Changes: Settra the Imperishable

Revision as of 12:31, 8 September 2020

“	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 and Eternal Sovereign of Khemri's legions to name a few.

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.

Biography

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 advan

ced 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. Then, on the anniversary of his coronation, Settra performed an elaborate ritual, in which he beseeched the Gods of the pantheon to grant him their favour 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.

The very next day, Settra’s request was 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 were still in their infancy. Whilst the priests' spells kept the Lord of the Earth alive for many years, it only delayed the inevitable. Age continued to take its toll upon Settra, until finally, it became clear to everybody, including the King himself that he was not long for this world. The quest for immortality had either been in vain or would not be realised during his lifetime.

As the Kings of Kings neared the end, the priests of the Mortuary Cult came to see him one last time. There they offered their ruler a compromise to his original desires. Whilst it would still take time, centuries even, the rituals they had unlocked and were continuing to perfect had the potential to ensure the restoration of the body and soul. They promised that when the time was right, they would resurrect Settra. The great King would rise from death in an imperishable body, to rule over a golden paradise that he would be his to control for all eternity in what they dubbed "The Reign of a Million Years". With no other recourse open to him, the dying Settra agreed to this proposal, though it did not appease him nor stop him from cursing his fate and the cultists with his last breath.

Thus it was that Settra the Great, the first Priest-King of Khemri and the unifier of Nehekhara passed away. In accordance with his wishes and the cult's instructions, the body of the monarch was embalmed and laid to rest at the heart of a magnificent complex, the newly constructed Great Pyramid of Khemri. This elaborate tomb was the largest structure in the city, a necropolis that easily surpassed any of the resting places of Settra’s predecessors or any of his successors. Powerful spells and incantations were placed upon Settra’s remains, and his tomb, so that he could rest undisturbed until the designated time of resurrection.

As was the tradition at the time, legions of Settra’s soldiers, retinue and retainers voluntarily followed their lord into death. Buried alongside him, they likewise rested beneath or within the great pyramid, awaiting the return of their Lord and their own restoration so that they could serve alongside him once more. What none of the unfortunate souls could have predicted was the terrible fate that awaited for them upon that fated time.

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

For the next two thousand years, Settra slept undisturbed within the Great Pyramid. His death brought a decisive end to Nehekhara’s prosperity. Whilst its civilisation continued to flourish, over time its empire’s borders shrank until finally they only encompassed the land of Nehekhara itself. Whilst many Kings rose and fell throughout the intermittent years, none ever managed to truly match the glory or splendour of Settra.

Yet even in death, the Kings influence was still felt. His legacy shaped the Nehekharan civilisation throughout the generations that followed his demise. As time passed, the Mortuary Cults gained greater influence and power. The many Kings and Queens of Nehekhara, especially those of Khemri, became obsessed with domination and immortality just like Settra had. 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 though, Nagash succeeded in his ambition. He managed 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 but not destroyed, Nagash bided his time, biding his time until he believed 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, a heinous spell that would destroy all living things in Nehekhara, then raise the corpses from across the land in Nagash’s personal army that he would use to conquer the few enemies that remained.

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. The last King of Nehekhara used this opportunity and his new weapon to avenge his fallen people, by striking down the necromancer before he could complete his spell. Despite this, it was still too late, the damaged reaped by Nagash’s incantation could not be undone.

Those still alive in Nehekhara had been killed, then brought back to life as undead skeletons. The land had been transformed from a metropolis into a barren desert, its once-mighty cities reduced to crumbling ruins. Thus it was that Nehekhara was transformed into the Land of the Dead. Within the great pyramids and necropoli scattered throughout the landscape, the long-dead Kings and ancient leaders of this once mighty civilisation stirred. Awakened by Nagash’s foul witchcraft, the mummified legions once again found themselves restored to the mortal plains, thus creating a new faction; The Tomb Kings!

Initially however, there was no unity. Civil war once again plagued the undead lands, as the Kings of the desert empire waged a seemingly endless war against each another. Just as they had done in life, each monarch sought total dominion over the others and the land Nehekhara, refusing and unwilling to unify against their potential enemies.

The King of Kings Returns/Settra’s Reconquest

One faction that remained unaffected by the actions of Nagash, was the Mortuary Cult. Having long since overcome the physical limitations imposed by their mortal bodies, the Liche Priests suffered no ill effects from Nagashs 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, their conflict inevitably leaving their mark on the already damaged land.

With the Nehekharan civilisation teetering on the brink of collapse Khatep, the Great Hierophant and leader of the Mortuary Cult, resolved to end the war once and for all. Oldest and wisest of the Liche Priests, he realised that if Nehekhara was to survive, the Tomb Kings once again needed an absolute ruler. One that could stop the infighting, keep the lesser Kings in order and preserve what little of their culture remained. Though he had lived for countless generations, and witnessed the reign of many a ruler throughout the centuries, Khatep had only one King in mind. The one that still rested within the Great Pyramid of Khemri.

Protected by powerful wards and incantations that even Nagash’s foul magic could not penetrate, the occupier of this particular tomb remained undisturbed, ignorant to the war raging around him and those interred alongside him. Taking advantage of the turmoil, Khatep marched through the war-torn Khemri, until finally, he stood beneath the Great Pyramids wake. There the Hierophant broke open the ancient seal, before entering the complex, making his way to its very heart. With the designated time at hand, Khatep personally stood before the great sarcophagi and spoke the enchantments of awakening. Moments later, Settra awakened!

It is not known what words were exchanged between the Hierophant and his monarch upon the latter’s reanimation. There can be little doubt that the King of Kings immediately recognised that something was awry, but from the information Khatep doubtless provided, the now undead monarch would have realised that an explanation would have to wait. Nehekhara was in peril and the lesser monarchs sought to challenge his rule once again. This was something that Settra, the Lord of the Earth and the Heavens would not tolerate.

With his veteran warriors likewise resurrected as undead skeletons, Settra led them out of the complex, stepping into the sunlight for the first time in millennia. Upon seeing the devastation and the carnage that lay all around him, Settra reacted as Khatep had anticipated. Entering the fray, Settra once again made his own bid for power. In an ironic echo of his mortal reign, Settra’s mighty legions once again clashed with those of the other monarchs. Settra was ruthless and uncompromising, demonstrating to everyone why he was called the King of Kings. Re-establishing control over his former capital, what began in Khemri was a dark foreshadowing of what was to come.

Settra’s armies swept across the inhospitable land, defeating everything in their wake. The monarchs that did not surrender or submit to Settra were ground to dust, a state from which even Nagash’s foul magics could not resurrect them. The armies of these defeated were subsequently incorporated into Settra’s own. Finally, the last great enemy, Arkhon the Black, the Liche King and right hand of Nagash surrendered. He bowed before Settra, offering what turned out to be false promises of fealty. Thus it was that after two years of fighting and numerous battles, Settra once again stood as the absolute ruler and High King of Nehekhara, as well as the undisputed 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 Tomb Kings civil war ended, and Nehekhara his once more, Settra finally turned his attention back to the state of his people and empire. Summoning the members of the Mortuary Cult to him, Settra finally demanded an explanation. What had happened to his once-mighty civilisation? 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?

Khatep, the very man who had awakened Settra, answered the Great Kings questions. He did so reluctantly and unwillingly, 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, that 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 his initial denials and anger, the King of Kings could not deny the reality of his situation. The empire he had once ruled 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'd once had. 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 his instructions. By order of their True King, the Tomb Kings were to return to their crypts en masse. With their original purpose now fulfilled, the remaining cultists i.e. the Liche Priests, were charged with the guardianship and protection of these tombs. From that day onwards, 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 be foolish enough to return, he would find the King of Kings waiting for him.

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, Arkhon, 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 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 Arkhon 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 Arkhon, 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 Arkhon, turned traitor. Instead of destroying the Lich King, he saved him, killing his fellow cultists, allowing Nagash to emerge from his hiding place inside Arkhon. 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 challenged the dark sorcerer to single combat. Knowing that for all his skill, he could not hope to best the King of Kings in combat, Nagash refused the Imperishable King. Instead, he used his magic to restrain Settra, holding him up in the air for all to see. Though they were enemies that lived had at different times, 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, Settra defiantly proclaimed "Settra does not serve. Settra rules!" If Nagash was disappointed with Settra's choice, he did not show it. With a single flick of his finger, the God tore his nemesis' body apart, which he then cast unceremoniously upon the sand dunes.

Settra still lived of course, for he was an imperishable undead being. Yet now, his 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. Defeated, unable to move or do anything the once mighty monarch could only watch, as Nagash single-handedly destroyed both his legacy and his dynasty. The dark sorcerer turned God personally raised Khemri reducing it to dust. His mortarchs, Vampires, undead hordes and the surviving Tomb Kings bore witness to this destruction in complete silence, taking heed that Settra's rule was finished. With this in mind, Settra's remaining forces pledged their allegiance to Nagash, following the necromancer as commanded, abandoning their former ruler to his fate.

Thus it was that 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 lay amongst the sand dunes. Beneath the blazing sun of Nehekhara, even the King of Kings himself lost count. As the days stretched on, Settra could do nothing but stare upon the ruins of Khemri, and dwell upon his hatred. His screams of frustration and anger managed to keep the carrion birds at bay, but the former monarch knew that he only delayed the inevitable.

Settra, the man who had once commanded so much power, fear and respect had reached his lowest point. Every day he would gaze upon the remnants of his capital, his former domain, unable to move or do anything. 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 of his situation and torment. Yet at the same time, the immortal King nurtured his hatred for Nagash, desiring revenge upon the necromancer who laid his legacy to ruin. It did little to change his situation, and it appeared as though the former leader of the Tomb Kings was destined to face an ignominious end. The birds would eventually lose their fear, and his skull would inevitably be picked clean of flesh. It would then be buried beneath the rolling sands alongside the rest of his body and his civilisation. This was the fate that Settra the Imperishable believed lay in store for him.

However, appearances can be deceptive. What Settra had forgotten was that there were other forces at work in the Warhammer World besides Nagash and the Ancient Desert Gods. Whilst Settra’s own deities appeared to have abandoned their champion, others existed. Ones that were not only keeping watch but were more than happy to take advantage of Settra’s desires, and his skillsets.

The day began like any other, with Settra’s disembodied head staring out across the empty wastelands at the rising sun. Then suddenly, Settra felt a power unlike anything he had ever felt before course through him. A deep strong magic, that was not his own. Without explanation, the Kings scattered body parts rose out from beneath the sands that Nagash had cast them upon. Covering upon each other, Settra’s broken body parts knitted themselves back together again until the undead King stood whole once more.

Reinvigorated, Settra clambered to his feet staring upon his restored body. Strength such as he had never felt before flowed through him, and Settra immediately realised that he was more powerful than he had ever been during either of his lifetimes. Despite all this one thing still puzzled the monarch; who had restored him and to what purpose?

Ears pricked, Settra suddenly detected a foul voice on the wind. 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; Khorne, Nurgle, Slaanesh and Tzeentch. The Dark Gods of Chaos were the King of Kings 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. Having restored Settra’s as a gesture of goodwill, 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 offered the undead monarch everything he could possibly want; true dominion over all the lands, life everlasting, as well as every other pleasure he could possibly think or dream of. All that was asked in return of this was a single boon: that Settra kills Nagash in their name.

The Lord of The Deserts gave no response. Long after the voices had faded, Settra continued to stare out across the deserts, upon the remnants of his once-mighty empire. Still, he did not utter a single word. His course was clear now.

Whilst his Kingdom now lay in ruins, and Settra was essentially a ruler without followers, the King of Kings has risen once again, greater, and more powerful than ever before. His chance for revenge had come!

With nothing left for him in Nehekhara now, the Imperishable King abandoned his ancestral homeland. Travelling northwards on foot, he marched across the border, leaving his former kingdom for what be the last time. The Imperishable monarch disappeared for some time after this, with nobody certain where he went or what he got up to. If anybody did encounter Settra within this time frame however, they did not live to talk about it.

The Lord of the Earth and The Everchosen

Eventually, the ancient monarch reappeared, having reached his ultimate destination of Middenheim, which had now fallen to the forces of Chaos. Without a moment’s hesitation, Settra entered the city. What exactly happened is not known, but eventually, the King of Kings personally met with none other than Archaon the Everchosen. Having apparently accepted the Dark Gods proposition, Settra now, in turn, offered his support to Archaon in the coming battles.

Although undoubtedly aware of Settra’s identity, his reputation, and his encounter with the Dark Gods, Archaon was still the ultimate Champion of Chaos. The End Times were upon them, so the Everchosen needed more than just words before he would accept anybody’s support. As such, Archaon demanded that Settra prove himself. To do so he issued the King of Kings a challenge.

Fortunately for King Settra, he and the Everchosen shared one thing in common: they would not tolerate dissent within their ranks. According to Archaon, the Ancient Dragon Ogre Kholek Suneater had become more of a hindrance than an ally. Arrogant and uncontrollable, even by Archaon, the Everchosen demanded the Dragon Ogres death in return for Settra’s position and sanctuary.

Leaving the Champion of Chaos' presence, Settra sought out Kholek (who was in the area) and challenged him. Unlike Nagash, Kholek was all too happy to oblige, and so it was that the former master of the Tomb Kings did battle with one of the Dragon Ogres that helped condemn his race to the service of Chaos. Witness accounts claim that the battle between the monarch and beast lasted for four days. Such was the ferocity of their bout that it laid the forested landscape around Middenhein to waste. Throughout their fight, the two combatants sought the complete destruction of the other, each of them yearning to survive for his own ambition.

In the end, Settra’s will was stronger. With a final slash of his khopesh, the former tyrant decapitated his enemy, before personally dragging his head back to the Everchosen’s throne. Having proven himself, Settra earnt his place amongst the Archaon's forces.

His job done, Settra bided his time knowing that he did not need to seek out Nagash. With the fate of the entire world now at stake, it was only a matter of time before the God of the Undead inevitably came to Middenheim. So, the vengeful Lord of Nehekhara waited.

Settra’s Promise

“	NOBODY COMMANDS SETTRA!	„
	~ Settra the Imperishable’s final declaration

As Settra predicted, the forces of the Incarnates eventually launched a full out assault upon Archaon's forces. An alliance of necessity, comprising of all the forces of Chaos’ enemies, the armies of the human, elven, ork and undead civilisations sought to defeat the Everchosen and prevent the malign magic of chaos from destroying their world. Amongst their numbers were Nagash’s legions of the reanimated (Vampire and Tomb King alike), commanded by the Lord of the Undead himself.

It was during the midst of the final battle at Middenheim, as the innumerable skeletal and zombie warriors continued to wage battle against the countless minions of chaos, that a figure strode confidently through the carnage. The eyes of every undead, especially those of the Tomb Kings turned in shock, as he made his way towards the necromancers positions. When Nagash himself eventually spotted this new adversary and recognised who it was, the destroyer of Nehekhara recoiled, staring at an enemy he had thought long vanquished.

For the second time that year, Settra faced his nemesis, the two leaders of the undead standing almost face to face. With a single motion, Settra raised his blade, pointing it at Nagash, before addressing his opponent by a single derogatory word, “USURPER!” With that, The King of Kings told the confused Necromancer how the Dark Gods had restored him, granting him the opportunity to kill Nagash. Yet the ascended undead had little time to digest this revelation or dwell on his mistake. Before Nagash could react, Settra the Imperishable leapt towards him with inhumane speed and strength.

As it transpired, this was not an attempt by Settra to land a retaliatory strike upon his enemy. Taking advantage of Nagash’s bewilderment and focus upon Settra, a Greater Demon of Chaos had snuck up behind the God of the Undead, in an attempt to finish him off. Defying all expectations, Settra now aimed not at the necromancer, but at the monster of immaterial, decapitating it with a single strike.

Turning back to the stunned Nagash, Settra once again pointed his sword straight at him, the King of Kings telling his opponent to enjoy his victory whilst he still could. Settra vowed that a day of reckoning lay in store for the arch-traitor. When the time was right, Settra would return to retake full command of his people. On that day, he would avenge the destruction of his country, before claiming Nagash’s skull as a grizzly trophy.

Fortunately for Nagash, such a time would unfold on Settra's own terms. Before dealing with the necromancer, the Lord of the Earth and the Heavens intended to deal with his other enemies first. Proclaiming that The Dark Gods of Chaos needed to learn their place, Settra revealed that his support to them had been a farce. He never intended to serve the benign entities that called themselves Gods, did not believe in their promises and had merely used their gifts to his own advantage. Now, they would pay for believing that they could order him about, after all, “NOBODY COMMANDS SETTRA!”

With that, Settra launched himself into the fray. Having defied the Chaos Gods and Archaon, the Imperishable King now switched sides and began fighting for the alliance. Settra the Great, the final King of Nehekhara and defier of Chaos was last seen battling against the endless legions of the warp in a desperate bid to save the world, if only so that he could rule over it.

Ultimately, however, the alliance failed. The forces of Chaos ritual shattered the planet, resulting in the deaths of billions/trillions of life forms. Whilst Settra is believed to have perished during this final calamity, the Imperishable Kings true fate, remains unknown.

External Sources

Warhammer Fantasy Wiki - Settra and The End Times
Lexicanum Wiki - Settra the Imperishable

Trivia

Settra, like the rest of the Tomb Kings, is clearly inspired by the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
Whilst there is no specified historical comparison, Settra was probably based upon the warrior Pharaohs of the New Kingdom Period (the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties) who led Egypt during its Golden Age.
In a further link to Egypt, Settra’s name is a combination of two Ancient Egyptian Gods; 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 all things, plus his dominion over the deserts, this name suits Settra perfectly.
One of Settra's titles, King of Kings was historically used by Persian rulers.
Settra's desire for immortality and the extent he went to find 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.

Villains Wiki