Settra the Imperishable

Khemrikhara

The Great King

The Great King of Nehekhara

The King of Kings

The Opener of The Way

Wielder of the Divine Flame

Punisher of Nomads

The Great Unifier

Commander of the Golden Legion

Sacred of Appearance

Bringer of Light

Father of Hawks

Builder of Cities

Protector of the Two Worlds

Keeper of the Hours

Chosen of Ptra

High Steward of the Horizon

Sailor of the Great Vitae

Sentinel of the Two Realms

The Undisputed

Begetter of the Beget

Scourge of the Faithless

Carrion-feeder

First of the Charnel Valley

Rider of the Sacred Chariot

Vanquisher of Vermin

Champion of the Death Arena

Mighty Lion of the Infinite Desert

Emperor of the Shifting Sands

He Who Holds The Sceptre

Great Hawk of the Heavens

Arch-Sultan of Atalan

Waker of the Hierotitan

Monarch of the Sky

Majestic Emperor of the Shifting Sands

Champion of the Desert Gods

Breaker of the Ogre Clans

Builder of the Great Pyramid

Terror of the Living

Master of the Never-Ending Horizon

Master of the Necropolises

Taker of Souls

Tyrant to the Foolish

Bearer of Ptra's Holy Blade

Scion of Usirian

Scion of Nehek

The Great Chaser of Nightmares

Keeper of the Royal Heart

Founder of the Mortuary Cult

Banisher of the Grand Hierophant

High Lord Admiral of the Deathfleets

Guardian of the Charnal Pass

Tamer of the Liche King

Unliving Jacket Lord

Dismisser of the Warrior Queen

Charioteer of the Gods

He Who Does Not Serve

Slayer of Redditras

Scarab Purger

Favored of Usirian

Player of the Great GameLiberator of Life

Lord Sand

Wrangler of Scorpions

Emperor of the Dunes

Eternal Sovereign of Khemri's LegionsSeneschal of the Great Sandy DesertCurserer of the Living

Regent of the Eastern MountainsWarden of the Eternal NecropolisHerald of all Heralds

Caller of the Biter Wind

God-Tamer

Master of the Mortis River

Guardian of the Dead

Great Keeper of the Obelisks

Deacon of the Ash River

Belated of Wakers

General of the Mighty Frame

Summoner of Sandstorms

Master of all Necrotects

Prince of Dust

Tyrant of Araby

Purger of Greenspan BreathersKiller of the False God's ChampionsTyrant of the Gold Dunes

Golden Bone Lord

Avenger of the Dead

Carrion Master

Eternal Warden of Nehek's Lands

Breaker of Djaf's Bonds

And many, many more...

### Occupation

First King of KhemriLich

Warrior

### Goals

Rule all of Nehekhara.Destroy Nagash.

Conquer the Old World

### Crimes

Attempted world dominationAbuse of power

“ Settra does not serve! Settra rules! „ ~ Settra in defiance of Nagash.

**Settra the Imperishable** also known by many other titles is a villainous character from the *Warhammer Fantasy* tabletop war game. A fearsome undead being, Settra is one of the most powerful human monarchs and warriors that has ever lived. In life, he was the first Priest-King of Khermi and the supreme ruler of the Empire of Nehekhara, the first true human civilisation that is now known as the Land of the Dead. Having reclaimed these titles following his reanimation, Settra subsequently became the undisputed leader/True King of the Tomb Kings faction.

A ruthless and uncompromising tyrant, as a mortal human, Settra ruled over one of (if not) the largest and greatest empires that has ever existed. Since his return as an immortal undead, the King of Kings has made it his ambition to restore Nehekhara to its former glory. He also waits for the inevitable return of Nagash, the man that brought his legacy to ruin and condemned his people to an eternity of undeath. Once this is done and all of his enemies are defeated, Settra intends to rule over the entire earth and its surviving people for all time.

These ambitions were eventually halted by the coming of The End Times, which saw Settra’s dominion challenged in a way such as never before. With the fate of the entire world at stake, Settra and his Tomb Kings inevitably found themselves swept into the fray. With the Hordes of Chaos laying waste to the world, Nagash finally returned, greater and more powerful than ever before. In the titanic confrontation that followed, the fate of Nehekhara and the Tomb Kings was settled once and for all. Promises, old and new, were made then broken, as the King of Kings journeyed further than he ever had before in a bid to prove that nobody could challenge the might of Settra, the King of Kings.

Outside the tabletop game, Settra is a playable character in the *Warhammer Total War* video game. He is the leader of the Khemri branch of the Tomb Kings faction and is voiced by Richard Reed.

## Divine Titles

Apart from his basic address of King Settra, the imperishable leader of the Tomb Kings has acquired many other divine titles throughout his extensive lifetimes, befitting of a ruler of his status. Some examples include:-

* Settra the Great.
* The High King of Nehekhara.
* The King of Kings.
* Lord of the Earth.
* Monarch of the Sky.
* Mighty Lion of the Infinite Desert.
* Ruler of the Four Horizons.
* Majestic Emperor of the Shifting Sands.
* Eternal Sovereign of Khemri's legions.

## Personality

Even before he became undead, Settra was legendary for his arrogance, insatiable greed, his lust for power and short temper. In life, his subjects feared their King just as much as they loved him, for Settra demanded their absolute loyalty and obedience. Considering it his divine right to rule, the King of King will suffer no rival. A military genius and tactician, few of those foolish enough to oppose Settra ever lived to tell the tale.

Like many in power, the mortal King Settra hated the concept of death. Despite all his accomplishments in life, this was the one enemy that even the High King of Nehekhara proved unable to overcome. All that the tyrannical King could do before finally succumbing was to make the necessary preparations to ensure his resurrection. Unfortunately, it was these same actions that eventually led to the rise of Nagash and his vampires as well as the doom of Nehekhara.

Despite all of this, Settra is no fool. In life, he was the only King of Nehekhara to heed the warnings of the priesthood. This allowed him to lead Nehekhara at the height of its power, with the Golden Age ending upon his death. After reconquering Nehekhara as an undead, it was Settra that devised the necessary strategies to prepare for the inevitable return of Nagash and to deal with the Tomb Kings encroaching enemies. Whilst these plans ultimately failed, it is a testament to Settra's resilience.

Having achieved the immortality that he once yearned for, Settra who has lost none of his thirst for power or conquest is determined to see the restoration of Nehekhara under his leadership. These traits make him not only one of the most powerful and ruthless men to have ever existed but a man that most would be wise not to cross.

## Background

### The God’s Champion

Prince Settra was born into the royal family of Khemri, some two thousand years five hundred before the birth of Sigmar or the Empire of Man. Back then, the Ancient Kingdom of Nehekhara was a metropolis and the most advanced human civilisation on the planet. Yet at the time of Settra’s birth, it was plagued by factional infighting, famine, disease, invasion, and civil war. Whilst tradition dictated that the King of Khemri was Nehekhara’s absolute ruler, the lesser kings of the other cities had grown ambitious, arrogant and self-obsessed. Each yearned for absolute dominion and refused to put aside their differences to deal with the external enemies lest their own influence is challenged or lost.

As the heir to the throne of Khemri, Settra spent his early years learning how to be a ruler. He joined his father on numerous campaigns, acquiring the skills that would later prove to be invaluable in both life and undeath. Not long after ascending to the throne, the newly crowned King was met by representatives of the Nehekharan priesthood, who were worried about the direction that the rulers of Nehekhara’s actions were leading them. Alone amongst the numerous Kings of Nehekhara, Settra recognised the wisdom of the priest’s words, which in turn led to an epiphany. Recognising that Nehkhara stood on the brink of destruction, and desiring the absolute loyalty of his subjects, Settra realised that if he could earn the favour of the Ancient Desert Gods, he alone amongst the rulers could achieve what the other monarchs only dreamed of. The absolute rule over Nehekhara.

Thus, much of the first year of Settra’s reign was devoted to the construction as well as the restoration of temples and monuments to the deities within the pantheon. As a further sign of devotion, Settra even went so far as to change his title to the Priest-King of Khemri, making him the first person to bear such a title. Once these projects were complete, Settra, on the anniversary of his coronation, performed an elaborate ritual, in which he beseeched the Gods of the pantheon to grant him their favor and make him the single, divine ruler of Nehekhara. As part of the ceremony and as a demonstration of his sincerity, Settra had his own sons and daughters sacrificed in honour to the Gods.

It was a cruel act, but it paid off, for the very next day, Settra’s prayers were answered. Khemri’s main life source, the Great Vitae River flooded for the first time in decades. The plagues and famine that had haunted the ancient city for much of living memory vanished overnight, leaving instead an abundant harvest. Interpreted as divine intervention, this event confirmed to the citizens of Khemri that their new King had indeed been blessed by the Gods and now served as the instrument of their will. With this Settra also earnt the full respect of the two groups that would prove vital to him throughout his reign, the priesthood, and the army.

### Settra’s Conquest & The Golden Age of Nehekhara

With the absolute control over the city of his ancestors secure, Settra’s gaze turned outwards. Along with all the rulers of the other city-states, Settra dreamed of unifying Nehekhara under his sole rule. Yet in accordance with the ancient traditions, Settra’s desire and right to rule had better grounds than most. Even so, it had been many years since the King of Khemri had commanded the absolute respect of the lesser monarchs. Now, the merciless, cruel, and power-hungry Settra intended to change all that!

With a completely loyal army at his command, the King of Khemri entered the Nehekharan civil war, initiating a campaign of conquest, unification and expansion such as had never been seen before. Utilising his inspiring leadership, military prowess and unmatched ruthlessness Settra began to topple his opponents, one by one. Those that stood in his way were given a simple choice: surrender, bow and pay tribute to Settra or suffer complete annihilation. Those that dared to challenge or stand against the emerging King of Kings were wiped from the face of history.

Behind the scenes, Settra’s loyal followers worked to keep his expanding dominion free from potential dissenters. With each victory, Settra added not just new territory but an increasing amount of devoted followers to his army. Finally, after much carnage and bloodshed, the citizens of Nehekhara from the lowliest peasant to the mightiest of the subject Kings answered to the will of the King of Khemri.

Yet simply controlling the dominion of his ancestors was not enough for the insatiable Settra. He wanted more land and with it, more power. Fortunately for the High King of Nehekhara, his Kingdom had been frequently ravaged by the various barbarian tribes from beyond his empire's borders. Endless streams of Ork invaders and rampaging Lizardmen had likewise plundered much of Nehekhara’s splendour. Settra now turned the tables and took the fight to his enemies. His veteran legions crushed any obstacle in their wake, carving out a vast overseas empire. Under Settra’s command, Nehekhara’s borders reached their greatest extent, subjugating many peoples to the iron will of Settra.

In spite of Settra's arrogance, vanity and his tyrannical demand for tribute and adoration, the Lord of the Earth brought the cities of Nehekhara, especially Khemri into a Golden Age of prosperity. His people enjoyed prosperity the likes of which had not been seen before (and would not be seen again afterwards). Food was plentiful, civil strife unheard of. Tribute flowed in from every corner of the globe. Nobody could match Settra’s prestige and splendour. His people were revered, with the monarch himself being hailed as the King of Kings. Yet even this was not enough to satisfy Settra.

### Settra’s Death & The Instigation of Doom

According to legend, during the fortieth year of his reign, Settra ascended to the highest peak of the Black Mountains, which stood on the absolute fringes of his empire. There, the mortal lord of both the earth and the heavens looked out across the many horizons, surveying all of his accomplishments. It was here that the Priest-Kings rage consumed him.

Beyond the mountains range, lay unconquered territories and undefeated adversaries, people that the High King of Khemri knew lay beyond his reach. Yet whilst this annoyed Settra, what truly angered him was the knowledge that despite all his triumphs, there was still one enemy from which he could not escape. A nemesis that would inevitably defeat him, an opponent that not even the King of Kings could defy indefinitely. That enemy was the passage of time itself.

Whilst the fires of war, lust for power, desires for conquest and global domination still raged within his heart and soul, Settra knew that this only went so far. Already his body was starting to show the first signs of ageing, the Lion of the Deserts fully aware that his mortal shell would eventually expire. At the end of the day, the divine ruler, High King of Nehekhara was just like the rest of his subjects, a mortal human. One day, death would inevitably claim him, taking away everything that Settra had worked so hard to accomplish.

It was on that day that the already elderly Settra made a promise that would alter his destiny forever. He swore to find a way to cheat death indefinitely, declaring that the grave would not claim him. Nehekhara would remain his forever, and that once immortality was his, Settra would not stop until all the peoples of the world were subjugated to his supreme will. What Settra could not possibly have known was that the declarations he had just made would seal the ultimate fate of Nehekhara. In the long run, the steps he was about to undertake would not just give rise to one of the evillest men to ever live, they unwittingly lead to the creation of two unnatural factions in the Warhammer World.

Returning to his capital, Settra assembled his greatest and most loyal priests. It was here that the King of Kings established the Mortuary Cult, giving them the most sacred of all missions, to unlock the secrets to immortality. The priests did as their lord commanded and spent many years scouring the globe for the source of immortality that Settra sought. Their efforts would eventually bear fruit, as through the use of arcane magic and powerful potions they were able to extend both their own and Settra’s lives far beyond that of an ordinary human. With the passage of time, these same rituals were perfected eventually allowing the cultists to endure on eternally as the Liche Priests.

Unfortunately for Settra, time was not on his side. The cults studies, practices and magics held promise, but were still in their infancy. Whilst the priests' spells kept the Lord of the Earth alive for many more years, ultimately it only delayed the inevitable. Age continued to take its toll upon Settra, until finally he could not even rise out of bed. Soon it became clear to everybody, including the King himself that the quest for immortality had either been in vain or would not be recognized during his life time.

As the Kings of Kings ending drew ever closer, the priests of the Mortuary Cult came to see him one last time. Apart from their condolences, the priests offered Settra an alternative solution, a compromise as it were to his original order. Whilst it would still take time, centuries even, their experiments had unlocked some promising results. They went so far that once perfected they had the potential to ensure the restoration of the body and soul after death. As such, the priests offered to carry out a mummification ritual, in order to preserve Settra's body until the time was right. Once that time came, the priest would use their magic to resurrect the great King in an imperishable body, meaning he would never have to fear or old age ever again. With nothing to restrain him, Settra would then be free to rule over a golden, never ending paradise, which they dubbed "The Reign of a Million Years".

With no other recourse open to him, Settra accepted their proposal. In a final display of both power and grandeur, the dying monarch ordered the construction of massive tomb complex, the Great Pyramid of Khemri. Carved from shimmering white stone and imbued with powerful wards, this necropolis surpassed all that proceeded and preceded it in grandeur or splendor. The only person dissatisfied was Settra himself. According to Nehekharan legend, with his last breath the monarch cursed both his fate and the cultists for their failure.

Moments later, Settra the Great, the unifier of Nehekhara and first Priest King of Khemri passed from the mortal realm. In accordance with the mortury cultists instructions, the Kings body was then mummified and embalmed in an elaborate ritual, meant to preserve it for all time. In front of great procession, the funerary rites were held and Settra's sarcophagus was carried to its final resting place the heart of the newly constructed pyramid. Accompanying were vast amounts of riches and wealth, a testament to Settra's power and status. Powerful spells and incantations were placed over Settra's mummy, his treasures and the tomb complex itself. This would not only deter grave robbers, but ensure that the contents of this tomb would remain undisturbed until the promised time of resurrection.

As was the tradition at the time, vast legions of Settra’s soldiers, retinue and retainers followed their master into death. Some were mummified and laid to rest in lesser coffins alongside Settra, but most interred within specialized pits and chambers, so they could await the return of their master, in order to serve alongside him once again. When all was said and done, the priests exited and closed the great doors behind them. A final incantation, sealed the tomb and its inhabitants off from mortal eyes, which the priests said would only be broken, when the designated time arrived. What none of the unfortunate souls both in and outside of that building could have predicted however, was of the terrible fate that awaited them upon that fated day.

## Nagash, The Great Betrayal and the War of the Tomb Kings

For the next two thousand years, Settra slept undisturbed within the Great Pyramid. Yet even so, his legacy was still felt. His death brought a decisive end to Nehekhara’s prosperity. Whilst its civilization continued to flourish, over time the empire’s borders shrank, until finally they only encompassed the land of Nehekhara itself. Whilst many Kings rose and fell in the intermittent years, none ever managed to truly match the glory or splendor of Settra. As time passed, the Mortuary Cult also gained greater power and influence. Like Settra, the Kings and Queens of Nehekhara, especially those of Khemri, became obsessed with domination and immortality. In imitation of the Great King, they commanded that when the time came, the wards of protection were to be placed over their bodies. They too would be embalmed and laid to rest within great pyramids. This would ensure their place in golden paradise that was to follow, in the hope that they too could one day rule for all time.

These hopes and ambitions ultimately ended with the rise of Nagash, the arch-traitor and first of the necromancers. A cruel and debased tyrant, Nagash’s lust for power and desire for immortality surpassed even that of Settra’s. Unlike his predecessor however, Nagash succeeded in his ambition, managing to create the elixir of life, which granted both himself and a select few of his chosen followers eternal life. Whilst both men were tyrants, unlike Settra, Nagash abused his rule over the Nehekharan people and his followers ultimately failed to stop the voices of dissent. This eventually led to a civil war, in which the Kings of Nehekhara united against their evil overlord. Despite summoning an army of the dead to defend himself, the Mortuary Cults intervention and use of an undead army itself saved the land from destruction, if only temporarily. Defeated, Nagash retreated, biding his time until he believed that Nehekhara’s power and strength were at its lowest.

Once again, Nagash underestimated the defiance of Settra's successors. Although their land was racked by civil war, invasion and famine, the Kings of Nehekhara, led by their second unifier Alcadizzar once again defeated Nagash and his newly created vampire commanders in battle. Enraged at this defeat, Nagash unleashed his foul sorceries upon the land, decimating much of it. With victory in sight, the necromancer marched into Khemri and captured Alcadizzar. After that, he returned to his capital and began what he called The Great Ritual. If successful, this dark spell would destroy all living things in Nehekhara, then raise all the corpses of the slain as Nagash’s mindless, but loyal undead army, which the necromancer would then use to conquer the world.

Only the intervention of the Skaven, saved Nehekhara from complete destruction. Beneath Nagash's notice or that of his followers, the ratmen freed Alcadizzar and presented him with a fearsome warpstone blade. Seizing his opportunity, the last King of Nehekhara used his new weapon to avenge his fallen people, by striking down the necromancer before he could complete his spell.

Despite this, Alcadizzar, who perished not long afterwards, was still too late. The damaged reaped by Nagash’s incantation could not be undone. Every single person in Nehekhara had been killed, then brought back to life as undead skeletons. Nehekhara, once considered to be the cradle of human civilization was no more. In its place, was a virtually inhospitable wasteland that became universally known as the Land of the Dead. Yet despite appearances this land was not empty. From within the great pyramids and necropoli scattered throughout the landscape, the long-dead Kings and ancient leaders of this once mighty civilization stirred. Awakened by Nagash’s foul witchcraft, the mummified legions once again found themselves restored to the mortal plains and a new faction was born; The Tomb Kings!

## The King of Kings Returns/Settra’s Reconquest

With Nagash defeated and the emergence of the Tomb Kings, Nehekhara lost all sense of unity. A civil war, the likes of which had never been seen before decimated the land, as the undead Kings of the desert empire waged a seemingly endless war against each another. Just as they had done so in life, the monarchs battled for total dominion, refusing and unwilling to unify against potential external enemies. The only faction that did not participate in cataclysmic conflict, was the Mortuary Cult.

Having long since overcome the physical limitations imposed by their mortal bodies, the Liche Priests suffered no ill effects from Nagash's sorcery. Yet even with their minds intact, the once mighty sorcerers were powerless to stop the civil war that raged all around them. They watched on helplessly as the newly created Tomb Kings undead legions did battle with one another, only to rise and continue fighting endlessly, each battle inevitably leaving its mark upon the already blighted landscape.

Then, as what remained of the Nehekharan civilization teetered on the brink of collapse Khatep, the Great Hierophant and leader of the Mortuary Cult, decided to take action. The oldest and wisest of the Liche Priests, Khatep eventually realized that if Nehekhara was to survive, the Tomb Kings would need an absolute ruler. To end the war, Khatep needed to find a King or Queen like no other. One that had no equal. Someone with the tenacity and iron will to not only keep the lesser Kings in line, but who would work in the best interests of Nehekhara. Though he had lived for countless generations and witnessed the rise and rule of many a ruler, Khatep could think of only one man who was up to the task: the King that originally unified Nehekhara in the first place. The one whose name echoed down the generations and who was spoken of with a much reverence as any of the deities within the pantheon.

Unfortunately and ironically, Settra still slept within the Great Pyramid of Khemri. The wards and incantations that the cult had originally placed upon his crypt millennia earlier had not waned, thus preventing even Nagash’s foul magic from penetrating its exterior. Knowing what he had to do, Khatep crept silently through the war-torn Khemri, ignoring the carnage left by the Liche King (Arkhan the Black) and those that rivaled him. Taking advantage of the turmoil, Khatep managed to reach the Great Pyramid unopposed. Then, with everything he cared about at stake, the Hierophant finally broke the ancient seal and entered Settra's tomb. Striding purposefully down hallowed hallways that had not been seen for over two thousand years, Khatep made his way to the very heart of the pyramid. At its center, he found Settra's great sarcophagi, surrounded by the remains of his loyal followers and ancient treasures, which remained undisturbed and unharmed. With the Day of Awakening finally at hand, Khatep peeled off the coffins lid, held his hand over the mummified body within and spoke the necessary enchantments. The ritual took time, but at long last ... Settra awakened!

It is not known what words were exchanged between the Hierophant and monarch following the latter’s reanimation. There can be little doubt that Settra immediately recognized that something was awry, given his undead state. However, from the hurried information Khatep doubtless provided, the King of Kings quickly realized that a full explanation would have to wait. Nehekhara was in danger. The lesser Kings had overstepped their mark, for they sought to challenge and usurp Settra's rule once again. This was something that the Lord of the Earth and the Heavens would not tolerate. Clambering out of his coffin, Settra issued his first command: ordering Khatep to awaken his army!

Once his veteran warriors were reanimated as a vast undead horde, Settra led his mighty legions out of the burial complex. Stepping into the sunlight for the first time in millennia, Settra saw the devastation and the carnage for himself and realized that Khatep's declaration had not been exaggerated. With that, the Ruler of Nehekhara acted as the Hierophant had anticipated. Entering the fray, Settra once again made his own bid for power. In an ironic echo of his mortal reign, Settra’s forces once again clashed with those of the other rulers. Ruthless and uncompromising, Settra soon demonstrated why he was called the King of Kings and how he had acquired his legendary reputation. Quickly re-establishing control over his former capital, what began in Khemri was a dark foreshadowing of the carnage that followed.

Over the next two years, Settra’s armies swept across the inhospitable land, defeating anybody that challenged them. Once again, Settra offered his subjects and rivals a simple choice; bow and completely submit themselves to his absolute dominion or else face total annihilation. Despite Settra's reputation, some still chose to defy him, which proved to a costly mistake for them. Settra these dissenters totally destroyed, by having their mummified bodies pulverized and ground to dust, a state from which not even Nagash’s foul magics could resurrect them. The armies of these defeated adversaries were then subsequently incorporated into Settra’s own ever expanding force. Finally, the last great enemy, Arkhan, the right hand of Nagash surrendered, bowing before Settra and offering (what turned out to be false) promises of fealty. With this final victory, peace was finally restored. After innumerable battles, the civil war was ended and Settra once again stood as not only the undisputed ruler of Nehekhara, but the absolute master of the Tomb Kings.

### The Reign of a Million Years Begins

“ Our true King will show them. We do not serve, we rule! „ ~ Tomb King quote, Warhammer Total War II

With the civil war ended and Nehekhara his once again, Settra turned his attention back to the state of both his people and his empire. Summoning the members of the Mortuary Cult to him, Settra finally demanded an explanation. He wanted to know what had happened to his once-mighty civilization? Where was the golden paradise that he was promised? Why had the cultists awakened him prematurely? Most importantly, what had caused the Ancient Gods to turn their backs on Nehekhara?

It was Khatep, the very man that had awakened Settra, who answered the Great Kings questions. He did so reluctantly and unwillingly however, fearful of what Settra's reaction would be. This fear turned out to be justified for Settra saw through the Hierophants half-truths and attempted lies, which were made to divert the blame from the Mortuary Cult. After hearing everything that he needed to hear, the King of Kings banished the hierophant and most of his followers, promising to kill them should they ever dare to return.

Despite the King of Kings initial outrage and denial, there was no escaping from the reality of his situation. The empire he had once ruled over was now gone. His promised Kingdom did not exist. Along with the rest of his subjects, Settra was now trapped in an undead body, an eternal mockery of the life he had once possessed. Although Nagash had been defeated, Settra knew better than to think him vanquished. From what he had heard, the monarch was in no doubt that the necromancer would return one day, in order to try and reclaim full control over Nehekhara. Yet, even so, all was not lost. Though altered beyond recognition, the reborn Nehekharan legions were his to command once more. The eternal life that Settra yearned for had been granted, albeit in a way that he could never have anticipated. With time no longer a restraint, the King of Kings was free to rule in the imperishable body that he had been promised.

After careful deliberation, Settra issued a series of instructions. By order of their True King, the Tomb Kings were to return to their crypts enmasse. With their original purpose now fulfilled, the remaining the Liche Priests, were charged with the guardianship and protection of these tombs. From that day on, the Priests would monitor these sanctuaries, awakening Settra’s followers when necessity demanded or as their Kings commanded. As for Settra himself, he vowed never to rest again. He declared that under his command, Nehekhara would be restored, rising from the ashes of destruction that Nagash had wrought. As for the necromancer himself, should he or any other enemy be foolish enough to enter the Land of the Dead, they would find the King of Kings and his legions waiting for them.

Thus, Settra the Imperishable began the Reign of a Million Years, determined to create the Golden Paradise he was promised. Since that day, Settra has waged numerous wars with the forces of the living and the dead. Explorers/crusaders from the Empire, Chaos pillagers, Dark Elf, Lizardmen, and Ork raiders have scoured the ruins only to succumb to Settra’s innumerable hordes. Unafraid to venture beyond Nehekhara’s borders, the King of Khemri has personally led expeditions as far north as the Chaos wastes. Every victory brings him closer to his ambition of world domination and his desire to see Nehekhara’s splendour restored.

## The End Times

### The Clash of the Undead Kings

“ I have humbled you, Settra, proudest of Kings.But now I offer you honour. Bow before me, and you will become one of my mortarchs. Deny me, and perish. „ ~ Nagash's offer to Settra

After a thousand years of rule, Settra finally awoke all of the Tomb Kings. Believing that Nehekhara had been restored as best as possible, the Lord of the Infinite Legions told his people that their time was at hand. The imperishable monarch declared that the age of conquest was upon them. Just as he did in life, Settra would now lead his vast armies beyond their ancestral homeland. Together they would reforge his empire, carrying Settra's name to every corner of the globe. What Settra did not know was that he would achieve that ambition.

Far beyond the boundaries of Nehekhara, Arkhan, recognising the imminent dangers posed by the mortal and immortal forces of Chaos, knew that the time had come to resurrect Nagash. Gathering together a series of unholy artefacts, the Liche King performed a profane ritual, which eventually restored his real master to life. Restored to a corporeal vessel, Nagash raised a massive army of the undead, returned to his capital of Nagashizzar, then marched upon Nehekhara.

As the necromancer replenished his power, his loyal subjects, the Mortarchs, unleashed their forces upon the Land of the Dead. Settra immediately abandoned his plans for global invasion, and instead led the Tomb Kings in the defence of their homeland. It was here that the King of King's preparations started to pay off. Despite being bolstered by Nagash's sorcery, the zombies, vampires and skeletons his mortarchs commanded never won decisively. Each victory was costly, with little to gain or show for it. When Settra took personal command of his forces, the legions of Nagash were pushed to the absolute brink.

Ignoring Khatep's suggestions of a different course, Settra killed the Hierophant and finally managed to achieve what he believed a strategic victory. Having captured Arkhan the Black, Settra brought the treacherous mortarch to the great temple of Usirian, the Nehekharan God of the underworld. There he commanded the residing mortuary cultists to destroy Arkhan, condemning the lich to true death, whilst he went out to deal with the remainder of Nagash's forces.

Unfortunately, Settra's decision not to stay proved to be his greatest mistake and his ultimate undoing. As the King of Kings mustered his forces for a final assault against the Vampire Counts, one of the cultists participating in the ritual against Arkhan, turned traitor. Instead of destroying the Lich King, he saved him, killing his fellow cultists, allowing Nagash to emerge from his hiding place inside Arkhan. From there, Nagash performed a ritual, which brought him into the afterlife, where he battled and defeated Usirian. After besting his opponent, Nagash absorbed all of Usirians limitless powers, and finally became the God of death.

Back upon the mortal plane, Settra's forces stood upon the edge victory unaware of the changes taking place in the afterlife. That all changed when Nagash emerged, triumphant and the legions of the undead saw a god incarnate. Unmoved, Settra mustered his loyal legions in one final charge, but against such overwhelming power, they stood no chance.

As Nagash destroyed his armies on a simple whim, Settra defiantly turned to face the dark sorcerer, challenging him to single combat. Despite all of his new power and skill, the cowardly Nagash knew full well that he could never defeat the King of Kings in combat. Refusing the Imperishable King's challenger, Nagash instead used his magic to restrain Settra, holding him up in the air for all to see. Despite their status as enemies, Nagash had developed a begrudging respect for Settra and so, he made the King an offer. Submit and become one of his mortarchs or else face destruction.

Angered, the Lord of Nehekhara glared straight into the undead transcendents eyes. In a final gesture of contempt, he arrogantly and defiantly proclaimed "Settra does not serve. Settra rules!" If Nagash was disappointed with Settra's rejection, he did not show it. With a single flick of his finger, the God simply ripped his nemesis' body apart. In an act of disrespect, Nagash then cast the various pieces unceremoniously onto the sand dunes.

Settra still lived of course, for he was an imperishable undead being. Yet now, his life-force and consciousness remained trapped solely within his head. He had no more control over his body any more, which was swiftly covered by the Nehekharan sands. Unable to move or do anything, the once mighty monarch could do nothing but watch as Nagash single-handedly ended both his dynasty and his dominion.

Having finally conquered the ancient city that had defied him for so long, the dark sorcerer turned God vengefully raised Khemri to the ground, reducing it to dust. Calling upon his profane magics, the evil god eviscerated Settra's palace, his necropolis and his power base. Nagash's mortarchs, Vampires, undead hordes bore witness to this destruction, alongside the surviving Tomb Kings. For the latter, it was a clear indication that Settra's rule over them was finished. Nagash was the new, absolute leader of the undead, any that opposed him, would face the same fate as Settra and Khemri.

With this in mind, Settra's surviving forces pledged their allegiance to Nagash. Mustering his forces and retaking control of the Black Pyramid, the necromancer led the inhabitants of Nehekhara out of their homeland enmasse. Settra's remains were left behind, the Tomb Kings abandoning their former ruler to his fate. Thus it was that Settra's rule and the Reign of a Million Years came to an end.

### Restoration

“ The battle is only over if you wish it. You can be a King again „ ~ The Dark Gods of Chaos whisper to Settra after restoring him

Nobody knows for certain how long Settra’s disembodied head rested upon the sand dunes. Beneath the blazing sun of Nehekhara, even the King of Kings himself lost count. As the days stretched on endlessly, Settra could do nothing but stare upon the ruins of Khemri and nurture his hatred. His screams of frustration and anger managed to keep the carrion birds at bay, but the former monarch knew that he was only delaying the inevitable.

Settra, the man who had once commanded so much power, fear and respect had unquestionably reached his lowest point. Every day he would gaze upon the broken remnants of his once mighty capital. Settra’s champions were all dead, his loyalists cast from this plane into the afterlife. What remained of his people had abandoned their King and now served Nagash, the very man who had condemned them to an eternity of undeath.

For the first time in many years, Settra yearned for death, if only to free himself from his situation and torment. At the same time though, the immortal King wanted revenge upon the necromancer who had laid his legacy to ruin. Yet this train of thought did little to alleviate or change his situation. It appeared as though the former leader of the Tomb Kings was destined to face an ignominious end. The scavengers would eventually lose their fear, and Settra knew that when that happened his skull would be picked clean of flesh. His still living skull would then be covered, unceremoniously, by the rolling sands alongside the rest of his body and his civilization, to be forgotten forever.

Yet appearances can be deceptive. What Settra failed to realise, was that there were other forces at work in the world besides the will of Nagash or the Ancient Desert Gods. Whilst Settra’s own deities appeared to have abandoned their former champion, others existed and some of them were more than willing to answer to Settra's aspirations and take advantage of his skillsets.

The day that would alter Settra's destiny began like any other. As the sun rose over the horizon, Settra’s disembodied head once again gazed helplessly upon it. Before him lay the broken ruins of his former capital and the otherwise empty wastelands of Nehekhara.

Then suddenly, Settra felt something course through him. A power unlike anything that he had ever felt before. Magic and strength that was not his own. Without explanation, the Kings scattered body parts suddenly rose up from beneath their sandy graves and converged upon each other. A second later Settra’s mummified remains knitted themselves back together again. His body became whole once more, until finally the undead King found himself kneeling upon the sand dunes.

Reinvigorated, Settra clambered to his feet gazing mesmerized at his reanimated body. Not only was the Kings form restored, it was stronger than before. Strength such as he had never felt before now flowed through him and Settra knew immediately that he was more powerful than he had ever been, even at the peak of either of his previous lifetimes.

Despite this shift in fortune and unprecedented miracle, something still puzzled Settra. How was this possible? Who had restored him and to what purpose?

This question was quickly answered. Ears pricked for any disturbance, Settra suddenly detected a foul voice on the wind growing louder and louder with each passing second. As it drew closer, the Last King of Nehekhara realised that it was not a single voice that spoke to him, but four voices speaking as one. It did not take long for Settra to discern their identities; the voices belonged to Khorne, Nurgle, Slaanesh and Tzeentch. The Dark Gods of Chaos were the King of Kings benefactors and saviours on that day.

Always on the lookout for new pawns and ways to ensure their victory, the ever-scheming entities of the warp had come to recognise the potential danger imposed by Nagash. Recognizing Settra’s loathing for the necromancer, they had restored his body as a gesture of goodwill. With that done, the foul deities assured their new beneficiary that his battle with Nagash did not have to end here. Whispering foul promises into his ear, they collectively offered the undead ruler everything that he could possibly desire; true dominion over the earth and all its peoples, life everlasting, an eternal legacy, as well as every other material pleasure Settra could possibly think or dream of. All that was asked in return for this was a single boon: that Settra kill Nagash in the name of his new masters.

The Lord of The Deserts gave no response and the voices soon faded, convinced that Settra would now aid them. For a long time afterwards the fallen monarch continued to stare out across the empty deserts, upon the remnants of his once-mighty empire. Though he did not utter a single word, Settra's knew that the Chaos Gods were right. The battle did not have to end here at Khemri, Settra's course was now clear. Whilst his domain now lay in ruins and he was a King without followers, Settra still lived. The King of Kings had risen once again, greater and more powerful than ever before and his chance for revenge had come!

With nothing left for him in Nehekhara now, Settra abandoned his ancestral homeland. Travelling northwards on foot, he marched across the border, exiting his former kingdom for what (unbeknownst to him) would be the last time. The Imperishable monarch disappeared for some time following this. Nobody is certain where he went or what he got up to, for anybody unfortunate enough to encounter Settra within this time frame did not live to tell the tale.

### The Everchosen and The Suneater

Following an extended absence, Settra resurfaced after reaching the former Imperial City of Middenheim, which had recently fallen to the forces of Chaos. Having traversed the entire distance on foot without aid or support, the ancient monarch approached the newly conquered city without hesitation or fear. The exact nature of his reception is not clear but eventually, the King of Kings met with the very man that held the fate of the entire world at stake, Archaon the Everchosen. The pair conversed for some time, with Settra eventually revealing the reason why he had come to Middenheim. He wished to join the forces of Chaos in the coming battles. Having apparently accepted the Dark Gods proposition, the Imperishable King now offered to support the Everchosen in defeating the forces of Nagash.

Despite this proposition, Archaon was not impressed. Whilst undoubtedly aware of Settra’s reputation and exploits, he was the undisputed Champion of the Chaos Gods. Settra had no doubt told the Everchosen about his encounter with the foul entities they called Gods, but with the End Times upon them, Archaon needed more than just words if he was to going to accept Settra's offer. Instead, he told the undead monarch that if he truly wished to aid him, then Settra would need to prove himself. Thus, the Everchosen issued the King of Kings with a challenge.

Fortunately for Settra, he and Archaon shared a number of things in common: one of which, was that they did not tolerate dissent within their ranks. Whilst the most powerful, Archaon was not the only champion of Chaos gathering his forces here. Several other leaders were assembling their own forces at Middenheim, either in response to Archaon's own calling or the will of the Dark Gods. Amongst their number was the Ancient Dragon Ogre, Kholek Suneater. Arrogant, impatient and bloodthirsty, the rampaging Kholek was proving to be both reckless and uncontrollable, making him more of a hindrance than an ally to the Everchosen. Thus, Archaon's request to Settra was simple: kill the Dragon Ogre and take his place at the Everchosen's side.

Leaving the Champion of Chaos' presence, Settra strode purposefully through the fortification's searching for his adversary. He eventually found Kholek at the edge of the Chaos camp. When they met the ancient, mummified monarch faced a gargantuan unholy creature, even taller and older than he was. Undaunted, Settra told Kholek about who he was and why he had come. With the introduction over, the former master of the Tomb Kings challenged the prehistoric creature that had helped condemn his species to the service of Chaos to single combat. In complete contrast to the cowardly Nagash, the hubristic Kholek happily accepted Settra's challenge and with that the battle began!

Witness accounts claim that the battle between the undead monarch and the unholy beast lasted for four days. Such was the ferocity of their bout that it laid the forested landscape around Middenhein to waste. Recognizing what was at stake here, the two combatants battled without rest or restraint. Each sought the complete destruction of the other, both yearning to survive in order to fulfill their own twisted ambitions. In the end though ... Settra’s will was stronger!

With a final decisive slash of his khopesh, the Imperishable successfully decapitated his enemy. Kholek Suneater met his end upon the fields of Middenheim, his lifeless body crashing to the ground at Settra's feet. His mission completed, Settra personally dragged Kholek's severed head all the way through the Chaos camp back to the throne room, whereupon he threw the grizzly trophy at the Everchosen's feet. Point proven, Archaon bade Settra welcome to the forces of Chaos.

Now free to move throughout Middenheim, the King of Kings kept a low profile. He spent much of his time exploring the city, unanswerable to any of the Chaos champions. According to legend, Settra was searching for an ancient relic left by the Old Ones, the creators of the world, which could grant him even more power and hitherto an advantage over Nagash. Whether or not this true, the Imperishable undead bided his time. He did not need to seek out Nagash, for the fate of the entire world was now at stake and the central stage of it all was Middenheim. Thus, Settra knew that it was only a matter of time before the ascendant undead brought his forces here, where he would find the vengeful Lord of Nehekhara waiting for him.

### Settra’s Promise

“ NOBODY COMMANDS SETTRA! „ ~ Settra the Imperishable’s final declaration As the End Times entered its final stages, Settra's prediction came true. The enemies of Chaos - humans, elves, dwarfs, orks and undead - having formed an alliance of necessity launched a full out assault upon Middenheim. Calling themselves the Incarnates, their intention was to defeat the forces of Chaos once and for all, kill Archaon, and prevent the destruction of the Warhammer World. To do this, they launched several simultaneous assaults upon Archaon and the other champions of Chaos' forces, in a desperate bid to halt the Everchosens schemes. Fortunately for Settra, Nagash commanded the forces of the reanimated (Vampire and Tomb King alike) personally. However the King of Kings chose not to reveal himself immediately. Instead he waited, waiting for an opportunity to present itself when the Lord of the Undead was vulnerable.

In what would later prove to be one of the final battles of the conflict, Nagash's innumerable legions were pitted against the monstrous creatures of Throgg the Troll King and the human forces commanded by Sigvald the Magnificent. Despite the sheer number of skeletons, zombies and vampires Nagash unleashed upon them, the warp blessed champions forces held out. In the midst of the engagement, Throgg (who had killed Sigvald due to a previous insult) sought out Nagash seeking to challenge him, just as Settra had done previously and deal death to him personally. Instead, the Troll King would meet his own demise. Following a brief encounter with Arkhan whom he managed to injure gravely, he found himself restrained by the ascendant necromancers foul magics. When Throgg rejected Nagash's offer to switch sides, the Undead God used much of his remaining power to strip the Troll King of both his Chaos enhanced blessings and then his life.

Despite this success, Nagash's victory proved to be a hollow one. His chief mortarch was badly injured and despite his godly status, the necromancer was now almost completely drained. Not only had he been forced to expend a huge amount of magical energy in order to finally eliminate the Troll King, but the effort of having to constantly resurrect his followers, whom the Chaos forces were still 'slaughtering' in droves was taking its toll. Despite the loss of both of their commanders, the legions of the warp continued their onslaught. Having reached his limit, Nagash knew that he would have to retreat if he wanted to survive this day, he simply could not aid his followers any longer.

Moments later, a Chaos giant broke through the ranks and began reaching towards the downed Arkhan. Battered and exhausted, master and servant exchanged a knowing look. The latter's end had finally come.

Suddenly however, an unknown figure burst onto the scene, seeming to appear as if from nowhere. Leaping at the monster with inhumane speed, this currently unknown savior sliced off the behemoths limb at the wrist, before spinning on the spot and decapitating the giant with a single stroke. As the monsters lifeless body crashed onto the ground behind him, the figure turned about, allowing Arkhan to see who he was before turning his glare upon Nagash.

Time seemed to freeze and for a brief moment, the battle was forgotten. The eyes of every undead not committed to the fight widened in shock, especially those of the remaining Tomb Kings. None, however, recoiled more violently than Nagash. Before him stood somebody that the undead had thought long vanquished. An indomitable figure that all of the undead had seen destroyed, and yet ... there he was. For the second time that year, Settra the Imperishable, Nagash's archenemy, glared defiantly up at the man that had laid his kingdom and legacy to ruin.

The ascendant God shook his head, declaring that this was impossible for he was the master of the undead now. He had not resurrected Settra and thus Settra should not be here. For the first time since both his resurrection and ascension, Nagash was afraid. With his enhanced abilities, he could sense the overwhelming, unnatural power, which now flowed through and resided within Settra. The necromancer knew immediately that his adversary was, without a doubt, the most powerful combatant on that battlefield. Thus, still drained from his encounter with Throgg the Troll King and the restoration of his legions, Nagash was more vulnerable than he had ever been.

With a single motion, Settra raised his blade, pointing it defiantly up at Nagash, he addressed his rival with a single derogatory title, one befitting of a man who had taken everything from him. “USURPER!” he cried. With that the King of Kings proceeded to explain how the Dark Gods of Chaos had resurrected and restored him, before declaring that he had come to the battlefield with revenge on his mind.

Nagash barely had anytime to digest this information or call anybody to his side. Before anyone could react, the Imperishable leapt towards the necromancer at an almost imperceivable speed. Yet, this was not an attempt to strike a retaliatory blow against his adversary. On the contrary, Settra shot straight past Nagash and to everybody's astonishment, struck a death blow at the creature behind the necromancer. Taking advantage of the King of Kings distraction, a Greater Demon of Chaos had snuck up behind the God of the Undead, in a cowardly attempt to finish him off. Defying all expectations, Settra now beheaded the creature of the immaterium, decapitating it with a single strike.

Having saved Nagash's life, Settra turned back to the towering figure of his enemy. Raising his blade once more, the King of Kings told his stunned "subject" to enjoy his victory whilst he still could. The Lion of the Desert proclaimed that he would forgive "the Prince of Khemri's" treachery for the time being, provided that he aided his true King in the battles to come. Settra made it clear that a day of reckoning lay in store for the arch-traitor and that when all was said and done, he intended to have his vengeance. He would retake control of his people, then avenge the destruction of his empire. On that day Settra would do to Nagash what the necromancer had done to him. He would reduce Nagash to a living skull, which Settra would claim as a grizzly trophy, then destroy the rest of his body, insuring that the necromancer could never be restored again.

Fortunately for Nagash though, such a time would have to wait. The Lord of the Earth and the Heavens intended to punish his other enemies first. Despite everything that the evil sorcerer turned undead God had done to Settra, the Gods of Chaos had committed an even greater sin. They had foolishly believed that they could command Settra. It was here that the King of Kings revealed that his allegiance to Chaos had been a farce. Settra had never intended to serve the benign entities that called themselves Gods, nor did he believe in any of their false promises. The undead monarch had simply used their gifts to his own advantage. Now, with the world teetering on the brink of destruction, Settra declared that the ones who sought that destruction needed to learn their place. Khorne, Nurgle, Slaanesh and Tzeentch would pay dearly for daring to believe that they could direct him, because, after all, *nobody* be they God or corporeal commanded Settra!

With that the King of Kings launched himself back into the fray. Having defied the will of the Chaos Gods, Settra the Imperishable now switched sides and began fighting for the Incarnates. Turning the strength gifted to him by the entities of the warp upon their own subjects, Settra the Great, the last King of Nehekhara, defier of both Chaos and Nagash was last seen battling against the endless legions of the warp. He dealt death to innumerable demons, giants, chaos trolls, fallen humans, beastmen and dragon ogre's alike, in a desperate bid to save the world, so that he could rule over it.

Ultimately, however, the Incarnates failed to stop he Forces of Chaos. Despite the fall of innumerable champions (including Archaon himself) and the sacrifices of many heroes, the chaos ritual released enough demonic energy to shatter the planet. The explosion that followed resulted in the deaths of billions, if not trillions of people. Settra's ultimate fate remains unknown, for he has not been seen or heard of following this cataclysm on any of the eight planes. Many believe that he was consumed alongside the other unfortunates in the great calamity, but some think it trivial to believe the destruction of a planet would bring about the end of Settra the Imperishable, the King of Kings.

## Trivia

* Along with the rest of the Tomb Kings, Settra is clearly based off of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Whilst he has no specified historical comparison, Settra is probably based upon the warrior Pharaohs of the New Kingdom Period (the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties) who led Egypt during its Golden Age.
	+ That being said, he does bear some similarity to Menes, the Pharaoh of the 1st Dynasty who is believed to have unified Upper and Lower Egypt into one Kingdom.
* In a further link to Egypt, Settra’s name is a combination of two Gods from the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon; Set (also known as Seth) and Ra. In the Egyptian pantheon, Set was the ruler of the deserts, disorder and violence, whereas Ra (the God of the Sun) was believed to rule over all parts of the created world, including the sky, Earth and underworld. Given his uncompromising desire to conquer and rule, plus his dominion over the deserts, this name suits Settra perfectly.
* One of Settra's titles, King of Kings was historically used by Ancient Persian rulers.
* Settra's desire for immortality and the lengths he took to try and achieve it is similar to that of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China.
* Within the Warhammer fantasy genre, Settra is the only named character to reject the temptations of the Chaos Gods.
* Settra has yet to make an appearance within the sequel franchise to Warhammer Fantasy, the Age of Sigmar, leaving his true fate at the end of the End Times unknown.