Ossiarch Necropolis

Ossiarch Necropolises are fortifications and cities of the Ossiarch Bonereapers created by the Mortisan order from bones according to the designs contained in Principia Necrotopia. While the blueprints allow some flexibility in certain areas certain principals are strictly adhered to giving Necropolises across the realms a resemblance to each other. The Ossiarch Empire is dotted with Necropolises made as much from human bones as they are from stone.^[1a]

Construction

When a new land is colonised by the Ossiarch Bonereapers formal tithe sites where the subjugated people leave the Tithe of Bone are constructed. These tithe sites are protected by magical auras that keep scavengers, vermin and even flora and fungi from taking the osseous bounty for themselves. Then small fortifications are built in defensible terrain which grow in size as more bones are collected. Next Mortisan workshops extending as much below ground as above dotted with pyramid-capped braziers in which the energies of captive souls can be held indefinitely are built. Strongholds and forges are erected which grow to incorporate weapons foundries, storage sepulchres and alchemist laboratories for the creation of further war assets. Finally when the curtain walls and gatehouses are completed the necropolis will cease to be built outwards and begin to climb upwards with the oldest complexes have spires and towers that claw at the sky.^[1a]

Roads of bone spread out across the wastelands following geomantic lines of power that Nagash has outlined to his Mortarchs. Where they reach the coast these roads will terminate in a small citadel or fortress, a waypoint at which the Ossiarchs can redress their ranks and take ship for the next stage of their journey.^[1a]

Functions

While powerful military strongholds that support the campaigns of Ossiarch legions and collection centers for the Tithe of Bones they are also centers of learning. Libraries exist in each major necropolis and they are tended to by stork-like creatures of fluted bone known as bibliopomps that fly to the relevant shelves and pluck out scrolls or grimoires in their proboscis-like beaks and bear them down to the Ossiarch scholars who requested them. When negotiations turn sour, the leaders of the Ossiarchs can research the best way to slay any that choose to rebel against their rule.^[1a]

Notable

• Gothizzar

Sources

• 1: Battletome: Ossiarch Bonereapers (2019)
  • 1a: The Ossiarch Necropolises, pg.10-11