Daughters Of Neferata: The Lahmians

Daughters Of Neferata: The Lahmians
compiled by Thanis Ianakussis

Lahmian vampiress; image copyright © 2002 Games Workshop Of the original vampiric bloodlines of the Warhammer World, the one which to this day remains closest to its ancient roots, is Neferata's own. Having fled with her sisters of the Cult of Blood (a sisterhood made up from Neferata's favourite ladies-in-waiting), she was already far to the north and safe from the purging wrath of the Nehekharan armies when their attack struck the city of Lahmia. Nothing was heard of them for many centuries until, at a place in the southern World's Edge Mountains, where rock meets the desert sands, and called the Silver Pinnacle by the dwarfs, something strange took place.

The dwarfs had been mining in this remote part of the mountain range for silver and precious gems, and had raised a small stronghold. One night, an invading horde somehow infiltrated the gates, and took the unsuspecting defenders by surprise, driving them from their bastion. The attackers were neither goblins nor skaven, the traditional enemies of the dwarfs, but fleshless skeletons and shambling zombies, animated by dark necromantic magics. The event is still recorded in the Book of Grudges, and is yet unavenged. The entry describes the sorceress leading the attack as the 'Queen of Evil'. Today, centuries since the incident, and although the dwarfs are gone from the land, travellers still tread within sight of the dwarf's former abode. Some even have visited the place, and have returned to their homelands. Their tales speak not of horror as would be expected, but of a splendid court, arrayed in the fashions of some ancient civilisation and of a palace carved out of rock, with marble statues and walled adorned with other-worldy inscriptions. Yet it is a place of darkness, where the light of day is not permitted to enter. The queen who rules here is said to be of exquisite beauty, attended by young handmaidens for which any man would die - this is also literally true!

Stories of the Palace of the Night Queen have been told for centuries, in Bretonnian ballads, Imperial scripts, and Tilean poems. Its legend reaches as far as the kasbahs of Araby and sweat lodges of Kislev. Neferata herself is said to reside in the heart of the labyrinthial palace, her opulent quarters an echo of the ancient Nehekharan splendour. Forgotten treasures of gold and gemstones, face-masks and jewellery glitter in the darkness, illuminated only by the dim light of flaming, silver-coated skulls which serve as lamps and torches. Here Neferata herself, "she who is beautiful in death", lies on a divan, sipping the blood of handsome youths from crystal glasses, while her courtiers, lesser vampiresses, play harps, pipes, and lutes, or dance and sing to amuse their mistress.

The guards of Silver Pinnacle are said to be swathed in black, and show not their faces. They shuffle around, and handle their weapons jerkily, as if half-asleep. The palace's interior is described as dark, lit as if by moonlight. The queen of the mountain is never seen or spoken to directly. She conducts business from behind seven veils, and her voice is beguiling. It is also believed that she breeds cats. There is a Tilean tale about a merchant who was given a black cat. Halfway to Tilea, the cat disappeared, but sitting in his wagon was a beautiful lady. He had no idea where she had come from, but took her on to Tilea, asking no questions. There she paid him for the journey, bade him farewell, and entered the monastery of a religious sisterhood. Another tale tells of a Bretonnian knight, who reutnred from his quests with a pale, beautiful lady, praised by the troubadours. He made her his wife, and lady of his castle. Guests of the knight observed that the lady only showed herself at night-time banquests, drank goblets of red wine, and ate no other food.

These, and many other legends reveal, to those wise enough to see, how the Lahmian bloodline of Neferata has spread into countless lands. All Lahmian vampires are descended from Neferata, who is said to despise men, and consequently very few Lahmians are male. Instead, enchantingly beautiful maidens are chosen from amongst noble Imperial, Tilean or Bretonnian families and granted the Blood Kiss. They strive to gain control of the humans and elves around them with cunning, seduction and intrigue, rather than the force of arms or intimidation. No other vampires excel in infiltrating human society in the same way as the Lahmians.

The presence of the Lahmians is seldom noticed, but their hand is certainly felt. They may lack the brute strength and martial skill of, say, the von Carsteins, but in subtlety they are un-matched. They can achieve their aims with politics and planning, and are hedonistic, self-indulgent creatures who love splendour, wealthy and luxury, and will stop at nothing to get what they desire - but they cannot taste food or enjoy the warmth of the sun. Their cold hearts can feel no deep emotion, for their lovers rarely last a night, and though their youth and beauty is eternal, they are abhorred by people once discovered. Their joys are hollow, and material, and for most, that is all for which they wish.

Lahmian vampires are as fast as quicksilver, even more so than their cousins of other bloodlines. They can move so quickly that they are but a blur to the mortal eye, and only the sharp-eyed and quick-witted can follow their actions, though their martial skill is inadequate compared to their Blood Dragon counterparts. Their talons reach to all levels of human society, and the Lahmians take an active interest in state affairs, and, as a result, many eccentric noblewomen, widows of princes and dukes, and high-born ladies who shun the light of day and lock themselves away in tall towers and opulent palaces, are in truth undead. They have a great talent for art and diplomacy, and their powerful personalities hold an irresistable charm for mortals, for hot-blooded males and gullible women alike. However, a Lahmian temper matches her bodily quickness, and are very easy to anger, and hard to appease.

In remote corners of the Old World, whole townships have fallen under the dominion of the Lahmians. Unliving garrisons guard the gates so that none can escape, and vampires form a primarily female aristocracy which feeds on mortal cattle each night, often seducing particularly attractive victims and enjoying pleasures of the flesh before that of the blood. Such places must be purged with fire and steel, but many an army of Witch Hunters have failed in their attempts. The Lahmians, unlike the other vampires of the Old World, keep in close contact with each other, and are readily supportive of each other, and it is said, and this is blasphemous beyond anything that I have written thus far, that often they enjoy orgies of blood, dressing in spiked black leathers and feeding from each other as well as from their mortal slaves, conferring delight to each other and pain to anybody else; these vampiric joys are often accompanied by acts of cruel sadism. Other vampires are also tortured mercilessly; the Lahmians despise all but their own bloodline.

Terrible is the line of Neferata, and its true motive, its final purpose, is tragically unfathomable. May the Gods deliver us from the Daughters of the Night Queen.

Back To The Study

^Top