Mahrak

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Mahrak, the City of the Gods, is a city in Nehekhara. [3b]

It was originally known as the City of Hope and served as the home of the Hieratic Council of Nehekara.[3b]

Defences

When Nagash attacked the city, he found that the wards of the city were still formidable, despite his corruption of the Covenant with the Gods. As his warriors approached the walls they were assaulted by a hail of meteors and the payloads of the Screaming Skull Catapult’s burst apart as they streaked through the clouds. Finally, a group of Sphinx's slaughtered anything that drew close. [3e]

Location

It is located on the eastern side of the Worlds Edge Mountains and the only way to reach it is via the Charnel Valley. It is quite close to the end of the valley and as such the armies of Mahrak have been known to use the valley to set up devastating ambushes.

History

The gods were first encountered near where the city was later built. [3a] It began as twelve temples to the greater gods and a palace where all of the tribes could come together to worship on holy days but soon a city grew up around these holy structures. [3d]

It is said that the greatest king of Mahrak, Phar, held out against Settra's army by ambushing it in the valley. His troops were seasoned after fighting off countless Orcs and Goblins, clearing the region for the good of his city. Only after Phar died could Settra take Mahrak.[1b]

When Nagash rose in power, the Council urged restraint and to wait for the gods to punish him, but when he killed thousands of acolytes and priests they forged an alliance with Lybaras and Rasetra against him, using their vast wealth to finance the campaign. [3b] Following the 2nd Battle at the Springs of Eternal Life, the remnants of the armies of Lybaras and Rasetra retreated to the city pursued by Nagash, Nebunefer sent them home to rebuild their armies whilst they occupied the attention of the enemy. [3c]

The Siege of Mahrak began in -1744 IC, with Bone Giants, Immortals and cavalry charged across the wards but ran into a billowing wall of dust from whichs everal Sphinx emerged to tear apart the Bone Giants apart - As Nagash saw his remaining infantry continue to suffer under the meteor bombardment and the Sphinxes awaiting them, he was forced to order a retreat. [1a]

For the next four years, Nagsh uses all his mundane resources and magic to try and breach the city but fails. In -1740 IC King Lamashizzar arrives with a large army to meet with Nagash, shortly after Nebunefer travels to the seige camp and demands that Nagash surrender, telling him that as long as the covenant exists, the city will not fall - Nagash kills him as news comes that the armies of Lybaras and Rasetra were approaching. [1c]

Nagash orders Neferem to open the gates of the city, following behind with a horde of the dead. As she crosses the wards, even the Spinxes fled before her until finally a lightning bolt incinerated her, turning her into dust on the wind but also shattering both the covenant and the defensive wards. Nagash advanced into Mahrak, slaying the defending Ushabti through weight of numbers. [1c]

Nagash was alerted to the betrayal of the Numasi as he approached final victory in the city - his forces scattered throughout Mahrak, he called upon the power of the Black Pyramid to begin to raise the dead within Mahrak. Amn-nasir, having previously reached an accord with Lamashizzar now attacked Nagash's artillery and camp as the Lahmian army moved towards Mahrak itself. The formidable power of 2000 Dragon-men were now unleashed against the dead, destroying whole companies and even striking down Nagash himself. The Siege was over. [1c]

In -1597 IC after the death of her husband, Queen Neferata of Lahmia pledged to help rebuild the city at a council of the rulers of Nehekhara, offering 10,000 talents of gold every year until the work was completed. King Naeem and the priests of the city were overjoyed. [4a]

The family of King Tharruk travelled to Lahmia but never returned. [6a]

When in -1200 IC, Alcadizzar united the cities against Lahmia, 5000 Warrior Priests of the Hurusanni join the Siege of Lahmia. [3a]

Nagash sent a vast army against Nehekhara in -1163 IC and as part of the grand strategy created for this very moment, Mahrak was supposed to evacuate. [5b] However they stood defiant, their walls manned by thousands of white-robed and devoted warriors. Arkhan deployed his army to surround the entire city, spreading their forces thin and then launched attacks throughout the day before the main assault began at sunset. The city held out until nightfall the next day, but then the dead broke through and killed every living thing, and burned the temples. [5c]

During the battle against Nagash under Alcadizaar, the city provided their famed Jackal Squadron.

After the machinations of Nagash, Phar was one of the first to rise from his tomb. He was infuriated to find his descendants had bowed to Khemri and ordered the mummies of the other Kings of Mahrak dragged out and destroyed. He remains the only king of Mahrak now, defying the will of Settra whenever he can.

When King Ushtep of Rasetra and King Imanotep of Mahrak fought in a giant crater between the two cities they discovered that they were too well matched and both blamed the gods for the joyless experience. Unfortunately for them they spoke their words before a half buried Hierotitan, transporting their complaints to the gods themselves. Angered, the gods cursed the kings to wage endless war upon each other and for 3000 years they have fought, a hundred hierotitans gathered on the crater's edge to watch, the gods themselves seeing through their eyes. [2a]

Phar recently fought a major battle against the Orcs, destroying their army and killing their warboss and taking its head to add to his Flail of Skulls. [1a]

Locations

  • Temple of Asaph: Famed for its perfumed gardens. [3d]
  • Temple of Djaf:: Low but massive complex of black marble. [3d]
  • Temple of Geheb: A huge ziggurat with a fire atop it first lit in -2144 IC. [3d]
  • Temple to Khsar: A field of black obelisks with gold silver and bronze ornaments. [3d]
  • Temple of Usirian: Ivory tower in the midst of a sandstone labyrinth. [3d]
  • The Palace of the Gods: Seat of the Hieratic Council, behind it is a vast pyramid some 200ft high surmounted by a enormous gold disk reflecting Ptra's glory. At its heart in a walled plaza is the Khept-am-shepret, the Sundered Stone. [3d]

Military

They were famous for the power and strength of their Warrior Priests. [3b]

Notable

Gallery

The necropolises of the Tomb Kings.
Khemri - Numas - Zandri - Bhagar- Beremas - Quatar - Rasetra - Mahrak - Lybaras - Lahmia

Sources

Tomb Kings
Units Asp Bone Construct - Bone Giant - Carrion - Casket of Souls - Dust Goblin - Hierotitan - Icon Bearer - Khemric Titan - Liche High Priest - Liche Priest - Necropolis Knight - Necrosphinx - Necrotect - Screaming Skull Catapult - Sepulchral Stalker - Skeleton Archer - Skeleton Chariot - Skeleton Horsemen - Skeleton Warrior - Tomb Guard - Tomb Herald - Tomb King - Tomb Prince - Tomb Scorpion - Tomb Swarm - Ushabti - Warsphinx
Characters Ahtaf I - Ahtaf II - Aiyah - Aldrhamar - Akhmen-Hotep - Alcadizaar - Alkharad - Alkhazzar I - Alkhazzar II - Amanhotep - Amenemhetum - Amn-nasir - Amonkhaf - Amunet - Ankhat - Antarhak - Apophas - Arkhan - Behedesh - Behedesh II - Cavetta - Dhekhesh - Dread King - Hapusneb - Hassep - Hatsushepra - Hekesh - Hekhmenukep - Imrathepis - Kaseph - Khalida Neferher - Kharnut - Khatep - Khenteka - Khenti - Khepra - Khesek - Khetep - Khuftah - Khutef - Lahkashaz - Lahmizzar - Lahmizzash - Lakhashar - Lamasheptra - Lamashizzar - Memnet - Nagash - Nebunefer - Neferem - Neferata - Nehek - Nekhef I - Nekaph - Nekhesh - Nemuhareb - Pakh-amn - Phar - Pharakh - Ptar - Raamket - Rahmohtep - Rakaph I - Rakaph II - Rakaph III - Rakh-amn-hotep - Rakhash - Rakphlotok - Ramhotep - Rasut - Sehenesmet - Sekhef - Setep - Settra - Settuneb - Shahid ben Alcazzar - Shepret - Sofer - Suseb -Tephret - Tharruk - Thutep - Tutankhanut - Ubaid - Utep - Wakhaf - Zakash
Cities Bhagar - Ka-Sabar - Khemri - Lahmia - Lybaras - Mahrak - Numas - Quatar - Rasetra - Zandri
Images - Magic Items - Miniatures - Vehicles