Clan Fangmaw
History of Clan Fangmaw
"Weak males have no place here—only strong-fierce Females thrive-rule!"
Origins of Clan Fangmaw
Clan Fangmaw is a rare and fearsome anomaly among Skaven society, where power is typically male-dominated. This clan is comprised almost entirely of female Skaven who have carved out a brutal existence in the depths of Rat Pitt, the sprawling Skaven city in the Underdark.
The Fangmaws emerged as a reaction to centuries of subjugation and abuse that female Skaven endured under the male-dominated hierarchy. Led by the ruthless and cunning Matriarch Vreshka Fangmaw, the clan rebelled against their oppressors, overthrowing their former male leaders and establishing a society where females wield absolute power.
Their name, "Fangmaw," originates from their brutal practice of using sharpened teeth and weapons to disarm and castrate their enemies—an act that symbolizes their dominance and ensures their foes can never rise against them.
The Rise of Matriarch Vreshka Fangmaw
Vreshka Fangmaw, the founder and current leader of the clan, is a formidable and terrifying figure. Born into a life of servitude, she endured years of torment before rallying other oppressed females to her cause. Her rise to power began with a violent uprising against her male overlords, during which she personally executed her oppressors in gruesome displays of dominance.
Vreshka’s philosophy is one of ruthless pragmatism. She believes that males are inherently untrustworthy and weak, existing only as tools for labor or fodder for war. Under her leadership, Clan Fangmaw has become a self-sufficient and militaristic society, feared even by other Skaven clans.
Culture of Clan Fangmaw
Clan Fangmaw is defined by its strict matriarchal hierarchy and brutal customs. They view strength, cunning, and loyalty to the clan as the highest virtues.
Beliefs and Practices
- Matriarchal Supremacy: Female Skaven hold all positions of power, while males are relegated to servitude or eliminated entirely.
- Ritual of the Maw: Every new recruit must undergo the Ritual of the Maw, where they prove their loyalty by capturing and castrating an enemy male, offering the remains to the Great Horned Rat Spleet as a symbol of dominance.
- The Teeth’s Blessing: Fangmaw females sharpen their teeth and claws to deadly points, using them as weapons in battle and ceremonies.
Territory and Stronghold
The Fangmaws claim a fortified section of Rat Pitt known as the Scarred Warrens, a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers reinforced with traps and guarded by ferocious warbeasts. Their stronghold, the Mawspire, is a towering structure built from the bones and remains of their defeated enemies, symbolizing their brutal dominance.
The Mawspire is both a fortress and a temple, where rituals and training take place. The walls are adorned with trophies taken from their conquests, including the severed weapons and belongings of their foes.
Enemies and Allies
Enemies
- Male-Dominated Clans: Most Skaven clans despise the Fangmaws, viewing their matriarchal structure as a threat to traditional Skaven hierarchy.
- Drow Houses: The Fangmaws’ raids on Drow caravans and settlements have made them hated enemies of the Underdark’s dark elves.
- Human Slavers: The Fangmaws despise slavers of all races, frequently targeting them in their raids.
Allies
- Clan Darkborn: The Fangmaws trade captured males and experimental subjects to Clan Darkborn in exchange for warbeasts.
- Clan Darkreaver: Darkreaver’s assassins and spies respect the Fangmaws’ cunning and occasionally work with them for mutual gain.
Leadership and Family
The Fangmaw leadership is comprised of a close-knit group of female warriors, sorceresses, and strategists, all loyal to Matriarch Vreshka.
- Vreshka Fangmaw
Title: Matriarch of the Maw
A charismatic and deadly leader, Vreshka is both feared and revered by her clan. She wields twin bloodsteel claws and possesses a keen intellect that she uses to outmanoeuvre her enemies. - Tresh Fangmaw
Role: Warleader
Vreshka’s eldest daughter and the clan’s military commander, Tresh is a skilled tactician and brutal fighter. She leads the Fang Guard, the clan’s elite warriors. - Yssra Fangmaw
Role: Shadow Priestess
The second daughter, Yssra, is a sorceress who channels the dark blessings of the Great Horned Rat Spleet to enhance the clan’s magic. She is also the spiritual leader of the Fangmaws. - Krinn Fangmaw
Role: Beastmaster
The youngest daughter, Krinn, tames and trains the warbeasts that defend the Mawspire. She is rarely seen without her monstrous pet, a rat wolf.
Notable Castrations by Clan Fangmaw
Clan Fangmaw’s brutal reputation is well-earned, with their history of emasculating their enemies serving as both a tactical advantage and a symbolic declaration of their power. Below is a record of their most infamous acts of castration, immortalized in Fangmaw lore and retold as cautionary tales throughout the Underdark.
1. The Fall of Warlord Gorrik Mawrend
Victim: Warlord Gorrik Mawrend of Clan Mawrend
Details:
Gorrik Mawrend, a prominent Skaven warlord, attempted to raid the Fangmaw territory, dismissing their power as “female weakness.” Vreshka Fangmaw led an ambush that decimated his forces. Gorrik was captured alive, and Vreshka personally performed the act, presenting his severed tail and “other parts” to the Great Horned Rat Spleet in a grand ritual.
Impact: This event marked the Fangmaws’ emergence as a force to be reckoned with, ensuring other clans approached them with caution.
2. The Castration of High-Priest Zynthek of the Drow
Victim: Zynthek Vel’torath, High-Priest of House Vel’torath
Details:
During a raid on a Drow caravan, the Fangmaws captured Zynthek, a cruel high-priest known for enslaving Underdark creatures. He was brought to Mawspire, where Vreshka’s daughter, Yssra, performed the ritual, using dark magic to ensure he lived through the humiliation. The clan sent his dismembered remains back to House Vel’torath as a warning.
Impact: This action escalated the enmity between the Fangmaws and the Drow, but it also earned the Skaven clan new allies among the Drow’s rivals.
3. The Humiliation of Bonecrush the Ogre Tyrant
Victim: Bonecrush, Tyrant of the Ironfist Ogre Tribe
Details:
Bonecrush, a brutish Ogre warlord, sought to conquer Fangmaw territory to claim their females as slaves. Under Krinn Fangmaw’s leadership, the clan lured him into a trap and incapacitated him with poisoned bolts. Bound in chains, Bonecrush was castrated in front of his remaining followers, who fled in terror.
Impact: The Ironfist Tribe disbanded after Bonecrush’s humiliation, with remnants absorbed into other Ogre clans.
4. The Emasculation of Duke Halric of Goffik Kingdom
Victim: Duke Halric Blackthorn, a noble from the Goffik Kingdom
Details:
Duke Halric led an expedition into the Underdark to eliminate the Skaven threat, but his forces were ambushed by the Fangmaws. Captured alive, he was dragged to the Scarred Warrens, where Tresh Fangmaw enacted the ritual. His severed “trophy” was sent back to the surface with a warning, “The strong survive; the weak perish.”
Impact: The Goffik Kingdom withdrew its forces from the Underdark, leaving the Fangmaws to expand their influence unchallenged in that region.
5. The Defiling of Slavelord Skratch Clawpike
Victim: Skratch Clawpike, a Skaven Slavelord of Clan Clawpike
Details:
Skratch, a notorious slaver, attempted to undermine Fangmaw authority by kidnapping several of their warriors for labor. Vreshka personally led the retaliation, capturing Skratch and his slavers. Skratch was publicly castrated before his surviving warriors, who were then enslaved and forced to work in the Rotfang Catacombs.
Impact: This act solidified the Fangmaws’ dominance over Skaven slave markets in Rat Pitt and deterred rival clans from challenging their authority.
6. The Breaking of Warchief Gorvak of Clan Gnawfang
Victim: Warchief Gorvak Gnawfang
Details:
Gorvak sought to challenge the Fangmaws' growing power in Rat Pitt. After a decisive battle, he was captured and brought to Mawspire. Vreshka allowed her youngest daughter, Krinn, to perform the castration as a coming-of-age rite.
Impact: Clan Gnawfang swore fealty to the Fangmaws, becoming vassals and supplying warriors and resources.
7. The Ritual of the Maw - A Tribute to the Council
Victims: Several unnamed Skaven males from rival clans
Details:
To celebrate their rise in power, the Fangmaws captured a dozen males from rival clans and performed their infamous ritual before an assembled audience of Skaven elites in Rat Pitt. This bold display established their dominance and secured their place as one of the most feared factions in Skaven society.
Impact: The display intimidated potential challengers and secured trade alliances with other clans.
Legacy of Terror
These infamous acts of castration serve as a reminder of Clan Fangmaw’s brutal philosophy and unyielding dominance. Their matriarchal society thrives on humiliation and terror, ensuring that even the boldest enemies think twice before challenging the power of the Fangmaws.
Legacy and Ambitions
Clan Fangmaw’s rise to power has been marked by bloodshed and defiance of Skaven norms. They aim to expand their influence within Rat Pitt, overthrowing the male-dominated Council of Thirteen and establishing a new order led by Matriarch Vreshka.
Their battle cry, "Fangs take-take all!" strikes fear into their enemies, as the Fangmaws carve out their place in Skaven history with sharp teeth, iron claws, and unyielding ambition.
