"We are tools, Neferata. You call us sisters, but we are but pieces on your game-board. You collect us and hoard us, and sometimes you spend us. Sometimes you spend us for ambition. Other times, it is for spite. And we love you for it, because we cannot help but to do so. You unmake us as easily as Nagash's crown threatened to unmake you, and remake us in your image."
- —Naaima to Neferata on the nature of the Lahmian Sisterhood[1a]
Neferata, former queen of lost Lahmia, first of the Vampires, and leader of the Vampiric bloodline known as the Lahmian Sisterhood
The Lahmian Sisterhood is a bloodline of Vampires controlled by its founder Neferata, the former queen of the Nehekharan city-state of Lahmia and the very first Vampire to come into existence in the mortal world.
The sisterhood is highly influential across the Human kingdoms of the Old World, as Neferata uses the beauty and seductive abilities of her bloodline's largely female Vampires to create a web of political influence, information-gathering and manipulation that reaches into every corner of mortal society.
It is unknown how many Lahmian sisters are in existence, but on one occasion the sisterhood was able to assemble one hundred members from the Empire, Bretonnia, Estalia, and Tilea. They had come together to seek the fate of Emperor Karl Franz.[9c]
History[]
In the years following the fall of Lahmia to an assault by the other Nehekharan city-states due to its unholy practices of Vampiric blood-worship, Neferata surrounded herself with a new group of Vampire servants who, despite being vicious and savage warriors and competent necromancers, showed their true strengths in the areas of seduction -- infiltration, intelligence-gathering and manipulation. Their time in Mourkain allowed them to hone these skills to supernatural levels and by the time the Vampire Queen took the mountain fortress of the Silver Pinnacle from the Dwarfs and made it her own, these Vampires had become true masters of their arts.
Having long ago decided that directly ruling the lands of the living was impossible for the Undead, Neferata instead decided that ruling from the shadows and being the power behind the throne was even better. She took the most beautiful, seductive, intelligent and manipulative of her female vampiric servants and sent this sisterhood out across the lands of Men -- inserting them into every facet of mortal society. From Imperial generals to Bretonnian Grail Knights, from Kislevite Boyars to Arabyan Caliphs -- behind almost every man of power stands a pale and beautiful wife, courtesan, mistress or other significant figure.
Neferata had learned that one did not have to be a ruler to rule. Instead her web gave her influence unparalleled and for centuries she became the secret queen of an unseen empire.
Very few of Neferata's bloodline turn Human males into Vampires though it does happen from time to time, such as Neferata's traitorous servant Kahled al Muntasir or the infamous Vampire Genevieve Dieudonné's own sire Chandagnac.
Notable Lahmians[]
- Andraste - Andraste is the favoured handmaiden of Nitocris.[3]
- Anmar bin Muntasir - Anmar bin Muntasir is an Arabyan princess, and the sister of Kahled al Muntasir. [1]
- Bellatash of Tilea - Bellatash of Tilea is one of Neferata's handmaidens and a member of the Red Coven.[5]
- Casilla - Casilla was a female Vampire of Estalian origin. She has four martial-looking women as companions and personal assassins.[9a] They all wore breeches and boots, with a heavy leather jacket worn over their doublet.[9b] Casilla was slain by Ulrika Magdova Straghov.[9c]
- Duchess of Malstonia
- Evegena Boradin - Boradin is an elder Vampire of the sisterhood who has been active in Praag for two hundred years.[8]
- Famke Leibrandt - Famke Leibrandt is a Lahmian Vampire Thrall.[7]
- Gabriella von Nachthafen - Von Nachthafen is an elder Vampire who was tasked with watching Sylvania after siring Adolphus Krieger, who in turn was the sire of Ulrika Magdova. [7]
- Galiana[8]
- Giselle of Marienburg - Giselle of Marienberg is one of Neferata's handmaidens and a member of the Red Coven. [5]
- Hermione von Auerbach - Lady Hermione von Auerbach, also known as Lady Hermione of Nuln, is an elder and influent member of the sisterhood.[7]
- Heterneb of Lahmia - Heterneb of Lahmia is one of Neferata's handmaidens and a member of the Red Coven. [5]
- Lady Isabette - Isabette was a Vampire child of Serutat who was slain in Mordheim by Marianna Chevaux.[4]
- Lady Melissa d'Acques
- Layla of Copher - Layla of Copher is a Strigori noblewoman.[1]
- Lupa Stregga - Lupa Stregga was a Tilean slave gifted by the Dark Elf corsair Megara, the lover of the Vampire Lord Vorag Bloodytooth.[1]
- Lycindia the Cruel
- Mariato - Mariato was a favourite of Khemalla of Lahmia who in threatening Giovanni Gottio during his work, lost Khemalla's favour and ultimately his unlife.[2]
- Naaima - Naaima is a former Cathayan concubine, the first and most loyal member of Neferata's sisterhood.[1]
- Neferata - Neferata is the first Trueborn Vampire, the former queen of the lost Nehekharan city-state of Lahmia. She is now known as the "Queen of Mysteries," and is the ruler of the Undead court that claims the former Dwarf Hold of the Silver Pinnacle as home.
- Nitocris - Nitocris is the Serpent Queen of the Southlands jungles who Neferata sent against Queen Khalida to retake the ruins of Lahmia.[3]
- Raiza[8]
- Rasha bin Wasim - Rasha bin Wasim is the daughter of the chieftain of a nomadic Arabyan desert tribe.[1]
- Serutat - Serutat was an Arabyan Vampire. She owned the Noctu jewel until it was stolen by Marianna Chevaux, who Serutat later transformed into a Vampire as well.[4]
- Talia- Talia was the handmaiden and fleet commander for Nitocris.[3]
- The Pallid Sisters of Kislev [5]
- Baroness Theodora Margrave - Theodora Margrave is a 300-year-old Vampire native to Nuln.[6]
- Yamina - Yamina was a handmaiden of Nitocris.[3]
- Genevieve Sandrine du Pointe du Lac Dieudonné - Genevieve Dieudonné is a Lahmian Vampire whose unlife has lasted for over six centuries. Notably, she saved the Emperor Karl Franz from an assassination attempt, and is generally accepted within Imperial society for that deed. She lives in Altdorf with her husband, the playwright Detlef Sierck.
Canon Conflict[]
In earlier editions of Warhammer the "Lahmians" were a Vampiric bloodline, which is to say rather than just being a group ruled by Neferata, the Lahmian Sisterhood were all direct Vampiric descendants of hers.
In present canon, it is possible to classify among the Lahmians those Vampires who are descendants of Neferata's original bloodline but who are not directly part of the group called the Lahmian Sisterhood, such as Genevieve Dieudonné.
It is also possible to classify those Vampires not directly of Neferata's blood but who work closely with the sisterhood as Lahmians, such as Ulrika Magdova.
Sources[]
- 1: Neferata (Novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 2: Inferno 21, "Portrait of My Undying Lady" by Gordon Rennie
- 3: The Serpent Queen (Novel) by Josh Reynolds
- 4: Town Cryer 22, "Revenge is Eternal" by Nick Kyme
- 5: The End Times Vol I: Nagash (8th Edition)
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: The Thousand Thrones (RPG)
- 7: Ulrika the Vampire (Omnibus Novel) by Nathan Long, "Bloodborn"
- 8: Ulrika the Vampire (Omnibus Novel) by Nathan Long, "Bloodforged"
- 9: Ulrika the Vampire (Omnibus Novel) by Nathan Long, "Bloodsworn"