Pantheon

Maat | Ra

AMUN, the Watchful
Son of Min and Terpsichore (actually Aphrodite)
Realm: Vision
Animal: Ram

The only known son of Min to be born with clearly divine blood, the ram-headed Amun typically wears a human face. He is quiet, thoughtful, and a bit embarrassed of his father's usual antics. Much of his youth was spent with his uncle Khnum, learning the arts of war, where he took particularly to archery, having a keen eye. They butted heads less often than would be expected by two ram-headed gods, instead forming a close, almost father-son bond. Khnum's death was difficult for Amun, and he can often be found wandering Khnum's garden in Abu, where Amun has erected a small temple for himself on the outskirts of the old temple complex. His cult is small, and Amun gives it little heed, preferring to travel alone. Reportedly Min considered naming his strongest son Martin, but thankfully reconsidered.

Physique: 4, Last it out 5
Warfare: 4, Archery 8
Temple: 3
Trump: Join, Pass
Shapeshifting: Second Form, Human Form
Sorcery: None
81 points

ANUBIS, Lord of the West
Son of Ra and Nut
Realms: Death, The Desert, Justice
Animal: Jackal

The jackal-headed, onyx-skinned guardian of the door to the Land of the Dead, Anubis is universally respected and generally feared. His cult presides over funerary services throughout Amber. He sits in judgment over the souls of departing mortals, feeding the hearts of the unworthy to the demon Ammet. His position is one of great power and his integrity is unmatched. His age and role have given him a grim disposition, yet his counsel if always objective and often sought by others in the family. He rarely leaves his fortress temple overlooking Thebes from the cliffs above the west bank of the Nile. Elsewhere he may have been known as Benedict.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 3
Temple: 9
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: None
123 points

BAST, Lady of Cats
Daughter of Ra and Tefnut
Realms: Grace, Stealth, Freedom
Animal: Cat

Sleek, seductive, and always landing on her feet, cat-headed Bast is the epitome of grace and control. She is more responsive to her worshippers than any other member of the family, and well-liked by most of Amber's mortals for her intervention into the lives of the commoners. An opponent of slavery in all its forms, she is an advocate for the masses among the politics of the family. Slavery is outlawed in her cult city of Bubastis in the Nile Delta, and festivals there are frequent and intense. In other lands, this lady in black is called Deirdre.

Physique: 4
Warfare: 5
Temple: 7
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-Stealth, Preservations
113 points

GEB, the Stoneking (dead)
Son of Ra and Nekhbet
Realms: Earth, Sacrifice
Animal: Goose

Geb, whose skin was the red of the desert at sunset and whose fists were like stones, was the greatest combatant Amber had ever seen, until he was struck down by the outsider Sekhmet. Quick to anger but quicker to laugh, the Stoneking was remarkably changeable for one so closely tied to the stability of earth. Never a leader, but always the strong hand at the Pharaoh's side, his presence brought Amber to its prominence in the Golden Circle. Dozens of lesser gods perished by his hand. Some may remember him by other names, Bleys among them.

Physique: 6
Warfare: 8
Temple: 3
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: None
115 points

HARMAKHIS, the Sphinx
Son of Sokar and Shesmetet
Realms: Secrets, Travel, Sun on the Horizon
Animal: Lion

Harmakhis has not shown his face in Amber in over 700 years. His temple at Hawara, near the marshy area now occupied by Sobek, has long lain empty. Most assume that he's long dead, heart eaten by some beast out in deep Shadow. What stories still survive place him fighting in defense of Amber against the rebellion of Sokar and Khepri - often in a sphinx form, increasing Warfare in exchange for Temple. At the end of the war he departed Amber under uncertain circumstances. What portraits of him remain depict him as a handsome man of Amber with shoulder-length black hair and striking hazel eyes.

Physique: 5, Withstand Pain 6
Warfare: 5, Desert combat 6
Temple: 3
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: Second Form, 20%
Sorcery: None
83 points

HORUS, Prince of the Horizon
Son of Ra and Hathor
Realms: Strength, The Sky
Animal: Falcon

Horus, though one of the youngest brothers of Osiris (only Min is younger), has been named heir to the throne by his eldest brother. Many in the family doubt his ability to lead wisely, for he is brash and stubborn. Only his brother Set openly opposed Osiris' choice, however, for Horus has the favor of Isis, in addition to his own immense strength. The favor of the White Witch is not to be taken for granted, but Horus appears somewhat guarded about accepting her support. Legends tell that he once took the form of a hippo in the contest with Set which took his brother's life, but he has not taken that form again in recent memory. This falcon-headed mountain of a man might be called Gerard, if one wandered far from his cult city of Nekhen.

Physique: 8
Warfare: 4, Dueling 6
Temple: 4
Trump: Join
Shapeshifting: Second form
Sorcery: None
117 points

ISIS, the White Witch (dead)
Daughter of Ra and Nekhbet
Realms: Healing, Disguise, Magic
Animal: Heron

Though slight of stature and an unlikely combatant, Isis commands more respect from most of the pantheon than anyone save Osiris. Her magical abilities are unmatched, and her intentions are often difficult to discern. She makes her home on the island of Philae in the upper Nile, near the edge of Shadow, yet her presence is often felt in the heart of Amber, especially since she has made it clear that she is a strong supporter of Horus as Osiris' heir. Rumor of her Shapeshifting ability is difficult to substantiate; she has been seen to wear a coat of white feathers on occasion, but she evades the occasional rude question about whether she grew them herself. While her allegiance now appears to hold with the Amber status quo, in the past she has shown a more selfish side which makes many suspect that she supports Horus only because she believes he will be her puppet should Osiris perish, or go mad like his father. In another time and place, this enigmatic sorceress was called Fiona.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 3
Temple: 4
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID, Engrave, Attack
Shapeshifting: ?
Sorcery: Domain-Healing, Domain-Magic, Creations, Divinations
114 points

KEKET, Lady of Visions
Daughter of Horus and Pipuy
Realms: Dreams, Prophecy
Animal: Horned Viper

Keket, the viper-headed daughter of Horus, has a small cult following which she supposedly sometimes blesses with Prophecy. Keket's cult also peddles the flowers of the blue lotus, which have certain quality for inspiring visions and euphoria when mixed with wine, so it may be that her priestesses just sample their own stock a bit too much. Possessing a somewhat careless amorality about the mortals in Amber, Keket has been known to curse humans with endless nightmares or other madness-inducing punishments in return for real or imagined slights. Her priestesses claim that their mistress can foretell the future of Amber; her more mundane talents, such as her deadly combat skills, are what have earned her the respect of the family.

Physique: 4
Warfare: 7
Temple: 3
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Blessings and Curses
81 points

KHEPRI, the Forgotten (dead)
Son of Ra and Kauket
Realms: Unknown
Animal: Scarab

Khepri lived early in Amber's history, before Ra went mad and departed the throne, and when Anubis was the youngest son of Ra. He and his brother Sokar rebelled against the Pharaoh and were defeated; their hearts and souls were destroyed. Few facts remain about Khepri. It is known that he could take the form of a scarab beetle, and was the first to create gateways from his temple to the temples of his siblings. This combination leads historians to believe he was Amber's first spymaster, but the truth, like Khepri's temple, is now naught but dust. Other texts have been found referring to an Osric; these may be references to Khepri by another name.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 5
Temple: 8
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: Second Form, 20%, 40%, Mass Shift, Greater Mass Shift
Sorcery: None
138 points

KHNEMU, the Provider
Son of Isis and Amenophis
Realms: Devotion, Providing, Building
Animal: Ox

Khnemu is the eldest of Amber's Third Dynasty, and has the legs and hooves of an Ox. The son of Isis, he followed in his mother's footsteps and became an accomplished Trump artist. Over time, his cult following far surpassed that of the White Witch, due in a large part to his actively benevolent hand in dealing with Amber's many hunters, fishers, and farmers. He established his temple city at Rosetta, as far from Isis's temple as Amber's borders allowed - though they remained on good terms until his mother's untimely end.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 3
Temple: 6
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID, Engrave
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Blessings and Curses
80 points

KHNUM, the Rainmaker (dead)
Son of Ra and Hathor
Realms: Plants, Forcefulness
Animal: Ram

Ram-headed Khnum loved the charge. He built his garden temple at Abu, an island amidst the Nile's first cataract, so that he might enjoy the rushing danger of the waters at his leisure. Ptah built for him the grandest chariot Egypt had ever seen, and Khnum raised a horse to pull it as no mortal beast could. It was following a doomed charge that Khnum fell, cut off from support and surrounded. It is said he held the enemy back for hours, even after the death of his horse, but in the end the mob overwhelmed him. His mourners flocked to Abu, and turned Khnum's temple into a green and growing memorial of the god who had helped their crops and animals, and whose belief in Amber was true. On one statue of Khnum in this vast garden is carved the name Julian, down below the undergrowth where few have seen it.

Physique: 5
Warfare: 6, Charioteer 8
Temple: 3
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-Growth, Preservations, Blessings and Curses
117 points

KHONSU, the Traveler
Son of Set and Neith
Realms: Luck, the Moon, Mystery, Protection
Animal: Turtle

Turtle-headed Khonsu is the son of Set, and he inherited his father's eloquence and charisma. However, where Set was infamous for his schemes and malice, Khonsu is best known for his capriciousness and his curiosity. Everything comes easily to Khonsu, so much so that he often changes direction on a whim, after having drawn one relative after another into one of his plans. Even so, he keeps commitments on the infrequent occasions he gives them, and is capable of surprising patience, such as during the decades he spent searching for the source of the Nile and the origin of Amber. His major temple is at Karnak in Thebes, near Anubis's. While customary to invoke his blessing in new enterprises and in desperation, the dedicated worship of Khonsu is less common; his cultists are often explorers and scientists, soldiers skilled in the shield, bodyguards, and those who aspire to the fickle but powerful secrets of the moon.

Physique: 5
Warfare: 5, Shield 7
Temple: 3
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: Second Form, Quick Shift
Sorcery: None
84 points

MAAT, The Bird of Truth
Realms: Order, Truth, Progress, Purity
Animal: unknown white bird

Maat is the most widely worshipped goddess in Amber - even most members of the family have a reverence for her. She takes many forms, most often that of a young woman or girl dressed in white. She almost never speaks, and will go months or years between appearances to mortals or members of the family. Her presence is usually seen as a blessing, and sometimes includes a bit of cryptic advice - she has been know to lead people to things they might have overlooked, or an injustice that she wants corrected. Very rarely does she interfere directly with the affairs of Amber. Her departure often leaves behind a white feather or two; these are potent sorcerous components, usable to add great power to nearly any ritual. One of them is used by Anubis in the ritual granting access to the Land of the Dead. Her cult is widespread but amorphous, consisting of wandering charitable priests more than an organized hierarchy. She has no temple of her own, though a shrine to her exists in most other temples.

Maat's stats are unknown; she appears to operate on a higher level than Amberites, and may not be the same type of being at all.

MIN of Many Wives
Son of Ra and Amaunet
Realms: Love, Fertility, Friendship
Animal: Bull

Min, the youngest of Ra's children, is something of a free spirit. His detractors call him inconstant and fickle; his friends speak of his humility (a rare trait in this family) and his youthful impetuosity. These same traits have made him a favorite of the young people of mortal Amber, whose appearance he shares. His cult city of Akhmim is known for its wild, near-constant festivals. He is also unique amongst the family in terms of fertility; Min has dozens of children by his many wives and mistresses, though most are otherwise normal mortals (Amun being a curious exception). His cult is widespread, and contains some darker elements, such as the Thousand Daughters of Min, an assassin group who have often been accused of taking Min's interests into their own hands, without their patron's approval.

Physique: 5, Last it out 6
Warfare: 5
Temple: 6
Trump: Join, Pass
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Blessings and Curses
101 points

OSIRIS, Pharaoh of Amber (dead)
Son of Ra and Merhyt
Realms: The Nile, Time
Animal: Hawk

Osiris is the eldest son of Ra, and certainly the most powerful. While his other siblings explored the world their father founded for them, Osiris rarely left Ra's side, and learned much of the magic and the genius which created Amber. None refuted his claim to Amber's throne when Ra descended into madness. It is unknown whether Ra or Osiris invented the art of engraving Trumps; when Osiris came to the throne, though, he was the one to establish them as the preferred means of communication within the family. He taught the art to those who were interested, and donated his own time and efforts to those who were not, thus building a network of communication between all the cult cities of Amber. Osiris has recently been masterminding the expansion of Amber through the Golden Circle, though he largely plays the role of general from the capital at Memphis while his siblings do the legwork. Of late, the expansion has greatly slowed, and there are doubts in Osiris' leadership for the first time. In the depths of his madness, Ra was known to call his favored son, whose skin is the deep green-gray of Nile mud, by the foreign name Oberon.

Physique: 5
Warfare: 6, War across Shadow 8, Communications 9
Temple: 7
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID, Engrave
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-The Nile, Preservations, Creations, Divinations, Domain-Amber?
200+ points

PTAH, the Great Architect
Son of Ra and Tefnut
Realms: Craftsmanship
Animal: Bull

Ptah, the favored god of craftsmen and artisans, appears quite human. Though not without a sense of humor, he is a meticulous planner and prides himself on his preparedness. His patience allows him to complete greater projects than most of the family (save perhaps Set) are willing to undertake. It was Ptah who designed and oversaw the building of the Great Pyramid of Ra, and who Osiris commissioned to design his own pyramid. Ptah has also devoted his keen mind to weaponry; Horus bears a spear with Ptah's mark upon it, and Anubis walks with a gilded staff given to him by his younger half-brother. Though he has designed many of the more magnificent structures in Amber, his own white-walled temple in Memphis is small and simple, though the Trumps within are masterworks. Of late, Ptah has spent most of his time in the Golden Circle Shadow called Nubia, likely laying the groundwork for its subjugation by Amber.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 6
Temple: 3
Trump: Join, Pass, Engrave
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-Metal, Creation, Preservation
106 points

RA, Father of Amber (Missing)
Realms: The Sun, Amber, Madness, Magic
Animal: Falcon

Falcon-headed Ra was the founder of Amber. The mechanics of Amber's creation are a mystery, though enough has survived in myth to suggest that Ra either found or created the Nile with the help of Maat, and then built a temple at the site of Memphis. Humans flocked to the temple and a city arose, and from that city an empire grew. No one knows whence came Ra to Amber, nor his age at the time, but it is said he reigned a thousand years before the birth of his first son, Osiris. In these early days, he was known to be a benevolent, powerful, and good-humored Pharaoh, but his power waned as his children grew, and by the time Min was born it was apparent to everyone in the family that his mind was not what it once was. His children searched throughout Amber and Shadow for a cure for his madness, but they were unsuccessful, and Osiris soon became Pharaoh in all but name. Ra declined further over the next fifty years, eventually becoming a drooling, babbling shadow of the god he once was. Then one day, he simply disappeared from his chambers. No one has been able to find a trace of him, and no divinations have been able to determine whether he is living or dead. Ra had moved on.

Ra's stats are unknown. He was known to be a shapeshifter and Trump artist.

SET, the Deceiver (Dead)
Son of Ra and Tefnut
Realms: Lies, Ambition, Night
Animal: Unknown

The head of silver-tongued Set is the source of much scholarly debate. Long-snouted, with large, square-cropped ears, his visage is clearly bestial, yet resembles no known beast. While alive some called him a trickster; now that he is dead, that flattery is unnecessary. He was a schemer and a liar, his plots so intricate that some say that they have outlived him, and that stratagems he set in motion over a hundred years ago have yet to unleash themselves upon the world. He has gotten the better of all of his siblings at one point or another, subtly turning them against one another and deceiving them with all manner of lies - he even once feigned amnesia to get the aid of his brother Min. His deceptions were surpassed only by his ambitions, and when Osiris announced that Horus was his chosen successor, Set flew into a rage and challenged Horus to a duel. Horus was victorious (though some say the battle was unfair), but he would not destroy the heart of his brother, and so Anubis took the broken body of Set to Thebes, there to usher it into the Land of the Dead. Those who wander its gray paths should take care, lest they meet a traveler in black and silver who offers them some friendly advice.

Physique: 4, Heal 5
Warfare: 7
Temple: 5
Trump: Join
Shapeshifting: Second Form, Third Form, 20%
Sorcery: None
117 points

SHU, the Skydancer
Son of Bast and Bes
Realms: Darkness, Air, Astronomy
Animal: Owl

The winged, owl-headed son of Bast spends most of his time under the tutelage of his aunt, Isis. The youngest in his generation, Shu has not yet reached his thirtieth birthday. He has not made many enemies as of yet, but his skill with his taloned hands and his relationship with Isis (which some say goes much further than a teacher-student bond) has earned him more respect than his youth would normally demand. His cult is catching on, with its worship of the night sky and the carnival-like nighttime festivals in his temple-city at Tanis, which is located downriver from his mother's city of Bubastis on the Lower Nile.

Physique: 5
Warfare: 6
Temple: 3, Cult 4
Trump: Join
Shapeshifting: Second Form
Sorcery: None
82 points

SOBEK, the Savage
Son of Ra and Hathor
Realms: Armor, Ambush
Animal: Crocodile

Brutal, cunning, and dangerous, crocodile-headed Sobek is not the most well-liked member of the family, though his wrath is more often turned against mortals and foreigners than his close relations. His cult, centered in the marshy settlement at Shedet, is ruled by fear, with many members worshipping Sobek in an effort to protect themselves from the Nile crocodiles which plague fisherman and traders in the area. Rarely merciful, Sobek helps his cultists only as necessary, and has been known to suddenly turn on those who displease them, killing them with a quick snap of his powerful jaws. Savageness aside, he has been a worthy son of Amber in its conquest of the Golden Circle, laying elaborate traps and ambushes for lesser, foreign deities. Elsewhere in Shadow, this unapologetic murderer has gone by the name of Caine.

Physique: 5, Bite 7
Warfare: 6
Temple: 5
Trump: Join, Pass, Engrave
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: None
114 points

SOKAR, the Embalmer (Dead)
Son of Ra and Kauket
Realms: Death, Mummification
Animal: Hawk

Sokar led a rebellion against Ra, back when Anubis was the youngest child of Amber. The reasons behind the revolt have been lost to time; scribes suspect that it had something to do with Ra naming Osiris his successor, but neither Osiris nor Anubis have ever confirmed that. The stories say that Sokar (occasionally called Finndo) led an army of the dead against Amber, but the source of that army and the details of the conflict have been lost. What remains is a story to frighten young mortals, of a powerful sorcerer-general who harvested his own body parts for dark rites, mummifying himself alive. Next to Sokar, Anubis is a downright cheerful god of Death.

Physique: 6
Warfare: 7
Temple: 3
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-Flesh, Preservations, Destructions
131 points

TAWARET, the Last Atlantean (dead)
Daughter of Ra and Mera
Realms: Water, Children
Animal: Hippopotamus

Tawaret, the green-haired daughter of Ra by the Queen of Atlantis, has always been somewhat of an outsider to Amber. She built her Temple on the island of her mother's birth, and spent more of her formative years in that Golden Circle Shadow than she did on the Nile. Nonetheless she answered her brother's call and went to war in Libya, where she was rumored to take the form of a giant, immensely strong bipedal hippo. After the Amberite victories there, she returned to discover that Atlantis had sunk beneath the waves in a cataclysmic earthquake. She rashly accused Osiris of keeping her away while he destroyed Amber's strongest neighbor, though she apologized soon after. Since then she has wandered throughout Shadow, and has not rebuilt a Temple in Amber, though the people still worship her, if only for protection from the dangerous Nile hippos.

Physique: 4
Warfare: 4
Temple: 6
Trump: Join, Pass
Shapeshifting: Second Form, 20%, 40%, Mass Shift
Sorcery: Blessings and Curses
111 points

THOTH, the Great Scribe (Dead)
Son of Ra and Nekhbet
Realms: Knowledge, The Moon
Animal: Ibis

Thoth, with the long-necked head of an ibis, was possessed of a curiosity and a wanderlust that his more level-headed siblings thought to be a bit unhealthy. His moods changed on a whim, often accompanied by a surprise transformation into a screaming, capering baboon. His brilliance for things magical was indisputable, and he was an authority on the history of Amber and the nature of Shadow from a very young age. Some 350 years ago, he wandered off in search of the edge of Shadow, and was not heard from for several years, until his soul appeared at the gate to the Land of the Dead. Anubis let his brother through, but the nature of Thoth's death has remained a mystery. Rumor has it that Thoth bore several arrow wounds, but after a few mugs of beer, most people admit it's possible that the crazy god just fell off the edge of the world. He is rarely seen by those who travel to the Land of the Dead, and his temple at Memphis has been converted into the Royal Library.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 4
Temple: 3
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID, Engrave, Draw
Shapeshifting: Second Form, Quick Shift
Sorcery: Domain-Time, Divinations, Preservations
113 points

UNUT, the Swift One
Daughter of Min and Menhet
Realms: Vengeance, Doom
Animal: Hare

Conceived the night Set was killed, Unut's fate has been tied to death since before she was born. She wears the head of a Hare for family gatherings and rare appearances where she represents the pantheon of Amber, but is most comfortable in a human form. Raised by Min's cultists, she has what most Amberites consider to be an unhealthy respect for mortals, and has no large temple complex to draw their worship. Unut tends to interfere very directly in mortal affairs, where she escalates assassination to an art form, any compound of guards being nothing more than a slight hindrance to one of her ability. Most of the family sees her as a bit untraditional, but a capable daughter of Amber.

Physique: 6
Warfare: 6
Temple: 1
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: Second Form, Human Form
Sorcery: None
82 points

WADJET, Vizier of Amber
Daughter of Ra and Kebehwet
Realms: Fire, Law
Animal: Cobra

The beautiful Wadjet, youngest of Ra's daughters, keeps herself close to the throne. She operates as the chief of Amber's civil government, managing the day-to-day affairs of state and keeping a firm grasp on Amber's mortal politics. She's also quite willing to take on the less savory activities sometimes required of her, and her vast Trump gallery in her temple abutting the palace contains portraits not only of family, but also of high priests, spies and assassins throughout the land - many of which are frequently replaced. From time to time she also does personal favors for the Pharaoh (such as visiting Sobek, whose reptilian sensibilities she finds less repugnant than most), and though she's not much of a soldier, she can strike from surprise faster than would be expected, most frequently with a dagger envenomed with her own spittle. In no distant land would anyone dream to call this snake in the grass by a name as pretty as Florimel.

Physique: 3, Venom 6
Warfare: 4, Quick Strike 6
Temple: 5
Trump: Join, Pass, Caller ID, Engrave, Attack
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: None
95 points

WERET, Lady of Famine
Daughter of Set and Abella
Realms: Appetite, Disaster
Animal: Locust

Weret appears to be an attractive Egyptian woman, adult but not yet lined or old, but for the locust wings that she keeps folded about her back. Weret rules the temple-city of Bahariya, which has the reputation of being quite a party town. Her fairly large cult is known for their ecstatic devotions -- huge feasts and orgies and the like, after periods of fasting and abstinence -- though in fact the larger part of her worship is usually far more staid. Among the family, Weret is known to be affable and friendly, generally up for gossip and the like. She seems to genuinely like almost everyone in the Amber pantheon, with the notable exception of Horus. She unapologetically likes her father Set (and visits him in the Land of the Dead), and that may be off-putting, but she doesn't appear to have any aspirations of following in his footsteps.

Physique: 3
Warfare: 3
Temple: 5, Cult 6
Trump: None
Shapeshifting: None
Sorcery: Domain-Appetite, Preservations, Destructions, Blessings and Curses
85 points