Bel-Aliad location on a map of Nehekhara.
Bel-Aliad, know nowdays as the City of Dust, was a Nehekharan city later settled by Arabyans. It was destroyed by Arkhan the Black in -1149 IC.[2a] In its prime, it was called the City of Spices,[3b] but is also known as the City of Healers.[4a]
History[]
Bel Aliad had been one of the ancient cities of Old Nehekhara, although it has been counted as a minor city - in fact, the smallest and poorest among them.[3a] It had been founded by exiles from Bhagar around -2144 IC.[3b] During the first war against Nagash, Bel Aliad originally sided with Khemri.[3a] Defeated in -1744 IC, the city was sacked by vengeful Bhagarites.[3c] The surviving population would be massacred by undead under the command of Arkhan.[3d]
As Nagash sent plagues across Nehekhara, the Cult of Mordig began to rise in power in cities such as Bel Aliad.[1c] After the destruction of Lahmia, the vampire Abhorash arrived and trained the Kontoi.[1b]
In -1152 IC, the city was attacked by desert tribes led by Neferata, then known as the Sand Snake but when she was impaled by a lance during a Kontoi counter charge led by Abhorash, her hand maidens and the remaining warriors were driven out of the city.[1a] After the victory, Abhorash departed with his small coterie of warriors.[1b]
In -1150 IC Neferata infiltrated the cult in Bel Aliad, at first through Khaled al Muntasir but as many were blood drinkers and corpse eaters already, her undead nature quickly saw her rise to lead it, proclaimed as the Queen of the Night and the Charnel Bride. This became a threat to the Caliph and Al-Khattab who sought to succeed him and he attempted to assassinate Neferata.[1c]
Neferata in turn unleashed the Ghouls of the cult and a brutal civil war began between the two. [1e] As the battle raged however in -1149 IC, Arkhan the Black arrived to destroy the city looking for a new stronghold as after the fall of Nagash he had been driven out of Nehekhara by the newly arisen Tomb Kings. Any who did not flee were slain and became part of his army.[1d][2a]
Today[]
The Storming of Bel Aliad.
If what Metrious Null wrote on his The Quest for My Heart is to be believed, in modern times the city is ruled by the mummy of Prince Sutekh, Guardian of the Waters of Life, and Prince of the Shifting Sands.[4a]
Notable Locations[]
- Library of Horeptis[4a]
Religion[]
Gods worshiped included Mordig the Great Ghul.[1c]
Military[]
During its time as a Nehekharan city, Bel Aliad was forced to rely on barbarian mercenaries from the north, as well as troops from the rest of Nehekhara, in order to protect its merchant caravans.[3b]
Under Arabyan rule, Bel Aliad had archers and spearmen but the real stength was the Kontoi, an elite regiment of mounted lancers.[1a]
Notable Inhabitants[]
- Suhedir al-Khazem - Keeper of the Hidden Paths, Prince of Bel Aliad.[3d][3e] He was eaten alive in -1744 IC by his three daughters, watching in mute, insensate horror as they dug their fingers into his abdomen and tore his entrails free.[3d]
- Al-Khattab - Commander of the Kontoi.[1c]
- Anmar bin Muntasir - Noble and later a vampire.[1]
- Khaled al Muntasir - Kontoi and later a Vampire.[1]