Editing Nehekhara (section)

===The Great Desert (of Araby)===
The implications of when in lore it is called The Great Desert Of Araby imply the Tomb Kings just call it the Great Desert. While not the most dangerous place in Nehekhara, it is the most naturally hostile.

In Total War: Warhammer the region is controlled by the Rakaph Dynasty, who have apparently decided to be independent of Khemri since Settra is in charge. King Hakor rules it, which is all we know about him aside from his real life namesake having a short rule where he struggled to claim legitimacy, formed important alliances with the Greeks, then left rulership to a son who was deposed within months. Ultimately this serves as an amusing historical reference to the existence of Rakaphs as a minor faction to be merged with or destroyed early on in the game. Due to an amusing glitch it was possible for multiple King Hakors to spawn although CA hasn’t yet given a lore explanation like other glitches have received.

* The Black Tower Of Arkhan
Originally a structure that Arkhan had built by the enslaved citizens of Bhagar following his conquest, the kuch smaller sister to Nagash’s Black Pyramid that was built with the same techniques and materials. After refining his skills here he left to get repeatedly killed. The tower itself is situated along the southern approach to Khemri, functioning as a watchtower and garrison when Arkhan (or whoever currently occupies the tower) feels loyal to Khemri. The tower draws evil magic like the Black Pyramid but isn’t depleted, causing the surrounding areas to be pretty evil and full of the wicked things found in Nehekhara and beyond feeding on the evil air, or are just drawn to it. The catacombs are full of ghosts, and more physical creatures dwell when the tower has a master. As of the “present day” on the tabletop Arkhan has returned and reclaimed it while expanding it into almost a mini-kingdom, although his undead army only consists of skeletons from an unknown source. He pimps out his services as a mercenary until End Times when the tower is just kind of forgotten. In Total War: Warhammer he actually begins his activity at war with the other Tomb Kings and in control of Araby. The tower is controlled by the Rakaphs, and in many cases other factions will claim it from them before him.

* Pools of Despair
Treated in TW:W as a settlement that the Rakaphs occupy, but the source for the name is actually from the 6e TK Army Book which names them as a type of mirage, either magical or produced by some cruel intelligence, where dying travelers spot an oasis and actually manage to feel the cold water before its sand again. This city may be a subjugated Arabyan town on a real oasis, some Tomb King Necropolis city (maybe even the source of the illusions as a western protection for Khemri), or some form of semi-permanent war camp for the Rakaphs.

* Bel Aliad
Originally founded as one of the great cities of Nehekhara until Nagash destroyed it during his first asshole-spree. We don’t know anything else about it from this time.

It was later settled and rebuilt as an Arabyan city nicknamed “The City Of Spices”, their capital until Arkhan destroyed it. It presents something of a lore contradiction since not only did it survive Nagash’s “kill everything” spell, being destroyed two years later in -1149 IC, but Araby didn’t unify until Nehekharans were long gone and even if they had they wouldn’t have had a trading hub since their trade partners were either being skullfucked in apocalyptic wars or were still primitive tribals. Presumably some of Arkhan’s skeleton army came from here.

What’s left is being reclaimed by the desert, attracting adventurers seeking its treasures from both civilizations but only enough have returned to fuel more expeditions. In TW:W it begins as Ruins that are settled to complete the region bonus and counteract the negative influence of Arkhan’s tower.

* El-Kalabad
An Arabyan city that still belongs to them. It only exists as a name on a map in WFB and in TW:W it Is owned by Eshin Skaven, likely due to Araby not being a faction present in the game. Its found as a port along the Gulf Of Medea south of the Great Desert and in the Vortex campaign is considered part of the Land Of Dervishes.