The Tomb Kings of Khemri army in Warhammer: The Old World is a truly unique and visually striking force, embodying the ancient, desiccated might of a once-proud civilisation. Unlike the shambling, reanimated dead of the Vampire Counts, the Tomb Kings are not mindless zombies but rather the resurrected rulers and warriors of ancient Nehekhara, driven by the unwavering will of their mummified monarchs and the potent incantations of their Liche Priests. Their armies are a terrifying spectacle of bleached bone, rusted bronze, and an alien, ancient grandeur.
At the heart of every Tomb Kings army is the absolute authority of a Tomb King or Tomb Prince. These mummified rulers, often awakening with a renewed thirst for conquest, command their legions with a silent but absolute will. Their presence is vital, as the very cohesion and movement of the skeletal forces are tied to their magic. Alongside them stand the Liche Priests, the architects of the Tomb Kings’ unlife. These sorcerers of the Mortuary Cult wield the unique Lore of Nehekhara, which not only allows them to blast enemies with powerful curses and destructive magic but also to mend shattered bone and even re-animate fallen skeletons, ensuring the relentless advance of their army.
The rank and file of a Tomb Kings army consist of Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Archers, seemingly endless hordes of reanimated soldiers from millennia past. While individually weak, their strength lies in their numbers and their terrifying resilience. Being undead, they are immune to psychology and cannot be broken by fear or casualties, simply crumbling away if too much damage is inflicted upon them. This allows them to form unyielding battle lines, holding back even the most ferocious charges through sheer weight of numbers. Supporting these infantry masses are the swift Skeleton Horsemen and Skeleton Horse Archers, providing mobile flanking forces or harassing fire. The thundering charges of Skeleton Chariots, crewed by skeletal warriors or even the elite Tomb Guard, deliver powerful impact hits and sow chaos in enemy ranks.
Beyond the basic skeletal legions, the Tomb Kings boast a terrifying array of monstrous constructs and elite animated guardians. The heavily armoured Tomb Guard, the sworn protectors of the kings in life and death, wield great weapons or halberds, forming unyielding elite infantry blocks. Towering Ushabti stalk the battlefield, colossal animated statues often armed with massive bows or great blades, capable of cleaving through entire units. More exotic horrors include the serpentine Sepulchral Stalkers that emerge from the sands to strike down foes, and the swift Necropolis Knights, fearsome riders atop giant, coiling constructs. For truly devastating blows, the Tomb Kings can field immense Necrolith Colossi or the terrifying Necrosphinxes, gargantuan constructs that embody the wrath of the ancient gods. Finally, the Screaming Skull Catapult hurls enchanted, flaming skulls that ignite the very air, spreading fear and destruction. The Tomb Kings army is a stark reminder of a glorious past, a relentless, unfeeling force that seeks to reclaim its ancient glory and sweep away the living empires that now stand upon the sands of their ancestral lands.