Success means an immediate transformation into a skaven liche. Failure means instant death. No one has successfully challenged a council member in living memory and won.

Skaven, unlike most of the evil races, seek to conquer the multiverse through the gate towns located in the Outlands. While they are willing to attack cities on other planes, they concentrate their efforts on the Outlands. No skaven has ever been reported in Sigil, it is beleived that they fear the Lady of Pain far more than they fear the retribution of their leaders.

Ecology

Skaven are destroyers. When they have finished with a region, nothing is left. They strip the region and leave a variety of plagues and diseases behind. They constently war on anyone and everyone they come across. This is partly due to their high birth rate. Skaven females typically have 1 litter a year of 2d6 young.

Skaven typically only live to be about 20 years old.






Back to Planescape


Back to the Necropolis


E-mail Me

Contents of this page � Blodgett
Dark Sun � Tsr Inc.
Warhammer � Gamesworkshop