Avalanche Press - Nile Empire - War in Heliopolis (OCR)

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AVALANCHE PRESS

Nile Empire War in Heliopolis















‘D20 System’ and the ‘D20 System’ logo are Trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used according to the terms of the D20 System License version 1.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com. The Open Game Content in this book includes game rules, character and creature statistics, and similar material using the D20 system. This content is denoted by its placement in

bordered-style sidebars and by text highlighted in bold italic type within the main body of the text. Additionally, Additionally, all of the material in Parts 3 and 4 is designated Open Game Content. The remaining material, including that in

bordered-style sidebars and the presentation of this book as a complete work is designated Product Identity. With With the exception of the Open Game Content, reproduction of this work without the written permission of the Copyright Holder is a violation of copyright law and is expre expressly ssly forbidden. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead less than 3000 years is purely coincidental.

Avalanche Press Ltd.















Table of Contents Introduction

4

Part 1: History of Part the Nile Empire A Brief History of Early Egypt Pre-dynastic Pre-dynast ic Period Archaic Period Old Kingdom First Intermediate Period Middle Kingdom Second Intermediate Period New Kingdom Mythic History The Jealousy of Set The Death of Osiris Isis’s Search The Queen of Byblos The Rebirth of Osiris The Revenge of Set The God of Death The Exile of Set Current State of the Empire

5 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 11

Part 2: Life and Culture in Egypt Hieroglyphs and Writing The Beginnings of Language The Makeup of Hieroglyphs Pyramid Shorthand Egyptian Grammar Writing Utensi Utensils ls Learning Hieroglyphs Egyptian Egypti an Hierogly Hieroglyphic phic Texts Royalty Divine Rule Commander-in-Chief Trappi rappings ngs of Office The Vizier Government

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 15

Career Car eer Choices Money Wages Sick Leave and Vacation Funerary Cost Workers’ Right Rightss Agriculture Inundation and Fertilization Reservoirs and Irrigation Planting and Harvesting Gardens Lumber and Other Crops Controlling Agriculture Livestock Cattle Sheep, Goats, and Pigs Poultry and Fish Exotic Animals Transportation Taxation Architecture Building Materials Worker Housing Furnishings Royal Palace Lifestyles Food Staples Delicacies Hygiene Clothing Family Units Religion The Cosmos Religious Festivals Death, Mummification, and Burial Death Mummification

16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 23

Scribe Trader Prestige Classes Avatar Godslayer Pharaoh Alignment New Skills New Feat Equipment Money

25 27 28 28 29 30 32 32 34 35 35

Part 4: The Great Ennead The Creator Gods Atum Shu Tefnut Nut Geb Apophis The Ennead of the Nile Amun-Re Osiris Isis Horus Anubis Hathor Thoth Bastet The Ennead of the Desert Set Nepthys Sokar Khonsu Ptah Sobek Bes

36 36 37 37 37 37 37 37 38 38 38 40 40 41 41 41 42 42 42 43 44 44 45 45 45

Part 5: War in Heliopolis

46















Part 1: History of Part the Nile Empire The actual origin of the great state of Egypt is lost in the sands of the desert. What little is known has been gathered by piecing together various archaeological findings. All agree that the Kingdom of Egypt was formed when the states of Upper and Lower Egypt merged for the first time, but beyond that things get a little hazy.

A Brief History His tory of Early Egypt Although the myth of Egypt is that it was an empire that lasted for thousands of years, the truth is a little different. Egyptian culture was split up into several widely diverse periods (often referred to as kingdoms). This section chronicles the rise of Egypt from its earliest origins to the beginning of the New Kingdom where the adventure W AR IN HELIOPOLIS is set.

Pre-dynastic Pre-d ynastic Period (3182-3032 BC) According to archaeological findings, the th e first known king ki ng appears to have been named Narmer. In the one record of his kingship, he is shown wearing a Red Crown in one place and a White Crown in another. Both depictions, however, show him holding dominion over his enemies and feature prominently the symbol for Horus, the falcon. His reign falls into relative prehistory and is usually referred to as the Pre-dynastic Period.

Archaic Period Period (3032-2707 BC) The Archaic Period marks the rise of the first pharaohs and the first two dynasties in Egypt. The period lasted a little over 300 years, during which Memphis became Egypt’s capital. The first recorded pharaoh was Horus-Aha, also referred to as Menes. He appears to have been the son of Narmer and the first pharaoh to inherit his position. He headed what is known as the First Dynasty. This period was marked by the use of mastabas, or raised tombs, for burial in the necropolis of Abydos, for the introduction of hiero-

glyphs into Egypt, and for the beginnings of a definite split between the upper class and the rest of the Egyptian people. The First Dynasty would last about 175 years and be led by the pharaohs (after Menes) Atoti (Athotis I), Djer, Wadji, Dewen, Adjib, Semerkhet, and Qaa. The Second Dynasty began with the rule of the pharaoh, Hetepsekhemui, and lasted about 150 years. Although there is little information about this dynasty, what is known suggests a time of unrest and possible splitting of the state. The troubles seem to have begun when Hetepsekhemui and the two succeeding pharaohs built their royal mastabas not in the necropolis of Abydos, but in Saqqara. While space was probably a great consideration, there was a sense of lost respect for tradition. Two of the later pharaohs, Peribsen and Khasekhemui would return to Abydos for their tombs, but by then the damage seems to have been done. Moving the pharaoh’s tomb from Abydos to Saqqara located both the capital (Memphis) and the royal tomb in Lower Egypt. Prior to this change, the tomb in Upper Egypt (at Abydos) served both as a reminder of the unified kingdom and as a way to ensure it remained that way. From what records exist, it seems as if Upper Egypt grew increasingly disconsolate with this turn of events and its loss of political power. Eventually these disputes led to open warfare. During the reign of Khasekhemui, Upper Egypt defeated Lower Egypt and re-unified the kingdom. The reign of the pharaohs of the Second Dynasty from Hetepsekhemui to Nebre, Ninetjer, Wenegnebti, W enegnebti, Sekhemib, Neferkar Neferkare, e, Neferkasokar Neferkasokar,, Hudjefa, Peribsen, Peribsen, and Khasekhemui and the dissolution and reunification of the unified kingdom would lead Egypt into its most memorable period.

Old Kingdom (2707-2170 BC) With the end of the Second Dynasty, Egypt moved into what is called the Old Kingdom — a period encompassing the Third through Eighth Dynasties. The greatThe Pyramids of Giza still inspire awe in visitors 4,500 years later. later.















est achievements of the Old Kingdom are still visible nearly 5,000 years later: the pyramids. However, the existence of these monumental structures is dwarfed by the sheer scope of the economy, government, and popular will needed to create them. The first pharaoh of the Old Kingdom, Nebka, begins the Third Dynasty. However, his predecessor predecessor,, Djoser, the builder of the first pyramid, overshadowed his reign. Djoser, Djoser, the son or son-in-law of Khasekhemui, worked with his trusted assistant and architect, Imhotep, to create a monument worthy of the pharaoh in the afterlife. They built upon the idea of the mastabas used by previous pharaohs in Saqqara. Their novel idea was to take the mastaba, which looked like a raised building with a flat top, and build a smaller mastaba on top of the first, and so on, until they created a series of mastabas that reached to the heavens themselves. Thus was born the first, or the step, pyramid. After Djoser, Djoser, the remaining pharaohs in the Third Dynasty, Djoserti, Khaba, Mesokhris, and Huni, attempted but failed to build their own step pyramids. Most of their tombs have yet to be found. The Fourth Dynasty marks the period of Egypt’s greatest achievement in the art of pyramid building. The dynasty began with the lengthy reign of the pharaoh, Snefru. This was a time of peace and great prosperity for Egypt. Without the need to fight their enemies, resources could be allocated to the works of wonder so intimately linked with Egyptian culture. Snefru’s son, Cheops, is probably the most recognized of the pharaohs for his construction of the Great Pyramid, but under Snefru’s guidance the kingdom flourished. Snefru oversaw the building of not one but three different pyramids during his reign. Snefru was also famed for his raids into Libya that captured immense herds of livestock and for his overall friendliness to his subjects. Snefru’s first two pyramids were step pyramids like Djoser’s. His final pyramid began as a step pyramid, but later was finished off in true pyramid form. This was the first of its kind, although not without problems. As the pyramid neared completion, the ground underneath it gave way, and it collapsed upon itself. This resulted in the now-famous outline known as the Bent Pyramid. This failure, however, taught later pyra-

godless pagans and used it to build their palaces in Cairo. Snefru’s son, Cheops, used these advances to create the amazing Great Pyramid. However, outside of the Great Pyramid, there is little record of Cheops as pharaoh. There are some claims that he was cruel and abusive, but there is little evidence to support this. What is known about Cheops is that, during his 30-year reign, he mobilized the entire state to create a wonder so magnificent that, not only does it stand to this day, parts of its construction are still mysteries. Also, recent studies have begun to point to Cheops as the creator of the mysterious Sphinx, another of Egypt’s wonders. These studies point to the lack of a beard on the Sphinx

















assumed the throne and began work on his pyramid in the hopes of making it as monumental as his father’s. Chephren’s pyramid falls nearly 10 feet short of the Great Pyramid. Chephren’s reign also marks the decline of the great pyramid-building era. Although later pyramids were built, none rival those created by Cheops and Chephren. The Fourth Dynasty ended quietly under the reign of the pharaohs Bikheris (who followed Chephren), Mycerinus, and Shepseskaf, who returned to the creation of a mastaba for his tomb. The Fifth Dynasty, ruled over by the pharaohs Userkaf, Userkaf, Sahure, Neferirkare, Shepseskare, Neferefre, Ne ferefre, Niuserre, Menkauhor Me nkauhor,, Djedkare, and Unas is relatively unremarkable. Of note is the reduction in scale of monument building and the rise of mortuary temples in place of pyramids as the burial place for the pharaohs. The Sixth Dynasty was as peaceful as the last, but marked a decline in the Old Kingdom. While mortuary temples were used extensively during the Fifth Dynasty, the first pharaoh of this period, Teti, returned to the pyramid as a tomb. However, his pyramid, while technically sound, remained on a much smaller scale than those of the Fourth Dynasty, keeping roughly the same size as the mortuary temples of the Fifth. The decline continued through the peaceful reigns of the first four pharaohs of this time. Userkare, Pepi I (who also built a pyramid), and Nemtiemsaf I followed Teti. The reign of the next pharaoh, Pepi II, seems to have been the point where the Old Kingdom truly began to fall apart. Pepi II ruled peacefully for 60 years, an immense length of time for a pharaoh. While he completed his pyramid, society fell into idleness and stagnation. Pepi allowed his control of the government to slip, and regional governors realized that they no longer needed the Empire.

This designation refers mainly to the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties wherein conflict between Lower and Upper Egypt resumed. Only Lower Egypt recognized the pharaoh. The rulers of Thebes openly opposed these pretenders, and they eventually rallied under Mentuhotep II to conquer Memphis with the aid of Nubian mercenaries and reunify the kingdom.

Middle Kingdom (2119-1793 BC) Although he is the first recognized ruler of unified Egypt in the Middle Kingdom, Mentuhotep II was not the first ruler of Thebes. Mentuhotep I and Antef I, II, and III all ruled as Theban pharaohs before Mentuhotep II conquered Memphis. While Mentuh Mentuhotep otep united united the kingdo kingdom, m, the region regional al governor governorss did not want to give up the power that they had gained during the reigns of the previous pharaohs. To gain their acceptance, Mentuhotep allowed them to retain much of this control. This decentralized structure remained through the next two pharaohs, Mentuhotep III and Mentuhotep IV, until a new power challenged the throne. Amenemhat I overthrew the Theban pharaohs, pharaoh s, starting the Twelfth Dynasty. This change did not sit well with the regional governors. Amenemhat maintained power by quashing any challenges to the throne and adopting Theban methods. His

















rule, however, would not have as much impact on Egypt as would his death. Amenemhat I was removed from power not by a political rival but by a conspiracy contrived within his own harem. While the pharaoh p haraoh slept, the concubines slipped into his chambers and murdered him. This event shocked the kingdom. The new pharaoh, Sesostris I, Amenemhat’s Amenemha t’s son, scrambled scrambled to maintain maintain power while while grieving grieving for his father and dispensing swift justice to the traitorous harem. Sesostris realigned the regions of the kingdom and brought the governors under direct control of the pharaoh. This process continued through the succeeding pharaohs, Amenemhat II, Sesostris II, and Sesostris III who centralized the government even more by creating two officials known as viziers. These men oversaw Upper and Lower Egypt and reported directly to the pharaoh. This did not sit well with the regional governors, who steadily lost their power base. The last pharaohs of the Twelfth Dynasty,, Amenemhat III, Amenemhat IV Dynasty IV,, and Nefrusobek, spent their reigns fighting violently with these lordlings. This infighting fragmented the Empire and allowed it to be taken over by the Hyksos.

Second Intermediate Period The term, “Hyksos,” is misleading. There weren’t hordes of invading Hyksos that swept across the kingdom. Hyksos is a Greek word that comes from the Egyptian term, “Heka-khasut,” which translated means “Rulers of the For Foreign eign Lands.” At the end of o f the Middle Kingdom, while the Empire fought amongst itself, Nehesi (Egyptian for “the Nubian”) a ruler from a local region, gained control of a small territory near the Nile delta. This area would flourish under the Fourteenth Dynasty. From this region came a ruler, Salites, who conquered Memphis and declared himself pharaoh. He and his successors, Beon, Apakhnas, Khaian, Apophis, Khamudi, and others

New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC) The New Kingdom under the rule of Ahmose I is where W AR IN H ELIOPOLIS is set. The empire enjoyed great territor terr itorial ial expa expansion nsion and Egypt Egypt rose to dominance dominance as a greatt world power. grea power. Before this could happen, matters had to be settled at home. The new pharaoh had to reinstate the central government and repel attacks from the Nubians and Libyans. The current year is 1547 BC — just as the period is beginning — and the Empire is at a crossroads.

Mythic History Egypt is the land of the gods, and the land’s fate is tied to that of its patrons. The war in Heliopolis impacts the welfare of mortals. Here is how it began.

The Jealousy of Set In times past when the gods walked the face of the land, Osiris, the son of Geb, the God of the Earth, and Nut, the Goddess of the Heavens, was chosen above all others to lead the Great Ennead in Heliopolis and bring peace and prosperity to the lands of humanity. Set, Osiris’ evil brother, railed against the gods’ choice of his brother when he was clearly the greater of the two. However, he bided his time until he could properly dis Murderous concubines shattered the image

















Soon after his return, Osiris’ brother called him to a grand feast to celebrate his successful journey around the world and safe return. Trusting Trusting his brother implicitly, Osiris attended. The gods played many games and gave many gifts in this celebration. At the height of the revelry, Set brought bro ught forth his magnificent sarcophagus and offered it as a prize to anyone who could fit inside. Many tried and failed. Then Set called upon his brother to try. Osiris readily laid within the sarcophagus and was overjoyed to find it fit him perfectly! However, Set and his conspirators pounced upon the sarcophagus, slamming the cover down upon Osiris. They sealed it with molten lead and set it adrift on the Nile, where it floated down the river and out to the great sea beyond the delta. Set was overjoyed to be rid of his brother once and for all.

Isis’s Search When Isis received word of her husband’s apparent death, she was grief-stricken. grief-strick en. Set had cleverly left out the part wherein he was the one who had trapped Osiris in the sarcophagus before it went into the Nile. Isis set out to find her husband, knowing that a body without a proper burial would never be allowed into the underworld and would walk the earth as one of the living dead. She traveled the length of the great disk and consulted man, woman, and child, but none had seen or heard anything with respect to the whereabouts of her husband or the

Continuing her search, Isis learned that the sarcophagus tossed on the waves of the great sea before coming to rest on the shores of the faraway land of Byblos. There it lay among the branches of a tamarisk bush. However the magic contained within the sarcophagus caused the bush to grow and grow, wrapping itself around the wooden box. Eventually, the bush became a mighty tree with a trunk so large that it completely encapsulated the box within its confines. The people called the King of Byblos to come see this tree that had sprung up on the shores of his kingdom. Enamored with its beauty, he ordered it cut down and carried to the capital, where its beauty would be displayed in the royal palace as a gigantic pillar.

The Queen of Byblos By this time, Isis had journeyed to Byblos and, wishing to remain anonymous for the time being, appeared before the queen’s handmaidens as a humble peasant. As the handmaid handmaidens ens enjoyed a summer’s summer ’s day sitting around a fountain in the palace courtyard, Isis offered to braid their hair for them. Taking the kindly woman up on her offer, the maidens allowed her to braid their hair and were pleasantly surprised when Isis used her knowledge of herbs to make a sweet smelling perfume for them as well. Gleefully adorned in their newly braided hair and perfume, the handmaidens returned to the palace and their duties to the queen, who, smelling their wonderful perfume, asked where they had acquired it. The handmaidens happily told her of the mysterious peasa

















spied Isis as the goddess cared for the child and ran to the queen, telling her all that she had seen. The queen dismissed the tale as the ramblings of a jealous competitor, and yet she could not shake the images from her mind. A few nights later the queen hid herself in a closet in the room where Isis built the fire each night. She would see for herself whether or not the story the servant had told her was true. Just as she had done each ea ch night before, Isis entered the room with the infant prince. She laid the boy down while she gathered firewood and placed the logs in the fireplace, creating a roaring blaze. Isis went back to the child and was about to place him within the flames again when the queen burst from the closet, screaming for Isis to stop. Turning on the queen with venom in her stare, Isis revealed her godly presence and vehemently chided the now cowering queen. The goddess explained that she was using her power to temper the child for godhood, but the queen’s brashness had ruined the process, and her son would now be resigned to mortality. The queen mustered her courage and nervously asked the goddess why she had come to Byblos. Isis told her tale of the untimely death of her husband, her search across the land for his whereabouts, and her learning of the great tree that was now a pillar in the king’s palace. Isis only wished to retrieve her husband and leave in peace. The queen, with her child in her arms once more, acquiesced to

lay Osiris, dead with a look of terror on his face. The goddess wept for her deceased beloved, and her cries caught the attention of her sister, Nepthys, the wife of Set, who joined her tearful mourning. After some time, Isis remembered her time in Byblos caring for the queen’s son, and thought of her own son, Horus. Having not seen him since she went in search of her husband, she stopped her mourning to go see him. Nepthys went with her. Once gone though, their tears had a magical effect on the dead Osiris. They gave him new life. He awoke as if from a horrible nightmare.

The Revenge of Set While Isis and Nepthys mourned the death of Osiris, Set had been hunting by the light of Khonsu, as was his wont at times. Hearing the wailing of the sisters, Set went to investigate and was horrified to see them sitting by the side of the sarcophagus he had set adrift on the Nile so long ago. Set quietly slipped to the window near where they sat and watched as their tears bathed the unmoving form of Osiris. He watched as the two goddesses ceased their mourning and left to seek Horus. Set laughed evilly to himself as he saw his deceased brother lying there. The malicious smile slid from his face when he saw his brother first twitch and then move stiffly and slowly to sit upright. Set’s rage knew no end. His brother had cheated him out of everything he had ever desired, and now that same brother would

















ingale alighted on the window and whispered to Isis what it had seen of the murder. Isis’ fury was tempered by her desire to restore her husband again. Making a boat out of papyrus, she sailed forth on the Nile to find her husband’s remains. Isis traveled the length and breadth of Egypt and eventually found everything but his penis and testicles, which a crocodile had swallowed. Isis sewed Osiris back together but could not breathe life into him again. Knowing she needed help, she consulted Atum, the creator of the universe. After much debate, and a little trickery on her part, he told her how to resurrect Osiris. Isis returned to the body of her husband and with the knowledge gained from Atum, brought him back to life. But this was not the Osiris she once knew. The god that stood before her now was cold and solemn. He was the god of death itself.

The Exile of Set Osiris and Isis returned to Heliopolis where they called all the gods before them. Horus stood by the side of his father with hatred for Set burning in his eyes. Osiris explained to the amassed gods the story of how he was taken from this world not once, but twice at the hands of his brother. He extolled the love his wife had for him to search the world and resurrect him each time. He also told them that as the sun sets and the flowers fade away, he too must journey to the underworld. While his wife had resurrected him, a part of him would always remain there, and therefore he must remain there in part as well.

but Osiris was nothing if not compassionate. Set would be exiled from Heliopolis and forced to reside in the great western desert. Should he return, he would suffer a fate far worse than either of those he had inflicted upon his brother. Set revolted. He pointed to this as but the first act of a god gone insane with power and corrupted by the stench of death. He agreed that he would retreat to the desert for now for “the benefit of the state,” but he would return and put an end to this farce. Walking W alking from the hall, Set called any of the other gods to come to his side who wished to be done with Osiris and his rulings. Sokar rose first. He spat on the ground before Osiris’ feet and stood next to Set. Nepthys quietly joined her husband. Next Khonsu shrugged his shoulders and walked to the end of the room. Then, shaking his head, Ptah arose and stood with the rebels. After him came Sobek and Bes. Declaring that they would create a new ennead of the desert, rally the enemies of Egypt to their banner and wipe the taint of Osiris and his followers from the Nile, Set and his minions departed.

Current State of the Empire During the time of Osiris’s deaths, the Hyksos overran the Nile Empire. However, with the return of Osiris, power returned to the mortal kingdom as well. A mighty prince named Ahmose rose to challenge the Hyksos and drive them from Egypt. Having become pharaoh, Ahmose reigns from Thebes over the reunified kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt with wisdom and grace. But his reign will not be peaceful for long. Soon after he took the throne, an army of Libyans challenged



















pantheon will claim victory and total dominion over Egypt, or if they will destroy each other and the entire world with them.

Part P art 2: Life and Culture in Egypt What follows is a description of everyday life in Egypt during the New Kingdom. While the war between the gods has had some effect on society, it largely remains unchanged. After the description of Egyptian culture is a brief glossary of some common Egyptian terms for use in your W AR IN HELIOPOLIS game.

Hieroglyphs & Writing Writing Egyptian culture may be best known for its ancient written language, Hieroglyphs.

The Beginnings of Language The ancient Egyptians believed that the god, Thoth, gave them their written language. The word, “hieroglyph” comes from the Greek term, hieroglyphikos grammata, or “holy signs.” The Greeks took this name from the Egyptian word for their writing, medu-netjer, or “the god’s words.” The language seems to have “sprung” into being a ro u n d 3,000 B.C., perhaps even

ear-



















lier. Later studies point to the beginnings of picture-writing in Mesopotamia at around the same time. Trade between the two regions may have sparked the use of writing in Egypt as a way to keep track of business. Strangely enough, unlike most other forms of written language, English included, there is no long-term process of the linguistic evolution. The Egyptian hieroglyphs created created at the beginning remained unchanged for nearly the next 3,500 years.

The Makeup of the Hieroglyphs The Egyptians did not use a structured alphabet. Of over 1,400 known hieroglyphs, only 25 have been recognized as any sort of letter, and the few vowels that exist have been added by researchers to better allow the translation of texts. The remaining symbols are either phonograms used to represent sounds or ideograms used to represent ideas. Most of these symbols have multiple purposes and could represent any combination of the above. This isn’t to say that the language is indecipherable. Most existing texts can be translated and understood. The main difficulty comes from the fact that the ancient Egyptian language is largely dead. Thus, the actual pronunciation of the language is unknown.

doctors, is sometimes illegible.

Egyptian Grammar The Egyptian scribes roll out their parchment to the right and write from right to left. Usually this is in vertical columns that are read from top to bottom and then right to left. Sometimes instead of columns text is written in rows, but this is still read from right to left. As they do not see their language as merely a collection of symbols but rather as graphic representations of the world around them, Egyptians also believe that the hieroglyphs are holy images with souls of their own. These images are written to face the reader so that they may acknowledge the reader by eyesight. If the end of a parchment is reached before completion, the roll is turned over and the writing begun again on the back side. After it is read, a scrol scrolll is re-rolled so that the beginning will be the first part visible as it is unrolled.

Writing Utensils Although modern paper is not made with the same technique, it is named for the papyrus parchment devised by the Egyptians as a more disposable (and much handier) writing material than stone or clay tablets. Cutting the papyrus plant that grows along the banks of the Nile creates the scrolls. From the plant, the stems are culled and cut into strips. These strips are woven and pressed together in interlocking horizontal and vertical



















An Egyptian Glossary Even though the Egyptians did not use an alphabet such as most modern languages do, many of their words have been translated. What follows is a list of some Egyptian terms and their English translations.

Egyptian

English

Akh Akhet Amduat

The person’s eternal soul formed by merging the ba and ka. Flood — The first of the three seasons. Refers to one of the books that describe the journey to the underworld such as the Book of the Dead. The person’s soul. Emmer Royal jubilee. The opposite of maat. It means chaos, wrong, sin, and evil. Barley The person’s life force. Committee of officials who act as a court. The Blue Crown worn by the pharaoh. The person’s body.

Ba Bedet Heb-sed Isfet It Ka Kenbet Khepresh Khet



















Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts Although the majority of Egypt’s libraries focus around the temples and are cared for by priests (most are known as “houses of life”), some affluent individuals have personal libraries. Egyptian texts range from religious doctrines to documents on ethics, law, science, economics, and fiction and poetry. And, of course, there are all the other written aspects of life such as letters, notes, and even graffiti. Most of these materials are written in hieratic in what is best described as local dialects and often reflect the speaking styles of that section of the Empire. For these more mundane works, the people of Egypt write on what are called ostraca, fragments of stone that are plentiful at the edges of the desert. This bountiful, free writing material allows the lower classes to keep a written record of their lives much as the upper class do with the papyrus scrolls.

Royalty Even the Land of the Gods needs someone to oversee it and ensure that it runs smoothly. In Egypt, this person is the pharaoh.

Divine Rule The leader of the peoples

the translated words for king or ruler and kingdom are one and the same. The pharaoh is not only the ruler of the kingdom, he is the kingdom. This is one of the core beliefs of Egyptian religion and the theory of maat, or order. If the pharaoh were to perish, the kingdom would be thrown into chaos and surely die as well.

Commander-in-Chief One of the pharaoh’s duties is to be commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Unlike those of many modern political leaders, this title is very much a literal one. The pharaoh leads his troops into battle against the enemies of the state and to conquer new lands. This is often a dangerous position but one many pharaohs relish.

Trappings of the Office The pharaoh has many items associated with his position. Most have religious significance, but others are historically important as well. Crowns and Headgear: The pharaoh of Egypt has not one, not two, but three different crowns. Depending on the time period, each of these different crowns was used. The most prominent is the Double Crown signifying the unified kingdom made up of the Red Crown denoting lordship of Lower Egypt (the Memphis area) and the White Crown denoting rule over Upper Egypt (the Thebes area). The Red Crown looks like a cone that curves around the ears



















The bull’s tail is often depicted forward off the top of the crown of the pharaoh. The bull’s tail symbolizes the animal powers of the king and his bullish nature. The uraeus cobra most frequently appears curled up on the pharaoh’s brow with its head reared and leaning forward, menacing anyone who would come too near. The cobra protects pharaoh from any enemies that might threaten his rule. Almost all images of the pharaohs have them holding a flail in his left hand and a crook in his right. These icons were given to pharaoh by the gods and are also seen being held by Osiris himself. There is also a third scepter granted by the gods: the Was Scepter, which is a staff with an animal’s head on its top and a forked bottom. The Was W as Scepter symbolizes the power given to the pharaoh by the gods.

The Vizier Beneath the pharaoh are two viziers, one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower Egypt. The viziers act as prime ministers of equal standing. They put pharaoh’s wishes into action and make sure that the laws are enforced. They act as the highest-ranking judge in their part of the kingdom and oversee many aspects of day-to-day life.

the peace, and so they command troops of police.

Egyptian Socialism The state is everything in Egypt. All production is given over to it. Artisans are all employed by the state. All trade ventures are either funded by or overseen by the government, usually both. Temples are no exception, and are often set up much like the state itself.

The Justice System As the pharaoh has the final say on all matters ma tters in Egypt, there is no real justice system. A series of councils of local notables, known as kenbets, hear the complaints of the citizenry. For decisions of greater importance, or ones that the local kenbet cannot handle, each half of the kingdom has a Great Kenbet headed by the vizier. The Great Kenbet is mainly used for property claims, taxes, and matters that require information be gathered from files to which only the vizier or pharaoh has access. Kenbets are more like congressional hearings than actual trials. There are no attorneys, and





















which are broken down into two units of 50 warriors each. Units are then split into five equal squads of 10. Each squad is headed by a lieutenant lieutenant who reports to the lieutenant of the squad above him. The lieutenant from the first first squad is also the commander of the whole unit. When combined as a division, the lieutenant from the first squad in the first unit commands the entire division. This breakdown is often utilized to divide the workforce when working on state projects.

Military Advances With the need for a standing army also came a need for improved weapons and armor. The biggest improvement is the addition of metal to wooden shields and arrows. Shields, previously made of animal skins stretched over a wooden frame, are now made of wood with a bronze buckle at the center. Leathe Leatherr armor is now covered in bronze plates.

Careers in Egypt are passed down from father to son. The sons of laborers become laborers themselves. The child of a scribe can expect a career just like his father’s. The same goes for officials. Their children are sent to school to learn to read and write so that they can one day take their parents’ positions.

Money Egyptians do not have money in the form of coins or paper. Instead, they use a system of barter based on different weights of valuable metals (mostly copper) and sacks of grain. There are three main monetary units: the deben (the most common unit), which is equivalent to 91 grams of copper; the shenati, which is equal to 7.6 grams of silver; and the kite, which is 9.1 grams of silver. The exchange rate between a sack of grain (barley or emmer) and metal fluctuates considerably depending on supply, but, on average, one deben equals .78 sacks of grain. A sack of grain weighs approxi-





















prime farmland; and new islands created by the floods.

Reservoirs and Irrigation Irrig ation By the time of the New Kingdom, a series of reservoirs have been created to regulate the flow of water and to allow for greater control of the land. After the Nile has flooded and receded, the land often becomes dry and barren again. The reservoirs are connected to a series of canals monitored by the viziers and the regional governors, which can be opened to allow irrigation. This arrangement greatly increases the amount of workable land. The canals also act as transportation routes. A boat can travel the canals from the Nile as far as the Red Sea and can be tied up anywhere along the way so that there is no need for harbors and docks.

Planting and Harvesting Planting season runs from mid-October to November. A





















sion to cut must come directly from a vizier or the pharaoh. Some woods, mainly hardwoods, are unavailable on the banks of the Nile and are imported, but these are reserved for royal use. Other than wood and grain, the main crop planted is flax, which is used to make linen garments. These clothes are prized possessions and are saved for special occasions such as festivals.

Controlling Agriculture All of Egypt belongs b elongs solely to the pharaoh. This includes i ncludes not just the land itself, but all of the vegetation grown on it, the people who work it, and even the water that falls onto it from the sky. The land is split into units known as estates. These consist of villages with fields for growing crops and buildings for processing them. Estates are about 23 to 54 aruras (14

Cattle Cows are prized above all other domesticated animals. They are used for transportation, to pull heavy loads, to work in the fields, for milk, for meat, and as sacrifices to the gods. Cows are kept in pastures in the marshes created by the flooding of the Nile. Herds are named and branded to designate ownership. The allocation of cattle falls to a special government official: the pharaoh’s cattle overseer. Short-legged oxen are the most common type used for sacrificial offerings. offerings. They are separated from the rest of the herd and fattened When it is time for an offering, their throats are slit. The Egyptians are very knowledgeable about their cattle and keep documented records on various types





















skins. Pigs are a popular food source, but are not otherwise prized. All of these beasts are used as sacrificial offerings and are checked as thoroughly as cattle.

Poultry P oultry and Fish Hunters use nets to capture chickens, ducks, geese, quail, pigeons, turtledoves, cranes, and swans. Some are eaten right away, but many are transported to farms where they are fattened. Fish is a staple of the Egyptian diet. Fish are caught along the Nile and the river delta using nets, hooks, and baskets.

Exotic Animals In addition to domesticated animals, exotic ones are caught and used for sacrificial offerings and other purposes. Antelopes and gazelles are prized for their horns. Ibexes are sometimes captured as are hyenas, though the latter can never be domesticated. They are

Egyptian Measurements Egyptians have an advanced system of measurement. What follows is a list of the most common measurements:

Egyptian

Metric Equivalent

Cubit Hand Finger Hin Deben

52.5 cm 7.5 cm 1.875 cm .48l 91g





















Chairs are usually made of wood. Designs range from a simple straight-back or stool to a folding chair and even a recliner with cushions and backrests. Tables are less elaborate, built entirely of wood or with wooden frames and stone tops. All tables are small. The idea of a large table with an entire group sitting at it is alien to Egyptians. Instead each person sits at his or her own small table facing the others in a sort of ancient precursor to the TV tray. Dwellings are designed with wall niches for household items such as clothing. More affluent (though still not upper class) households have wooden chests, boxes, and sometimes other woven material such as blankets.

Royal Palace The royal palace is actually but one of many places in which the pharaoh resides. It is mainly an administrative structure. The pharaoh spends most of his time in the royal residence. Like many structures of its kind, the palace is designed to

need or want.

Lifestyles While some parts of Egyptian culture remain shrouded in mystery to this day, much of its history was chronicled on the walls of temples and tombs. From the records a good picture of the culture can be pieced together, including what Early Egyptians ate, how they lived, and what they wore.

Food F ood Staples As in most cultures, Egyptian dietary habits differ d iffer greatly between the lower and the upper classes. Some items are universal. Diet is almost solely based on grains. In addition to grain, lentils, beans, peas, and chickpeas are staples of the lower classes. They also eat fish, poultry (geese, pigeons, and ducks), goat’s meat, mutton, and pork.























While styles change, clothing during the New N ew Kingdom is characterized by baggy tunics for men and wraparound dresses held in place by a large sash for women. Wigs are popular accessories among both sexes. Footwear consists of either hand-woven sandals made from plant fibers for the lower classes and more expensive leather for the upper classes.

Family F amily Units

The Cosmos In the beginning there was a primordial sea, or nun, upon which floated Atum, the creator surrounded surrounded by chaos. After floating for an immeasurable amount of time, Atum found a place upon which he could stand,























spread himself out over the lands, spreading air throughout the world. Tefnut joined with Nun to become the moisture that feeds the world. Atum drew back once again to the edge of chaos to watch over his creations from afar until the time when the cycle will be broken and the world will fall back into chaos. Then he will have to go forth and remake the world again.

belonged. The ka is sent to the Underworld, where it awaits reunification with its ba. The ba must now seek the ka. This is not an easy task. It may only travel to the Underworld after the sun has set and the god Amun-Re is there. Once in the Underworld,























purpose). The jars are placed in a box, which is placed in the tomb near the body. The four sons of Horus are responsible for protecting these organs, and their likenesses can be seen on all canopic jars: Amset, the man; Hapi, the baboon; Qebehsenuf, the falcon; and Duamutef, the jackal. Once the organs are removed, the body is embalmed. First a liquid is poured into the skull, where it hardens to protect the head. Then the body is filled with and covered in natron,

Part P art 3: Characters This portion of the book deals with character information and considerations specific to the W AR IN HELIOPOLIS setting. It offers new Character Classes, new Skills, and other























Table 3-1: Nomad Class Features























Hit Die: d8 Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int Modifier) x 4 Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int Modifier Class Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Intuit Direction, Jump, Knowledge (Desert), ( Desert), Knowledge (Religion), Listen, Move Silently, Ride, Search, Spot, Wilderness Lore

third the Nomad’s character level rounded up.

Scribe Scribes are the chroniclers of the kingdom’s history, history, protectors of ancient mysteries, and tellers of tales. Some priests and members of the royal family can also read and write, but for the most part, scribes are the only literate individuals in Egypt. Consequently, these librarians are often the only









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Ahnan, who was enslaved because he had become too close a “friend” to one of the members of the pharaoh’s harem. Bes freed Ahnan and gifted him with a special weapon, a massive scimitar with a hilt of gold and magical inscriptions along its blade, making it unbreakable. It is otherw otherwise ise consi consider dered ed a Masterwork weapon. The heroes become aware of this threat when one of the characters is given a horrible vision of the pharaoh being murdered by having a scimitar thrust through him and Horus falling in Heliopolis, a similar wound in his chest. The person who receives this vision is up to the GM. This works best if the recipient has Osiris or Horus as his or her patron deity, but if no one does, Thoth or Anubis are good choices as well. Failing that, select a character that seems most appropriate. The character does not get a clear image of the killer in the vision, so locating the person in real life will be dif-

If the heroes attempt to form a guard around the pharaoh, the king will still want to retire for his usual stroll through his gardens alone, regardless of the threat. He will not allow any to accompany him. When he does, Ahnan attacks. The heroes will have to break through the door to stop Ahnan. The pharaoh puts up a fight, but he is unarmed and so at a significant disadvantage. The assassin is a 9th Level Fighter/ 2nd Level Godslayer. When the heroes h eroes do break in, Ahnan attempts to use the pharaoh as a hostage to make good his escape. Given a chance, though, he will slit his prey’s throat before he leaves. If the heroes manage to stop Ahnan without him escaping, the pharaoh is most grateful. He’s especially pleased if they capture the Godslayer alive, enabling him the pleasure of executing him, which he does with Ahnan’s own scimitar. If any character was particularly instrumental in saving the pharaoh, he gives that person Ahnan’s scimitar as a gift. Otherwise, he keeps it as a trophy. Rewards: Defeating Ahnan is a Challenge Rating 11 Encounter. Preventing him from escaping kicks it up one level. There is no reward if the pharaoh perishes.

And the Dead De ad Shall Rise ficult. The first thing they should do is warn the pharaoh. His reaction is one of concern, but he will not abandon the throne. If the players want to set up a guard on the pharaoh, he will resist, but will agree if there are no more than two heroes there. After the pharaoh is warned, the characters can begin to look for the killer. However, as a former palace guard, Ahnan knows many of the secrets of the fortress and will do his best to blend in. The pharaoh has a long list of enemies, but a Gather Information check at DC 25 will reveal that one of the slaves in a local encampment, a former guard, has turned up missing. Further investigation will uncover his identity, history, and grudge against the pharaoh. Resolution: Now that the heroes know who the Godslayer is, they have to be on the lookout for him. Ahnan, however, has already managed to infiltrate the palace. He has killed one of the regular guards and taken his place. Since then he has been scouting out when it would be best to kill his prey. He has found that each night the pharaoh leaves his guards for an hour and walks in his gardens under the moonlight. This is when Ahnan intends to strike.

Any.. Characters: Any Goal: Stop Sokar and his legions of the undead from overrunning overrunni ng the kingdom. Setup: Prior to Osiris establishing himself as ruler of the Underworld, this was the sovereignty of Sokar. When Set began to plot the downfall of Heliopolis, Sokar was the first conspirator he brought in on his plans. Their plans for the overthrow of the gods did not go well. The forces of the Nile Empire are mightier than either of the two evil gods had anticipated, and all of Set’s plans have thus far been foiled. They have hit upon a new plan, however. The Heliopolitan gods draw strength from the worship of the Egyptians. Thus, to quench the source of their power, the two villains now propose to wipe out the Nile Empire for good. Whilee Osiris Osiris is is now the ruler ruler of the the Underwor Underworld, ld, The Adventure: Whil Sokar still controls the City of the Dead and, more importantly, the gates that keep the deceased from returning to the land of the living. On the night of the new moon when the power of fear is at its highest, Sokar throws open these gates and allows the living dead to surge forth and feast upon the living who do not worship the Desert Ennead. Osiris would normally be aware of such a treasonous act.















Thebes in the desert. Those in the city can hear a low moaning sound from that direction as if the souls of the dead are calling to them. They are. Hundreds of undead — ghouls, wights, and zombies — rush forth from it and descend upon Thebes. Leading them is Sokar’s foul Avatar, Kasuf, the same fiend who kidnapped the prince. Within an hour the dead reach the city walls and attack. They burst through the gates and fall upon any living person they can find. They can sense whether a person is a worshipper of Set and his minions, and those people will be left alone. Resolution: Kasuf and his army hit the city like a brick through a papyrus sheet. Their immediate aim is wholesale slaughter. They fall upon as many people as they can find, killing them mercilessly. The dead waste little time on any particular victim. They slay as quickly as possible and move on to the next target. This is because their true goal is to reach the palace and other government buildings. Killing peasants is helpful to Set, but what he really wants to accomplish is breaking the people’s spirit. That means, he needs to slaughter the officials who bring order to their lives. In particular, Clerics are the preferred targets. They represent the link between the people and the gods, so eliminating them is instrumental in Set’s plans. The pharaoh calls upon the army to protect the city. After the initial attack, they get organized and begin repelling the dead wherever possible. Once it becomes obvious that the thrust of the attack is headed towards the palace, they fall back a bit to defend it. As well as the army fights, there are massive numbers of undead monsters, and casualties everywhere. The heroes should be willing to jump into the fray immediately. If they need direction, pharaoh orders them to the front lines to help his overtaxed and besieged soldiers. This is a bloody free-for-all with the party in almost constant battle with hordes of undead. Keep them fighting enough monsters for them to be challenged but not horribly endangered at first. Over the course of the battle, any character who scores a Critical Threat on his or her attack roll may roll on Table 5-1 for an heroic opportunity in the course of the battle. If any of the characters are Avatars, they should be wary. The undead can sense this and will attack them mercilessly.

pack of ghouls to cover his escape. Towards dawn, the dead withdraw. Kasuf, if he is still alive, leads them back into the desert. If he is not, they begin scattering shortly after his death, having lost the direction they need to sustain their attack. An exhausted city can breathe a sigh of relief. It has withstood the assault, but the questions remain: what caused it, and will the dead be back? Rewards Rewa rds:: Surviving heroes receive experience based on the challenges they faced during the battle. Overall, they should have fought four or five individual skirmishes plus any heroic opportunities they had and should be rewarded for each. Defeating Kasuf is a Challenge Rating 12 Encounter. Encounter.

Serpent’s Tongue Characters: Any, but a Trader will come in very handy. Goal: Stop Apophis from blocking the trade routes. Setup: Apophis, the eternal enemy of the gods, has been plotting their downfall for millennia. Each night he attacks Amun-Re as he sails through the Underworld, only to be thwarted by the Sun God’s personal guard. However, when Set left Heliopolis, Apophis approached him and made an offer: if Set would but give Amun-Re to Apophis, the snake demon would give him all the aid he would need to overthrow Osiris and the other gods of Heliopolis. Set readily agreed. Sokar’s undead attack on the kingdom caused much destruction. In addition to the number of people who perished, the granaries were broken open, crops were polluted, and cattle and other animals slaughtered. If Egypt is to survive, it needs to acquire goods from other lands quickly. Strangely though, no trade caravans have been seen in days. In fact, most of the Traders in the kingdom seem to have mysteriously disappeared. If any of the heroes in the group are Traders themselves, they will notice that many of their friends and colleagues have vanished. The Adventure: The pharaoh calls the heroes before him to discuss the matter of the missing Traders. He believes that this is another plot by Set and his minions to overthrow the kingdom. He orders the party to take the caravan route to the Northeast in search of both answers to this mystery and goods that can help save the kingdom. The heroes are given a wagon and some donkeys to pull it along with a few trade goods. If any of them is a Trader, the





























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Avalanche Press - Nile Empire - War in Heliopolis (OCR)

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