The Red Army Of Nehekhara

[Disc10]

As you might have guessed (and/or feared), I was throwing some ideas around for my armies fluff in my head and the idea of commie Tomb Kings popped up, and it just sort of stuck. I told my friends this idea and they all loved it, so I thought it was time to actually write it up somewhere. May as well be here!

I'll start off with a general story of how the army came to be, and for reasons that will become apparent later, I will write up a story on more interesting and unique additions to the army, and how they were acquired. I also plan to further the story based on the battles I have (so hopefully not too many defeats then!). Are you sitting comfortably? Tough, I'm starting anyway.

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King Karlentep knelt on the hot desert sand, the blazing sun beating down upon him. By his sides two Tomb Guard stood, their gold armour shining brightly in the light, halberds held high. Directly in front of him, a large figure loomed over the king. He brandished a large and highly ornate sword, and was hooded so his face could not be seen. Surrounding them was a vast crowd, bustled together but keeping very quiet. Several more Tomb Guard stood around the perimeter of the crowd to keep order. Sat high above the crowd, King Settra himself oversaw the events that were to unfold.
"Karlentep, traitor of Nehekhara, you have watched your city razed to the ground and engulfed by the desert sands. Your followers have either joined me in servitude or have died by my blade. Now it is time for your final punishment."
Settra stood, and held up his hand.
"Karlenthep, for leading an army against me, for seeking to undo the union of our great kingdom, and for encouraging the lower classes to question the authority of the Nobility, I sentence you to death and for your remains to be thrown the the desert sands! Let this be a lesson to you all!" Settra bellowed to the huddled masses. "No soldier, no worker and certainly no mear slave is an equal to a King of Nehekhara! Know your place, and the kingdom we all cherish shall function perfectly as it always has. Stand, traitor."
Karlentep rose to his feet. There was no escaping his fate. No clever tricks to get away, no loyal forces to storm in and save him. Everyone he relied on was either dead, exiled, or serving Settra out of fear. He wouldn't embrace death without getting the last word however.
"I may die this day Settra, but you can't kill an idea. I had planned on leading the revolution against you myself, but I am but a man. The idea I have planted in the minds of the people stood before me, and all across Nehekhara, is what I fought for. My values may die in the minds of most, but those amongst us who are willing to fight will nurture it, and let it flourish!"
Settra let the king make his final speech, a final and desperate attempt to turn the people against him he was sure. Without a word, Settra dropped his hand, and the hooded figure plunged the great sword through Karlenteps chest. Blood soaked the sand, the dusty brown turning to bright, wet crimson. The crowd was silent, and remained so as his body was taken away by Tomb Guards and Karlenteps once loyal adviser and High Priest, Talaph.

They travelled deep into the desert, hours away from civilisation. No one would find the Kings body here. The Tomb Guards dumped the hastily mummified body down on the ground, and turned to leave. They stopped when they noticed Talaph hunched over the body.
"What are you doing?" Enquired one of the guard. "You are not giving burial rites to the traitor surely?!"
"What, of course not!" Replied Talaph. "I am ensuring the body is engulfed by the sands, and that his soul will be sent straight to Usirian. If you have knowledge of such incantations, please, come investigate!" He finished, the last of his words dripping with sarcasm.
"My apologies High Priest..." the guard said, trying to sound humbled but failing to hide his bitter annoyance.
The group left, and Talaph looked back briefly to check in his incantations were beginning to work. The body began to sink beneath the sand, but not before a faint light flashed across the body. There was nothing more Talaph could do but hope his magic was strong enough for the task he had in mind.

Many moons passed since that day. Kings were born and kings died, including Settra himself. The reign of Nagash came and went, and Nagashs spell swept over the land of Nehekhara. It was a full year afterwards that Karlentep rose once more, and suffice to say giving the circumstances of his death, this somewhat surprised him. Clawing his way to the surface, he was greeted by the sight of the fallen kingdom. There were little in the way of buildings in the area, but what he could see in the distance shocked him. Great statues crumbling away. worn and battered pyramids dotting the landscape. He didn't have long to take it all in before the presence of another caught his attention.
"Hello my friend. It's been a long time..."
Karlentep spun around. Talaph was hunched behind him, bony fingers grasping his staff. He looked like he could barely stand.
"Friend?! You turn to Settra, watch as I get executed and still call me friend?! How-" Karlentep cut himself off. Something was wrong. "...what happened to you?"
"Nagash happened my friend. Please, let me explain."
Talaph recounted the rule of Nagash, the spell that rose the dead, and about the kingdom of Nehekhara as it was now. He also explained how after the execution, he made sure he laid the kings body to rest himself, so he could magically protect his body. Talaph made sure Karlentep would rise again... but nobody expected it to happen like this.
"...so I waited here after the spell started taking effect, waiting for your return. I've been waiting a whole year for you friend, waiting for your return. I was beginning to think it would never happen."
This was a lot for Karlentep to take in. He was now undead, in a shattered kingdom, and Settra was once again King of all Nehekhara.

"Is there anywhere we can stay? Anywhere we can amass our forces?" Karlentep asked.
"The ruins of Dalap-Ra would be our best and only hope of staying in the kingdom, however where to find them I do not know." Talaph answered. "The only way we could find out is... well I don't think it's even real..."
"What?" Urged Kalentep.
"I could attempt to summon a construct known only as the Desert Colossus, a wise and ancient priest who's soul became trapped within the crippled body of a Necrolith Colossus. Some say the priest went mad, trapped inside with no way to move before being engulfed by the sands. Others say quite the opposite, that the priest managed to become one with the desert, and was able to use it to move freely, harnessing the power of a sandstorm in the process. Either way if it does exist, it may be able to remember our city, and would be more likely to help us than the other Kings."
Karlentep thought this over for a short while. "And if this construct doesn't exist?"
"Then we shall have to find another way, but I confess the only other answer may be careful searching." Talaph replied.
"So be it. What will you need?" Asked Karlentep.
"Just time, my friend. Just time." answered, as he began to draw various shapes and hieroglyphs in the sand. When he was done, he began to mutter an incantation under his breath. All Karlentep could do was watch and wait.

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So that's what I have so far. I'll be expanding the fluff further as I have more time and get more ideas, but I hope you like the start! Do forgive me if I have some canon events in the wrong order, I don't have an army book yet so I've only had resources on the internet to go from.

[TopKofi]

Thats a very entertaining story, well written and eventful. Look up Urukagina, an ancient Sumerian King. I think you will like the story

[TopKofi]

http://history-world.org/reforms_of_urukagina.htm

I like the added connection of his city state being "Lagash"

[Khemri44]

I like the idea behind the army. I'm currently trying to plan a story behind mine, with little luck... for now.

Well written and a good read, looking forward to the rest

[the undead stole my cat]

Love to read more.