Settrapolis
The haunted ruins of Settrapolis stand vigil in the sprawling Endless Deserts. A tangle of half collapsed statuary and abandoned temples crowd the thoroughfares of the city, testament to the destruction rained down upon it during the Age of Chaos. Even now, a mere shadow of its former glory, it still dwarfs all other settlements within the desert's boundaries. During the Age of Myth it was the most prosperous and powerful of the necropolis cities of the desert kings. Though they recognized no formal ruler as having sovereignty over the rest of them, the kings of Settrapolis undoubtably held sway within many rival's courts. Their armies were without end, a legion of the tireless dead ready to enact their commands at a moment's notice.
Arguably more important and influential was the fact that city was home to the Cult of Settra. During the tail end of the Age of Myth the power of the longstanding Mortuary Cult began to wane as a new religion rose. The legend of the Imperishable One is well known amongst all of the desert kingdoms, though most think the myth himself is long gone, lost to the mists of time. Some of the younger kings even doubt he ever existed. Despite this, there were those who believed that he still existed within the Mortal Realms, lost and waiting to be found. They believed this with such fervor that they bent all of their will towards scouring the Realms for signs of their lost king, believing him to be the only one who could deliver them from the tyranny of Nagash. As time wore on these devout believers gathered even more followers to their cause until the Cult of Settra became the single most powerful group amongst the sands. Many of the other desert revenants did not agree with the Cult's edicts, but had little choice but to at least fane compliance lest they face the full might of Settrapolis' armies. Emissaries were sent out to every necropolis to propagate the Cult's beliefs with varying levels of success.
When Archaon's hordes spilled into the dunes of the Endless Deserts they saw Settrapolis as their prime target, believing it to be the central area of authority. For years battles raged outside its walls, the frenzied followers of Chaos battling against the skeletal legions, neither side showing any signs of tiring. At first the other necropolises lent their might to that of Settrapolis' but as their own cities came under siege they were forced to withdraw to protect their own interests. Many kings never even sent aide, seeing this as an opportunity to rid themselves of the troublesome Cult of Settra once and for all. As time wore on even the might of the greatest necropolis of the deserts was unable to weather the storm of Chaos that now battered at its walls. During one particularly brutal assault the walls were breached by the hell machines of the Zharr and within the span of a week the city was gutted. Its kings were hung from the walls, unable to die as they watched their own city burn and the priests of the Cult were either put to the sword or fled into the dunes. Thinking themselves triumphant, the hordes of Chaos were unprepared for the stubborn defense and eventual counter attack from the other necropolises which finally broke the horde.
With the Chaos threat mitigated, many of the remaining priests of the Cult of Settra that were spread throughout the kingdoms knew their time was at an end. Without the protection of Settrapolis they either fled or were executed by spiteful kings and the jealous priests of the Mortuary Cult. The ruins of Settrapolis itself were left unreclaimed, many seeing it as a slight on their honor they would rather forget. Since its fall no single necropolis has been allowed to gather as much might and influence as it once held. Ironically in a land of the dead the only inhabitants that call it home are the living. Various war bands of Chaos vie for power within it's ruins and adventurous treasure seekers from Bétone and the Duardin holds ply its haunted streets hoping to find ancient relics of tremendous worth.
To this day it is said that the laments and moans of the city's defeated kings can still be heard within its streets and upon the wind as they hang from the walls, denied the escape of a true death for centuries untold...