Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

[DarkLight140]

Hrm. I thought arcane marks were a different sort of thing than mutation? Like, my understanding was that "mutation" as a term is specifically a chaos/Dhar thing; I remember back when we were buying library books, "Monsters" was rejected as a topic and one of the alternate topics Boney suggested was "Chaos Mutants" -- not just Mutant, but Chaos Mutant. Are there things that are clearly recognized in-universe as being mutations, but are not of Chaos?

Click to shrink...

Well, it's worth remembering that the word "mutant" has a lot of negative connotations in Warhammer Fantasy so there is no way in hell that wizards will admit that they mutate in accordance with their Wind, nor will priests admit that they mutate in accordance with their divine energy source. So they come up with different words for it and insist very stringently that everyone use those words, because like hell are they going to put up with being lumped in with the chaos types, dhar mutation, or the people and animals afflicted by Morrsleib.

But that's PR; it's fundamentally the same mechanic which drives it. Heavy exposure to warp energy causes a change in a living being, with the type of change being largely random but heavily dependent upon the type of warp energy.

 

[undead frog]

Nurglitch is the head of clan Pestilens. The original Nurglitch started them on the whole 'plagues' thing. It's possible that Pestilens are secret Nurgle heretics of some sort, but it's not explicitly stated.

Click to shrink...

Or the head Pestilens is, I wouldn't be surprised if more of the rank and file legitimately believe more in the horned Rat.... ya know given his name that really wouldn't be surprised.

Than again the Skaven outright aligning with one of the Chaos Gods is probably one of the heresy the Horned Rat would want gone ASAP given that the Skaven have plenty of bodies to sacrifice for demon summoning and the like.

 

[Hex123]

Something else interesting from the skaven prisoner, is that we got info about the Black Piller. I don't know how much the Empire knows about the Black Piller, but if the didn't we just got info about something very important to skaven kind for the Empire.

 

[undead frog]

Canonically, they're all Thrall Clans of Clan Pestilens. TBH, I'm surprised they're even deserving of being mentioned separately, since they go along with whatever Pestilens does by default.

Click to shrink...

It's actually fund reading up on them though! I'd actually considering doing a minor Skaven clan quest at part of it.

Even just from Pestilens their is the one that isn't religious but still makes use of disease or the one that has to make up tons of excuses even by Skaven standards.

 

[REAPER35]

E: As das_slash noted, benign mutations like Albinism do exist. Often they get lynched anyway because of the Chaos association with mutation and deviation from the "normal" human form.

Click to shrink...

Not usually lynched. Most are left exposed to die as infants, but whf being all grimdark, they get rescued by beastmen and raised as their own... and more heavily mutated as a result of being raised by chaos.

 

[notanautomaton]

So, mutation as a word in Warhammer has extremely negative connotations due to Chaos being the main source. It is generally used in the case of Chaos influence. However, arcane marks are effectively mutations because they harness the same human mutability. What changes is the energy type being pushed through the human medium, which changes the form the changes take.

This does also mean that divine marks are also mutations. No one will ever call them by that name in-universe though. In this case books on mutations would likely be data on Chaotic mutations because that's probably the closest we can get to a general "Aethyric/Unreal Energy Mutations" subject.

E: As REAPER35 noted, benign mutations like Albinism do exist. Often they get lynched anyway because of the Chaos association with mutation and deviation from the "normal" human form.

Click to shrink...

Most mutations have no real bearing on a person's morality. Chaos mutations show that someone is worshiping chaos, and some mutations can have deleterious mental effects, but the only reason growing an extra set of arms from warpstone exposure makes the victim join chaos is that Chaos cults are one of the only groups that are willing to accept mutants. This is similar to how until the legalization of magic, the magically sensitive usually fell to Chaos or Necromancy in an attempt to avoid being burned.

 

[picklepikkl]

So, mutation as a word in Warhammer has extremely negative connotations due to Chaos being the main source. It is generally used in the case of Chaos influence. However, arcane marks are effectively mutations because they harness the same human mutability. What changes is the energy type being pushed through the human medium, which changes the form the changes take.

This does also mean that divine marks are also mutations. No one will ever call them by that name in-universe though. In this case mutations would likely be data on Chaotic mutations because that's probably the closest we can get to a general "Aethyric/Unreal Energy Mutations" subject.

Click to shrink...

Mmmmf. I get what you're saying, but to me that implies that the books will, in-universe, be broken up by the taxonomy scholars apply to the underlying ontology; the fact that the thing we may investigate might demonstrate the flawed nature of that taxonomy only makes the question of "what books to get" harder.

My proposal would be this: let's table Mutation for now. We've got a +6 on the Winds of Magic, which may already have arcane mark theory, and +2 on Divine Magic, which may already have divine mark theory (also, +2 on Aethyr/the Warp, which might cover the generic "exposure to this causes humans to change" theory). Rounding that out with some material on Chaos mutation makes sense, but I don't want to overcommit, especially since it's going to be a while before we have Aethyric Vitae actions free. We've got a job to do next turn, a skaven prisoner to interrogate, Invisibility to learn, and I don't know about you but I'm not voting for any plan that doesn't involve building Ranald His Temple.

 

[Jyn Ryvia]

Anyone notice that all the minor clans listed are disease related?

Click to shrink...

they where all the clans used or made up for total war. so they are the best known.

but on the other hand boney knows their shit, so maybe not.

on the other other hand, a lot of the non-diseased named are cartoony even for the Skaven.

Clan Skully: Skaven who idolize Eshin but use heavy armour which makes the sneaking pointless.

Clan Skrapp: the poorest Clan of the Skaven. God tier liars allied with Clan Eshin who claim to have the most powerful army, which no Clan wants to test.

Clan Ektrik: Skaven obsessed with lightning and machines. Have created Skaven cyborgs

Clan Vruzz: POISON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no, seriously, that's their summary)

I could go on.

 

[REAPER35]

If I'm not mistaken it is because they are all vassal or Thrall clans to Pestelian.

 

[BungieONI]

Mmmmf. I get what you're saying, but to me that implies that the books will, in-universe, be broken up by the taxonomy scholars apply to the underlying ontology; the fact that the thing we may investigate might demonstrate the flawed nature of that taxonomy only makes the question of "what books to get" harder.

My proposal would be this: let's table Mutation for now. We've got a +6 on the Winds of Magic, which may already have arcane mark theory, and +2 on Divine Magic, which may already have divine mark theory (also, +2 on Aethyr/the Warp, which might cover the generic "exposure to this causes humans to change" theory). Rounding that out with some material on Chaos mutation makes sense, but I don't want to overcommit, especially since it's going to be a while before we have Aethyric Vitae actions free. We've got a job to do next turn, a skaven prisoner to interrogate, Invisibility to learn, and I don't know about you but I'm not voting for any plan that doesn't involve building Ranald His Temple.

Click to shrink...

Oh yes I fully intend to do those four actions(specially since we can after Boney clarified what his expectations were) and I'm fine with tabling mutation given you do have a point in regards to our other topics probably covering it anyway.

 

[Glau]

An excerpt from the journal of Soizic d'Karak, Questing Knight-

Dear Diary, once again my pen graces your pages, and much has come to pass since last I wrote.

I sit now in a tent in Death Pass, looking South to Karag Lhune. (Praise the Lady that my Bretonnian tounge is suited to the lands of reikspeil, but dwarvish words I fear will always taste strangely) Strangely, hah- as if writing that sentence above were not more suited for a squire's boasting than... Well. Here I am, a knight of the greatest host this part of the world has ever seen. And the plain in front of us is paved in bone.

I am afraid, though you alone shall know.

Shall I fill in the time since last? We marched for weeks, the only excitement betting on the varying sizes of orc-head piles the scouts built each camp. Two river crossings, destroying the bridges behind us- and a tunnel that ran seemingly forever.

I decided that I had perhaps leaned on my two friends too much and too fast- though I will admit now I was more embarrassed that they had seen me unguarded. Regardless, since I have sought the company and advice of the other knights who marched with us these last weeks, and I find many of my traditions are shared with more than just the worshipers of the Lady.

Our host is great, but the world has conspired to be vaster than we could have ever imagined. Wish us luck, dear diary.

____

Dear diary,

Today was the first real battle of our campaign, and though I can claim no credit I was there to see firsthand. I was wrong. The magic of the grey Magister who preceded us today is NOTHING like that of the damsels- it is shadow and terror and running on air! Let me describe.

The word was put out that the generals were seeking amongst our number (those men and women of humankind who had gathered to pledge their service in ones and twos and tens) voulunters to be the first through the first gate of the first battle.

This was glory beyond hope! I stood immediately, and it warmed my heart that my men stood with me. We, then, would be the glory seekers- perhaps a third were mine, the rest a grab bag of squads and adventurers. In the morning, we crept over the empty plain of bones to the base of the road up to, and I quote here a ranger whom I asked for a translation, "the watchtower of endless death". (I think in this case I prefer the dwarvish) There we were met by our commander and two of the wizards. The first, of course, was Dame Mathilde, who though a Magister had a greatsword strapped to her back. The second was a youth I knew not, though he stayed with us as the Dame started up. Alone. Diary, today I watched a knight lacking even armor much less a horse set off to challenge a fortress alone. What's more, she won.

I thank the Lady for showing me that such heroes are not just stories in books, for giving me an example of another, a woman even, towards whom I can strive to rise to the level of.

But I did not lie when I wrote of shadows and terror. We crept quick and quiet as we could after watching the Magister literally run up thin air and over the wall, but we were yet too far to help when the gates boomed open and the screaming started. We arrived to a coutryard of blood and broken ratmen, with a pristine Dame Mathilda casually pulling her sword out of the final one to die. Diary, the shadow she cast flowed and writhed like the squid Oswald had claimed back in Barak Var, tentacles reaching out and grasping around her. I knew she was my ally, but Lady preserve me all I felt was dread when I gazed upon her.

The final cleansing of the fortress was handled by the dwarves- those of us who sought glory but instead were given lesson in humility manned the walls.

And here I write dear diary, on these walls perched high above the sunset, the first blow struck on the grand quest. We will be holding this tower I am told, the first scrap of land reclaimed as we swore. I am happy- should I die in the next weeks, at least I will die as a knight who has known great deeds and terrible glory.

Goodnight.

 

[Shadowatcher]

[X] King Belegar, to try to get some idea of where he's at with his crisis of faith.

[X] Francesco Caravello, proud leader of the Undumgi
[X] Soizic, sparring partner and possible 'sparring partner' of your duckling Hubert.

[X] Algard, reporting the Skaven Civil War in person instead of in writing.
[X] Roswita, as she rides out the chaos of the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to be present for the birth of her child

[X] Check in on your fief in Stirland.

I approve of lots of these. Obviously, I prefer some over others, but this isn't ranked voting, its approval.
Personally, here's the thing: I would rather have a few close well-fleshed out relationships/characters than a bunch of relationships/characters that aren't fully fleshed out. I see Math as an introvert, and basically uninterested in romance. And that's how I see the character best. The grey's aren't loud and social people in general, and Math sure isn't in specific.

 

[picklepikkl]

Oh yes I fully intend to do those four actions(specially since we can after Boney clarified what his expectations were) and I'm fine with tabling mutation given you do have a point in regards to our other topics probably covering it anyway.

Click to shrink...

I mean, I don't know for sure that our other keywords cover it. We can ask "what sorts of mutations/theoretical frameworks of mutation are covered by the topics Mathilde has in her library" and decide whether we need any others.

But you'll notice I'm not pinging Boney about it, because if there's no need to buy the books this turn, then there's no need to bug him for a clarification. It's been fourteen hours since he was active, so he's got a lot of thread to catch up on when he shows up, and I'd prefer not to swamp our QM more than necessary.

 

[Chimeraguard]

Hmm, areas of Skaven infighting from this mess:
-Black Chasm in the middle of Bretonnia is contested between Clan Pestilens and Clan Eshin, with Pestilens getting help from Clan Flem and Eshin having hired Moulder Packmasters.

-Under-Mousillon: Another stronghold of Clan Pestilens in Bretonnia, but in this one their rule is uncontested. Warpstone mining and weapon-testing happens here.

-Under-Altdorf: Second-greatest stronghold of the Under-Empire. Divided between all the various Clans, but Pestilens and Mors hold the smallest amounts. Their sections of the place have probably been purged already, given how Clan Mors is currently desperately trying to defend its own seat of power. The same has probably happened for most of the Under-cities in the (human) Empire's lands. Bretonnia's territory is much more heavily occupied by Pestilens, so there might still be fighting going on there.

 

[Jyn Ryvia]

Actually why not, OOC list of (known) Skaven Thrall-Clans.

Clan Carrion: Nomadic scavenger Skaven, loot anything not nailed down unless they can take the nails too.

Clan Crooktail: Skaven who live under the Frozen Wastes who are prone to radical and advanced mutations.

Clan Ektrik: Skaven obsessed with lightning and machines. Have created Skaven cyborgs.

Clan Feesik: A Pestilent Brotherhood member Clan so poor it was mistaken as being blessed with extreme disease and elevated falsely into the Pestilent ranks.

Clan Ferrik: Smiths and miners with many Dwarf slaves that actually produce shiny and new well-crafted masterwork sets of arms and armor.

Clan Fester: A Pestilent Brotherhood member that are so diseased they are in an active state of decay.

Clan Flem: a Clan focussed on the art of the plague without having the trappings of the Plague Monks. Toadies of Clan Pestilens.

Clan Gangrous: a Clan of gladiators with weapons replacing missing limbs.

Clan Gristleback: Skaven who live under tyrants (for Skaven) whose underlings are chained together and have their tails cut off.

Clan Gritus: a Warlord Clan split-off from Clan Mors that mostly fights other Skaven, quite successfully. Fairly wealthy.

Clan Grutnik: the Clan most wealthy in Warpstone.

Clan Gnaw: Skaven who capture monsters in the Badlands for Clan Moulder. Skaven cavemen.

Clan Krizzor: a Warlord Clan allied with Moulder.

Clan Kreepus: a clan conquered by Clan Grikk that fought for freedom with the help of Clan Eshin.

Clan Mange: the most loyal (meaning they work purely for profit) Skaven have. Almost furless.

Clan Morbidus, a Pestilent Brotherhood member that acts as mercenaries.

Clan Mordkin: a Warlord Clan obsessed with death due to fighting heavily against Nagash.

Clan Mors: the primary Warlord Clan which has had the most success against the Dwarfs. Is currently ascendant and well underway to become one of the most powerful Clans. is having a bit of a problem at the moment.

Clan Rictus: a Warlord Clan that controls the passages leading to the Night Goblins, who they use as their primary source of slaves.

Clan Scruten: a secret army disguised as a Clan by the leader of the Grey Seers.

Clan Septik: a Pestilent Brotherhood Clan who are the most faithful Skaven to the Horned Rat and often are sent on (and succeed at) suicide missions.

Clan Skab: the clan that produces the most Stormvermin. These warriors are often sold to the other Clans as soldiers or bodyguards.

Clan Vruzz, POISON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clan Skrittlespike: Skaven who live the deepest underground with pure black bulging eyes, and large ears. Terrified of loud noise.

Clan Skrapp: the poorest Clan of the Skaven. God tier liars allied with Clan Eshin who claim to have the most powerful army, which no Clan wants to test.

Clan Skully: Skaven who idolize Eshin but use heavy armour which makes the sneaking pointless.

Clan Skurvy: Skaven pirates. More paranoid than most Skaven.

Clan Skuttle: Skaven pirates who are arch enemies of Clan Skurvy as the second-largest naval Clan.

Clan Spittl: Skaven of Lustria who hunt Lizardmen.

Clan Treecherik: the assassin Clan that backstabs more than any other and almost entirely just fights Skaven and itself.

Clan Volkn: a Warlord Clan based in a volcano with obsidian weapons and armour.

Clan Vrrtkin: a Clan obsessed with poisons and gasses which are pledged to Clan Skryre.

Clan Jamcreermin: Skaven freedom fighters.

 

[Garlak]

Interesting that the advanced mind magic isn't available to Magister rank. I guess thats for Lord Magister, on an As Needed basis?

Click to shrink...

Hmm, not verifiable, but if its a cover story its something he didn't have much time to cook up. I'm leaning false name, false origin(he KNOWS we can't verify that and its a decent way to test our lie detection ability), probably real job, since its too easily tested.

Click to shrink...

Well, while Mathilde can't sense lies... What do you think about using College Favor to get somebody who can? Or get some kind of item or enchantment that will do so?

-Their justification for not going to Sylvania is that theres nothing there. Totally not because Frederick Van Hal made it too dangerous, considering theres plenty of warpstone kibble all over the place.

Click to shrink...

I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think BoneyM actually did say that Sylvania doesn't have lots of warpstone deposits everywhere anymore?

Also observe, he faked or played up his initial panic.
He carefully examined the traces, maybe it was sleight of hand or illusion.

...then he realized no, this is really the blood and bone of Mathilde Weber and the bullet is still warm and smelling of gunpowder.
THEN he panicked. Carefully.

Click to shrink...

Is that what that was supposed to be?

To me, it seemed like he twitched and panicked upon the gun-shot, genuinely.

Then he spent some time looking at the door after we left, thinking "Holy shit, is she gone?" And then eventually he moved in to check the stuff, and upon finding out it was real, was unnerved again.

However, in hindsight, it occurs to me that he must not have been really terrified at any point... because we never noticed a sudden smell.

So the Nurglites subverted Mors, and bypassed the divine security check of the Horned Rat. I have no doubt that the Skaven are selling it as a test by the Horned Rat, but I suspect Nurgle might have interfered there?

Its the heart of the Horned Rat's power and its not directly opposed to Chaos after all.

Click to shrink...

Nurglitch is the name of the Lord of Decay of Pestilens.

Hmm, we're getting info out of him by feeding him books.
His hobby seems to be wargaming.

But I'm getting the sense that getting Queekish out of him is going to need to START from some variant on "I already know Queekish."
Get the Chaos Dwarf anatomy book decoded as far as we can and then use a copy of it as a discussion topic? He has no reason to protect the Dawi Zharr either, and if we appear to know its contents, decently well he wouldn't know to resist.

Click to shrink...

Ah, a thought, especially after what you speculated about his knowledge of the language...

... What if we have to worry about him learning Khazalid from us?

If he only knows mostly words, then... Mathilde on the other hand, knows the grammar too. So it's possible that he might be learning more of Khazalid from Mathilde. However, it seems like Mathilde is aware of that? Because she's picking her words with care. Or at least, so I hope.

Hm. Maybe one things we do, is get him to demonstrate his level of literacy. Have him write something in Khazalid. See how much he knows.

... Ah. I just remembered. Dwarf and Chaos Dwarf language and written language are a bit diverged. So if he does write, some of the runes he uses should probably be slightly different. If we notice a difference, that would be a good indicator as to whether he learned the alphabet from Dwarf or Chaos Dwarf sources. (Or, of course, he might know both and is just revealing Chaos Dwarf runes.)

 

[Chimeraguard]

Clan Rictus: a Warlord Clan that controls the passages leading to the Night Goblins, who they use as their primary source of slaves.

Click to shrink...

Worth noting, Clan Rictus is the other major Warlord Clan that rivals Clan Mors in prestige and power, and also has a seat on the Council of Thirteen. Noted for their unusually large number of Stormvermin and holding Crookback Mountain in the Dark Lands (from which they do a ton of slave raids against the local Night Goblins and Warpstone mining expeditions across the region.)

They're fierce rivals of Clan Mors, and close enough that I'm surprised we don't see them here in Karak Eight Peaks. Though with Moulder's foothold wiped out, I wonder if that will change. Clan Rictus might see this as an opportunity to rise if they can defeat their old enemy.

 

[BungieONI]

I mean, I don't know for sure that our other keywords cover it. We can ask "what sorts of mutations/theoretical frameworks of mutation are covered by the topics Mathilde has in her library" and decide whether we need any others.

But you'll notice I'm not pinging Boney about it, because if there's no need to buy the books this turn, then there's no need to bug him for a clarification. It's been fourteen hours since he was active, so he's got a lot of thread to catch up on when he shows up, and I'd prefer not to swamp our QM more than necessary.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, that makes sense to me!

 

[Artemis1992]

Speaking of, do you think any High Elf ever tried to use High Magic tongs to manipulate True Dhar? Seems possible in theory at least. I wonder how that turned out.

Click to shrink...

Why would they?
As seen in the Dark Elves, their kind can directly manipulate Dhar without mutation or death, so going the indirect way has little advantage.

Eshinzhufi is a curious term. Using Eshin Sorceror as the equivalent term?

Click to shrink...

Eshin might be a word for shadow in Queekish, or at least general skave-understanding if not precisely the language?

Basically anything sentient should, I think. The capacity to learn also means that a total lack of stimulation can be harmful.

Click to shrink...

This is not a given fact in fantasy worlds.
A dragon can sit on his hoard for decades without growing bored of it in many settings.

In this particular one I would also hazard a guess that the Dragon Ogres have some natural resistance to boredom, allowing them to while away entire ages in low-activity states until the time for battle has come.

 

[Jyn Ryvia]

Worth noting, Clan Rictus is the other major Warlord Clan that rivals Clan Mors in prestige and power, and also has a seat on the Council of Thirteen. Noted for their unusually large number of Stormvermin and holding Crookback Mountain in the Dark Lands (from which they do a ton of slave raids against the local Night Goblins and Warpstone mining expeditions across the region.)

They're fierce rivals of Clan Mors, and close enough that I'm surprised we don't see them here in Karak Eight Peaks. Though with Moulder's foothold wiped out, I wonder if that will change. Clan Rictus might see this as an opportunity to rise if they can defeat their old enemy.

Click to shrink...

I'm assuming that the title 'Warlord clan' means that they have a seat, and so implies that they are one of the most powerful.

 

[BungieONI]

Why would they?
As seen in the Dark Elves, their kind can directly manipulate Dhar without mutation or death, so going the indirect way has little advantage.

Eshin might be a word for shadow in Queekish, or at least general skave-understanding if not precisely the language?

This is not a given fact in fantasy worlds.
A dragon can sit on his hoard for decades without growing bored of it in many settings.

In this particular one I would also hazard a guess that the Dragon Ogres have some natural resistance to boredom, allowing them to while away entire ages in low-activity states until the time for battle has come.

Click to shrink...

It helps that for Warhammer specifically both those species spend much of their time unconscious in sleep. Dragons because the world's environment often isn't suitable to prolonged activity from them unless bonded to an Elf or Aqshy user, and Dragon Ogres because that's a consequence of the bargain they struck.

 

[Eldon]

Worth noting, Clan Rictus is the other major Warlord Clan that rivals Clan Mors in prestige and power, and also has a seat on the Council of Thirteen. Noted for their unusually large number of Stormvermin and holding Crookback Mountain in the Dark Lands (from which they do a ton of slave raids against the local Night Goblins and Warpstone mining expeditions across the region.)

They're fierce rivals of Clan Mors, and close enough that I'm surprised we don't see them here in Karak Eight Peaks. Though with Moulder's foothold wiped out, I wonder if that will change. Clan Rictus might see this as an opportunity to rise if they can defeat their old enemy.

Click to shrink...

There is a good chance that they may be conserving their power by staying out of the fighting. Betting that the other clans that are going to knock down Clan Mors will louse more then they gain so if they stay out of it they will end up in a stronger position overall. After all one of the Skavens favorite tactics is to let your enemies/rivals fight each other for you.

 

[mc2rpg]

[X] King Belegar, to try to get some idea of where he's at with his crisis of faith.
[X] Princess Edda, on a hunt for weavers across the Empire.
[X] Algard, reporting the Skaven Civil War in person instead of in writing.
[X] Roswita, as she rides out the chaos of the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Check in on your fief in Stirland.

 

[Chimeraguard]

I'm assuming that the title 'Warlord clan' means that they have a seat, and so implies that they are one of the most powerful.

Click to shrink...

Well, not really. All the Skaven Clans that aren't the Great Clans are Warlord Clans, from ones that have hundreds of thousands of members and territory across the Under-Empire to ones with maybe a few hundred rats to their name. Their numbers are constantly in flux as the strong absorb the weak, and the too large and divided splinter off each other.

Of these Warlord Clans, a handful have the power and prestige to get a seat on the Council of Thirteen, with Clan Mors and Clan Rictus being the big two greatest Warlord Clans, which are rich and powerful enough to rival the actual Great Clans.

 

[Garlak]

I think Mutation/Mutants is a poor choice for a book category, since it is based on a guess about what an experiment that we have not tried might do. I don't even think it's a likely result; mutation, from what I can gather, comes from corruptive Chaos energy, like you get from Dhar or warpstone. Aethyric Vitae does not do this. Like, if we run the experiment and it creates a mutant test subject, then by all means, let's buy the books, but I don't think it's a good investment ahead of time.

Click to shrink...

If we want stuff useful to the snakejuice, then... Perhaps books on Alchemy? There's more than just Gold Order alchemy.

And getting more books on chemistry, perhaps.

Actually, looking at the timeline, the Second Skaven Civil War only ended around 80 years ago.

Click to shrink...

It went from 1850 and ended in 2302. It's 2481 right now, so it's been 180 years.

Worth noting, Clan Rictus is the other major Warlord Clan that rivals Clan Mors in prestige and power, and also has a seat on the Council of Thirteen. Noted for their unusually large number of Stormvermin and holding Crookback Mountain in the Dark Lands (from which they do a ton of slave raids against the local Night Goblins and Warpstone mining expeditions across the region.)

They're fierce rivals of Clan Mors, and close enough that I'm surprised we don't see them here in Karak Eight Peaks. Though with Moulder's foothold wiped out, I wonder if that will change. Clan Rictus might see this as an opportunity to rise if they can defeat their old enemy.

Click to shrink...

Huh. Do you think this guy might have been from Clan Rictus instead? If, as veekie speculated, he may have lied about a thing or two? If so, the reason he'd been a prisoner would be because he's not originally from Clan Moulder, and so was being interrogated and kept prisoner.

Hmm... Nah, seems unnecessarily complicated, I think.