Verminlord
Verminlords are a Greater Daemon variant from Warhammer Fantasy and later Age of Sigmar. Unlike most Greater Daemons, Verminlords do not belong to the Daemon armies but rather the Skaven and represent the Horned Rat (later Great Horned Rat once he became a proper Chaos God).
Lore
Unlike the other Chaos Gods, either because he is weaker or because Games Workshop never bothered with expanding on the idea, the Horned Rat has only a single breed of Daemon, the Greater Daemon/Daemon Prince-like entities known as Verminlords.
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The first Verminlord model.
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The "Exalted Verminlord" Forgeworld variant.
First introduced in 4th edition. Verminlords are feared even by the backstabbiest Skaven, to the point that not even the most insane and egocentric of Grey Seers will not consider summoning one lightly (they tend to immediately impose their will on the surrounding ratfolk, killing and consuming a great deal and fucking up the local plotting). They are the embodiment of all the unpleasant qualities of the Skaven all rolled up into one, although most will embody one aspect over the others. Some of them are true Daemons brought into existence by their "father's" thoughts. Others are Skaven heroes who made such on impression on the horned rat that he decided to raise them to Daemonhood.
Until End Times there was only one variant of Verminlord, but the death of Fantasy gave them a revamp by splitting them into four variants in White Dwarf #49. Note that to those wanting to buy something other than a Corruptor; they use the exact same kit.
They also have a named character called Skreech Verminking.
Verminlord Corruptors
Also known as Pestilent Reapers and the Cullers of Civilization. The least sneaky and impressive, representing the disease portfolio and representing the Pestilent Brotherhood Skaven Clans. Like the Plague Monks they are fearless and painless spreaders of misery. They cause plagues with a thought, are surrounded by parasites, and when they encounter an enemy not already dead from their presence they use weapons called Plaguereapers to cut them to pieces and leave to rot. They also use a spear, and have spellcasting ability. His name is Vermalanx the Poxlord - Verminlord of Clan Pestilen. Nurgle does approve of these toxic muthafuckas.
Verminlord Deceivers
Called Lords of Assassins and The Shadows That Kill. Representing the sneaky Skaven Clans, they use trickery and madness to cause complex schemes. When they intend to assassinate they teleport within the frame of a second to throw throwing stars that entirely behead their enemies, teleporting in to redirect them until one long motion leaves a headless army (which is likely exaggeration because otherwise that would happen fucking constantly and there'd be no need for anything else in the GHR's armies). When they get into melee they use the Warpstiletto, a dagger the size of a human which delivers a venom so powerful it can kill anything regardless of its size (which, again, is a bit ridiculous).
Verminlord Warbringers
Also called Tyrants of Battle and the Great Stabber-slicers. Representing the warlord Clans, they are pompous and act as if they are gods despite being the most common form of Verminlord. When they appear they do so theatrically, using light and smoke while striking poses and speaking in booming voices to announce their intent. Not surprisingly the warrior Skaven types idolize them, each seeking to emulate them. Predictably they are more blustery than actually delivering on threats, preferring to lead from behind while surrounded by the common Stormvermin like a lone warlord surrounded by ordinary rats. For a weapon they simply carry a spear and a simple Spike-fist.
Verminlord Warpseers
Called Lords Of Black Lightning and Great Manipulators. Basically just mini-Tzeentches, with the same ALLACCORDINGTOPLAN multitrack plotting that every similar character has. Representing the Grey Seers, they are the most powerful wizards among the Verminlords and carry a spear along with their Scry-orbs, magical spheres which show them all potential futures. They can throw these as a weapon, giving every vision to those who breathe in the fumes it releases and causing madness as a result.
Crunch
Warhammer Fantasy
8.5 Verminlords all cost 500 points and have Movement 8, Weapon Skill 8, Ballistic Skill 8, Strength 6, Toughness 6, Wounds 6, Initiative 10, Attacks 5 and Leadership 8. The exception is the Warbringer, who costs 550 points and has Attacks 6. They share the following special rules:
- Immune to Psychology
- Large Target
- Scurry Away!
- Terror
- "Horned Rat's Blessing": This unnamed rule means that all Verminlords are 4th level Wizards who can generate any combination of three spells from either or both of the Skaven Spells of Ruin and Plague. Their fourth spell is chosen automatically for them based on what kind of Verminlord they are.
- Daemonic Attacks: All attacks this model makes, including Stomp, count as magical.
- Protection of the Horned Rat: 5+ Ward Save.
- Rat-Daemon: Verminlords count as daemons for any special rules, abilities, weapons, spells and so on that affect Daemons. They may never be the army's General.
Verminlord Corruptors have the special rules Frenzy and Plaguemaster (Plague is automatic spell, can re-roll failed casting rolls when casting Plague), and wields the Plaguereapers (Magic Paired Melee Weapons, Always Strikes First).
Verminlord Deceivers have the special rules Shrouded in Darkness (enemy units suffer an additional -1 penalty when making shooting attacks against the Verminlord) and Shadowstrider (Skitterleap is automatic spell, can re-roll failed casting rolls of Skitterleap, can cast Skitterleap on itself). It has the magic weapons Warp Stiletto (Magic Melee Weapon, Armor Piercing and Poisoned Attacks) and Doomstar (Magic Ranged Weapon, Range 12", Strength User, Arcing Death [may make as many shots as the number of models in the front rank of the target unit that are in range], Poisoned Attacks, Quick to Fire).
Verminlord Warbringers have the Verminous Fury (Death Frenzy is automatic spell, can re-roll failed casting rolls when trying to cast Death Frenzy) special rule and wields the Doom Glaive and Punch-dagger (Magic Paired Melee Weapons, Killing Blow, Multiple Wounds D3).
Verminlord Warpseers have the Master of Lightning (Warp Lightning is automatic spell, can re-roll failed casting rolls of Warp Lightning, always counts as rolling a 6 for number of hits inflicted with Warp Lightning) special rule. It wields a Doom Glaive (Magic Melee Weapon, Multiple Wounds D3). It carries the Scry-orb (Enchanted Item, +1 to Ward Save, can sacrifice the item and thus the ward bonus to make a once-per-game attack that forces D6 models under the small round template within 12" + scatter to pass Initiative or be destroyed automatically).
