Khemalla
Lady Khemalla of Lahmia is an ancient vampire of the Lahmian Sisterhood [1] although she is actually Arabyian. [3a]
She acts on behalf of the Sisterhood by elminating other vampires who may be a threat to her queens plans. [2]
History
She is said to have escaped the fall of Lahmia and if true would make her one of the oldest vampires. [2]
In -323 IC she and Layla travelled with a number of Wights raised by Morath to Crookback Mountain which had been taken from the Skaven by Vorag Bloodytooth. [3a] They brought news that Neferata had taken Silver Pinnacle and was standing against Ushoran. [3b]
After W'soran fled from the siege of Mourkain, [3c] Layla, Iona and Khemalla joined with Melkhoir and Iskar of Clan Skyre to try and capture him. [3d] He however brought down an avalanche on them all as he unleashed his magic. [3e]
She caught up with him again in -223 IC where he was apparently killed by Melkhoir who agreed to serve Neferata and the Sisterhood by refining their knowledge of Necromancy. [3f]
As she grew older, she desired to gaze upon her face once more, commissioning some of the best painters in the world to create a masterpiece and rewarding those who pleased her with a draught of her own blood. This in turn would gift them with an unnaturally long life. These included: Bardova, the Chaos tainted Estalian Dari, the legendary da Venzio, Giovanni Gottio and Litto. [1]
Children in Darkness
She created a number of vampires, but was reluctant to do so for true artists, for as she herself noted the transformation tended to remove creativity. [1]
- Mariato: A favourite of Khemalla who in threatening Giovanni Gottio during his work, lost her favour and his life. [1]
Names
Like many ancient vampires she has been known by many names: Eleanor la Voisine, Lady Lenore, the Vampire Mistress of Mousillon, Katrina the Bloody, the Countess Karmilla and Mirkalla von Leicheberg. [2]
Quotes
If you know what I am, then you must understand that it has been many years since I have gazed upon my own face in the glass of any mirror. To never again see the features of your reflection, to live so long that you perhaps forget the image of your own face, can you begin to imagine what that might be like mortal? Is it any wonder that so many of my kind give themselves fully over to madness and cruelty when they have nothing left to reminds themselves of their own humanity? I can only see myself through the eyes of others, and so I choose to do so only through the greatest artists of each age.
~Khemalla to Giovanni Gottio .[1] |
Sources
- 1: Inferno Magazine Issue 21 Portrait of my Undying Lady by Gordon Rennie
- 2: Night's Dark Masters, pg. 55
- 3: Master of Death (novel)