Unbeknownst to the Grand Warlord Skrazslik, his recent good fortune had not been all of his own making. A shrouded presence followed his every footstep – a Verminlord Deceiver that possessed its own dark designs. Having flitted ahead of its true quarry, it had attached itself to Skrazslik and preemptively ended several attempts upon his life. The Verminlord did this because it hoped that the warlord presented the best chance of reducing the city above to blazing anarchy. Now, however, Archaon has come, the gates of Middenheim yawned wide, and warriors clashed in the blazing streets. Darkh'dwel no longer had need of Skrazslik, and so had abandoned him to pursue its true agenda.[1a]