Skaven. A somewhat 'intelligent' subspecies of Beastmen. They live underground, and wherever they spread, they bring pestilence and death. To say that they are unwelcome on the surface would be an understatement.
Albeit very nimble, they are not particularly strong individually, but their sheer numbers make up for it, and they consider any losses as an acceptable sacrifice.
The truly dangerous ones are the more intelligent or magically gifted among them. Their high affinity for death and poison makes them a plague wherever they go. Particularly the necromants.
Their underground cities form a network that spans the entire continent, architectural marvels in their own right. Additionally, their alchemists and engineers create all sorts of curiosities.
It's astonishing what such simple creatures have been able to achieve. Even so, one does not want to be on the recieving end of a skaven apparatus.
So here we are, facing each other, the Skaven and me. He stares at me and screams something unintelligible. Why is a Skaven here on this island? They usually avoid the open sea and thus islands. The islands also offer little space for them to spread.
But then I remember the horde that will soon break out of the woods on the other side of the river, so I start running again as fast as I can, away from the river. However, the stomping behind me doesn't get any quieter. How did they manage to cross the river so quickly?
Suddenly, I come across a forest path, which means civilization and refuge. So I follow the path, which is much easier to run on. I glance back and see a wave of Skaven flooding onto the road. I push myself even harder, despite the burning sensation in my legs and lungs from exertion.
They are getting closer, and my vision starts to blur, but I catch sight of a tower through the treetops and push myself to my physical limits.
Soon, I reach a fortress, heavily manned by soldiers. I wave my hands and shout for them to let me in. They seem to have already noticed me or the horde behind me, as there are many archers lining the walls with their bows drawn.
They release a volley that flies over me, and all I hear are the pitiful cries of the rats. Immediately after, rocks from catapults follow suit.
As I reach the gate, a small door swings open within it, and I am pulled inside, with the door quickly locked behind me.
I lie on my back, gasping for air. An armored man leans over me. "What are you doing out here? There's a strict curfew. How did you manage to slip past the city guards?"
Even though I want to reply, I don't have the air to do so, and I continue trying to catch my breath. He grunts and snaps his fingers once. "Never mind. Take him downstairs. I don't want him wandering around the square if the rats break through."
A young soldier comes and helps me up. He supports me and leads me into the inner part of the fortress. We descend a staircase, and he sits me down against a wall in a large hall filled with columns before returning outside.
I close my eyes and rest for a while, but I can't sleep with the battle raging above me. Will the fortress hold? Will the soldiers repel the Skaven?