Lahmia, also known as The City of the Dawn and later The Cursed City, was an ancient city of Nehekhara, located east of the Worlds Edge Mountains, north of Lybaras and the mountains of Devil's Backbone, south of the Straits of Nagash, along the Bitter Sea, formerly known as the Crystal Sea. It was in this city where the first Vampires appeared.[1]
History[ | ]
The first mention of the City of Dawn is in Settra’s reign, paying tribute to the first Priest King of Khemri. Later on, during the 2nd Dynasty, Lahmia was subjected by the king Rakhash and then Rakaph II, being reconquered by Khetep along with the rest of the Nehekhara; but over time eventually it became the second most powerful city in Nehekhara, only behind Khemri. It was during this time of greater apogee when Lamasheptra IV of Lahmia led a coalition of seven cities of Nehekhara against Nagash, but was killed by the Usurper. However, his son Lamashizzar took control of the armies of Nehekhara and defeated the armies of Nagash, marching to the Black Pyramid to destroy all the knowledge of the Usurper.[1]
However, not all this knowledge was destroyed. Lamashizzar managed to take one of those volumes, captured Arkhan the Black and took both secretly to the city of Lahmia. Once there he tried to study the grimoire Cursed to Eternal Life but Neferata, his sister, took control of the situation and with the help of Arkhan managed to distil the Elixir of Life, which turned the first Vampire. Knowing that alone she was vulnerable, she watered the magical elixir to several nobleman of Lahmia, founding a vampiric kingdom.[1]
It was also at this time that Neferata murdered her cousin, Queen Khalida Neferher of Lybaras, to defend her secret. Over time, vampires founded the Temple of Blood, where gods ruled over the terrified inhabitants of Lahmia and committing all sorts of excesses. One of the vampires, Abhorash, warned of the danger of attack other kingdoms in search of preys, but despite their warnings, the rest continued hunting in other realms in search of human blood. This made the presence of vampires in the city finally discovered, and that existence was due to the knowledge of Nagash, and the rulers of Numas, Zandri and Rasetra rose against Lahmia, now known as The Cursed.[1]
For months the vampires, with Abhorash in command, could contain the hosts of the vindictive kings of Nehekhara. However, the vast armies of Nehekhara ended up beating vampires. The khemrian soldiers entered the city and all structures were demolished and set fire, destroying buildings like the library or the Great Temple of Blood, and the entire population was enslaved. Many vampires died during the sacking of the city, but the oldest and most powerful vampires as Neferata, Abhorash, Ushoran, W'soran and others managed to escape the doomed city and joined Nagash (except Abhorash). After the defeat of Nagash at the hands of Alcadizaar, the rest of the vampires fled to escape the wrath of the great Necromancer and founded their own clans. Neferata created her own clan, composed almost exclusively by women, who called it Lahmians, in honor of his ancient city.[1]
Currently, the city is completely in ruins and Neferata is gathering forces to drive back the Tomb Kings in the region, reconquer the city, claim the throne and rebuild the Temple of Blood.[1]
Notable locations[ | ]
- District of the Golden Lotus.[1]
- Red Silk District.[1]
- Asaph’s Quay - at the edge of the Temple District and just north of the city harbour.[1]
- Temple District.[1]
- Women’s Palace.[1]
- Hall of Kings.[1]
- Hall of the Sun in its Divine Glory.[1]
- Hall of Reverent Contemplation.[1]
- Hall of Regretful Sorrows.[1]
- Hall of Rebirth - The great Hall of Rebirth had been built by the city’s carpenters and shipwrights in the space occupied by the palace’s grand royal gardens. In fact, the wooden structure encompassed the gardens themselves, creating the illusion that the council chamber was surrounded by a tamed wilderness. Brilliantly coloured songbirds, many imported at great cost from the Silk Lands, filled the space with music, while fountains burbled serenely just out of sight. Servants came and went along hidden paths, bearing refreshments to the guests, who sat around a huge, circular mahogany table in a clearing at the far end of the garden. The effect of so much vibrant, harnessed life on the desert rulers was nothing short of stunning.[1]
- House of Everlasting Life.[1]
Religion[ | ]
Asaph, the goddess of beauty, magic and vengeance, was the patron of Lahmia.[1]