Tomb Kings
Tomb Kings are the ancient and long-dead rulers of the land of Nehekhara. There have been countless kings during the long history of that ancient land. Each city was ruled by a separate dynasty and these were ousted from power and replaced by others over the span of centuries. The Tomb Kings regularly waged war upon each other to spread their influence over the entire land of Nehekhara. Greatest of all the kings were those of Khemri, which was the largest and most proud of the ancient cities. It became established early on that whoever ruled in Khemri was the mightiest king in Nehekhara, to whom the other kings would pledge allegiance and offer tribute. All the kings shared the same lust for worldly wealth and power, and the same ambition to defy death. To this end they founded the Mortuary Cult in order to reawaken them after death. They directed the building of great pyramids surrounded by extensive necopoli as strongholds for all eternity, and ordered that they be mummified and entombed within to preserve their physical bodies for all time. The Tomb Kings are mummified corpses awakened and inhabited by their undying spirits. Their skeletal bodies are dried husks, preserved with pitch and wrapped in bandages inscribed with magical incantations. Bedecked in gleaming crowns and the regalia of kingship, they retain all the majesty that they exuded while alive. Amulets and talismans of gold inset with precious stones hand around their necks, and they often wear the breastplate of a military commander strapped over their death-shroud wrappings. Entombed within the same deep chamber is their kingly chariot and steeds, ready for them to ride forth from the tomb shaft into the light of day. Revived by the rituals of their priests, the Tomb Kings awake from their death-sleep possessing all the ambition and craving for power that they had in life and are bent on restoring their ancient realms. If this means the reconquest of former wide dominions then this shall be done, for the Tomb King's army, loyal even in death, rises from its rest at his call and is ready to march at his side once again. Tomb Princes are the sons of the Tomb Kings. Each of the kings of ancient Nehekhara kept extensive harems and so had many sons. Only one of these princes of the blood could succeed his father to the throne. As for the others, some died heroically in battle, and their bodies were brought home to be mummified and entombed in a place within the king's pyramid, as befitted captains of high rank. There they await in the sleep of death, ready to recommence their military duties at the time of their awakening. Ohters lived on to serve their brother as officers and were thus entombed in his pyramid to continue to serve him after death. The Tomb Princes rest in their vaults beside the great tomb chamber of their sovereign in a eternal council of war, waiting for the moment of awakening when they shall resume command of their contingents. Those few who, through jealousy or intrigue, attempted to usurp the throne were denied the privilege of mummification and their bones were thrown to the carrion on the desert.
Liches Priests
In their desire to defy death, the kings of Nehekhara founded the Mortuary Cult and appointed the priesthood, of which the Liche Priests are all that remain. The priest were commanded to study the arts of mummification and communion with the gods. Steadily, over many centuries, the priests learned how to preserve a corpse from decay until the art of mummification had become very elaborate. They also devised a vast lore of incantations and rituals intended to enable the dead king, as well as his entire court and army, to be awakened from death. The first generations of priests, whose skills and knowledge were rudimentary, died after prolonging their own lives far beyond their natural span. They passed on their knowledge to the next generation of priests who exceeded them in wisdom and expertise. In this way, their knowledge accumulated until the fifth generation of priests who did not die, through their bodies slowly withered away until they were little more than living corpses. Thus the entire priesthood became the Liche Priests, able to officiate the Mortuary Cult of their king in perpetuity, and they held great power in the land. Indeed, they were the only subjects of the king who could not be executed, since he depended on their knowledge and loyalty in order to live beyond his own death. In this way the priesthood became a formidable power behind the throne. Each necropolis with the pyramid of the Tomb King at its core, has a temple dedicated to the king's Mortuary Cult. Here resides the Liche High Priests served by many lesser priests. Only the High Priests have been initiated into the deepest secrets of the cult. The priests have many duties to perform in the necropolis apart from the Ritual of Awakening, including such tasks as renewing the seals upon the portals of the tomb vaults, remaking inscriptions which have become eroded by wind blown sand, determining the moment of awakening and consulting the spirit of the Tomb King by means of oracles. They continue to perform these duties for centuries because they cannot die a natural death. Little more than long decayed corpses, their dry, wizened skin, resembling that of a mummy, is stretched like old parchment over their brittle skeleton.
Skeleton Soldiers
(Infantry, light cavalry and heavy cavalry pic and description. There is no pic for archers so i ll use the uper side of the second picture...)
The mighty armies of the Tomb Kings, made up of regiment after regiment of valiant soldiers, swore an oath of loyalty before the gods to serve the king beyond death. Thus the bones of those soldiers who perished in battle were collected from the field of war and interred in the great tomb pits of the king's necropolis. Those who yet lived after their lord had died marches as if on a victory parade to the necropolis upon the day of the king's entombment. Here they stood in their regiments, ready for death. Arranged before the pyramid of their king in ranks, icons held proudly, they entombed alive. No soldier flinched as the great stones were heaved into position blocking out the light of the sun. Bravely they stood to attention as the sand was poured into the tomb pits until the tops of their standard poles disappeared from sight. There they remain until the trumpet call of the Liche Priests awakens them and they once again heed the orders of their commanders. These skeletal soldiers fight in the same manner that they did when living. Highly disciplined in life, the foot soldiers of the Tombe Kings fight in highly organised ranks, turning and advancing in perfect unison. Archers unleash their arrows in great clouds that darken the sky, blessed by the Asp Goddess so that they seek out their foes with unerring accuracy. Mounted on the skeletal remains of their once proud steeds, regiments of cavalry race across the open plains to engage their foes, while other, more lightly armoured horsemen scout out the movements of the enemy, and harrass their flanks. These soldiers of the Tomb Kings, loyal for all eternity, continue to practise their ways of war as they did in centuries long past.
Skeletal Chariots
The pride of a Tomb King's army are his charioteers. Nehekhara was the first great civilisation of Mankind, and the place where Men first used horse and chariot in battle. The ancient armies of Nehekhara included strong forces of swift, lightly built chariots usually drawn by a pair of horses. These fought in massed units and were considered the elite of the army, and only the nobility were permitted to fight as charioteers. This was considered a great accomplishment, for in ancient Nehekhara horses has only recently beedn bred as beasts of war. These elite chariot squadrons were entombed beside the pyramids to the Tomb Kings of Nehekhara, ready to serve their lords upon their awakening, and trample over their foes as they had done in his mortal reign. Admired and respected foes when they were alive, the skeletal charioteers of the Tomb Kings riding to battle strike fear in the hearts of all who oppose them.
Tomb Guard
The bravest and best soldiers serving the Tomb King acted as his personal bodyguards and palace guards during their lifetime. In respect of this role, they were honoured with the privilege of sharing his immortality and buried close to their king within the regal pyramid itself. Just as they guarded the palace in life, so now they guard the inner sanctum of the necropolis. The prospectof sharing in the immortality of their king and serving him for all time inspired these soldiers to heroic acts of bravery. They would die where they stood rather than retreat, and would charge against the most hopeless odds. Time and again this would bring victory to the king's army and earn a place in his pyramid for the fallen. Tomb Guard were also honoured with partial mummification, through this was nowhere near as elaborate as the ceremonies of preparation which the Tomb Kings and Princes underwent. The Tomb Guard were entombed with the finest armour and weapons, as well as gold decorations proclaiming their bravery and devotion. They rest in their sarcophagi, standing upright around the royal tomb chamber. Here they stand to attention as palace guards until the time comes when they are again needed. If intruders violate the tomb, they will awaken and defend their lord. If the king awakens ready to go forth to conquer and trample the lands of the living beneath his chariot, they arise and form up at his side. Just as the Romb Guard were once the elite warriors of the Tomb Kings, the Icon Bearer was his trusted of warriors was given the honour of carrying the king's personal icon to battle. The Icon Bearer was also the envoy and herald of the Tomb King, given the duty of bearing his lord's commands to distant parts of the realm and dispense justice in the king's name. Often disputes between Tomb Kings of different cities would be settled by a ritual duel between their nominated champions, and the Icon Bearer of then fulfilled this role.
Ushabti
Carved into the likeness of the many gods and goddesses of Nehekhara, the Ushabti stand as guardian statues around the perimeter of the great pyramids of the Tomb Kings. Standing three times the height of a man, they are imposing monuments, and all who pass beneath their shadows tremble. In times of need, the Liche Priests imbue the Ushabti with tremendous power through complex incantations and charms. As the chants are completed, the Ushabti step from their plinths and daises, silent and ready to be directed to war. In ancient times, the warriors of Nehekhara took great strenght from the fact that the Ushabti fought with them, for who could not be inspired by the physical representations of the gods marching into battle by their sides!
Bone Giant
In ancient times, before the rise of the Mortuary Cult, many were the legends of mighty beings of immense stature walking the land and smiting all who stood in their path. As the knowledge and skill of the priesthood grew, they turned their talents towards recreating a being of the size and power that the legends spoke of, for who could face such a creation in battle? Thus the first Bone Giants were painstakingly crafted, formed from all manner of elements and held together by the powerful incantations of the Liche Priests. Made to resemble an immense warrior of Nehekhara, the Bone Giant is armed with traditional weapons and armour on a mighty scale. It is a rare thing to create a new Bone Giant, and most of those that are at times seen marching to battle alongside the Tomb King's armies have been in existence for thousands of years. If one of the constructs is destroyed, its sacred pieces are gathered up and used to recreate it. Outside the ancient cities of Nehekhara, Bone Giants stand as motionless sentinels, guarding important valley entrances and gateways. Such power is instilled in the Bone Giants that they do not need the incantations of the Liche Priests to prompt them into wakefulness, and will react immediately to the presence of unwelcome strangers, striding relentlessly towards them, smashing them into the sand with their heavy weapons. Bone Giants are massive, imposing creations, inspiring dread in the hearts of the enemy. A charging Bone Giant is a terrifying sight to behold, smashing into the enemy and sending them flying with powerful blows.
Sreaming Skull Catapult
(Sorry, no picture is available and i tried all Tomb Kings armybooks editions...)
It is said that Behedesh, King of Zandri, claimed to have invented this type of catapult and ordered them to be constructed. He used these in his many wars and had them mounted on this numerous war galleys, which gave him domination of the Great River Mortis during his mortal lifetime. When he had extended his rule along the wastern bank of the river, but had yet to subdue the kings and rebels encamped on the eastern bank, he gathered a great many catapults together and hurled over the skulls of his decapitated enemies who haf been captured in earlier battles. This demoralised his opponents and caused their army to lose heart when the final onslaught came. The kings wished to repeat this tactic agains against other, more redoubtable enemies. Therefore he instructed the priest to devise a spell to be written on the skulls of decapitated rebels in hieroglyphic signs that would make the enemy tremble with fear. This the priest demonstrated to the king. They enchanted the skulls so that they screamed hideously as they were hurled through the air. It was a very death scream of the rebel at this moment of execution. The skulls were also daubed in resins that burst into eerie, ethereal flames as they flew. The king was indeed impressed and decreed that henceforth the heads of all rebels would be reserved for these catapults.When the king was approaching death, he gave instructions that the catapults should be entombed as an essential part of his necropolis army, since they had brought him more than one victory in life and he expected them to do so again beyond death. The successors of Behedesh followed his exemple. Centuries later, other kings who extended their rule over Zandri ransacked the necropolis and found the burial pits containing the catapults. These were looted and taken away for reburial in other necropoli, together with scrolls containing incantations of awakening and hieroglyhs of enchantement to be inscribed on the skulls.
Tomb King submod
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(Turambar and death)
-artmanphil
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Originally Posted by Turambar and death
! good work 
Re: Tomb King submod
Re: Tomb King submod- Version 0.7 RELEASED!!!
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