Nehekhara

Nehekhara and its cities, prior to the destruction of the latter in the End Times.

"Kill us and be done with it, but know this: he who slay us will be cursed, now and forever more. His lands will turn to ash, and his flesh will shrivel from his bones."

– Malchior, moments before drinking the fake poison and being imprisoned by Nagash

"K: My cousin Araloth once spoke of a land far to the south, where undead monarchs worship light and dark in equal measure.
V: Indeed. A land of tombs and sickening heresy. The birthplace of the first necromancer.
V: Hush! Nothing good comes from uttering that name. "

– Victor Saltzpyre & Kerillian

Nehekhara was the ancient land of the Tomb Kings, analogous to real life Egypt. It was a cradle of human civilization and prosperous enough to rival High Elves' culture. Thanks to one dick boner, Nehekhara became a bone-filled dry hellhole with majestic cities, then it later lost even those.

History

WFB

Unlike Egypt, it encompasses most of Warhammer Fantasy Africa as a giant desert where a whole topographical layer of skeletons sit beneath the sand (many of whom have a predilection to get up and get grumpy when disturbed). Originally a lush land that was rich in gold that developed civilization back when the rest of the humans in the world (other than possible Cathay) were tribal savages being kept as slaves by High Elf colonists or used as target practice by Dwarfs, Nehekhara was a paradise (so, the civilization and fertility of Mesopotamia, the culture of ancient Egypt and the constant warfare of ancient Africa). It was ruled over by supreme rulers leading individual kingdoms which fought against each other constantly. Although there were fair differences between kingdom to kingdom, generally speaking the High Priests and the Kings (and rarely Queens) had supreme power over all. The pantheon of the Nehekharans was numerous and diverse, although death was a central theme in each important deity. Priests had their own magic Lore as a derivative of the Lore of Death due to the Winds of Magic tied to Death being the only one to blow through the land, making Nehekharans the first humans to not only discover but also master a form of magic independent of Daemon assistance.

The novel mentioned of ancient Nehekharans had maintained a sacred treaty with their gods in order to receive their blessing. The blessing allows the Nehekharan king to lived long lives (roughly between 100 to 200 years) and allowing their followers to harness their god's power. The power differ between each gods depending on their specialty (Ex. Ptra is a sun god so his bless is often associate with fire. Djaf is death so he can unleash frozen chill spell, etc..) and a few elite warriors were able to receive their bless to become Ushabti (not the construct), god chosen warriors with super power (think of them as power rangers but with more Egyptian religious tone) whom were often seen guarding the priest kings. Some Ushabti may go even further and become a Ushabti at Mahrak, the founding place of Nehekharans' religion (see below at the Mahrak section) to further power themselves with their god's blessing to the point of resembling their gods, become their herald and avatar.

The nature of this sacred treaty is a mystery, for it only allow the faithful Nehekharans to harness their gods' power without harnessing the winds of magic (which the winds has almost no presence at the sandy region), and so long the Nehekharans remember to honor their treaty's condition (marry daughter of ptra bloodline). One theory suggests it might be a technique or technology given by the old ones. This is possible due to the lore mentioned the Nehekharans were one of the old one experiments to fight chaos, and it was mentioned multiple times that the first wave of Nehekharans emerged from the jungles of Southland, which many Lizardmen lived there and had clashed with the Nehekharans numerous times (It is unknown if the Lizardmen there actually knew about Nehekharans' origin and the reason why they clash with the Nehekharans in the first place?). Although the blessing of Sigmar has proven any human gods could achieve the same thing without the help of the old one, it still does not explain the power of Nehekharans' blessing, which is way more powerful than Sigamr's, for it grants them unusual life span as well as superpowers to their soldiers. Not to mentioned the blessing can be cancelled out by breaking the treaty, which was demonstrated by Nagash where he killed Neferem, a high priestess of Ptra's bloodline from Lahmia. This is kind of like a device having its power plugged off or a system malfunction, further proving the sacred treaty is but some kind of technological device left behind by the Old One.

Eventually, all of Nehekhara was unified under Settra the Imperishable, although with his death the kingdoms once again became independent. With the rise of Nagash the magic of the land became unstable, and in two wars all the kingdoms of the land united to wage war on the Undead threat. With the kingdom of Lahmia falling to Vampirism, the kingdom of Khemri (birthplace of both Settra and Khalida) lead the charge. In his (second) death throes Nagash cast a spell which killed all plant, animal, and human life in the land. The spell resurrected everything that had died as an Undead servant. With Nagash's death from Alcadizaar, who stabbed sleepy necromancer with a blade made of Warpstone, the spell was somewhat broken: the Nehekharans were still "alive" but no more slaves to Nagash's will.

Most Undead were devoid of much intelligence, only retaining enough to perform tasks with a degree of skill unseen in the skeletal servants raised by common Necromancy. But the nobility of the land, well-preserved in their elaborate tombs and burials, awoke with their personalities intact and their souls forever bound to the land that gave them birth and held their corpse in death.

Each former ruler sought to retake their throne, only to find a hundred generations of rulers prior and a hundred after also claimed the throne. The land became a giant battle of skeleton against skeleton, a whirling skull-tossing fight that would have made Khorne jizz himself watching had he known of it, until the former High Priests throughout the ages gathered and conducted a ritual to awaken the most powerful of the Tomb Kings who had not yet arisen. The greatest of them, Settra the Imperishable, immediately slapped the shit of EVERY other Tomb King and demanded them swear fealty to him. Those that did had their thrones and kingdoms divided between the families who all had a claim to them. Some, like Queen Khalida, were not particularly interested in rulership beyond what they saw as fair and became allies of Settra rather than servants. Others saw fit to rebel, and most were given fates worse than death (trapping their spirit in just their skull to be used as catapult ammunition is a popular one).

Modern Warhammer Fantasy History

More Tomb Kings continue to awaken, and each gets their shit slapped by Settra. Often, other races seek incursions into the land. Dwarfs invade seeking gold (which to them is not plunder, as non-Dwarfs are shit in their eyes and the dead have no claim to possessions...unless they're honored Dwarven dead anyway; good old Dwarven hypocris... honor). The Empire mounts expeditions for gold, or to seek alliances with the intelligent Undead (despite the heresy of it).

High Elves seek to establish Waystones in the land, sometimes with the aid and permission of the Tomb Kings and other times without. Bretonnians and Warriors of Chaos invade looking for challenges and loot, although this has never once turned out well for the invaders...

End Times

Despite being one of GW's more original ideas, the End Times was hard for Nehekhara. Nagash and Arkhan conquer Mahrak and Quatar by zerg-rushing them with all the skeletons from Nagashizzar, and Nagash using magic to entice a few of the remaining Tomb Kings to turn traitor. After defeating Settra, Nagash used magic and sandstorms to pulverize Khemri, utterly destroying it. The rest of Nehekhara's cities only get a single sentence mentioning that Nagash and his armies destroyed them too. A bad end for an ancient (in-game) and relatively interesting setting.

The final nail in the fucking sarcophagus came in Age of Sigmar, with the Tomb Kings having been revealed to have been squatted.

Nehekhara and the Southlands as seen in Total War: WARHAMMER.

Regions

Nehekharan history and geography largely follows the early Warhammer/Nigel Stillman school of lorebuilding in that it follows real history very closely, with simplifications, which is interrupted largely by either involvement in other Warhammer things which are anachronistic or pop culture/myth borrowing. This creates large gaps in logic where real life involved places and peoples that don’t exist in Warhammer or the aforementioned silliness gets involved.

The first ruler of Nehekara was a guy called Nehek. They probably named the land after him in his honor (and GW wanting something that sounds like Sahara), because if it was his idea in all likelihood Settra would've renamed it Settrahara. Between him and Settra there isn't much known about Nehekhara. After his death it fragmented again, and every generation the cities had different histories based on the rise, fall, unification, and fall of empires; we also don't know much about this, mostly only if it was mentioned in the backstory of a particular TK. We also know little about who's in charge now, being given lists of names of characters who occupy the same city at times with no indication on if they managed to establish a treaty to share or if they're waging an active ongoing civil war. As a result, information varies wildly about the different regions, much of which comes from diverse canon sources such as Black Library and video games (which is why we have grouped regions according to the Total War: Warhammer map for simplicity).

Most cities were built around a Necropolis where the pyramids were located, and due to the fact that no life exists in (almost) any Tomb King cities they can be fairly described as a giant Necropolis, which is why the word is interchangeably used in some lore. Although technically all Tomb Kings would have a pyramid unless otherwise stated, ones that are specifically mentioned will be noted here as well as what we know about them.

Land Of The Dead

The center of Nehekhara, politically and literally. The land where human civilization first arose, where the most powerful rulers in history originated from, and the place worst affected by Nagash's spell. Most of the Great Vitae River (AKA The Nile) lies in this land, although out of spite Nagash polluted its source high in the World's Edge Mountains called the Vitae Tarn which turned it red and poisonous, which is why it is currently known as the Great Mortis River. The Mortis Delta is extremely large, with the greatest cities built along its banks. The Swamp Of Terrors is where it turns stagnant, and is the deadliest place in Nehekhara post-poisoning.

• Khemri

Home city of Settra, obviously currently ruled by him, and thus the capital of the Tomb Kings. The architecture is the most elaborate and stunning by far in the world of humanity, rivaling and/or surpassing the lands of the Dwarfs and Elves.

• Khemrian history begins with Settra, since we don't know who or when they founded the city (not that it matters, no king before Settra could rise as a Tomb King). The greatest king is of course Settra, but he is far from the only one since we know more Khemrian kings than any of the other cities.
• Since Settra sacrificed his children to attain immortality he left no heir (and if he'd attained immortality he technically wouldn't need one), so after his death a nobleman named Ahtaf I took the throne and attempted to build an even greater pyramid as his legacy although he was killed in the Zandri/Numas uprising that happened shortly after.
• Khutef was far more effective, strengthening Khemri and its remaining territory.
• Ahtaf II was notable for building the first Nehekharan navy, presumably after retaking Zandri unless it was built at an unknown port, and establishing trade routes which we know from other sources were with Elves and Dwarfs.
• Utep was not known for anything noteworthy other than living when the Liche Priests discovered how to extend the lives of mortals, ensuring his life was far longer than that of the preceding generations.
• Wakhaf (hehe, "whack off") was next, who fought desert raiders and did little else of importance.
• Sekhef followed him, causing a rift between the kings and the (now very decrepit) Liche Priesthood.
• Nekhesh, noteworthy for being the Tomb King on the cover of the 6th edition Army Book, reigned in a time of great strife where his kingdom was constantly under attack; in response the legendary weapon the Destroyer Of Eternities was created for him, used mostly when he personally executed prisoners due to its power to deny the victim an afterlife by damaging the soul.
• Rakaph I succeeded Nekhesh and created the Second Dynasties when he ended the civil wars, restored the rights of the Liche Priests, and returned lands to other kings; after rising again as a Tomb King he has lead three wars against desert raiders.
• Rakhash was next, establishing the city Rasetra (so we'll talk about him more in that entry) and conquering Mahrak, Lybaras and Lahmia.
• Rakaph II was known only for demanding higher tribute from the subjugated territory of his predecessor.
• Pharakh was known for building the Canal Of Abundance, which took ten years for ten thousand workers to complete and lived up to its name.
• Rakaph III ruled next, going to war against desert raiders three times and ruling so long that he outlived all his heirs and inspired rumors that he was somehow already immortal.
• After Rakaph III's eventual death a noblewoman seized the throne to prevent Zandri and Numas from exerting their influence. Queen Rasut ruled for many years and attempted to establish her son as the future king, but he died at the age of three and when she died he was entombed with her (making her a Nefertiti-expy and her son one of the two King Tutankhamen expies, despite Nefertiti not being his biological mother).
• She was succeeded by her son's intended regent Khetep, who managed to establish a golden age of Khemri despite also being extremely selfish and vain, working one million slaves to death over 25 years to build his pyramid. He had two sons, Nagash (yes, THAT Nagash) and Thutep. Was killed by sorcery from the king of Numas' Dark Elf allies.
• The reign of Thutep was short, and he was known as a major diplomat and peacemaker. He married the princess of Lahmia, Neferem, and had a son with her called Sukhet. Nagash had him kidnapped and sealed in their father's pyramid to die before declaring himself sole ruler.
• Nagash fancies himself a king of Khemri, but he was never acknowledged as such and people only obeyed Nagash out of fear or greed. Nagash also claimed Neferem for himself, raped her then killed Sukhet and her, which ensured that the royal line of Khetep died as well.
• Lahmizzar of course was next, waging war on Nagash with an alliance of Zandri, Numas, Mahrak, Lybaras and Rasetra although Nagash personally killed him in battle.
• Lahmizzash succeeded his father and won the war against Nagash, sacking Khemri and purging the corrupted priesthood before attempting to bury all information about Nagash. Unfortunately for everyone else, he'd secretly saved Nagash's nine books and captured Arkhan for information. In true Ancient Egypt fashion, Lahmizzash married his sister Neferatem (better known as Neferata; yes, THAT Neferata). Said sister secretly read the books, formed an alliance with Arkhan the Black, and created vampirism. A large part of her character and thus the results of her actions stem from her resentment over the fact he was the heir due to sexism, indicating that at least in this era Khemri was far more patriarchal than kingdoms like Lybaras. Upon learning of Neferata's actions Lahmizzash had Neferata assassinated, which she only survived by becoming a vampire, and he was assassinated in turn by Arkhan.
• Lakhashar ruled Khemri next, and nothing is known about him which means he likely was set to the task of rebuilding the city.
• Lahkashaz followed, but was an ineffective ruler who allowed the alliance against Nagash to lapse into infighting and was killed in a rebellion within Khemri.
• Setep followed, restoring the Necropolis and Liche Priests as well as being the only king of Khemri's fifth dynasty.
• Alkhazzar I, one of Setep's generals, was made heir and created a massive army of chariots which he used to conquer Numas.
• Alkhazzar II attempted to conquer Zandri but failed, and waged war on the desert raiders.
• Alkharad succeeded his father, recieving tribute from the desert tribes and conqueoring Rasetra although failing to take Mahrak and Lybaras; in the modern day as a Tomb King he fought against greenskins.
• Alcadizaar was the last king of Khemri, and indeed the last Nehekharan left alive given he survived Nagash's spell (and possibly had a line of descendants in the Old World as far as we know, since he sent some to other lands in the wake of Nagash's plague), but since he gets covered third only to Settra and Khalida in detail you can read about him everywhere else.

End Times also gave us King Behedesh II, who is actually a Zandrian king but guards Khemri. He doesn't actually live in the city due to his preferred warfare being in the desert where his army waits for invaders. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay also introduced Amenemhetum the Great, a Khemrian king who intended to colonize the lands north of Nehekhara and ruled some time before Nagash usurped Thutep.

It should be noted that in Total War: WARHAMMER many kings can be awoken to serve which indicates they are active, including Wakhaf, Rakhash, Lahmizzash, Setep, Alkhazzar II, and Thutep. In Mortal Empires Thutep is awoken like any other King and leads an army on your behalf, but in the Vortex campaign he is your advisor; it is revealed he survived by becoming a Liche Priest named Priest Nerutep, and has been working directly against Nagash, being rewarded by Settra or Khalida with rulership of the Black Pyramid, which he trolls the ghost of Nagash about. Apparently outside of Mortal Empires he gets restored to true kingship by whatever character you are playing.

The greatest landmark is Settra's pyramid which suffered no decay during the years between his death and resurrection, made of glowing white stone that is covered inside and out with the most powerful glyphs and surrounded by eternally burning flames, where the largest army in Nehekhara waits at the ready, where the activity of politicians and heralds of all the other kinds move about as if still alive due to the active nature of the political situation, and Settra himself sits on his golden throne covered in the rarest and grandest of gems to ever exist in the setting.

Nagash's Black Pyramid, the only pyramid to ever surpass Settra's, lies within sight of Settra's. Made of Warpstone, black marble, and the corpses of slaves, it contains as many glyphs as Settra's although oriented towards channeling the power of magic rather than of protection and longevity. Due to the power of the Warpstone largely being drained by Nagash's Great Spell the effectiveness of the Black Pyramid is greatly reduced, and since his original sources have been mined by Skaven over the years the resurrected Nagash cannot replace it (easily) which enabled Settra to drive him out after his resurrection. Modern depictions of the Black Pyramid show it to actually float rather than just be taller than Settra's. A faction of Tomb Kings dedicated to Nagash called The Sentinels remain in the Black Pyramid, guarding it.

Pharakh, Rasut, and Khetep also have pyramids, with Pharakh's being noteworthy for its splendor. Thutmosa is the Necrotect that built Settra's throne, and thus is by default one of the most famous Necrotects of the ages.

• Zandri

Zandri is the oldest human city that still remains in the world, first founded by (a pre-Settra and thus non-Tomb King) ruler named King Zakash which makes it the first Nehekharan city and the root of Tomb King civilization. Human writing was first invented here, so the records that exist from this time are largely from oral tradition and mythology.

Nehekhara's main port through which the Great Mortis and the rest of the world are accessed by any king. The seas around the city are surrounded by the ships of those who thought the Tomb Kings would be easy pickings without the World's Edge protecting them. The fleets are partially kept still afloat with magic, while the crews still man their posts (including whip-wielding taskmasters, because that's just how its done in Nehekhara), all waiting in the ancient harbors for regal need. Despite being among the worst-affected cities by the ravages of time, looted many times by raiders particularly from Tilea, it remains second only to Khemri in power due to how important it is for any King wanting to reclaim their treasures from the descendants of looters.

According to the Nagash novel, the city's patron god is Qu'aph a snake god (the king cobra kind, has no relation to Asaph who shares the same snake theme) of subtlty and ambush, and one of the least known gods. Since Zandri is a port city, it is well known for the slaves it sells, usually coming from the old world like Norscans or Southern Realmer, whom have facial features like blond hair and blue eyes. It is also common to see Zandri military employing barbarian mercenaries in battle, who fights in savage frenzy way.

It is also at this city that began a chain reaction of events that lead to Nehekhara's doom. Why? because Druchii fucking shit of course. It is there the Nehekhara enslaved the three Dark Elves (Drutheira, Ashniel and Malchior) that washed ashore. The Zandri King, Nekumet tried to use them to kill his enemy, King Khetep of Khemri (also known as Nagash's daddy) whom he had a trade war with at that time, only to find out the dark magic they perform is so grotesque and dangerous that it not only killed Khetep, but also blackend his innards (as discovered by Nagash). In an act of fear and cunning, King Nekumet offered the three Druchii as sacrifices at Khetep's funneral.

Additionally he returned all the POW's, Khemri Nobilities from Khetep's army without demanding a punishing ransom from the new King of Khemri, Thutep. Why? just so he could show the ambassadors from other cities that Thutep is but a naive fool who can't threaten him, therefore allowing his city to remain as a dominate political force of Nehekhara. Nekumet's plan did work, as it allowed all ambassadors to ignore any demands from Khemri and squatted in Zandri to show their support.

Unfortunately for Nekumet and other Nehekhara kings, the Druchii he offered survived in a fake death staged by Nagash, and they taught Nagash magic in return. Eventually, Nagash usurped the throne, used his army to sack Zandri and defeated Nekumet's army in combat with his dark magic. This total defeat was humiliating for Nekumet as it not only removed Zandri's position from dominance (since ambassadors fled when Nagash's army attacked), it is also left all of his remaining soldiers and subjects in chains and he was forced to ride home on a donkey. Nothing was heard from Nekumet after that point, but one could say he probably died of disease in his ruined city, but it is also him and his greed that doomed the Nehekhara, talk about karma.

The third great pyramid we know about in this region is the Pyramid of King Amenemhetum. According to old lore his tomb actually lies outside of Nehekhara given he was a naval king that conquered and established colonies thoughout the world, but in Total War: WARHAMMER his apparently non-tomb Pyramid lies in Zandri. According to 6th edition, the inscription on the doors says "And he did smite and destroy his enemies with great vengeance and furious anger...". Nehekharan, motherfucker, do you speak it?!

Technically there was an additional pyramid, but we'll get to that.

As noted above, Behedesh II was once a king of Zandri but no longer lives in the city.

Amenemhetum should be the ruler of the city, but as soon as he awoke he fucked off to Tilea to reclaim all his stolen shit. Although it attempted to rise against Settra after first being conquered alongside its sister city Numas, they failed and so far have accepted his second rulership after he first brought Nehekhara under his control. Despite being an early ally of Nagash during his first attempt at rulership, they joined the rebellion against him and contributed many archers and since then have been an enemy of his. Alkhazzar II conquered the city after the first defeat of Nagash, with its final ruler being Alcadizaar the Conqueror whom they joined willingly during the second war against Nagash.

Amanhotep the Intolerant (of Dreadfleet fame) is the current ruler of Zandri, and vassal of Settra. He's a comedically unlucky Tomb King, with the details of his mortal life unknown other than his legendary spite and bitterness. During the Bretonnian Crusades he was abducted by knights who believed them to be the legendary hero Duke Cheldric and paraded through Bretonnia carried by Grail Pilgrims until he awoke and rampaged through their lands on his way home. He returned just in time to find that a pirate named Jaego Roth had sacked the city while he was away, using the treasure to purchase the services of mercenaries in a quest for revenge against a pirate. Determined for an epic revenge to match the epic plundering, he had the tombs of the nobility that had been robbed deconstructed and rebuilt on his flagship surrounding his own relocated pyramid, a gigantic barge called the Curse of Zandri, turning the ship into literally a floating fucking pyramid manned by Ushabti, oared by Heirotitans, and with a Necrosphinx as a figurehead and a gigantic holy sword at the front while being powered by a gigantic sapphire that was once the capstone of his pyramid and was given to Nehekhara by the primary god of the pantheon. He joined the vampire that Roth had been attempting to kill, and failed spectacularly (Roth did die and the vampire returned in the TWW continuity, so he got revenge even if it was inglorious). In the End Times/Age Of Sigmar timeline he managed to return just in time to get his pyramid sunk AGAIN by Nagash's third rising. In the Total War: WARHAMMER timeline he is nowhere to be found, his city ruled by the fucking Strigoi vampires of all factions. So he's a pretty absent ruler, which is fine since Settra is the one that is actually in charge. In short, he got screwed over hard and died for real in the End Times.

• The Salt Plain

Not much info on this. Its a settlement in the Vortex campaign of Total War: WARHAMMER, without any real lore.

The Great Desert (of Araby)

The implications of when in lore it is called The Great Desert Of Araby imply the Tomb Kings just call it the Great Desert. While not the most dangerous place in Nehekhara, it is the most naturally hostile.

In Total War: Warhammer the region is controlled by the Rakaph Dynasty, who have apparently decided to be independent of Khemri since Settra is in charge. King Hakor rules it, which is all we know about him aside from his real life namesake having a short rule where he struggled to claim legitimacy, formed important alliances with the Greeks, then left rulership to a son who was deposed within months. Ultimately this serves as an amusing historical reference to the existence of Rakaphs as a minor faction to be merged with or destroyed early on in the game. Due to an amusing glitch it was possible for multiple King Hakors to spawn although CA hasn’t yet given a lore explanation like other glitches have received.

• The Black Tower Of Arkhan

Originally a structure that Arkhan had built by the enslaved citizens of Bhagar following his conquest, the kuch smaller sister to Nagash’s Black Pyramid that was built with the same techniques and materials. After refining his skills here he left to get repeatedly killed. The tower itself is situated along the southern approach to Khemri, functioning as a watchtower and garrison when Arkhan (or whoever currently occupies the tower) feels loyal to Khemri. The tower draws evil magic like the Black Pyramid but isn’t depleted, causing the surrounding areas to be pretty evil and full of the wicked things found in Nehekhara and beyond feeding on the evil air, or are just drawn to it. The catacombs are full of ghosts, and more physical creatures dwell when the tower has a master. As of the “present day” on the tabletop Arkhan has returned and reclaimed it while expanding it into almost a mini-kingdom, although his undead army only consists of skeletons from an unknown source. He pimps out his services as a mercenary until End Times when the tower is just kind of forgotten. In Total War: Warhammer he actually begins his activity at war with the other Tomb Kings and in control of Araby. The tower is controlled by the Rakaphs, and in many cases other factions will claim it from them before him.

• Pools of Despair

Treated in TW:W as a settlement that the Rakaphs occupy, but the source for the name is actually from the 6e TK Army Book which names them as a type of mirage, either magical or produced by some cruel intelligence, where dying travelers spot an oasis and actually manage to feel the cold water before its sand again. This city may be a subjugated Arabyan town on a real oasis, some Tomb King Necropolis city (maybe even the source of the illusions as a western protection for Khemri), or some form of semi-permanent war camp for the Rakaphs.

• Bel Aliad

Originally founded as one of the great cities of Nehekhara until Nagash destroyed it during his first asshole-spree. We don’t know anything else about it from this time.

It was later settled and rebuilt as an Arabyan city nicknamed “The City Of Spices”, their capital until Arkhan destroyed it. It presents something of a lore contradiction since not only did it survive Nagash’s “kill everything” spell, being destroyed two years later in -1149 IC, but Araby didn’t unify until Nehekharans were long gone and even if they had they wouldn’t have had a trading hub since their trade partners were either being skullfucked in apocalyptic wars or were still primitive tribals. Presumably some of Arkhan’s skeleton army came from here.

What’s left is being reclaimed by the desert, attracting adventurers seeking its treasures from both civilizations but only enough have returned to fuel more expeditions. In TW:W it begins as Ruins that are settled to complete the region bonus and counteract the negative influence of Arkhan’s tower.

• El-Kalabad

An Arabyan city that still belongs to them. It only exists as a name on a map in WFB and in TW:W it Is owned by Eshin Skaven, likely due to Araby not being a faction present in the game. Its found as a port along the Gulf Of Medea south of the Great Desert and in the Vortex campaign is considered part of the Land Of Dervishes.

Ash River

Originally known as the Golden River before Nagash poisoned the land. Where the Golden met the Vitae was once the most fertile land known to mankind and the site of Khemri. Now it is one of the deadliest places on the planet.

• Numas

The second ever human city, the third in Nehekharan importance, and sister city to Zandri. Known today as the Scarab City. While Zandri is located at the delta of the Mortis, Numas is located at the source near the Tarn where Nagash's poison was deployed. Despite the death found in the rest of Nehekhara, Nagash's curse wasn't enough to kill the life here; the only place in Nehekhara where 100% safe water can be found and food can be grown is located within the city borders.

The founder of the city was Zakash's successor named Khesek, who managed to subjugate the desert tribes and expand Nehekharan rule. Khesek's own successor Hekesh attempted to expand the rule of Numas by waging war on lesser kings, with unknown success. The subsequent ruler is forgotten, only that they were ineffective and the land became so unsafe that only the cities were safe due to safety in numbers. Settra conquered the city not long after, although it declared independence again after his death. Controlling both Khemri and Numas for a long period of time became the litmus test for wannabe uniter kings, and all failed to do more than attain momentary control for most of history. They sided with their fellow major cities against Nagash and fell into warring with their neighbors after. King Alkhazzar I finally conquered and kept them united with Khemri, which remained until the awakening of the Tomb Kings after Nagash's spell failed. Numas was the center of the great unending Tomb King civil war, directly resulting in the awakening of Settra. After putting his skeletal foot down and telling the kings of Numas to swear allegiance and play nice (turning the living skulls of those who refused into artillery for his catapults).

While we don't know which royal is actually in charge of the others in Numas, the only currently awake and active royal we know is Prince Tutankhanut, an obvious King Tut expy. The only son of King Akhen (who we know nothing about), he was known for being handsome throughout Nehekhara but was tragically killed at only 15 by a tribesman's spear through the chest while hunting on his chariot (the fact it was a "northern tribesman" suggests it may have been the ancestors of one of Sigmar's kin). He was even more horrified than most Tomb Kings when he woke up as a skeleton, but was satisfied when the Liche Priests turned his death mask wearable like Khalida's, only Tutankhanut's is a full-body false flesh suit. As soon as he was presentable, he set about administratio to the point of complete and total restoration of the city. He's the only Tomb King with a kingdom of living humans, as Scythan (Scythian expies?) refugees saw him as the avatar of their god and swore allegiance to him. The devotion goes both ways, with the living marching in his armies and sacrificing themselves without thought while Tutankhanut fiercely guards them as his subjects. Scythans wear black robes and have pure white Arabyan horses, and upon death are left outside the city for the Carrion to clean until they're prepared to join the skeleton soldiers of Numas. The Scythans also actively patrol the deserts, giving Numas more far more active scouting than the other Nehekharan cities. Its interesting to note that Tutankhanut was still only a Prince when he died, but was buried as a king; if like his namesake his father died before him then he likely ruled with a regent and simply wasn't given the ceremonial advancement from prince to king, but post-death the lore indicates that he himself is the one totally in charge with no mention of what his father is currently up to.

Two of the other kings we know about are Phar of Numas (one of 2(+?) Phar characters) and Imrathepis the Crimson King Of Numas. The two absolutely hated each other, and were known for their love of the color red and their wrath. Phar was a Chariot-lover who lead from the front, always dismounting to take part in duels. Imrathepis is more storied, preferring the back of the Warsphinx and participating in wars against Orcs and joining Alcadizaar in the war against the Vampires. When he awoke, Imprathepis immediately went north to drive the Orcs from the Badlands where his kingdom had once controlled, then moving against the Ogre Kingdoms. He badly underestimated the Thunderfoot Tribe, which unleashed their Rhinoxen which wiped out his army leaving him and his Warsphinx alone where he cut down Ogres until eventually they cracked the statue and the Tyrant used his leg as a toothpick. While he was regenerating his descendant Prince Rakaph III decided to get revenge, using an army of 12 Warsphinxes to cause an avalanche that wiped out the tribe of Ogres. Phar on the other hand survived to participate in the defense of Nehekhara during End Times. The only other major king we know about is King Antarhak, who wielded a legendary magic spear that steals the life force of those it kills.

The Pyramid of Prince Tutankhanut is the only local pyramid we know about, and we don't have any details about it. If he's anything like his namesake, it was hastily constructed but completely untouched and full of literal toys.

Inenna The Silent is the Necrotect who first built the city, and despite technically coming from before Settra he somehow survives as a Necrotect (unless the Numas before Settra was just poorly constructed huts that the later Nehekharans were too snooty to call a city).

• Quatar

The western entrance to the Charnel Valley. The post-death nickname is the Palace Of Corpses, with the pre-death city name being the Gateway of Eternity and the palace being the White Palace. It was once the largest Nehekharan city (technically "one of" the largest, but until they actually give us the names and ranking of the others its the largest as far as it matters). The path leading to said palace is lined with pillars and statues carved from the canyon walls.

The history of Quatar can be summed up by saying that if the final test for Khemrian kings was controlling Numas, the first steps of one is conquering Quatar; this apparently did nothing to diminish the beauty of the city, indicating it was likely never sacked by them.

The kings of Quatar somewhat broke the rules of succession for Nehekhara, giving the firstborn son to the Mortuary Cult like normal but having the secondborn son and hair ALSO be trained as a priest, making Quater ruled exclusively by Priest-kings. The palace was a beautiful place built into a mountain, surrounded by public parks and city squares full of fountains fed by the springs beneath the city, protected by anti-magic magic and carved from gleaming white marble. It was intentionally built to surpass Settra's great Khemri in beauty and splendor, although they chose not to build greater pyramids than his. Their military force, made up primarily of Tomb Guard was the best in the land, warriors wearing white leather armor, wields a giant wooden shield and big blade that were capable of split a man in two.

Their patron god is Djaf, the god of war and death. Their Ushabtis (god blessing warriors) had the face of Jackals like their gods, who's body emits chilling aura that could kill any living being in a slight touch.

The current official ruler is unknown. We only know that there is a rumor that a Liche Priest (not a Priest-king) lives in the palace, and knows how to animate the statues surrounding it into a gigantic army of Ushabti and Hierotitans. Said priest is actually Sehenesmet, the Vizier of Quatar who is responsible for much of the statuary as well as their upkeep, not to mention the literal army of Ushabti and Hierotitans in the Valley Of Kings. A second rumor is that he managed to actually entomb himself in a giant statue, and controls it (so magic Mechwarrior) although he did this not for the power and durability, but to make EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER STATUES. A fanmade model of him actually was a finalist for the Golden Demon award, and in Warhammer Chronicles rules were added for playing him.

The local major pyramid is the Pyramid of King Phar. This is odd given that of the two Phar characters, neither of them are actually known to be from Quatar; most likely the more important Phar, King Phar of Mahrak, used to rule Quatar until it was taken from him by Settra and after his death Settra allowed him to be entombed there. Or maybe there's a third Phar, we don't know. Another noteworthy architectural feature is the Great Stone Guardian Of Quatar, a giant eagle/lion hybrid (so a Necrosphinx without a human face basically) that Sehenesmet brings to life when armies intend on smashing his fetishes statues march on the city.

• Springs of Eternal Life

We don't know anything about this, but the name is fairly descriptive and according to Total War: WARHAMMER the Necrarch begin the game with control of it and one of Khalida's quests involves restoring the shrine of Asaph there. It should be noted that according to a short story about an attempted robbery of Queen Rasut's tomb by Empire grave robbers, the hieroglyphics for "eternal life" on a fountain meant "immediate death" given it killed the drinker, possibly indicating a mistranslation, an odd quirk of language, or Nehekharan humor.

It was revealed that during the event of Nagash the Sorcerer, the spring was once the gift given to the mortals by Asaph and Geheb. It was a beautiful greenish oasis with pools of silvery water in different size, that is until Nagash being an asshole as usual, order his immortal servants to tainted the place with corpses and blood in order to deny his enemies from replenishment. Well even if the well wasn't tainted, every water source are damned in the end anyway when Nagash had ordered the Skaven to poison a lake, the source of all river water in Nehekhara.

Shifting Sands

• Ka-Sabar

Known as the Temple of Sorrow, formerly the City of Bronze, the city is hidden by the desert and covered in glyphs by beings "older than Nehekhara itself", meaning its likely an Old One site where the human race was first created. Ka-Sabarans were known for their great height and strength, coming in at 7 feet tall on average and being expert miners and smiths who wore elaborate armor over their skin which was already hard enough to repel arrows (so these guys are like the prototype for humans and Ogres with some leftover Dwarf mixed in). Their army was known as the Legion Of Bronze, and was lead by iron leonine Ushabti of Geheb. They were the first city to oppose Nagash, and their king Akhmen-hotep was his first great foe. Unable to win by tactics, Nagash resorted to trickery and granted Akhmen-hotep's brother Memnet immortality and rulership of Ka-Sabar in exchange for Akhmen-hotep's assassination which enabled Arkhan to destroy the Legion Of Bronze. The city was liberated by the victorious forces of Lahmizzash, but by that point had been rendered a ruin. Whether Ka-Sabar was ever rebuilt is unknown, although in Total War: WARHAMMER it is still the most important city of the Shifting Sands and is controlled by the Necrarchs.

The pyramid here belongs to King Khatep according to TW:W, although we don't know who King Khatep is; the only character we know of with that name is Grand Hierophant Khatep, who is the head of the Mortuary Cult and for sure was never a king. The local Necrotect Hemiunus who built Ka-Sabar un-survived the razing of the city, and given he was notorious for his efficiency via effective applications of the whip he's probably not going to be too merciful when he gets his bony fingers on Arkhan.

• Bhagar

Known as the Eternal Necropolis after Nagash's spell. Originally the people of Bhagar were desert raiders and barbarians, although after Settra subjugated them he chose to spare them and civilize them, forcing them to sworn a pact to their god Khsar to protect Settra's kingdom without fail. They retained their devotion to the horseback lifestyle even if they were no longer nomadic, which helped them keep the roads they had once preyed upon secure as they became the only route to the south from Khemri.

Their patron deity Khsar, god of the desert winds was a cruel deity that only gives cruel trial without a single rewards, except a rare horse breed (later known as the magnificent Arabyan stallions) being the only gift he ever gave. Basically Warhammer Set. According to the Nagash novel, Khsar has mortal chosen named the bride of Khsar. They are females with leonine yellow eye, born once in every generation, has the power to see a man's future and had the highest authority among the desert tribes. Ophiria being one of the chosen whom had helped Alcadizzar greatly during his reign and was also an aunt to the bride Alcadizzar had wed named Khalida. Ophiria was last seen at the Lahmia harbor, regrettably informed Alcadizzar about his demise and was never seen again.

Bhagar refused to bow to Nagash, and as a result Arkhan attacked the city and enslaved half the populace as well as killing almost all of their prized horses. The survivors fled as refugees to the rest of Nehekhara, spreading the word of Nagash's evil and directly causing the alliance which formed to kill Nagash (the first time). Eventually, those survivors made their way west and became the people of Araby, along with their surviving prize horses.

Alcadizzar never died and became a Tomb King (as far as we know), but his pyramid was located here since he was likely a king of the rebuilt Bhagar before being given rulership of the united Nehekhara. Players can restore it like any pyramid in Total War: WARHAMMER, and given that Settra was specifically said to have respected Alcadizzar upon being informed about what happened while he was dead, he most likely would have in any continuity, or not since Alcadizzar was too busy being bind to the stone of Mourkhain.

The closest we have about information of the current high ruler of Bhagar is that King Setep of Bhagar has raided the Border Princes in the past. End Times gave us Ramssus, "one of Bhagar's most famous kings" who's army is mostly made up of chariots. His own personal one is golden, and he leads the Golden Legion chariot corps. Behind them are the Desert Shrikes and the Al-Dru'dhafarr, the Wind that Bites. Presumably he has more in his army.

• Antoch

Technically not a Nehekharan city, just a city in Nehekhara. After the Bretonnians had finished their first Crusade against the Arabyans they built the fortress of Antoch along the Arabyan Coast (still counts as in the Shifting Sands), which became a resupply point for those wanting to travel to Lustria from the Old World. Eventually it was destroyed by the Lizardmen when they required a staff for its secondary function that had been stolen by Bretonnians as a trophy so the Lizzies could literally save the world from Chaos. Apparently, Antoch and the staff hadn't registered as important to the Tomb Kings or the Lizardmen prior. The fate of Antoch in most Warhammer timelines is unknown, but in Total War: WARHAMMER it has been conquered by Tomb Kings belonging to the Dune Kingdoms minor faction (which just represents the lesser kings that are not rebelling against Settra but not obeying him either).

• Plain of Tuskers

Very little is known about this area, but is included as part of Nehekhara in Total War: WARHAMMER in the Vortex campaign. Technically part of the Southlands, and home to the Lizardmen who created the Nehekharan culture (possibly intentionally, possibly by mistake). Cold Ones are almost extinct here, with the related species called Horned Ones which are rare in Lustria being common here instead. Only the younger Slann live here, with the low rates of Saurus available ensuring that all become Temple Guard. The Skinks are trained by the Saurus directly instead, making them superior fighters to Lustrian Skinks. The plans of the Old Ones that remain in the hands of the Southlands Lizardmen are nearly intact, giving them highly accurate predictions and making them far more amiable to races of Order, which is shown in their relationship to human explorers like the Arabyan Ibn Jellaba. In TW:W you claim the Plain as rightful Nehekharan clay, because the map says so!

Charnel Valley

The first Necrotect to work on the Valley was Pehenna in the First Dynasty. Since Settra ended the spookywar the Necrotects have moved back in to unfuck all the tombs and statues, which are alive and constantly patrol for enemies. The bones of defeated armies are left where they fall, stomped into the sand or into dust to mix with it as their killers resume their patrol. Although most of the city itself is in a different region, the palace of Quatar is technically the western entrance to the Valley.

• Mahrak

It is once known as the City of Hope, now is the City of Decay and is at the eastern end of the Charnel Valley (but is in the Devil’s Backbone region in TW:W).

According to the Nagash novel, Mahrak was where the Nehekharan religion was created. It is there the Nehekharans met the gods and signed the ancient treaty with them in order to receive their blessing, which stipulates that the Nehekharans must build temples for them as well as offer their eldest son and daughter to the temple as the priesthood.

When Nagash was but a high priest of Khemri, Mahrak used to hold the most power for being the Vatican of Nehekhara, as well as their priests' ability to use the gods blessing. Mahrak also has a fuck tons of temples dedicates to 12 gods, with each of these temples houses a bunch of Ushabti (not constructs, but god blessed warriors). At that time, Ushabti were but the priest king's bodyguards. In Mahrak however, their power is much stronger due to them being the presenters of their own god, with different powers depending on the god they serves. For examples, Geheb's Ushabti are living Sphinx, half-lion half-man monsters with deadly strength, speed and sharp claws; Djaf's Ushabti has the face of dark Coyote (like Anubis) with their claw nails leaking out constant coldness of death; Ptra's Ushabti are golden titan with loud frightening voice and strong bare hand that could break even blades. Not only that, Mahrak's ground is bounded by holy spirits with the power to create high temperature death field, as well as creates a force field that could block stone thrower shots.

To Nagash, destroying Mahrak is a must to complete his reign, for that place is the Nehekhara gods' stronghold, and it was the gods that had denied his throne. However, this place is also where Nagash were defeated. His army were suffering month after month of attrition for trying to breach its magical defences and its divine guardians. His army managed to formed a blockade around the city enough to prevent any resources like foods and medicines from entering the city, forcing its citizens and soldiers to starve and sick. Nagash finally managed to destroy its divine defences by killing Neferem, the daughter of Ptra bloodline, which removed every blessing Mahrak holds, and also rendered every priests and Ushabti powerless.

In later years after Nagash's defeat, Mahrak is pretty much a powerless city now that priests are rendered powerless thanks to Nagash. The priests there spending the remaining of their day either being salty, blaming Nagash or just picking their nose and doing nothing. Like the boomer they were, they reject any form of new hip improvement like the knowledge to use magics from the cool kid Alcadizzar, which making them an easy target to Nagash's second invasion.

King Tharruk ruled Mahrak sometime around the time of Neferata. His daughters took a trip to Lahmia but never returned, and he assumed them dead. After joining the other kings in destroying the city and driving out the vampire he found that they had become Handmaidens of Neferata and was forced to kill them himself. In life and death he's since been sworn enemy to Neferata, running his foes down in his chariot and caving their skulls in with the Flail of Mahrak which he still wields. His personal guard of halberd’n’board Guard bear the city colors of black and white.

Before he was retconned to be from Numas, the King Phar who was famous for not bending the knee to Settra was originally from Mahrak. He made Mahrak powerful by entirely ridding the region of greenskins and was not willing to submit to anyone who had achieved less. Only by Phar dying of old age was Settra able to claim the city, and Phar was given an honorable burial by Settra in recognition which is why he survives. Upon reawakening, one of the first to do so, Phar was so pissed that his descendants not only let the city fall repeatedly but also married into/are descended from his enemies that he destroyed all of them and erased all evidence of their existence, including razing their pyramids. Notably he left unrelated dynasties alone. Phar continues his wars against both greenskin and Settra. He also at one point wielded the Flail of Skulls.

We also have the Kings Nebwaneph, Obidiah, Omanhan III and Bhemrodesh as the defending rulers from End Times that protected the city from Nagash. Nebwaneph sided with Nagash, enslaving Omanhan III and causing the deaths of Obidiah and Bhemrodesh.

• Karag Orrud

A TW:W settlement in the midwest of the Valley. Sourced from a White Dwarf article that namedropped it as the location of a Skaven fortress, it is the starting location of Clan Mors. The only other lore is its name translating to “Red Cloud Mountain” from Khazalid, fitting that it is a volcano and implying it was once a Dwarf settlement. It boasts giant Tomb King statues nearby.

• Granite Massif

Even less lore. No source, appears in TW:W as the eastern mirror of Karag Orrud. Also has statues, and a small area with vegetation.

Devil's Backbone

• Lahmia

Also known as The City of the Dawn and later The Cursed City.

Little of the history of its kings is known before Lamasheptra, Lamashizzar and Neferata. Hatsushepra was an ancient Lahmian princess, as well as the high priestess of Ptra who weds the descendant if Settra in order to sustain the ancient treaty between the Nehekarhans and their gods.

In the Nagash novel, Lahmia is portrayed as an incredibly wealthy trade center due to its geographic location, with a port and sea routes to Cathay. Because of their dealings with the Cathayans, many of the priest-kings and nobles wear Cathayan silk and use many products from the East.

The royal bloodline is descended from Ptra himself, and upholds the divine treaty by marrying Settra's blood heir...until Nagash came and ruined everything. Neferem, Thutep's bride, was forcefully taken by Nagash the usurper. In order to acheive his goals, he desecrates her and murders her and her child, voiding the divine treaty and ending the many blessings, enchantments, and wards that protected and prospered Nehekara.

Nagash's insolence bought forth many key events to Lahmia that results in its destruction.

The first is Lamasheptra's dealing with the Cathayan, which he desperately tried to save his sister Neferem that he signed a risky trade agreement where he would offer many gold per year or his city (if he has no gold) in exchange of Cathayan's gunpowder weaponry.

The second, and the most well known one would be Lamashizzar's obsession with Nagash's dark art. One book of Nagash and an immobilized Nagash's lieutenant: Arkhan the Black were bought to Lahmia following the battle against Nagash at Mahrak.

Long story short: Neferata, Lamashizzar's sister wife was overwhelmed with Cathayan's debt and the incompetence of the men around her that she went straight for Arkhan's help to study magic, which she excel at due to her previous experience with potion making, Arkhan's sympathy to her as well as having common animosity towards Lamashizzar. Lamashizzar was abandoned after Neferata had won over his cabal and he act like a jealous jackass and tried to kill both Arkhan and Neferata, but ends up with Arkhan killed him then killed by Abhorash in return and Neferata becomes the first vampire after Arkhan's desperate ritual. With the new found knowledge, Neferata created new vials and gave them to the Cathayan as payment but ended up with Cathayan cancelled trading with them because undead corruption, but then trade again after a new emperor was enthroned. Neferata later was forced to duel her old love Khalida to prove she is not taint by Nagash's dark art and ended up killing Khalida, left a trauma on her mind that will never fade. The trauma caused her to question Nehekhara's future under Nagash's fear that she decided become the queen of Khemri by grooming a future king of Khemri for her. That didn't went too well of course and it led the the future king Alcadizzar escape and then went back to raze Lahmia afterwards. Since Neferata was too busy finding her fuck boy, Lahmia was poor as fuck with shitty military by the time Alcadizzar invaded and is only barely hanging on in the battle due to the vampire's inhuman fighting ability and their zombie summons.

After Lahmia was razed, it became a bandit infested ruin. The bandits there were then killed by Nagash's new invasion forces led by Arkhan and W'soran, which it was filled with skeletons for a while until Alcadizzar and many other armies of priest kings kick their asses back to Nagashizzar.

After Nagash fucked Nehekhara dry, Lahmia remained untouched as a forgotten ruined and a cursed city, a shadow to its former self.

• Lybaras

Also known as the City of Scholars

Its patron god is Tahoth, an Ibis headed god of knowledge and learning. Ironically, he wasn't worshiped by Khalida despite being the Queen of Lybaras, probably has to do with her bloodline being originated from Lahmia, whose patron god is Asaph.

According to the Nagash novel, the city's economy thrive on its academies (collegiums) and craftsman rather than conquest and raiding. It's nobles are more interesting in buying scrolls and strange tools rather than jewels and fine clothing. Between their nobles and slaves, it is difficult to tell them apart since they wore the same clothing (kilt, cape and leather sandals) with the difference being the nobles always carrying metal or glass bauble trinkets wherever they went. Their god blessed warriors (Ushabti) has the least "blessed changes" in physical appearance compared to other cities', except their eyes which are luminous grey that could observe and catch anything within its sights.

Although the Lybaran were not known for their fighting prowess, they makes it up by creating lots and lots of siege engine and war machines using their well known knowledge. They also use they knowledge to create a functioning steampunk airship, so take that Dwarf! whose creation is umgak now?

They were also close allies with Rasetra.

Beka is the name of the most famous local Necrotect due to his work on Khalida's tomb.

King Hassep was one of the first rulers of Lybaras, and was a vassal of Settra during the first unification of the First Dynasty. After waking as a Tomb King he swore allegiance to Khalida instead, serving as her top general.

Hilariously in Gotrek & Felix - The Serpent Queen, there is a Dwarfen Tomb King by the name Rhupesh VII, aka Ox of the Mountain and Tiger of the High Walls, Bearded Scion of Serpent and Ox, Adpoted son of Asaph. According to his background, he was adopted by a nameless Queen of Lybaras (hints about him being a Dwarf was a tablet accompanied him that was written in Dwarfen rune, which the Nehekharan could not read, obviously) who found him by the reed (Moses style!). Since the Queen wasn't able to give birth, he was adopted and eventually become a king. Although he is short due to being a Dwarf, Nehekharan thought of it but a trade off with his incredible strength, and thus never suspected him being other species (or perhaps not wanted to speak out against the king and risk against his "grudging" wraith?). Under his reign, Rhupesh demonstrated his usual Dwarfen trademark abilities of being a craftsman (the wall he had constructed stood even to this day, his pyramid were the largest in Lybara (definitely not Settra's, of course)), hating Greenskins (in life, he mainly wage war against Greenskins in Southland, proving that Greenskin hatred is a Dwarf's genetically predisposed trait) and being a master of defensive warfare (he could never lose if he is fighting on his wall). On top of it all, he sports a tightly curled and splayer beard (which remained even after his death), as well as Dwarfen ascent (he pronounced Orcs as "Urks"). He was eventually felled in the War of Two Thousand Arrows and was entombed like the rest of Tomb Kings. Also like the Tomb Kings, he was awakened after Nagash's necromancy fuckery. Unlike other Tomb Kings however, he remained cool headed and did not fight other dynasties (since kin slaying and in fighting is Umgi thing.) but rejects to be Khalida's servant and went to sleep in his pyramid. He was eventually called upon again by Khalida to kill some Vampire fucks, which he did with a style using his chariot, which is something a Dwarf would never do, but is not like he was raised to be a proper Dawi, right?

Crater Of The Walking Dead

• Rasetra

A settlement near Lybaras. Built during the reign of King Rakhash of the second dynasty as a bulwak against the Lizardmens. The city was conquered by King Khetep in the third dynasty, Nagash's daddy, where it was once again fortified in order to reinforce their Lybaras ally from Lizardmen's attack. During the war against the Lizardmen, Khetep was caught a high fever, that Nagash ended up taking over the leadership, killed the Lizardmen's cold-blood leader and ruled the settlement for 2 months until Khetep is cured. Fear the gods's wrath for desecrate the ancient promise as well as letting other kings from knowing his eldest son had ruled a city like kings (treaty with the gods demands the eldest to be offer to the priests) that he immediately sent Nagash to the Mortuary Cult, as well as prevent his armies from speaking of Nagash's ruling of Rasetra in detail, but Nagash was portrayed as a great warrior in the history record none the less.

The city was given to one of Khetep's general, a nobleman by the name Ur-Amnet, who then enthroned his son: Mukhtail as the first king of Rasetra, where the city flourish while suffering under the constant attacks of the Lizardmen. Their inheritance of the city was not mere coincidence however, for they have the blood of Settra flowing in their vein. Under Neferata's order, Ushoran's information network dug deep into the Rastrian royal bloodline, and discovered the nobleman was in fact a descendant of Hapt-amn-koreb, who was a great warrior and Master of Horse to the mighty King Nemuret (who was probably a Khemri king but had no record in any rulebook and was only mentioned in the novel), who is also a descendant to Amenophis, the disgraced fifth son of Settra.

During Nagash's reign, his declaration of war against the gods reach the ears of every other kings. Rakh-amn-hotep, the priest king of Rasetra at that time allied with Lybaras and attacked Nagash. Due to the constant warfare against the Lizardmens in the jungle climates, the soldiers of Rasetra are known for immune to fatigue while fighting in raining, jungle climates as well as wearing Lizardmen skin armor that provides great defenses and bizarre fashion to its army, but having adapt to only fighting in the Jungles has making them ineffective when fighting in dry, dessert climate, making them easily thirst and tired under high temperature. They are also known for hiring Lizardmen (with the sighting of at least one THUNDER LIZARD is confirmed in the war against Nagash) as mercenaries as well as using cold-ones for their chariots. The alliance was short lived after Nagash's defeat that the city ended up fight its former comrade while suffering massive poverty due to the massive amount of resources used during the war. King Alkharad eventually conquered the city and then inherited by King Alcadizaar of the sixth dynasty after that. In the retelling (or retcon), at the time. After Nagash's foul play and evil undead magic to control the entire continent, it turns into a wasteland and awoke the previous rulers just like every other city. The city was eventually conquered by the awoke Settra.

World's Edge Mountains

• Karak Zorn: According to an admittedly pretty old map of the Warhammer World back from 6th edition, this almost mythical Dwarfen hold was located somewhat east of Ka-Sabar in the southernmost part of the World'd Edge Mountains. Alledged to be the second-oldest Dwarfen Hold after Karaz-a-Karak and so old and remote that only a few Dawi even believe it exists. Although numerous Dwarfen expeditions into the south tried to find it, none of them were successful. However, the fact that its very location is included in canon map material, suggests that Karak Zorn is actually very real and well.

The Great Desert Of Araby/The Coast Of Araby/Land Of The Dervishes/Shifting Sands

Technically occupied by mortal humans today, the Arabyans are the Warhammer Middle Eastern expies (since Orcs & Goblins and Dwarfs occupy the actual Warhammer Middle East). They used to be ruled by the Nehekharans and live in continual danger of a king deciding to expand into the area (among the many, MANY other threats such as Mahtmasi and the Crusades of Bretonnia, to say nothing of the monsters and Daemons). Araby has its own page, so only information relevant to Nehekhara will be relayed. As stated above the euphemism of "desert tribes" and "desert raiders" used elsewhere originally referred to the ancestors of the Arabyans who were civilized by Nehekhara then fled Nagash's apocalypse to form their own empire in the west, and in the modern day it refers to the tribes that fight against the modern day Arabyans.

• Bel-Aliad

Known as the City Of Spices during the era of Nehekhara when it was founded, now the City Of Dust. Nagash destroyed it during the war between Nehekhara and his undead, and it was eventually settled by the fledgling Arabyan civilization and became their capital. Arkhan later destroyed it again. Its rumored to be the location of great treasures, but the living have been unable to verify it and so far no Tomb King has risen up to claim the city. The local Necrotect (who survives and can be awakened in Total War: Warhammer) Imhetop was known as the "First Hammer" of the city and all the buildings (that remain) still bear his mark (this is probably the single most accurate reference to the real Imhotep in fiction).

Border Princes/The Badlands

Lore from the WFRP campaign Lure Of The Liche Lord reveals that the king Amenemhetum the Great had intended to conqueor the lands far to the north of Nehekhara. The regions now known as the Badlands and Border Princes were known as the Frontier Principalities to Nehekhara during this time for the eventual goal of establishing new kingdoms. A vicious but successful campaign was launched against human barbarians (ancestors to Sigmar's people before they were driven north) and the greenskins led by a Khemrian nobleman related distantly to Settra named Karitamen and a priest named Tetrahon who had learned Necromancy secretly. Note that while the actual lore of the city is WFRP, its still shown as being the former territory of Nehekhara in Army Books. So even if you only count those as canon, they owned something up here.

• The Death Scarab

The city established by Karitamen, sharing his nickname. Located somewhere in what is now the Border Princes, with its territory covering the western half of the Badlands. Determined to bring honor to his recently diseased parents as well as his famous ancestor, he became a wise king who carefully considered problems from all angles before acting, listening to Tetrahon as well as architects, craftsmen, and even commoners. The city quickly rose in splendor and influence until disasters and famine humbled it, forcing king Karitamen to lead another campaign against invading barbarians and Orcs. He turned his concerns towards the longterm survival of Death Scarab, largely due to his own children dying young and not trusting any of his advisors with the massive responsibility. He and Tetrahon began to advance their knowledge of magic and ritual together, with actual living immortality or at least a better assurance of resurrection with his immortal body both being out of reach. As he aged he obsessed more and more with immortality and began to make rash decisions and neglect his duties, causing unrest which he was quick and harsh to correct. Assassination attempts grew more common, but the advanced magic of the now Priest-King Karitamen had made him almost immortal. Eventually a grand conspiracy was formed by all the nobility of Death Scarab, revolving around a magic dagger created by a rogue Necromancer that would kill any being by piercing magical protection and also binding the soul directly to the body, ensuring there would be no side trip to the afterlife he could return from. After his death the loyal subjects begged to be buried with him, and in recognition of his former greatness he was granted all the same ceremony and riches in his burial chamber. He was the first true Tomb King given he awoke with his mind intact when the then-living Nagash first cast a spell to resurrect the dead while he sat falsely on the throne of Khemri. But he found he was unable to leave his tomb. Returning to his sarcophagus and ignoring the decayed state of his body, he focused his magic on extending his will beyond the walls of his tomb. He manipulated events throughout the history of the Badlands, Nehekhara, and beyond from this state of unmoving concentration. First killing all the descendants of those who had conspired against him before allowing his mind to fade into rest. Awakened by Nagash's spell that resurrected the rest of the Tomb Kings, he sat up and extended his consciousness again to find that everything had changed; the descendants of the barbarians had left then returned, finding nothing left from the time of the Death Scarab with new cities of the Border Princes built on his former territory. Despite the city itself being gone and having a small population of undead at his command, he has many living followers as he sends visions, thoughts, and dreams to the living as his agents spread throughout the world.

The only remaining part of Death Scarab is the tomb of Death Scarab himself, not a proper pyramid but instead a temple built into the mountains. His minions and the local monsters keep the riff raff away, and he lures adventurers to plunder the tomb in hopes they will unseal him. On the inside of the tomb are the runes and images that empowered the dagger which killed him, keeping him contained in his burial chamber although his undead servants could travel beyond it. Later on Border Prince rules had additional runes placed around his tomb, keeping all undead inside. He strongly resents the Border Prince interlopers into his lands, and as with most beings HATES the greenskins, but his actual ire towards the rulers differs; two of them he's somewhat fond of, so they likely have a future as skeletal servants ahead of them. The actual citizens he sees as his own subjects that he is eager to return to. There is a Chaos cult on the former site of his city that is thriving, which he most seeks to eradicate but is also the most careful about. Long ago a looter entered his tomb and died there, leaving two Chaos-tainted objects. He's keen to ditch them, and ensure nothing similar happens again.

Regions and Areas of the Warhammer World
Areas of The Old World:	The Empire of Man - Bretonnia - Albion - Estalia - Tilea - Kislev - Norsca - Border Princes - Worlds Edge Mountains - Karak Eight-Peaks
Areas of The New World:	Naggaroth - Lustria
Areas of The Eastern Lands:	Cathay - Nippon - Ogre Kingdoms - Dark Lands - Kingdoms of Ind - Khuresh - Eastern Steppes
Areas of The Southlands:	Nehekhara - Araby - Badlands - Marshes of Madness
Other Areas of the world:	Ulthuan - Athel Loren - Chaos Wastes - Skavenblight - Lost Isles of Elithis
Main bodies of Water:	The Great Ocean - The Far Sea - The Sea of Dread - Inner Sea of Ulthuan