No one truly knows much about the true nature of the Horned Rat King, the cult god of the evil skaven breed. Some believe that he is a powerful mortal skaven who has claimed godhood to ensure the loyalty of his minions, or even that 'the Horned Rat King' is a title inherited by a line of leaders among the rat people. Still others believe that he truly is one of the lesser Chaos Gods, who has sown this confusion over his identity either for entertainment or to keep the mortals guessing as his plans are made ready.

Regardless of who or what he is, the cult of the Horned Rat King is nearly unique among the evil sects in the Empire because his followers serve his purpose with fanatical devotion and work closely together as parts of some as yet unknown master plan. His worshippers are almost all skaven, and those who are not run the risk of being devoured by their fellows among the rat men. Whatever the secret agenda of the Horned Rat King may be, the world he uses his followers to create is a gruesome one. Victims are dismembered in his name, and any of his worshippers who shows signs of weakness are torn apart in bloody frenzies to ensure his continued blessings upon those who remain.