- Location
- Mists of Albion
I'm just saying, if her personality was based off her traits then we have a 'Cersei Lannister Light - Now without the Incest'
Blood of the Gods: A Fantasy CKII Quest
- Thread starter Cavalier
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Do we have a brother?
- Pronouns
- They/Them
We're Egyptian, so it's a good thing we didn't have a brother...
Also, I think we need to raise our Martial next turn. You might say, "Why, we have great Martial" but I potentially want to tempter Wrath, if it is at all possible, but if I do, that means lower Martial.
So, best to raise it a little bit rather than be shocked when it tanks.
We'd be married to them instead.
Which would also be an issue for our future children of course, unless we want to risk the displeasure of the gods and people for going against ancient traditions.
Interlude #1
- Location
- Southern Virginia
Interlude #1
The Womb of the Earth
You fall into the cushions of your bed drained by the practice for the coronation. Hours of standing rigidly still, wearing the heavy Double-Crown, bearing the mace of authority, and repeating ritual invocations have exhausted you. You've been doing nothing else since the season of Inundation began. Your patience has held out but you've been bored and cross as the days wear on, and now look forward only to the culmination of the ceremony. Then you will be Queen and all of it will be over.
There are no servants around as you wearily peer out through the balcony of your chambers at the Moon rising in glory over the Nile nearby. The moon is the pale red of blood diluted with water, an omen of significance for your priests. You hope it is not an ill one. The oracles of Nekhbet and Wadjet had been positive. The executions of corrupt officials had been another omen of sorts as well, and the people had been quieted with foreign grain. That should have been enough.
The image of the pale red Moon remains with you as you drift off into sleep.
You are plunged into the deepest darkness. It is not merely the midnight darkness of night, but rather the complete absence of light. The air is warm and wet, comforting in your nudity. Your sense of fear is not aroused; a rhythmic thump-thump-thump sounds around you, through you, providing a steady beat of reassurance. You know in a way beyond mere understanding that you are in no danger. You simply wait for something to happen while floating serenely in the black.
After a few seconds or a hundred years you feel solid rock beneath your feet. A fwoosh announces the lighting of a grand bonfire ahead of you. You glance around and see pillars of rock dripping down from a shrouded ceiling to the ground, and the cave extending on deep into unknown Stygian depths. You hear the crystal rush of an underground spring replace the heartbeat that had comforted you. The shadows around the bonfire dance as the light flickers, their motions beckoning you closer. You step forward in a daze into the circle of illumination formed by the pyre.
The shadows shift, a trick of light plays across your eye. Your mother stands by the side the bonfire. She wears her foreign priestess garb; a thick, colorful cotton skirt and midriff covering white apron, with bared breasts and her long, wild hair strewn with a garland of lilies. An asp winds its way around her shoulders, tongue flicking in and out toward the fire.
"My daughter," she intones. Her eyes, blue as the clear desert sky, pierce through you. "You are no longer a child. You are now a maiden in first bloom. There is much I was unable to do as your mother. But there is a heritage that belongs to you and I will not fail to pass it on."
The fire stokes itself in a blaze at her words.
She steps toward you, swaying lightly with every footstep. She takes your hand in hers. "I cannot initiate you in the fullness of the old ceremony. Much is lost, and I am alone in this land. But know that you must keep this knowledge hidden. It may only be passed on from mother to daughter."
You nod, transfixed in the moment.
Your mother squeezes your hand. "So be it. In the name of sacred Hekate the wise, Demeter the mother, and Persephone the maiden, I hereby pledge to pass on the sacred knowledge of the cosmos to my daughter. This knowledge was passed down by my mother, from her mother, and so on unto our foremother Atalanta, priestess of Gaea. So shall it be unto the last generation."
"These are foreign gods," you state numbly.
"Yes and no. For the time being that understanding suffices." Your mother smiles wanly. "Some lessons must wait. For now, understand the beginning of the world. It was not among still waters and the self-pleasure of some supine male deity, as the people of Kemet believe. To birth life is the privilege of the female. Life begins in the womb. The Great Goddess created the world as an act of birth. This sacred cave represents the world as potential within her womb, and the sacred fire represents the force of life- the soul."
You gaze into the fire and ponder her words. The creation of the world by Atum was disputed by the priests of Ptah, and the priests of Ra linked him to Creation by way of Amun. All male gods employing some abstract metaphor to explain how they provided the spark of life to a receptive universe. That the act of Creation was a literal act of generation is a new perspective.
And you rather liked the idea of a great goddess. Though, something about the concept bothered you. "If the world was created by a goddess, why are all the gods in the stories male?"
"Men have their own power and their own stories, and they have won out," she answered. "But in the ancient days before the Deluge the truth was known and accepted. The priesthood of the Great Goddess was respected and held authority. It is not so anymore. In a time nearly forgotten the great world-empire was shattered, and in the ruins the strength of men was needed more than the wisdom of women. The Holy Island survived as an exception but it too is perished beneath the waves. Lore is forgotten or made to serve the ends of men who rule.
Though, this nation of Kemet is very different from others in that respect. The land itself replicates the cycle of female power. The priesthoods of Kemet pretend the fertility comes from men, that the earth which bears its fruit of grain is a god, but they cannot deny their intuition completely. Women are more than property. You will be able to rule in your own right, even if the fools believe you will not pass on your divine blood. You have freedom here that most women on this fallen earth would never dream of, and that is why I consented to bear you here. Remember that."
"I will."
"Good. We will talk more of that later, but for now…" Your mother waves a hand, and the fire stokes itself up into a pillar of flame illuminating the entire cave. "It is on the soul that we focus your initiation. Feel the warmth of the flames on your skin. Close your eyes, and concentrate entirely on it."
You dutifully shut your eyes. You see and hear nothing, but the fire still burns and the heat is a comfort that something still exists. Your skin heats up and you begin sweat. You wonder what the point of the exercise is, but you try to concentrate on the warmth. The warmth is all.
Finally you feel a hand on your shoulder and a whisper in your ear. "Open your eyes, my daughter. There is no fire."
You blink, and return to the nothingness beyond darkness that greeted your entrance to this dream-realm. No fire, no mother, no presence, nothing; but then you hear the beating again. The beating of your own heart? It reassures you that you exist.
"Focus on the fire," your mother commands again. "Feel the warmth."
You strain, trying to make sense of what she wants. But the path of least resistance is to again close your eyes. You picture the fire in your mind's eye. It burns brightly in the featureless darkness. It crackles, and as you peer ever closer into the imaginary fire you start to feel a warmth spreading through you. It radiates outward from your core, washing over you in waves before leaving your skin tingling. The fire was inside of you; it was real and not real at the same time, it did not exist and yet it warmed you.
"Kemet believes the soul is divided into many parts. They are mistaken. But the concept of the Ka is… useful." Your mother's voice echoes in your mind, though you do not hear her through your ears. "The body is animated by a vital force. This essence is a pyre which burns and sputters and intensifies and sputters, and in the end dies out. But it is a fire and like a fire it may be stoked and fed. Simply to recognize the fire is the beginning of control; and once you control a fire, you may use it."
You concentrate on the fire inside. It can burn brighter still. You will it to. There has to be something to fuel the fire. Something to bring it blaring to life. You can't think of what it is. Your thoughts race and your focus begins to slip, but you feel a firm touch on your shoulder and relax.
"You are thinking too much, my daughter. The fire is part of you." Your mother's voice intensifies after a brief pause. "WILL IT."
If the fire is a part of you, you realize, then you control it like any other part. Breathing, swallowing, blinking… and you can will those without thought. You empty your mind and calm yourself. You breathe in and out, forcing your inhalation and exhalation. The fire is to be controlled the same way. There is no method of forcing the fire to burn brighter. You will it so without needing to do anything beyond pay attention to it.
The fire in your mind's eye expands, twisting up into the darkness and overwhelming you with a raw fury of heat. You stagger back and open your eyes, only to find the pyre shrunk and barely casting a warm glow out in the cave. Your mother stands by with a wooden rod and nurses the embers.
"A fire which burns brightly burns briefly," she comments. "You know the secret to control of your essence now. But it will last only a while before it gutters. You can extend that length with the right exercises and meditation, and restore the fire with food and rest and… other means. We will discuss them in due time. But now you want to know what you can do with that fire, don't you?"
The experience has you shaken, but the prospect of translating that experience into real power entices you. You nod. "Am I to learn your magic as well, mother?"
"Such of it as you can," she answers. "And we shall begin with the simplest of lessons. Your fire creates light, and light creates shadow. To control shadows is to carry with you the means of concealment and obfuscation. There are greater powers possible, but we start here because the veil of shadow is a reminder of the cavern that is the womb of the goddess."
In demonstration she brings her rod up from the fire and swings it around the now-diminished fire. A cloak of darkness forms as it swings around the edge of the light, obscuring her. And then she shakes the rod and the shadows shatter, dispersing back to the darkness. As she does so the pyre burns up again, flames licking up and sending sparks flying out.
You knew she controlled shadow, and this was a mere triffle. But it was still an amazing display. "How?"
"Think of your flame. Fire it." Your mother walks over to you and presses her hand against your brow. The snake around her shoulders leans out and flicks its tongue at you. "And when your essence is stoked, imagine the light it gives off. See the shadows it creates. Grab hold of them as you would grasp a a solid object. And in the material world here, the shadows will respond."
You're not sure how exactly this is going to happen, but the lessons in controlling your inner fire remain. Stoking it is no challenge now, and soon your skin is covered in sweat and you feel feverish. You have to close your eyes to imagine the fire and the shadows. You try to grasp the shadow but it evades your grip, not as immaterial air but rather as if it wanted to avoid your grasp. You stumble forward as you reach and reach… and grasp hold of a piece of shadow.
You open your eyes to see an ephemeral curve of darkness winding its way between you and the fire. You squeal in delight and play around some more with it. You can bring the shadow around as a cloak, as mother said. You soon find that you can more selectively use the shadow to manipulate lighting and by obscuring your eyes keep others from seeing into your soul. Your mother looks on with approval.
You have the idea to take hold of your own shadow. The sheut is part of the soul, like the ka and ba, so you're curious what will happen. You try to wrap it around yourself, but as you grab the shadow you feel a hand constricting around your throat. Alarmed, you let go and the shadow snaps back in place.
"Do not lightly toy with your own shadow," your Mother warns you. She had stepped forward in alarm when you started choking. "The shadow is not a part of the soul, as the priests of Kemet would have it, but it is an… emanation of yourself. That means it is a link to your body and your soul. To grab another person by their shadow allows a great deal of power over them, if you know to use it properly. You need no such knowledge to do yourself great harm by seizing your own shadow."
You shudder and nod to her. "Yes mother. I won't do that again."
"Good. Understand that this is the barest foundation of true knowledge of the world. You know only a little more than nothing. Do not believe otherwise." But she pats your head affectionately, and you squirm, even as she delivers the warning.
You experiment a little more, but the fire wanes even further as you practice. Your cloak of shadows is nowhere near so fluid and opaque as your mother's. It seems much cruder for some reason but you attribute that to her greater magical knowledge and experience. Perhaps in time you can do as well, or better. And what she said about the shadow of a person was quite interesting. You wouldn't mess around with that again until you knew what you were doing, but you resolved to find out what you were doing.
"That will be enough," your mother announced as the fire died. One moment later you were plunged into full darkness. "You must rest now and recover your strength. Two more great lessons do I have to teach you, my precious daughter, blood of my blood. Two more lessons do I have to teach you, my acolyte, blood of the Goddess. Two more lessons does Kirke the priestess of Gaea have to pass on to her disciple."
With that the dream shattered as if an illusion and you drifted back into deep sleep.
The Womb of the Earth
You fall into the cushions of your bed drained by the practice for the coronation. Hours of standing rigidly still, wearing the heavy Double-Crown, bearing the mace of authority, and repeating ritual invocations have exhausted you. You've been doing nothing else since the season of Inundation began. Your patience has held out but you've been bored and cross as the days wear on, and now look forward only to the culmination of the ceremony. Then you will be Queen and all of it will be over.
There are no servants around as you wearily peer out through the balcony of your chambers at the Moon rising in glory over the Nile nearby. The moon is the pale red of blood diluted with water, an omen of significance for your priests. You hope it is not an ill one. The oracles of Nekhbet and Wadjet had been positive. The executions of corrupt officials had been another omen of sorts as well, and the people had been quieted with foreign grain. That should have been enough.
The image of the pale red Moon remains with you as you drift off into sleep.
You are plunged into the deepest darkness. It is not merely the midnight darkness of night, but rather the complete absence of light. The air is warm and wet, comforting in your nudity. Your sense of fear is not aroused; a rhythmic thump-thump-thump sounds around you, through you, providing a steady beat of reassurance. You know in a way beyond mere understanding that you are in no danger. You simply wait for something to happen while floating serenely in the black.
After a few seconds or a hundred years you feel solid rock beneath your feet. A fwoosh announces the lighting of a grand bonfire ahead of you. You glance around and see pillars of rock dripping down from a shrouded ceiling to the ground, and the cave extending on deep into unknown Stygian depths. You hear the crystal rush of an underground spring replace the heartbeat that had comforted you. The shadows around the bonfire dance as the light flickers, their motions beckoning you closer. You step forward in a daze into the circle of illumination formed by the pyre.
The shadows shift, a trick of light plays across your eye. Your mother stands by the side the bonfire. She wears her foreign priestess garb; a thick, colorful cotton skirt and midriff covering white apron, with bared breasts and her long, wild hair strewn with a garland of lilies. An asp winds its way around her shoulders, tongue flicking in and out toward the fire.
"My daughter," she intones. Her eyes, blue as the clear desert sky, pierce through you. "You are no longer a child. You are now a maiden in first bloom. There is much I was unable to do as your mother. But there is a heritage that belongs to you and I will not fail to pass it on."
The fire stokes itself in a blaze at her words.
She steps toward you, swaying lightly with every footstep. She takes your hand in hers. "I cannot initiate you in the fullness of the old ceremony. Much is lost, and I am alone in this land. But know that you must keep this knowledge hidden. It may only be passed on from mother to daughter."
You nod, transfixed in the moment.
Your mother squeezes your hand. "So be it. In the name of sacred Hekate the wise, Demeter the mother, and Persephone the maiden, I hereby pledge to pass on the sacred knowledge of the cosmos to my daughter. This knowledge was passed down by my mother, from her mother, and so on unto our foremother Atalanta, priestess of Gaea. So shall it be unto the last generation."
"These are foreign gods," you state numbly.
"Yes and no. For the time being that understanding suffices." Your mother smiles wanly. "Some lessons must wait. For now, understand the beginning of the world. It was not among still waters and the self-pleasure of some supine male deity, as the people of Kemet believe. To birth life is the privilege of the female. Life begins in the womb. The Great Goddess created the world as an act of birth. This sacred cave represents the world as potential within her womb, and the sacred fire represents the force of life- the soul."
You gaze into the fire and ponder her words. The creation of the world by Atum was disputed by the priests of Ptah, and the priests of Ra linked him to Creation by way of Amun. All male gods employing some abstract metaphor to explain how they provided the spark of life to a receptive universe. That the act of Creation was a literal act of generation is a new perspective.
And you rather liked the idea of a great goddess. Though, something about the concept bothered you. "If the world was created by a goddess, why are all the gods in the stories male?"
"Men have their own power and their own stories, and they have won out," she answered. "But in the ancient days before the Deluge the truth was known and accepted. The priesthood of the Great Goddess was respected and held authority. It is not so anymore. In a time nearly forgotten the great world-empire was shattered, and in the ruins the strength of men was needed more than the wisdom of women. The Holy Island survived as an exception but it too is perished beneath the waves. Lore is forgotten or made to serve the ends of men who rule.
Though, this nation of Kemet is very different from others in that respect. The land itself replicates the cycle of female power. The priesthoods of Kemet pretend the fertility comes from men, that the earth which bears its fruit of grain is a god, but they cannot deny their intuition completely. Women are more than property. You will be able to rule in your own right, even if the fools believe you will not pass on your divine blood. You have freedom here that most women on this fallen earth would never dream of, and that is why I consented to bear you here. Remember that."
"I will."
"Good. We will talk more of that later, but for now…" Your mother waves a hand, and the fire stokes itself up into a pillar of flame illuminating the entire cave. "It is on the soul that we focus your initiation. Feel the warmth of the flames on your skin. Close your eyes, and concentrate entirely on it."
You dutifully shut your eyes. You see and hear nothing, but the fire still burns and the heat is a comfort that something still exists. Your skin heats up and you begin sweat. You wonder what the point of the exercise is, but you try to concentrate on the warmth. The warmth is all.
Finally you feel a hand on your shoulder and a whisper in your ear. "Open your eyes, my daughter. There is no fire."
You blink, and return to the nothingness beyond darkness that greeted your entrance to this dream-realm. No fire, no mother, no presence, nothing; but then you hear the beating again. The beating of your own heart? It reassures you that you exist.
"Focus on the fire," your mother commands again. "Feel the warmth."
You strain, trying to make sense of what she wants. But the path of least resistance is to again close your eyes. You picture the fire in your mind's eye. It burns brightly in the featureless darkness. It crackles, and as you peer ever closer into the imaginary fire you start to feel a warmth spreading through you. It radiates outward from your core, washing over you in waves before leaving your skin tingling. The fire was inside of you; it was real and not real at the same time, it did not exist and yet it warmed you.
"Kemet believes the soul is divided into many parts. They are mistaken. But the concept of the Ka is… useful." Your mother's voice echoes in your mind, though you do not hear her through your ears. "The body is animated by a vital force. This essence is a pyre which burns and sputters and intensifies and sputters, and in the end dies out. But it is a fire and like a fire it may be stoked and fed. Simply to recognize the fire is the beginning of control; and once you control a fire, you may use it."
You concentrate on the fire inside. It can burn brighter still. You will it to. There has to be something to fuel the fire. Something to bring it blaring to life. You can't think of what it is. Your thoughts race and your focus begins to slip, but you feel a firm touch on your shoulder and relax.
"You are thinking too much, my daughter. The fire is part of you." Your mother's voice intensifies after a brief pause. "WILL IT."
If the fire is a part of you, you realize, then you control it like any other part. Breathing, swallowing, blinking… and you can will those without thought. You empty your mind and calm yourself. You breathe in and out, forcing your inhalation and exhalation. The fire is to be controlled the same way. There is no method of forcing the fire to burn brighter. You will it so without needing to do anything beyond pay attention to it.
The fire in your mind's eye expands, twisting up into the darkness and overwhelming you with a raw fury of heat. You stagger back and open your eyes, only to find the pyre shrunk and barely casting a warm glow out in the cave. Your mother stands by with a wooden rod and nurses the embers.
"A fire which burns brightly burns briefly," she comments. "You know the secret to control of your essence now. But it will last only a while before it gutters. You can extend that length with the right exercises and meditation, and restore the fire with food and rest and… other means. We will discuss them in due time. But now you want to know what you can do with that fire, don't you?"
The experience has you shaken, but the prospect of translating that experience into real power entices you. You nod. "Am I to learn your magic as well, mother?"
"Such of it as you can," she answers. "And we shall begin with the simplest of lessons. Your fire creates light, and light creates shadow. To control shadows is to carry with you the means of concealment and obfuscation. There are greater powers possible, but we start here because the veil of shadow is a reminder of the cavern that is the womb of the goddess."
In demonstration she brings her rod up from the fire and swings it around the now-diminished fire. A cloak of darkness forms as it swings around the edge of the light, obscuring her. And then she shakes the rod and the shadows shatter, dispersing back to the darkness. As she does so the pyre burns up again, flames licking up and sending sparks flying out.
You knew she controlled shadow, and this was a mere triffle. But it was still an amazing display. "How?"
"Think of your flame. Fire it." Your mother walks over to you and presses her hand against your brow. The snake around her shoulders leans out and flicks its tongue at you. "And when your essence is stoked, imagine the light it gives off. See the shadows it creates. Grab hold of them as you would grasp a a solid object. And in the material world here, the shadows will respond."
You're not sure how exactly this is going to happen, but the lessons in controlling your inner fire remain. Stoking it is no challenge now, and soon your skin is covered in sweat and you feel feverish. You have to close your eyes to imagine the fire and the shadows. You try to grasp the shadow but it evades your grip, not as immaterial air but rather as if it wanted to avoid your grasp. You stumble forward as you reach and reach… and grasp hold of a piece of shadow.
You open your eyes to see an ephemeral curve of darkness winding its way between you and the fire. You squeal in delight and play around some more with it. You can bring the shadow around as a cloak, as mother said. You soon find that you can more selectively use the shadow to manipulate lighting and by obscuring your eyes keep others from seeing into your soul. Your mother looks on with approval.
You have the idea to take hold of your own shadow. The sheut is part of the soul, like the ka and ba, so you're curious what will happen. You try to wrap it around yourself, but as you grab the shadow you feel a hand constricting around your throat. Alarmed, you let go and the shadow snaps back in place.
"Do not lightly toy with your own shadow," your Mother warns you. She had stepped forward in alarm when you started choking. "The shadow is not a part of the soul, as the priests of Kemet would have it, but it is an… emanation of yourself. That means it is a link to your body and your soul. To grab another person by their shadow allows a great deal of power over them, if you know to use it properly. You need no such knowledge to do yourself great harm by seizing your own shadow."
You shudder and nod to her. "Yes mother. I won't do that again."
"Good. Understand that this is the barest foundation of true knowledge of the world. You know only a little more than nothing. Do not believe otherwise." But she pats your head affectionately, and you squirm, even as she delivers the warning.
You experiment a little more, but the fire wanes even further as you practice. Your cloak of shadows is nowhere near so fluid and opaque as your mother's. It seems much cruder for some reason but you attribute that to her greater magical knowledge and experience. Perhaps in time you can do as well, or better. And what she said about the shadow of a person was quite interesting. You wouldn't mess around with that again until you knew what you were doing, but you resolved to find out what you were doing.
"That will be enough," your mother announced as the fire died. One moment later you were plunged into full darkness. "You must rest now and recover your strength. Two more great lessons do I have to teach you, my precious daughter, blood of my blood. Two more lessons do I have to teach you, my acolyte, blood of the Goddess. Two more lessons does Kirke the priestess of Gaea have to pass on to her disciple."
With that the dream shattered as if an illusion and you drifted back into deep sleep.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
RedV
Refuelling
- Location
- Right here
Well, women into swine then. Or what have you.
Willworking seems really cool.
Like maybe only a little worse than killing people and looting their shit.
Like I'm honestly super glad our personality came out this way. If Cersei wasn't so retarded she actually had some damn good personality traits.
Me like the way this is going.
I am honestly surprised that someone like our mom, who claims to know the 'truth'of the world has majorly taught us Intrigue instead of Learning. Not that I'm complaining, I like Intrigue better. Just seems weird is all.
Willworking seems really cool.
Like maybe only a little worse than killing people and looting their shit.
My second favourite character!!
Like I'm honestly super glad our personality came out this way. If Cersei wasn't so retarded she actually had some damn good personality traits.
Me like the way this is going.
I am honestly surprised that someone like our mom, who claims to know the 'truth'of the world has majorly taught us Intrigue instead of Learning. Not that I'm complaining, I like Intrigue better. Just seems weird is all.
Last edited:
- Location
- Germany
She want us to protect the knowleage and that isn´t a learning stat. So she teaches us to protect knowledge and then she start teaching the knowledge.
It makes sense when you don´t want you child to say something that is a secret.
Coronation Rituals
- Location
- Southern Virginia
Royal Coronation
Your installation as reigning Queen is a day you have been looking forward to more and more as the time approaches, but when it arrives you find yourself uncharacteristically pensive. All the training, all the practice, and all the tension had been leading up to this day. If anything goes wrong it would be seen as a sign that the gods disfavor you despite your own divine blood. There are forces of chaos and disorder which could intrude, or simple human failings; even, you admit darkly, your own. Your doubts multiply as Ma'atneferure wakes you to prepare your court wig and help you apply the kohl around your eyes and ritual incense perfume to your body.
"Relax, Your Majesty," Ma'atneferure says soothingly as she rubs your shoulders with the perfume. "There is nothing to this day you have not performed before. Your worries are a greater foe than even Apep."
You breathe in and out, trying to find a balance to your emotions as she finishes up and places your wig upon your head.
"There, Your Majesty. You are prepared for the day. Now hurry on, before you miss the dawn."
She urges you out of the seat. You stand and the fine muslin robes you wear stiffen up and force you into a slow and delicate step. The kilt of the royal court would be so much preferable, with a broader range of movement. But you have practiced your stride in the robe and have lost any remaining awkwardness. You are a regal bride waiting to be presented to your groom, the dawn sun Ra as he rises from Death to bring life to the world once more.
Your progress from your chambers out through the palace is watched over by the men of the Guard of Horus, with Ma'atneferure following and holding the hem of your cape acting as your personal handmaiden. At the eastern entrance a party of the Royal Council awaits you with the Dowager Queen as Regent at their head. Your mother is, of course, nowhere to be seen; her presence at the sacred rite barred as that of a foreigner lacking noble status.
Your momentary surge of anxiety and anger was quelled as your aunt approached.
Queen Neferet wore the nemes headdress for the occasion, the blue and gold head cloth held down by a circlet of gold; and her sheath-dress was decorated richly with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and silver. You noted with some relief the circlet did not bear the iaret, the striking asp which was the symbol of royalty. She limited herself to a turquoise wadjet amulet, bearing the Eye of Horus, hung around her neck. Your aunt was still youthful and comely but her movements suggested the delicacy of her position, as though she was holding back on every gesture and step to avoid overexerting herself. She was using the Set-headed was-scepter she bore almost as a crutch. Managing the crisis of the flood last year had clearly taken much out of her.
Khui was beside her. The captain you had met two years ago was now the general of the entire Royal Army. He was as fit and powerful looking as ever, and wielded his officer's mace as the club it was rather than a mere symbol of authority. He had traded in the bronze skullcap for his own headcloth, dyed in carmine, while retaining a simple kilt. Khui affected no adornment beside the gorgine of gold plates hanging down from his neck as another symbol of his office. He looked restless and ill at ease in the palace; but he was the first of the council to prostrate himself before you.
The Royal Treasurer Ipy followed him, gingerly given his large bulk. The Treasurer clearly remained at heart the commoner he had always been, in your judgement. He too had on his gorgine of silver plates but no function could convince him to don a formal wig. He lacked any other fine adornment of jewels or rings. You smiled slightly to see your friend's father bow to you.
Sennefer, the official you had appointed to look into the granaries, seemed to be caught off by the prostrations of his fellows. He took a few second to join the others at your feet. As the Inspector of Granaries for the kingdom he boasted a gorgine of copper, as did Herenamenpenaef the Inspector of Works and Wenamun the Chief Royal Scribe. All three men wore varying levels of accoutrements. Sennefer as a newly elevated scribe had little jewelry though he did boast a simple ankh around his neck and charms on a gold bracelet around his arm. Wenamun on the other hand boasted an ostentatious collection of gold and jewels on a belt around his kilt, and with bracelets and bracers and a silver amulet hanging over his gorgine. Herenamenpenaef was between the two, with a few rings on his finger and an amulet devoted to Geb worn over the gorgine.
Ptahshepses is also there, wearing a full robe rather than kilt. A headdress of lapis lazuli dye and dark kohl around his eyes marked him out a palace eunuch. The rings and necklaces marked him as a very powerful and wealthy one. Your temper remains tightly leashed but you won't forget your anger at his condescension. For his part he prostrates himself agreeably.
"Praise to you daughter, flesh of my beloved brother and blood of the Great God, life health and peace unto you," Neferet intoned. She alone remained standing. Her gaze was almost tranquil as it fell upon you. "Your servants bow before you. I will accompany you to the sacred pool and together we will greet Ra at his rebirth."
Well, she would accompany you as would a small file of guards. Outside the sky remained dark, with the souls of Duat shimmering in the belly of the sky-goddess Nut. Nothing stirred as you made your way down the processional path toward the banks of the Nile behind the palace. The path was paved in marble and shielded by palm trees and dense shrubs from vulgar eyes, leading to a small pool collected out of the great River and likewise shielded from the masses by a wall of alabaster. You walked it with the slow, delicate pace enforced by your ritual attire, each step carefully calculated to maintain your dignity.
A pair of priests stood just outside the archway to the sacred pool. Meryawy was one of them, and hailed you before you entered. He bowed from the waist. Your old tutor was dressed in a kilt with a white priestly robe draped over his shoulders, and bore a golden ankh in his hand. He presented the ankh for you to kiss.
As you did so, his assistant picked up a goblet filled with the juice of the lotus. It was a sacred concoction that allowed one to experience the spirit world. Ma'atneferure dropped your cape and stepped forward to drink from the goblet first. After she did not collapse from poison your aunt followed, and then finally you drank of it yourself. The lotus essence was sweetened with honey and mixed with spices but there was still a strong bitter taste to the potion that almost made you gag. But you mastered yourself and gulped down enough to feel a burn in your stomach before handing it back to the assistant.
You follow your aunt inside, with Ma'atneferure left behind at the arch. The walls of the sacred pool enclosed only three directions, with an open face out toward the Nile which provided the waters. The walls were lined with murals demonstrating the journey of Ra and his Barque of Ten Thousand Years through the underworld, the wrestling of the Chaos Serpent Apep, and the return of the barque to the land of life and its subsequent travels across both horizons. The roof only covered the arch, leaving the pool exposed to the rays of the sun as dawn began to inch across the sky.
The pool itself was a tapered basin lined in marble filled by a drained gate at the narrow end. It had been scented with pleasant oils and filled with lotus blossoms. You gingerly test the waters with your foot and find them lukewarm. The Dowager Queen disrobed, leaving her was-scepter and her circlet and nemes by the wall. You follow her example, slipping out of the confining dress head-first and leaving it laying by the side of the pool before you ease down into the water. Your aunt follows you carefully, her every motion seeming pained until she too slips into the waters and falls at ease.
"You will receive the spark of the divine Ka from the hands of Ra-Horakuty. Do not tell of what you encounter here except to the priests and to myself and at the appointed time your own children," your aunt cautioned.
"Now I will guide you, Meritamun, through the voyage of Ra. Join me now in singing praises to him as he rises from the Land of the Dead and returns the world to life."
Together you chant the hymn of praise to the Sun rising in the East.
"Homage to thee, O RA, who risest as Ra-Horakuty. Thou art adored. They beauties are before my eyes, and they splendor falleth upon mine body."
Even as you speak, the rosy light of dawn falls way before the rays of the sun rising from the eastern horizon. Your head feels woozy as you swoon against the edge of the pool. The feeling passes quickly, but you still feel light-headed as a sense of euphoria descends.
"Though goest to thy setting in the Seqtet Boat with fair winds, and they heart is glad. The heart of the Matet Boat rejoices. Thou stridest over the heavens in peace, all thy foes cast down."
The sunlight intensifies and you feel the eye of Ra fall upon you, appraising you.
"The stars which never rest hymn thee, and the stars which never vanish glorify thee as though sinkest to rest in the horizon of Manu. Thou art beautiful at morn and at eve, O thou Living Lord, the Unchanging One, my Lord.
Homage to thee, O RA, who sets as Ra-Horakuty."
The cry of a falcon overhead signals the emergence of the Lord Ra. You feel his presence wash over you, stoking the fire of your essence. The water around you heats up and you feel flush with energy.
"Set thine eyes to Duat, daughter of mine."
A voice echoes in your head, androgynous, the voice of your aunt and the voice of Ra. You turn to the western wall and its murals, which come to life.
The barque of Ra flows down the primordial waters, illuminating the lands of the Dead. You feel as one upon the barque and rejoice as Ra sets right the souls of the dead, liberating them from anarchy with his divine light. You feel the barque rage roil as the waters of the river swell into a tempest with the surfacing of the Chaos Serpant Apep; the foam showers you and you quail before the giant wyrm. But Ra shines forth brighter, and his mighty guard Set seizes the serpent as it lashes forth at the boat. Set crushes the serpent and tosses it beneath the waves, and the route is clear to the palace of Osiris.
At the halls of Osiris you see the Risen Lord greet the Great God Ra. Osiris bestows upon Ra the Book of the Dead, to complete his journey through Duat. Isis, the wife of Osiris, blesses Ra to bring goodness and protection to the lands above. The barque departs the halls of Osiris on a journey through a dark labyrinth of water, assailed by crocodiles and hippopatmi and the lesser spawn of the Chaos Serpent. But Ra follows the Book of the Dead and emerges above the horizon.
"Set thine eyes to the Land, daughter of mine."
The same voice directs you to the eastern wall and its murals, which come to life.
The barque of Ra rises above the line of the horizon, as Ra becomes Horus of the Two Horizons and sweeps across the sky. He blesses distant Aryana and Aiyran, brings warmth to the nomad barbarians of the north, and passes by the ziggurats of Babel-Ur on his way to Kemet. As he reaches the sacred pool the Nile below floods and is warmed by the rays of the sun. Hathor, the daughter of Ra who is also Sekhmet, steps forth from the barque to bless the earth. Shoots of barley and grain rise from the fertile black earth to bow to Ra. The barque heads west, over the feuding tribes of the Cyrians and the traffic of ships of the Mynosians and Mykenes, blessing all of mankind with life before it sinks back down below the horizon to Duat.
"Set thine eyes before thy Lord, daughter of Mine."
You gaze directly out toward the Nile and the sun still clawing above it. Falcon-headed Ra Horakuty emerges from his sun-disk, shining with masculine beauty. His head becomes that of a powerful King, bearing the pshent double-crown of Upper and Lower Kemet. With his right hand he holds a scepter in the form of a crook used by shepherds, and in his left hand he holds the Ankh of Life. He extends the ankh and you feel his blessings wash over you.
"Thou are blessed with the Ka of the divine, and thy body with the blood of the divine, my daughter."
And the vision fades as Ra recedes within the sun-disk.
You shake your still light-feeling head and try to process what you had seen. The lotus-blossom drink remained potent and clouded your thoughts. Your personal fire of essence was blazing away as well, giving you a feeling of comforting warmth. This afterglow of divine power finally settled down after what could have been a moment of relief, but when you glanced up the sun was much higher in the sky than it had been.
Without a word you climbed out of the pool and began shaking yourself dry. The Dowager Queen retrieved a pair of linen towels from a reed chest setting in the corner of the pools and you helped each other dry off. There was no need to discuss what had happened; only a mutual understanding that something had passed in the sacred pool. And you were now ritually pure for the remainder of the day's ceremony.
You place your dress back on with Neferet's aid and pick up her was-scepter for her. As you exit the pool Ma'atneferure waits with more attendants. She spares a concerned glance for the Dowager Queen, who smiles briefly at her handmaiden and then waves her over to you. Your governess again takes up your cape to act as handmaiden, while you walk back to the palace entrance to meet up with the Grand Procession to the Temple of Atum. From there the rest of the day proceeds as planned/
You received the blessings of Atumnemhat the High Priest of Atum and then made the procession to the fields outside the city. There you performed the rite of the Sowing of the Fields by scattering barley seed upon the black earth so recently nourished by the Nile. A Pharaoh would have other ritual demonstrations of his fertile potency but as a mere Queen you are neither obliged nor equipped for those. Instead once the fields are sown you were brought back to the Temple of Atum and spend the night in vigil in the hidden chambers of the god's house.
There was one matter left before the morning, when you would be crowned before the crowds of Temes with the pshent of Kemet. You would need to choose a patron god or goddess for your reign. In the secret chamber the idols of the major gods and goddess reside in alcoves with offerings of wealth and meat and wine and beer, allowing you to examine and consider them. Atum the Creator God of course is too abstract and disconnected to serve as a patron, and not even very popular besides. But there are many other options, and whichever one you choose will provide blessings and aid as long as you please them.
Which one will guide your reign?
[ ] Ra the Sun God. The greatest of the gods and lately the major patron of the Pharaohs. You are familiar with Ra from your studies under Meryawy. He respects dignity, command of the self and others, and royal power used to glorify the gods and the nation. Your Dynasty claims direct blood descent from Ra through a distant pre-dynastic ancestor.
[ ] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
[ ] Osiris the God of the Dead. Osiris rules Duat and the Land of the Dead, commanding the weighing of the soul and the assignment to the afterlife. He is a god of justice and order, who respects command of the sacred rites and fulfillment of duty.
[ ] Isis the Domestic Goddess. Isis is a god of marriage, the hearth, the downtrodden, and a patroness of magic and nature. She respects compassionate love and mercy and obedience to the ties of family and marriage. Your mother has taken her as patron for the purposes of the Court and claims she is a facet of the Great Goddess though the associations are… imperfect.
[ ] Horus the Sky God. Horus is the god of the black earth, of Lower Kemet, and long associated with rulership. He has been eclipsed by Ra and partially subsumed by him as Ra-Horakuty and is waning in popular appeal. Horus respects bravery and cunning used in good cause, and upholds the rites and laws of the gods.
[ ] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
[ ] Ptah the Craftsman God. Ptah is a rival to Atum for the title of Creator God and taking him as patron would upset the priesthood of Atum. Your father did so anyway, and Ptah is very popular among the urban people and skilled workers. He is a god of the mind and creation, of bringing order through innovation and systems. Hathor-Sekhmet is his wife and Ra is recognized as the king of the physical world, so he is not a repudiation of the existing religious structure aside from displacing Atum.
OOC: Okay, so this is actually a fairly important choice for a lot of reasons. Generally behaving in ways your patron god/goddess approves is a good idea and to an extent it can be leveraged to set the tone for your reign and personal development. You can ignore or change your patron though it does require some significant ritual effort or a major life-event to really move away from them. There are also other potential avenues created by your choice for the development of religious life and even law and court expectations as well.
Right now I'd say Hathor-Sekhmet is probably the closest match to Eurydice though her virtue/vice traits remain a little underdeveloped. Ra as the most recent patron of pharaohs and distant ancestor of your physical body may be the least controversial choice. Set is actually also very appropriate as a patron of foreigners and a good choice if you feel like expanding outward and crushing your enemies at court; he is not the "Egyptian devil," in any case.
Your installation as reigning Queen is a day you have been looking forward to more and more as the time approaches, but when it arrives you find yourself uncharacteristically pensive. All the training, all the practice, and all the tension had been leading up to this day. If anything goes wrong it would be seen as a sign that the gods disfavor you despite your own divine blood. There are forces of chaos and disorder which could intrude, or simple human failings; even, you admit darkly, your own. Your doubts multiply as Ma'atneferure wakes you to prepare your court wig and help you apply the kohl around your eyes and ritual incense perfume to your body.
"Relax, Your Majesty," Ma'atneferure says soothingly as she rubs your shoulders with the perfume. "There is nothing to this day you have not performed before. Your worries are a greater foe than even Apep."
You breathe in and out, trying to find a balance to your emotions as she finishes up and places your wig upon your head.
"There, Your Majesty. You are prepared for the day. Now hurry on, before you miss the dawn."
She urges you out of the seat. You stand and the fine muslin robes you wear stiffen up and force you into a slow and delicate step. The kilt of the royal court would be so much preferable, with a broader range of movement. But you have practiced your stride in the robe and have lost any remaining awkwardness. You are a regal bride waiting to be presented to your groom, the dawn sun Ra as he rises from Death to bring life to the world once more.
Your progress from your chambers out through the palace is watched over by the men of the Guard of Horus, with Ma'atneferure following and holding the hem of your cape acting as your personal handmaiden. At the eastern entrance a party of the Royal Council awaits you with the Dowager Queen as Regent at their head. Your mother is, of course, nowhere to be seen; her presence at the sacred rite barred as that of a foreigner lacking noble status.
Your momentary surge of anxiety and anger was quelled as your aunt approached.
Queen Neferet wore the nemes headdress for the occasion, the blue and gold head cloth held down by a circlet of gold; and her sheath-dress was decorated richly with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and silver. You noted with some relief the circlet did not bear the iaret, the striking asp which was the symbol of royalty. She limited herself to a turquoise wadjet amulet, bearing the Eye of Horus, hung around her neck. Your aunt was still youthful and comely but her movements suggested the delicacy of her position, as though she was holding back on every gesture and step to avoid overexerting herself. She was using the Set-headed was-scepter she bore almost as a crutch. Managing the crisis of the flood last year had clearly taken much out of her.
Khui was beside her. The captain you had met two years ago was now the general of the entire Royal Army. He was as fit and powerful looking as ever, and wielded his officer's mace as the club it was rather than a mere symbol of authority. He had traded in the bronze skullcap for his own headcloth, dyed in carmine, while retaining a simple kilt. Khui affected no adornment beside the gorgine of gold plates hanging down from his neck as another symbol of his office. He looked restless and ill at ease in the palace; but he was the first of the council to prostrate himself before you.
The Royal Treasurer Ipy followed him, gingerly given his large bulk. The Treasurer clearly remained at heart the commoner he had always been, in your judgement. He too had on his gorgine of silver plates but no function could convince him to don a formal wig. He lacked any other fine adornment of jewels or rings. You smiled slightly to see your friend's father bow to you.
Sennefer, the official you had appointed to look into the granaries, seemed to be caught off by the prostrations of his fellows. He took a few second to join the others at your feet. As the Inspector of Granaries for the kingdom he boasted a gorgine of copper, as did Herenamenpenaef the Inspector of Works and Wenamun the Chief Royal Scribe. All three men wore varying levels of accoutrements. Sennefer as a newly elevated scribe had little jewelry though he did boast a simple ankh around his neck and charms on a gold bracelet around his arm. Wenamun on the other hand boasted an ostentatious collection of gold and jewels on a belt around his kilt, and with bracelets and bracers and a silver amulet hanging over his gorgine. Herenamenpenaef was between the two, with a few rings on his finger and an amulet devoted to Geb worn over the gorgine.
Ptahshepses is also there, wearing a full robe rather than kilt. A headdress of lapis lazuli dye and dark kohl around his eyes marked him out a palace eunuch. The rings and necklaces marked him as a very powerful and wealthy one. Your temper remains tightly leashed but you won't forget your anger at his condescension. For his part he prostrates himself agreeably.
"Praise to you daughter, flesh of my beloved brother and blood of the Great God, life health and peace unto you," Neferet intoned. She alone remained standing. Her gaze was almost tranquil as it fell upon you. "Your servants bow before you. I will accompany you to the sacred pool and together we will greet Ra at his rebirth."
Well, she would accompany you as would a small file of guards. Outside the sky remained dark, with the souls of Duat shimmering in the belly of the sky-goddess Nut. Nothing stirred as you made your way down the processional path toward the banks of the Nile behind the palace. The path was paved in marble and shielded by palm trees and dense shrubs from vulgar eyes, leading to a small pool collected out of the great River and likewise shielded from the masses by a wall of alabaster. You walked it with the slow, delicate pace enforced by your ritual attire, each step carefully calculated to maintain your dignity.
A pair of priests stood just outside the archway to the sacred pool. Meryawy was one of them, and hailed you before you entered. He bowed from the waist. Your old tutor was dressed in a kilt with a white priestly robe draped over his shoulders, and bore a golden ankh in his hand. He presented the ankh for you to kiss.
As you did so, his assistant picked up a goblet filled with the juice of the lotus. It was a sacred concoction that allowed one to experience the spirit world. Ma'atneferure dropped your cape and stepped forward to drink from the goblet first. After she did not collapse from poison your aunt followed, and then finally you drank of it yourself. The lotus essence was sweetened with honey and mixed with spices but there was still a strong bitter taste to the potion that almost made you gag. But you mastered yourself and gulped down enough to feel a burn in your stomach before handing it back to the assistant.
You follow your aunt inside, with Ma'atneferure left behind at the arch. The walls of the sacred pool enclosed only three directions, with an open face out toward the Nile which provided the waters. The walls were lined with murals demonstrating the journey of Ra and his Barque of Ten Thousand Years through the underworld, the wrestling of the Chaos Serpent Apep, and the return of the barque to the land of life and its subsequent travels across both horizons. The roof only covered the arch, leaving the pool exposed to the rays of the sun as dawn began to inch across the sky.
The pool itself was a tapered basin lined in marble filled by a drained gate at the narrow end. It had been scented with pleasant oils and filled with lotus blossoms. You gingerly test the waters with your foot and find them lukewarm. The Dowager Queen disrobed, leaving her was-scepter and her circlet and nemes by the wall. You follow her example, slipping out of the confining dress head-first and leaving it laying by the side of the pool before you ease down into the water. Your aunt follows you carefully, her every motion seeming pained until she too slips into the waters and falls at ease.
"You will receive the spark of the divine Ka from the hands of Ra-Horakuty. Do not tell of what you encounter here except to the priests and to myself and at the appointed time your own children," your aunt cautioned.
"Now I will guide you, Meritamun, through the voyage of Ra. Join me now in singing praises to him as he rises from the Land of the Dead and returns the world to life."
Together you chant the hymn of praise to the Sun rising in the East.
"Homage to thee, O RA, who risest as Ra-Horakuty. Thou art adored. They beauties are before my eyes, and they splendor falleth upon mine body."
Even as you speak, the rosy light of dawn falls way before the rays of the sun rising from the eastern horizon. Your head feels woozy as you swoon against the edge of the pool. The feeling passes quickly, but you still feel light-headed as a sense of euphoria descends.
"Though goest to thy setting in the Seqtet Boat with fair winds, and they heart is glad. The heart of the Matet Boat rejoices. Thou stridest over the heavens in peace, all thy foes cast down."
The sunlight intensifies and you feel the eye of Ra fall upon you, appraising you.
"The stars which never rest hymn thee, and the stars which never vanish glorify thee as though sinkest to rest in the horizon of Manu. Thou art beautiful at morn and at eve, O thou Living Lord, the Unchanging One, my Lord.
Homage to thee, O RA, who sets as Ra-Horakuty."
The cry of a falcon overhead signals the emergence of the Lord Ra. You feel his presence wash over you, stoking the fire of your essence. The water around you heats up and you feel flush with energy.
"Set thine eyes to Duat, daughter of mine."
A voice echoes in your head, androgynous, the voice of your aunt and the voice of Ra. You turn to the western wall and its murals, which come to life.
The barque of Ra flows down the primordial waters, illuminating the lands of the Dead. You feel as one upon the barque and rejoice as Ra sets right the souls of the dead, liberating them from anarchy with his divine light. You feel the barque rage roil as the waters of the river swell into a tempest with the surfacing of the Chaos Serpant Apep; the foam showers you and you quail before the giant wyrm. But Ra shines forth brighter, and his mighty guard Set seizes the serpent as it lashes forth at the boat. Set crushes the serpent and tosses it beneath the waves, and the route is clear to the palace of Osiris.
At the halls of Osiris you see the Risen Lord greet the Great God Ra. Osiris bestows upon Ra the Book of the Dead, to complete his journey through Duat. Isis, the wife of Osiris, blesses Ra to bring goodness and protection to the lands above. The barque departs the halls of Osiris on a journey through a dark labyrinth of water, assailed by crocodiles and hippopatmi and the lesser spawn of the Chaos Serpent. But Ra follows the Book of the Dead and emerges above the horizon.
"Set thine eyes to the Land, daughter of mine."
The same voice directs you to the eastern wall and its murals, which come to life.
The barque of Ra rises above the line of the horizon, as Ra becomes Horus of the Two Horizons and sweeps across the sky. He blesses distant Aryana and Aiyran, brings warmth to the nomad barbarians of the north, and passes by the ziggurats of Babel-Ur on his way to Kemet. As he reaches the sacred pool the Nile below floods and is warmed by the rays of the sun. Hathor, the daughter of Ra who is also Sekhmet, steps forth from the barque to bless the earth. Shoots of barley and grain rise from the fertile black earth to bow to Ra. The barque heads west, over the feuding tribes of the Cyrians and the traffic of ships of the Mynosians and Mykenes, blessing all of mankind with life before it sinks back down below the horizon to Duat.
"Set thine eyes before thy Lord, daughter of Mine."
You gaze directly out toward the Nile and the sun still clawing above it. Falcon-headed Ra Horakuty emerges from his sun-disk, shining with masculine beauty. His head becomes that of a powerful King, bearing the pshent double-crown of Upper and Lower Kemet. With his right hand he holds a scepter in the form of a crook used by shepherds, and in his left hand he holds the Ankh of Life. He extends the ankh and you feel his blessings wash over you.
"Thou are blessed with the Ka of the divine, and thy body with the blood of the divine, my daughter."
And the vision fades as Ra recedes within the sun-disk.
You shake your still light-feeling head and try to process what you had seen. The lotus-blossom drink remained potent and clouded your thoughts. Your personal fire of essence was blazing away as well, giving you a feeling of comforting warmth. This afterglow of divine power finally settled down after what could have been a moment of relief, but when you glanced up the sun was much higher in the sky than it had been.
Without a word you climbed out of the pool and began shaking yourself dry. The Dowager Queen retrieved a pair of linen towels from a reed chest setting in the corner of the pools and you helped each other dry off. There was no need to discuss what had happened; only a mutual understanding that something had passed in the sacred pool. And you were now ritually pure for the remainder of the day's ceremony.
You place your dress back on with Neferet's aid and pick up her was-scepter for her. As you exit the pool Ma'atneferure waits with more attendants. She spares a concerned glance for the Dowager Queen, who smiles briefly at her handmaiden and then waves her over to you. Your governess again takes up your cape to act as handmaiden, while you walk back to the palace entrance to meet up with the Grand Procession to the Temple of Atum. From there the rest of the day proceeds as planned/
You received the blessings of Atumnemhat the High Priest of Atum and then made the procession to the fields outside the city. There you performed the rite of the Sowing of the Fields by scattering barley seed upon the black earth so recently nourished by the Nile. A Pharaoh would have other ritual demonstrations of his fertile potency but as a mere Queen you are neither obliged nor equipped for those. Instead once the fields are sown you were brought back to the Temple of Atum and spend the night in vigil in the hidden chambers of the god's house.
There was one matter left before the morning, when you would be crowned before the crowds of Temes with the pshent of Kemet. You would need to choose a patron god or goddess for your reign. In the secret chamber the idols of the major gods and goddess reside in alcoves with offerings of wealth and meat and wine and beer, allowing you to examine and consider them. Atum the Creator God of course is too abstract and disconnected to serve as a patron, and not even very popular besides. But there are many other options, and whichever one you choose will provide blessings and aid as long as you please them.
Which one will guide your reign?
[ ] Ra the Sun God. The greatest of the gods and lately the major patron of the Pharaohs. You are familiar with Ra from your studies under Meryawy. He respects dignity, command of the self and others, and royal power used to glorify the gods and the nation. Your Dynasty claims direct blood descent from Ra through a distant pre-dynastic ancestor.
[ ] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
[ ] Osiris the God of the Dead. Osiris rules Duat and the Land of the Dead, commanding the weighing of the soul and the assignment to the afterlife. He is a god of justice and order, who respects command of the sacred rites and fulfillment of duty.
[ ] Isis the Domestic Goddess. Isis is a god of marriage, the hearth, the downtrodden, and a patroness of magic and nature. She respects compassionate love and mercy and obedience to the ties of family and marriage. Your mother has taken her as patron for the purposes of the Court and claims she is a facet of the Great Goddess though the associations are… imperfect.
[ ] Horus the Sky God. Horus is the god of the black earth, of Lower Kemet, and long associated with rulership. He has been eclipsed by Ra and partially subsumed by him as Ra-Horakuty and is waning in popular appeal. Horus respects bravery and cunning used in good cause, and upholds the rites and laws of the gods.
[ ] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
[ ] Ptah the Craftsman God. Ptah is a rival to Atum for the title of Creator God and taking him as patron would upset the priesthood of Atum. Your father did so anyway, and Ptah is very popular among the urban people and skilled workers. He is a god of the mind and creation, of bringing order through innovation and systems. Hathor-Sekhmet is his wife and Ra is recognized as the king of the physical world, so he is not a repudiation of the existing religious structure aside from displacing Atum.
OOC: Okay, so this is actually a fairly important choice for a lot of reasons. Generally behaving in ways your patron god/goddess approves is a good idea and to an extent it can be leveraged to set the tone for your reign and personal development. You can ignore or change your patron though it does require some significant ritual effort or a major life-event to really move away from them. There are also other potential avenues created by your choice for the development of religious life and even law and court expectations as well.
Right now I'd say Hathor-Sekhmet is probably the closest match to Eurydice though her virtue/vice traits remain a little underdeveloped. Ra as the most recent patron of pharaohs and distant ancestor of your physical body may be the least controversial choice. Set is actually also very appropriate as a patron of foreigners and a good choice if you feel like expanding outward and crushing your enemies at court; he is not the "Egyptian devil," in any case.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Ptah the Craftsman God. Ptah is a rival to Atum for the title of Creator God and taking him as patron would upset the priesthood of Atum. Your father did so anyway, and Ptah is very popular among the urban people and skilled workers. He is a god of the mind and creation, of bringing order through innovation and systems. Hathor-Sekhmet is his wife and Ra is recognized as the king of the physical world, so he is not a repudiation of the existing religious structure aside from displacing Atum.
- Location
- italy bologna
[ x] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land
Peace and War
Peace and War
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
Since SV's going to want to conquer the world so they can run it anyways, might as well choose the God who works for that. Plus the foreigner thing could come in handy.
Since SV's going to want to conquer the world so they can run it anyways, might as well choose the God who works for that. Plus the foreigner thing could come in handy.
- Location
- Iceland
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
Can´t resist being a bit of a edgelord.
Can´t resist being a bit of a edgelord.
- Location
- United States
[X] Ptah the Craftsman God. Ptah is a rival to Atum for the title of Creator God and taking him as patron would upset the priesthood of Atum. Your father did so anyway, and Ptah is very popular among the urban people and skilled workers. He is a god of the mind and creation, of bringing order through innovation and systems. Hathor-Sekhmet is his wife and Ra is recognized as the king of the physical world, so he is not a repudiation of the existing religious structure aside from displacing Atum.
[X] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
Love, beauty, war, passion, assertiveness and fertility; all things the Pharaoh needs.
Love, beauty, war, passion, assertiveness and fertility; all things the Pharaoh needs.
- Location
- Sweden
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
- Location
- Vicksburg, MS
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
As much as I initially wanted a mostly diplomacy-focused character, the martial stats paired with good military relations and Eurydice's rather high intrigue would seem to indicate that her skills are somewhat more aligned with the blood-and-guts type approach. I do like the foreign aspect for if we do try and keep associating with Mom. If I'd had more of my way I think I'd be going for Ra, but we might as well go for what it seems we're inclined towards.
As much as I initially wanted a mostly diplomacy-focused character, the martial stats paired with good military relations and Eurydice's rather high intrigue would seem to indicate that her skills are somewhat more aligned with the blood-and-guts type approach. I do like the foreign aspect for if we do try and keep associating with Mom. If I'd had more of my way I think I'd be going for Ra, but we might as well go for what it seems we're inclined towards.
Crow
Falling is a Pleasure. Regardless of its Fate
[X] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
- Location
- Who Knows
Funnily enough, I too am drinking lotus juice right now!
Or to be more precise it's a can of lotus seed juice that was a free addition to my mom's Asian supermarket purchase.
Not bad, a little on the bland side. Mostly reminds me of this night blooming cereus plant we have when we boiled it's flowers to drink.
Edit: forgot to vote oops
[X] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
Or to be more precise it's a can of lotus seed juice that was a free addition to my mom's Asian supermarket purchase.
Not bad, a little on the bland side. Mostly reminds me of this night blooming cereus plant we have when we boiled it's flowers to drink.
Edit: forgot to vote oops
[X] Hathor the Goddess of Love and Sekhmet the Goddess of War. The double-goddess daughter of Ra shows two faces to the world; the queen of love and beauty, and the lioness-headed bloody goddess of war. In both of her guises she respects passion and assertiveness and aids the fertility of the land.
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- Location
- ?
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Set the God of the Wastes. Set is the god of the red desert, of Upper Kemet, of the winds and sands and also a patron of foreigners. He respects might and power used to protect the realm from Chaos, and ruthlessness in advancing one's rightful position. The Great Ancestor, second and greatest pharaoh of your Dynasty, claimed Set as his patron.
Going with Set as he is the one we will "follow" for the most part of the quest with protecting the realm from Chaos and being ruthless (we most likely will interact with foreigners quite a bit so) .
Going with Set as he is the one we will "follow" for the most part of the quest with protecting the realm from Chaos and being ruthless (we most likely will interact with foreigners quite a bit so) .