A Necroserpent is a type of magical construct used by the Undead armies of the Tomb Kings of Nehekhara, particularly those armies that serve the Liche Priests of the Mortuary Cult.
Role[]
Necroserpents were originally created to guard the entranceways of the Nehekharan Mortuary Cult's temples. They are vast in stature, and even coiled they stand at least twice the height of a man. Though the Necroserpents standing sentinel outside some mortuary temples depict images of skull-vipers or double-headed blood-asps, the vast majority of these constructs are created in the image of a hooded Khemrian cobra, for Qu'aph, the Nehekharan god of cobras, took this as his corporeal form in the Great Land before the coming of Men.[2a]
The god would lie in ambush beneath the surface of the desert before lunging towards his prey and sinking his spear-sized fangs into their scaly throats. The venom of the Khemrian cobra is so potent that even a single drop is enough to kill a dozen warhorses or scores of fully grown men. Those bitten die with a rictus grin of agony on their faces as every muscle in their body contracts to the point where their own bones and teeth snap and break. The fangs of the Necroserpents mysteriously drip with this very same poison.[2a]
Those brave Nehekharan warriors who in life faced dishonour would slit their palms and smear blood onto the belly of one of the giant Necroserpents before holding the wound under the venom dripping from their fangs. As the poison wracked their bodies, it was believed that Qu'aph would judge their souls, and those that were found worthy would be reborn in the next life as Necropolis Knights -- warriors blessed with the skill, power and strength of the gods.[2a]
Upon their death, these elite warriors were mummified and buried with their full panoply of war beneath the very same statue that they had sacrificed themselves before. The Necroserpent and its rider share the same soul, and so only by destroying both can an opponent truly defeat a Necropolis Knight.[2a]
Though they are most commonly seen serving as mounts for Tomb Guard, occasionally the Mortuary Cults will call upon Necroserpents who do not yet have a rider to serve in battle as constructs.[1a]
Miniatures[]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer: The Old World - Arcane Journal: Tomb Kings of Khemri (Specialist Game)
- 1a: pg. 44
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Tomb Kings (8th Edition)
- 2a: pg. 44
Gallery[]
