"We’ve endured worse, Cyricus, If you remember, the march from Al-Haikk to Martek was grim -- not as grim as what followed, but, aye, it can be done."
- —Baron Oswain Lothar to Lord Cyricus Carrard in a moment of shared memory.[9a]
Martek is one of the four great cities of Araby. Its surrounding lands form an independent principality ruled over by a monarch with the title of caliph.[2a]
The rulers and nobles of Martek are said to live in unimaginable luxury. Served by hundreds of slaves who will fulfill their every whim, their harems are filled with voluptuous beauties from across the Known World and their treasure chambers with all the splendor and wealth of Araby. Some of these despots are cruel by nature, ordering beheadings and mutilations of even the pettiest criminals, while others have been great rulers and patrons of art and science.[7a]
Martek stands among the cliffs and plateaus of the Atalan Mountains inland from the coast, which are inhabited by gigantic vultures, large predatory birds capable of lifting and carrying off a horse with its rider.[6]
Much to the fascination of foreign travellers, Arabyan Flying Carpets have been seen floating over the streets of Martek.[5a]
History[]
The city of Martek was captured by Sultan Jaffar during the Great Crusade Against Araby.[4a]
Notable Events[]
- ca. 1430 IC - Sultan Jaffar, a powerful Arabyan sorcerer, welded togther a coalition of several Arabyan desert tribes and expanded his city-state into a small empire with the capture of the Arabyan cities of Alhaka, Copher, Martek, and Lashiek. Legends speak of Jaffar summoning Daemons and conversing with spirits. The Skaven in Araby secretly allied with Sultan Jaffar, spying for him and murdering his rivals in exchange for warpstone.[4a]
Layout[]
Notable Locations[]
Caliph of Martek's Dungeons[]
The caliph tortures the mind and the body of his enemies in his dungeons. One of his victims, Scurio, a Morrite priest from Remas, was captured by Arabyan Corsairs and taken to Martek, where he was subjected to constant torture for months.[3a]
He managed to escape from the terrible dungeons of the Caliph of Martek's dungeons. But his mind was broken, and desperate, he surrendered to Khorne. Once back in Remas he tried to live a normal life, but his experiences in Araby were so stark that he cannot refrain from killing when the influence of Khorne grasps his soul.[3a]
Trivia[]
Martek is probably a reference to The Lost Tomb of Martek, an adventure for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition released in July 1983.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Salvation (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 200
- 2: Warmaster: Armies (Specialist Game)
- 2a: pg. 48
- 3: Brunner the Bounty Hunter (Novel) by C. L. Werner
- 3a: "Where Walks the Mardagg"
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Children of the Horned Rat (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 35
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3nd Edition: Winds of Magic (RPG)
- 5a: pg. 26
- 6: A map of The Land of the Dead and Araby (Needs Source)
- 7: Warhammer: Rulebook (6th Edition)
- 7a: pg. 167
- 8: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
- 8a: Mortal Empires Campaign Map
- 9: Lords of the Lance (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- 9a: Ch. 2