The Veiled One : Background

After years of planning, the legendary Zamoran thief, Shevatas, travels into the wasteland that lays across eastern Stygia and Shem, to the ruins of Kuchthemes.  He has found the means to bypass the traps that guard the tomb of Thugra Khotan, the last priest-king of that ancient and evil city, and steal the incredible wealth it hides.

Only too late does Shevatas realise that Thugra Khotan is not a dead and crumbling mummy, but a living being woken from a three millenia long sleep by his intrusion.  The Zamoran pays for his temerity with his life.

Thugra Khotan raises some of his ancient servitors from their own sleep, among them Aetulla, a Zhemri necromancer, and sets into motion his plan to restore Kuthcheme and exact revenge on the Hyborians who sacked his city so very long ago.

None of this is known in Hyboria.  What reaches the ears of the kingdoms of the West, in the year 26, is that a prophet has risen among the nomads that inhabit the great desert to the east of Shem and Stygia, and that many tribes of Shem are flocking to his banner.  His name is Natohk, which means "The Veiled One".  His identity is a mystery, but rumours abound that he practises necromancy and suppléments his army with a host of undead.   The cities of Shem have called up their armies to stand against him, and the Stygian priest-kings, obviously feeling threatened, have done so too.  One amongst them, however, the Prince Kutamun, has taken five thousand chariots and sworn loyalty to the Veiled One.

The regent Yasmela of Khoraja, and the newly crowned Queen Taramis of Khauran have declared their intention to stand against Natohk, but Strabonius, Emperor of Koth, their enemy, refuses in any case to consider Natohk as anything other than a crazed fanatic.  Ophir, who is holding Yasmela's brother captive, will not lift a finger to assist Khoraja; the other kingdoms are too far removed to be concerned.  As for Turan, its Grand Sultan hopes to exploit the coming chaos to his advantage.  None are aware of the terrible danger that Thugra Khotan truly represents to the civilised world.

Aetulla is dispatched by Natohk to bring him one of the two women in Hyboria who might become his bride : Icilia, the Divine Adoratrice of Ibis.  Proud and arrogant and quick to anger, Aetulla lacks discretion and comes swiftly to the attention of the sorceress Nuala, as well as watchmen of Mitra such as Cadmendin.