The ancient sprawling necropolis of Ankhara is not a silent City of the Dead, it teems with activity. Of course there are mummies of all sorts, but there are other things that skitter about in Ankhara.
Once Lord Khepri moved on to other concerns after or victory over the breathers, Ankhara was left to my care. I have ruled with a light touch, only acting against those who cause too much of a disturbance to the natural order of things. A certain natural division among the ranks of the lesser followers of Lord Khepri has settled in with myself, of course, at the top.
Squabbling Crypt Lords, with their petty grievances, make up the majority of trouble makers in the city. While I find their misadventures amusing at times, there is a greater purpose behind why their antics are allowed to continue.
Occasionally, a member of the Assembly of Necromancers sets out with a motley band on some unknowable quest for the wider glory of the Eater of the Dead. These bands have been known to contain Death Cultists, various mummies, and even ghouls. The Necromancer bands hearken back to the glorious days when Ankhara was rediscovered which led to the Rise of Lord Khepri.
Scattered enclaves of quivering Death Cultists, some of whom have reassessed their commitment to our cause, are less common. These tiny bands now seek treasure before they leave Ankhara to return to the lands of the breathers. I have issued a call for these traitors to be put to the sword on sight.
The so-called Carrion Queen, Seshenkabba, (formerly the Beast Queen, a Harbinger of Khanum) with her command over a surprising number of lowly ghouls has made her a minor concern. Her domain near the western edge of Ankhara is more dangerous to any breather interlopers than to the Crypt Lords who seek treasures in that part of the city. Though even the mightiest Crypt Lord may be overwhelmed by weight of numbers. the Carrion Queen has some Death Cultist followers who command packs of Ghouls on forays throughout the city.
A more troubling new presence within Ankhara is known only as the Dream Tyrant. It is unclear whether this creature is a Necromancer or a fallen sorcerer of some sort. His presence in the far southern area of the city has caused a thick mist to set in. It is said this mist warps the senses of all who enter those areas. Despite his near complete control of that region, the Dream Tyrant has not seen fit to expand his territory, at least not as of yet. My duties overseeing the city have not allowed me to travel south and investigate the situation.
Shefdu Sootootma, Scribe of Khepri
Self-proclaimed Nomarch of Ankhara
Tethru Dark Harbinger
After the disastrous Rise of Khepri in Ankhara, when the armies of the living were soundly defeated by the undead, the risen minor god disappeared. The forces of the Eater of the Dead quickly fell to infighting and the whims of the surviving Dark Harbingers. Shefdu Sootootma, Scribe of Khepri, the Tethru Dark Harbinger who stood at Khepri's right hand during that final battle, attempted to keep the grand alliance of Dark Harbingers intact but few were swayed by his efforts. Shefdu soon declared himself the Nomarch of Ankhara and settled in to plot and scheme against the living of Aegyptus, as well as the rival Dark Harbingers who dismissed his authority.
Under Shefdu's rule the City of the Dead is now the target of small groups of the living. Some seek treasures from the countless tombs while others seek to protect those tombs and continue the fight against the Eater of the Dead.
Yet the living are not the only ones rummaging through the City of the Dead. Rogue Crypt Lords are a common sight throughout Ankhara. Whether their Dark Harbinger was lost during the Rise of Khepri or they struck out on their own, these malevolent beings are on personal quests. Most of these Crypt Lords have managed to draw others to their cause, leading these small parties against each other or whoever gets in their way.
Other followers of the Eater have also formed small bands to search through the ruins of Ankhara. Most of the Crypt Lords have come to see the Necromancers as their nemeses, often going out of their way to disrupt the vile wizards' plans. Bands of abandoned Death Cultists search the city for their own reasons. Packs of Ghouls also rove the avenues of tombs, sometimes guided by followers of the Carrion Queen. And there are other, previously unknown, dangers that have risen from the ruins in the aftermath of Khepri's Rise.
SKIRMISHING IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD
Inspired by the ancient GenCon WarGods Skirmish events and some current skirmish games (especially Necropolis28), I wanted to bring Shefdu out of retirement, even if only as a narrator for the setting. The games are meant to be more narrative and fun than power gaming. The warparty creation guidelines are pretty open. Most starting warparties will have about 10 members at most. The play area is meant to be about a 3x3 foot area filled with lots of terrain. I've only gotten one actual playtest game in so far (thanks Grayson!) , but it helped bring about some important changes to the direction I was originally headed.
After the main rules and scenarios are completed, I plan to work on some specific campaigns taking place in a few specific locations of Ankhara. Of course there must be a Return to the Tomb of Cherkiti, a dungeon crawl-like investigation of the Tomb of Khepri, and something to do with the Dream Tyrant. But it's meant to be a wide open setting where almost anything can happen in your own games (except Shefdu is officially unkillable, so don't even try it).
I started out thinking he minis for Ankhara needed to be on round bases, but I've realized that square bases are fine too, so you can use your favorite minis from your warbands. Oh, and some monsters might show up, so you may want to find some Sphinx Abominations and Scarab Ogres (among other tings).
