It is said that any unfortunate enough to catch the business end of Clan Eshin's is fated to meet with an inescapable death regardless of however far they run or ever well they hide. Few among those in a thousand years of the clan's history could claim to have ever escaped, and fewer still for a second time thereafter.

Yet, it's all strictly business...unless - of course - in the case of a suspected traitor. Not that Skavendom as a whole is known for fostering any sense of outstanding loyalty among its denizens, but the kind of ineptitude that goes into getting caught is as warranted of death as flagrant insubordination.

In the case of Ji Heelcutter, he was unlucky enough to find himself guilty of both.

Once a promising student to the arts of death - and well enough on his way to reaching the ranks of the Clan's most esteemed and feared Assassins - Ji's ambitions and impatience lead him to delve well ahead of his rank to uncover whatever secrets he could out of his naturally inflated sense of self worth. His reward - the dreaded Weeping Rune - and with it the gift of Eshin's most terrifying weapon, drew forth the Deathlord's wrath.

But, in a surprising show of mercy - or, perhaps, cruelty - Lord Sneek spared him an honorless death and instead decided to test the weight of his student's ambition.

As a final test before completing their training, prospective Assassins were given an impossible contract to perform with only their skills and the Horned Rat's favor to determine whatever destiny had laid for them. Even with that in mind; the task to slay a single, deserter Stormvermin seemed almost too simple to meet this criteria.

He was right, of course...but contrary to Sneek's machinations, this did not dispose of his wayward underling.

Desperation makes for strange bedfellows, as they say...~

For Heelcutter and his new..."associate", Vulk Stonetail; the mutual disassociation of their respective clans has forged in them the closest thing that could be called a 'friendship'. A concept so absurd, so unthinkable to Skaven as a whole that it's managed to do the impossible and keep the pair of them alive, even as they seek to claw towards new heights of success together as mercenaries. No matter who or what might stand in their way.

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This wonderful piece was done by ever spectacular  planetself , who is currently open and taking as part one of an oncoming joint effort between myself and  jagaz

Stay tuned for more of this guy AND his big buddy in the future.~ ;)