Fortified Nehekharan pyramid[1]
Memnesh IV was a Tomb King of the city-state of Zandri in ancient Nehekhara.[1a]
History[]
Origins[]
During his lifetime, Memnesh IV was a great warrior-king and leader, and conquered many tribes in the lands that surrounded the kingdom of the city-state of Zandri.[1a]
His overwhelming desire to build the finest pyramid that had ever stood led him to construct a fortified tomb partially over the ruined monuments of Zandesh III, a king of a previous dynasty who had ruled and died two centuries earlier. Right before his death, Memnesh also stole Zandesh's finely carved obelisks, striking out his predecessor's name hieroglyphs and replacing them with his own.[1a]
The Longest Siege[]
"This edifice offends your majesty! Know, that I alone rule in Zandri tor all eternity: I shall not suffer a rebel. Go forth my legions, break into this tomb, seal up the vaults and put to death the priests who dwell therein!"
- —King Zandesh III of Zandri[1a]
"Know that Memnesh IV has risen to continue his rule for millions of years as the sole king of Zandri. Who dares to challenge his rule!"
- —High Priest of the mortuary temple of Memnesh IV[1a]
During the Great Awakening of the Tomb Kings, Zandesh III rose from his ruined pyramid to find his funerary complex trespassed by the walls of that of Memnesh IV's edifice. Enraged, he ordered his Skeleton Warriors to invade this upstart's tomb and destroy it. The army saluted their master with an eerie rattle as two thousand armed skeletons raised their weapons. Then they marched forth, regiment by regiment, across the rubble and sand towards the great portal of the tomb of Memnesh IV.[1a]
As they did so a deafening fantare of ancient copper trumpets sounded from within the walls of the offending pyramid. All along the battlements the Skeleton Archers of Memnesh IV appeared in their thousands. The Liche high priest of the mortuary temple of Memnesh IV appeared on the portal rampart and proclaimed his master's eternal rule over Zandri, and the siege began in earnest.[1a]
The skeleton forces of Zandesh III besieged the fortified tomb of Memnesh IV for two hundred and ninety-nine years. In the three hundredth year Zandesh finally recovered the stolen obelisks, and the fortess tomb of Memnesh was then razed to the ground and his body cast to the vultures and jackals.[1a]
Canon Conflict[]
"Year 3656: The Tilites came into Nehekhara seeking to despoil the Necropolis and carry off gold. They despoiled tombs in the Necropolis of Zandri. King Behedesh and King Memnesh fought against them many times, desisting not in the attack while they remained in the land."
- —Annals of the Reign of Millions of Years[2a]
In Warhammer Armies: Tomb Kings (6th Edition) there is a mention of one King Memnesh of Zandri. It is unclear whether this is the first Tomb King of this name, or the fourth.[2a]