In one ancient world, the human empire of Khemet has thrived for thousands of years. Pharaoh Ramses II has been blessed by the gods, but the world beyond his rule teeters on the brink of a dark age. Can a band of orphans find their fate, retrieve dangerous relics, and become heroes?

Non-Player Characters in the city of Waset (Memphis) in New Kingdom Egypt, as of Session 43.41 and 42, Jan. 13 and Feb. 10, 2020/ “24 to 25 May 1226 B.C.E.., or Akhet/Payni, the second month of the flood in Year 53 of the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II:”

• Somintu: male Wakyambi Nanala (Elf Rogue), sly trader, working with Meketre

• Walracham: vulture familiar of Smrithi

• Serethet: female Pesedjer (Egyptian human), former Hakima (Cleric) of Nepthys, protector of the dead; possessed by the Ib (part of the soul) of the “Forgotten” Pharaoh Hakahotep and a leader of his followers around the city of Mennefer (Memphis); later slain and resurrected by Khafre; meditating at the temple of Isis

• Bel: male Khemtian pesedjer (Egyptian human), young boatman who worked with Nile River bounty hunters (defeated) and taken on as an acolyte by Farooq

Other temples at Karnak: Khonshu, Mut, Montu, Apis, Ptah, Horus, Aten, Bastet Thoth, Nepthys, Isis

• Ti-mest-nibs: female human follower of Neith wearing red sash, spotted by Meketre

• Mekha-Habib: male human consul of the Assyrian Empire; asked Meketre to acquire dagger with four-headed pommel from unnamed courtier in return for necklace of Ereshkigal

Other consulates: Punt, Hattusi (Hittites), Mycenae (Greece), Ebir Sheikdom, Kingdom of Zuromm, Empire of Yin (China)

• Gaga-makheru: male Egyptian human, Ghazi (priest) of Anubis, lord of the dead; Khafre reported to him about assassination plot

• Sher ben Avida: male Hebiru (Hebrew) human, merchant in the soukh who directed Smrithi and Raoun to underworld cantina

• Jabari: male Mul (Goliath/Giant-kin), member of the local thieves’ guild encountered by Smrithi at cantina

• Kasaika: male Djinn (wind spirit), spoke with Smrithi and Raoun at underworld cantina; told Raoun about Amulet of Nondetection and where to search for a flying mount, as well as mutilated corpse and Ninusu and Halwati

• Nkrumah: male Ngoloko Khery-heb (Orc Wizard), traded with Smrithi for necromantic tome

• Amenparusika: male Egyptian human Ghazi of Amun-Re, lord of the sunset; spoke to Khafre and Meketre about the Opet festival and procession on the Avenue of the Sphinxes

• Ra-kheperu-neb: male Egyptian human priest of Amun-Re at the temple at Karnak; spoke with Khafre and Farooq

• Manetho: male Egyptian human, laborer offloading royal barges; mentioned sightings of unidentified flying object to Whaka

• Naeem: male Egyptian human farmer, spoke with Raoun and Whaka about UFO — gilded capstone of the Black Pyramid

• Ahura: female Egyptian human farmer, spoke with Raoun and Whaka; paid to be silent about “charging pylons”

• Kishi demon: summoned by Whaka while he took rubbings of unknown carvings on pylons; summoned more hyena-headed demons and Khafre; eventually slain; held the following:
  • Shield, +2 — held as bakeesh (gift)
  • Shield, Resist Fire — held by Farooq
  • Spears, three long, masterwork (+1 on item saves) — kept as bakeesh

• Tahut-nefer: male Egyptian human, rented party lodgings to Zyren for 1 kite (gold piece) per day

• Walidah: female Wemic (centauroid leonine) priestess of Bastet; spoke with Zyren

• Bakenkhonshu: male Aarakocra, officer in the Medjai (secret police), contacted Zikak

• Sheshanq: male Egyptian human, commander of royal barges from Pi-Ramesses to Waset; spoke with Zikak, Whaka

• Halwati: female Hittite human, priestess of Astarte

• Ninsunu: female Babylonian human, cultist of Abaddon

• Areshkhesbed [Rich C.G./N.P.C.]: gynosphinx (female sphinx with lower body of a lion, humanoid upper body, and wings) Cleric of Ereshkigal; NEc (first encountered by the “Talons” at the Sightless Sphinx)

• Agramak the Eel [Bruce K./N.P.C.]: male Marid Khebenti (Water Elemental Rogue), former spy for Serethet and Ninureset and follower of Apep, lord of chaos (viewed in Khafre’s vision); NEc

• Bone Crusher: male Mul Khasti (Giant-kin/Goliath Barbarian), served Serethet; NEl

• Nargotha [Drew S./N.P.C.]: male human Ajami (Wizard) and scroll-wrapped follower of Nethys, foreign god of oaths, magic, and destruction; onetime ally of Serethet; LNe; animated 100 sphinx statues before being stopped by Smrithi

• Sunar the Red [Liam O./N.P.C.]: male Girtalubu Ghaffir (scorpion-man Anti-Paladin) of Apep, lord of chaos; served Ninureset; CEn

Treasure:

• Dagger, Wounding — removed from Meketre
• Figurines, turquoise, worth a total of 150 kites (gold pieces)
• Gems, worth a total of 800 g.p.
• Ingots, gold, worth a total of 2,000 g.p.
• Javelin, +2 — claimed by Khafre
• Manacles, onyx — Meketre
• Poison, scorpion — Zyren
• Potions, Climbing, Enlarge Person — claimed for Whaka
• Scroll, Animate Dead — Khafre
• Scrolls: Cloudkill, Protection From Energy, Wall of Fire — Smrithi
• Scroll, Water Walk — Raoun
• Shield, +1 — Bel (Farooq’s acolyte)
• Sword of Vengeance — Khafre destroyed
• Trident of Fish Command — Raoun
• Wand, Cure (Light) Wounds, 15 charges — Bel

• Hakahotep: male Egyptian human, “forgotten” or “sky” pharaoh of the late Old Kingdom; deceased?

• Prince Khaemwaset: male Egyptian human Ghazi, fourth son of Pharaoh Ramses II; designer of the Serapeum, labyrinth of the Apis bull in Mennefer (Memphis) — sent letters by Khafre

• Mentuhotep: male Egyptian human, fifth prince of Egypt; leader in the Medjai (secret police), based in Pi-Ramesses

• Khanefru: male Egyptian human, prince, follower of crocodile deity Sobek, and nomarch (governor) of Tanis

• Princess Isetnofret II: female Egyptian human, daughter of Isetnofret (sixth of 53 daughters of Ramses II), niece of Merenptah; chantress of Isis

• Prince Mentu: male Egyptian human, 24th son of Ramses II, governor of fourth nome, “Southern Shield Land”

• Pharaoh Rameses II: male Pesedjer (human), aging ruler of the empire of Khemet (New Kingdom Egypt), directing construction of Great Hypostyle Hall and Ramasseum at the edge of farmland

(See also The Mummy’s Mask for Pathfinder 1e, among other sources.)

The “Talons of Tanis,” Player Character Party 43 in Gene D.’s “Vanished Lands: Journey From Khemet” Egyptian fantasy campaign, using Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition, as of spring 2020:

• “Meketre Kenamon” [Beruk A.]: male D’mt Pesedjer Bahati (Ethiopian human Monk-Kensai), outsider, partial amnesiac, and weapon master from Punt, with three Wakyambi (Elf) followers; LNg, Lvl. 8

• “Khafre Maa Keru” [Byron V.O.]: male Khemtian Pesedjer Ghaffir (Egyptian human Paladin) of Anubis, god of the dead; sage sworn to an oath of vengeance; with pharaoh hound Sulbandi and acolyte Serethet; LGn, Lvl. 8

• “Smrithi” [Brian W.]: male Pesedjer Hekai (Egyptian human Sorcerer), Djinn-touched wild mage and charlatan; with vulture familiar Walracham; CGn, Lvl. 8

• “Zyren Akahlay” [Bruce K.]: male Pehesset Shenu (Half-Elf Bard), sometime criminal and member of the College of the Sword; CGn, Lvl. 8

• “Farooq Fairbottom” [Rich C.G.]: male Ptahmenu Ghazi (Dwarf Cleric), priest of sun god Amun-Re; with banuq (winged cat) Liriel and acolyte Bel; NGl, Lvl. 8

• “Zikak” [Drew S.]: male Aarakocra Khebenti (bird-man Rogue), inquisitor in the Medjai (secret police); LNg, Lvl. 8

• “Keraunos ‘Raoun’ Halba” [Ben O.]: male Achaean Pesedjer Hekai (Mycenaean Greek Sorcerer), Divine Soul, sailor, and cooly detached fugitive and warrior; NGc, Lvl. 8

• “Whaka Tu Hinga” [Liam O.]: male Anpur Bequenu (Gnoll Fighter), folk hero and Eldritch Knight; wary protector of his tribe in the wilderness; NGl, Lvl. 8