ii. The Guidebook

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The Guidebook

The guidebook provides an explanation about tribal culture and beliefs. One of the scribes was kind enough to compile a list detailing the various facts you need to know to survive in ancient Egypt. He recommends that you read the guidebook in its entirety. We doesn't want you to end up like the last visitors...

Navigation

i. The Seasons
ii. About: The Land of the Dead
iii. Prey & Predators
iv. Terminology

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The Seasons

The Egyptian calendar can be separated into three seasons - the Season of Inundation, the Season of Emergence, and the Season of Harvest. The Egyptian year is tied to what nature and geography dictate, and what the deities allow to happen.

The first season, The Season of Inundation, signals the beginning of the new year. This season is characterized by the flooding of the Nile, where waters rise and drench the land. This is often the most dangerous season. High temperatures and raging flood-waters prevent the movement of the Tribes and severely limit their ability to trade and interact with each other.

The second season, The Season of Emergence, begins when the waters of the Nile recede. The land experiences a 'rebirth' after a short period of cold weather and heavy cloud cover. Flowers and herbs begin to sprout, prey returns, and the scars caused by the flood-waters all but vanish. The Tribes are blessed with great power and prosperity during this season. In exchange, their obligations to the gods greatly increase.

The third season, The Season of Harvest, closes the year and gives rise to many festivals. This is the most profitable time for the land. Although the hot temperatures return, the land continues to bear the fruits of the god's blessings. However, these blessings do not last. The waters of the Nile begin to disappear midway through the season. The shortages that result often lead to conflict, and in their anger, the gods wreak havoc upon the land.

Each season lasts one real month.

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The Duat

To the west of the Nile lies a forbidden realm, walked only by the faded figures of the dead. A land void of all life and hope, inhabited by those who can feel deaths steely grip around their hearts. There they wait for their salvation to emerge, a release from the unending nothingness that will never come.

Only a few are permitted to cross into this threshold alive - those that carry the phantoms of the damned, they themselves cursed for the wrongdoings of those that overpower their souls. There they act as guardians, the keepers of the dead.

The Duat exists in three separate dimensions. The first, the Land of the Dead, serves as the gateway to the Duat and is the only portion of this realm that is visible to the living. The Land of the Dead is a vast expanse of sand and gnarled trees that lies beyond the western bank of the Nile. The newly deceased are ferried across the Nile, where their ba's are separated from their bodies. The Land of the Dead serves as the first stop on a Tribe members trip to the afterlife.

It is possible to travel to this dimension alive; however, living Tribe members cannot return to Thebes unless they possess the powers of Anubis. Those that do possess the powers of Anubis carry a portion of the god's ba within them and are obligated to perform burial ceremonies and guard the Land of the Dead. They may only return to the Tribes when they have completed their duties or until a replacement has been sent.

Once the burial ceremony has been performed, the ba of the dead travels to the second dimension of the Duat: the underworld. The deceased must board Ra's sunboat and journey across the River of Death, where they are confronted with four trials. These can range from battling a demon to solving a simple puzzle. Once these tasks have been completed, the deceased may enter the Temple of Osiris.

Once inside the temple, the god of death Osiris will weigh the deceased's heart against the feather of truth. If the two are perfectly balanced, the deceased will be permitted to enter the final dimension of the Duat - the Fields of Aalu. If the two are not perfectly balanced, the demon god Ammit will devour the dead's heart and exile them to walk the grounds of the Land of the Dead for all eternity.

The third and final dimension of the Duat, the Fields of Aalu, is the domain of the gods and the final paradise for the dead. Separate dimensions controlled by the gods exist within the Fields of Aalu.

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List of Prey

Birds

Crow
Dove
Duck (found only near the Nile)
Lark
Owl
Partridge
Pheasant
Puffin (found only near the Nile)
Raven
Sparrow
Wren

Sacred Ibis: A large bird with a long, hooked beak. It is venerated by the Tribes of Egypt. Those privileged enough to catch one are rewarded with good health and an increased life span.

Hawks/Eagles/Falcons: Characterized by their hooked beak and large size, hawks, eagles, and falcons can be considered both prey and a predator. Only the most skilled hunters can take down these great birds.


Reptiles

Lizards: An assortment of these small reptiles scurry across the desert. As they are both slow moving and easy to spot, they make for easy prey.

Frogs: Like lizards, frogs are easily caught. However, they can only be found around the banks of the Nile.

Snakes: Snaked can be difficult to spot on the desert. Beware, as the bites of many snakes can result in illness or death.


Other

Desert Mice: These small rodents form large, underground communities and typically venture out of their burrows at night.

Fish: Fish are a great source of food if you are not afraid to get wet. These slippery animals populate all bodies of water.



Predators

Nile Crocodiles: These large reptiles inhabit the Nile during the Season of Inundation and the Season of Emergence. They are fairly inactive during the latter season, and are rarely seen. When active, these creatures pose a large threat to the Tribes. Their sharp teeth and powerful jaws can easily crush a cat, their tough skin is nearly impenetrable, and their raw strength is unmatched by any other animal. Those who decide to fight them are issued a death sentence. There is no defeating this fearsome reptile.

Jackals: Small to medium-sized canines that are most active at dawn and dusk. Jackals are fast predators that are able to maintain high speeds for long periods of time, and are typically found in pairs. Fighting a jackal will result in serious injury.

Desert Foxes: These animals are usually the size of a well-grown cat. Its short, stout legs are good for putting on a burst of speed. Although hard to spot, they are not difficult opponents.

Egyptian Cobra: A large aggressive snake that is rather dull colored. If cornered, it will attack and inject a deadly poison.



Other

Camel: Large, hoofed, and humped mammals that roam the desert. They are passive creatures that rarely attack.

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Terminology

Ankh - The ankh is the Egyptian symbol for life. It is often worn by members of the Tribes in the form of jewelry, bones, or tattoos.

Ba - The ba is the soul. When death occurs, the ba is separated from the body. Some are born with the ability to separate the ba from the body while still alive. This ability enables the user to freely travel through the Duat and return to their body alive.

Duat - The Duat is the Egyptian underworld. It is home to both the ba of the dead and the gods.

House of Life - The House of Life is the educational and record-keeping center of each nome. Here, scribes are trained in spell-casting, record keeping, and history.

Ka - The ka closely coincides with the ba. Ka is the intellectual and spiritual power a cat possesses. It is possible to manipulate a cat's thoughts by controlling their ka; however, this harms the users ba and can result in death if used for a prolonged period of time.

The Karnak - The Karnak is the administration capitol and shopping district of the area.

Ma'at - Ma'at is both the goddess of justice and the balance of the world. Only the power's of Ma'at keep the forces of chaos at bay and enable the Tribes to maintain a peaceful existence.

Nome - A nome is a district of Thebes. Each nome is controlled by a specific Tribe. In turn, each nome is controlled by a specific god. This god maintains control over the nome by dictating the code of conduct Tribe members are to maintain and determining its rulers.

Scribe - Scribes are the historians, teachers, and, in rare cases, magicians of the Tribes.