Codex-Lore-Beings

Contains background information on notable individuals.

## **Loki**

The gods of Asgard imprisoned Loki, god of mischief, for the murder of Baldur, Odin's son. There, Loki created an illusory tavern where he lured a newborn god, who he tricked into aiding his escape.

With his newfound freedom, Loki journeyed to Egypt, where he allied with the usurper Set. Loki helped him finally defeat Horus, cementing Set's rule. Loki, however, has his own agenda. Could it be Ragnarok?

When Set fell in battle, Loki invited his former pupil to join him and bring chaos to the universe. Upon his defeat, Loki claimed the Weavers had kept one vision secret. Before he could reveal more, he was whisked away.

## **Heimdall**

The disarmingly effervescent guardian of Asgard, Heimdall possesses great knowledge and keen foresight. Heimdall knows well the dangers that the trickster Loki poses, and knows that his escape bodes ill for all the realms.

Heimdall carries the great horn known as Gjallarhorn at all times. If grave danger were to befall the Norse Nine Realms, the resounding blast of this mighty horn would reverberate across the homeworlds of gods, mortals, elves, and giants alike.

Heimdall appeared in an apocalyptic vision you witnessed. In it, she claims that the armies of Hel are on the march, sooned to be joined by the giants of Jotunheim. If Surtur emerges from Muspelheim, all is lost.

## **Aegir**

The renowned alesmith and proprietor of Aegir's Hall, a meadhall frequented by gods, goddesses, and elves. Although most giants are antagonistic towards the gods, the sea jotun Aegir hosted many divine banquets for them.

One fateful night, Loki caused a great uproar during a feast and was banished from Aegir's Hall.

His right hand is an iron hook, and his right leg is a wooden peg. He prefers not to talk about the incident that took his limbs.

## **Tyr**

The war god Tyr ruled over the Stormlands of Midgard, the Norse homeworld of humankind, with an iron fist. An ominous being of fire, metal, and pain, Tyr invokes fear and reverence throughout the realms.

Tyr fomented civil war among the humans, pitting members of the same Viking clan against each other. He amassed his own warrior cult to tempt them to sacrifice all bonds, all humanity, for battlefield glory.

Loki challenged you to take on Tyr as your first step towards becoming "a true god." When you stood over Tyr at last, the brooding god begrudgingly admitted defeat. He also warned you to not trust Loki.

## **Baldur**

Baldur, a god known for his beauty, wisdom and innocence, earned the respect of almost all in the Norse pantheon. The gods loved him, and the people called him the "shining god" due to his radiant aura.

The son of Odin and Frigg, he could have succeeded his father, but had a premonition of his own death. Frigg made the living swear to do him no harm, all except mistletoe. Loki used it to create a dart that killed Baldur.

Baldur's death is a step on the path to Ragnarok. The gods captured Loki for his crime and imprisoned him away from all, never to escape and wreak havoc... until he nurtured a fledgling god that could free him.

## **Freyja**

The twin sister of Freyr, the goddess Freyja encompasses many facets, including love, beauty, and war. One of the most powerful goddesses in the Norse realm, she leads the Valkyries and wields powerful magic.

When you first met, Freyja bid you to recover her magical necklace, Brisingamen, from Hel. When you did so, Hel barged into Aegir’s Hall. Freyja enchanted the god Tyr into dragging Hel out of the tavern.

## **Odin**

A god of many titles, Odin prefers the name “The Allfather” over “The Hanged God”. When you first encountered Loki in the open seas of Midgard, it was Odin who pulled Loki out of battle versus the Kraken.

Odin appeared yet again after you recovered Thor’s stolen hammer. Thinking that you had stolen it, or perhaps fed up with your mischief, a furious Odin banished you to a prison in Jotunheim.

Known for his thirst for wisdom, Odin sacrificed an eye to the well of Mimir and hung himself from the world tree Yggdrasil to gain knowledge of the runes. He also presides over slain warriors in Valhalla.

## **Thor**

Son of Odin and the Norse god of thunder, Thor is revered in the realms for his strength, courage, and fierce battle prowess. With power over the weather, he also wields his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, against his enemies.

You thwarted Thor's plans before coming to Egypt. He subjugated the ancient giant homeworld of Jotunheim, overseeing the construction of a massive lightning tower to strike down any remaining giants.

With the aid of a giant halfling too small to be detected by the tower, you helped free giant chieftains and destroyed the lightning tower. In the process, you restored hope to the giants in their battle against the gods.

## **The Weavers**

The Weavers claim to be clairvoyant protectors of cosmic order, with power linked to a universal magic essence, Ether. The three mother-sisters watch what happens in all times and spaces, from creation to the very end.

Anetuh, the Maiden, appears the youngest. She concerns herself with openings and beginnings, embodying the optimism of dawn. Tehanu acts as mother, warm and caring, encouraging all to follow her voice. Enhatu, the Dowager, sees the worst of what has passed and is to come.

Together, the three offer a balanced path toward finding the stones and reaching Loki, before the fabric they weave is torn asunder for good.

## **Abraxas**

Tomb robber, heretic, Abraxas wants nothing more than to reunite the pieces of the Sun Disk and defeat Sakhmet. When Sakhmet buried him in the Temple of Atum, failure was nearly his, until he allied with a foreign god.

Abraxas has shown nothing but disdain for the gods and with good reason. When Set took over Egypt, his father died for his misguided faith in them. Ever since, Abraxas has sought revenge for his father, and himself.

Over the years, Abraxas stole from tombs – and the gods – in order to survive. The gods failed him, so he owed them nothing. Since a foreign god helped him avenge his father, Abraxas may need a new reason to be angry.

## **Alvilda**

Alvilda, strong and stubborn, hails from Alfheim, the home of the light elves in the Norse realms. She dares to brave Muspelheim without an army, intent on defeating Surtur before he can escape and trigger Ragnarok.

Alvilda begrudingly enlisted her sister in her quest. Expecting betrayal, she got it, at least so she thought. Realizing she could not take this fight alone, she learned to trust others, not just her own skill.

A fallen sister left Alvilda bereft. Enlisted by a mysterious figure, she infused lifeforce into objects that allowed her to learn the truth. Her sister's fidelity had never wavered and would continue even beyond death.

## **Ammit**

Ammit boasts many names: "Devourer of the Dead," "Eater of Hearts," and "Great of Death." With the power of a hippopatamus, the claws of a lion, and the jaws of a crocodile, she makes short work of unworthy souls.

Ammit exists deep in the Duat, appearing only to the unfortunate. Anubis weighs a soul's heart against the feather of Ma'at. Any who fail the test she consumes, and immortality is forever barred to them.

Some say that once Ammit has swallowed a heart, the soul instead becomes a restless spirit, doomed to wander without body or home forever. As to whether these souls hold a chance of redemption, she tells no tales.

## **Anubis**

Anubis is the Egyptian god of death and the Underworld. He claims souls when it is their turn to die. Osiris taught Anubis all he knew, but Anubis seems to have allied with Set. Horus can hold him off... for now.

Anubis rules over the Duat, the Egyptian underworld. With Anubis eager to spite Osiris’s legacy, the underworld has become dark and decrepit. He himself dominates the labyrinth in the Hall of Tribulations.

In the Hall of Truth, Anubis weighs the departed’s heart against the feather of Ma'at. If the heart upheld Ma'at in life, then the departed may pass to the Field of Reeds. If not, then the beast Ammit devours them.

## **Apep**

The original opponent of light and Ma'at, or order, Apep embodied the darkness of primoridal chaos. A giant serpent, Apep brought evil to the world. Only the sun god Ra could defeat him and bring light to the world.

The triumph of Ra over Apep is celebrated each morning with the rising of Ra on the horizon. Ra's light shines upon Apep's bones in the Dead Expanse, forever a reminder of his care for Egypt and his superior strength.

Even so, the battle against chaos never truly ends. These bones mark the first victory, but the war between light and dark, order and chaos, and good and evil continues. It could be that power lingers still in these old bones.

## **Atum**

Atum, the first god, created himself upon a mound in the primordial waters of Nu. Atum's ka, or soul, was so powerful, it granted divine power to himself as well as all subsequent Egyptian gods.

Atum created Shu, god of air and lions, and Tefnut, goddess of moisture by spitting them out of his mouth. From Shu and Tefnut came Geb and Nut, the gods of earth and the sky. And from them, Osiris, Isis, and Set.

When Shu and Tefnut left to explore and begin creating the universe, Atum sent his eye in search of them. When they returned, he shed tears of joy. Those tears watered the world and gave birth to humanity.

## **Baba**

Baba is the companion of the Egyptian god Thoth. In some sense, Baba is an aspect of Thoth, who has been called the baboon god. Like the wise Thoth, Baba can help find the best path or direction to fulfill a goal.

While Thoth has imbued his power into Baba, he is also his own monkey. He can freely choose to assist the great god, or spend his days climbing around the goods in a marketplace. Keep an eye out.

Baba does not remember a time before Thoth called him to his service, but Thoth has not forgotten. Baba's troop was killed in a stampede caused by the careless actions of Set's army. Thoth took pity on him.

## **Bes**

Bes is deity of music, dance, and merriment, but also of the household and childbirth. As such, they have a blunt approach to dealing with matters and may not be quick to trust those from outside the household.

Unlike most gods, Bes's images appear in mortal homes. They face out at the viewer, often garbed in soldier's clothes, in order to scare away or battle any evil that might beset them. They are a staunch defender of good. They did not hesitate to ally with Horus.

With Osiris gone, Bes took up his skill in brewing. At first, they thought to share Osiris's gift with Horus, but instead, they turned to the other gods. Bes wishes to form a new household of the gods for what's to come.

## **Castor**

Castor came to Egypt all the way from Greece to pursue the hunt with his brother, Polydeuces. A slight mishap in a Deathstalker lair would have ended their journey, had not a foreign god interceded and reunited them.

Born to the mortal King and Queen of Sparta, Castor never expected a long life. When he was killed in a family dispute, however, Polydeuces, his divine half-brother, sacrificed his immortality to save him.

After his sacrifice, Polydeuces was cast out of Greece with his brother and sent to Egypt. Castor thus retains some divine strength and uses it to pursue ever greater prey... as well as a way to repay his brother.

## **Cyrene**

Cyrene is the lone water naiad of Egypt, which has caused her to stand out her whole life. An unwitting champion, she finds herself standing alone against Sobek, who has turned her land to desolation.

Her Egyptian mother raised her, but she felt abandoned by her father, the Greek god Proteus. He came to Egypt's aid on Osiris's death. Unable to fight an entrenched Sobek, he left a portion of his power behind, in her.

Born to fight the battle her father couldn't, Cyrene was hunted and afraid. She combined her skills with those of a foreign god and an obstinate hippo, and thus was able to defeat Sobek on her own terms.

## **D.M.**

This self-appointed "Dungeon Master" has transcended mere godhood to serve as the custodian of the Uncharted Rift. Appointed by the Weavers, she keeps eternal watch and recruits brave souls to stop it from unraveling the universe.

D.M. remains in the Inbetween, that is, when she is not fighting in the Rift herself. She has spent untold eons closing rifts and holding off chaos. In a way, her prime has passed, which is why she must enlist others to the cause.

Once a mighty warrior, she has witnessed a thousand battles and a thousand deaths. She has traversed alternate universes that no longer exist. She has ceased to live in linear time and may exist in more than one aspect.

## **Djehuty**

Once a noble scribe, Djehuty awoke in the Duat realizing something had gone very wrong. His soul's journey toward eternity was curtailed when his ka, or soul, was severed from his body. His immortality is at stake.

In life, Djehuty held himself above the laborers and farmers whose output he recorded. Few remembered him fondly. Taking responsibility for his lack of empathy in life, he determined to right his wrongs in death.

After the trials of the Duat, the time came for the weighing of the heart. Anubis deemed Djehuty worthy of the Field of Reeds, if only he still had his mortal heart. Thus Djehuty carries on in his current state, humbled.

## **Heru**

Heru serves the god Haroeris, an aspect of Horus. An adept predator, Heru proves aggressive when out of his natural environment and will wield the power of the desert against anyone who threatens Egypt.

When Heru returns to the outpost, he chooses to roost outside of the watchtower.

According to Medjet, he likes pomegranates.

## **High Priestess of Neith**

The Priestess of Neith, and all members of her ancient order, have devoted their lives to the veneration of Neith. She is the terrifying one, a fierce war and hunting goddess associated with fate and the cosmos.

Only women may serve as leaders of Neith's order. They tightly guard their secret initiations and other rituals. To disobey the vows of secrecy is punishable by extinction at the hands of Ammit in the Duat.

For their service, Neith has granted divine blessings to the Priestesses of Neith, allowing them to ascend to a kind of semi-godhood.

## **Horus**

Horus, god of kingship and the sky, is the rightful Pharaoh of Egypt. When he attempted to avenge his father, Set defeated him and tore his eyes from his head. Horus prepares in a secret hideout to unseat him.

When Set killed Osiris, his mother Isis carried young Horus, then disappeared. Horus survived to return again as a young man to avenge his father. Instead, Set gouged out both of Horus's eyes, forcing his exile.

Alas, Horus fell in battle when Set and Loki ambushed him where he most felt safe. The gods that rallied around him, however, live on. They intend to honor his intention to free Egypt from Set's rule.

## **Huldufolk**

Myths say these supernatural beings live in a parallel world and make themselves visible at will. The huldufolk, or "hidden folk", emerge from their hiding places to seek items in exchange for a cryptic riddle.

Huldufolk are shy at first, but ultimately curious. Once they step out of hiding, their bubbly, mischievous personality comes through in body language and the riddles they concoct to ask for favors.

Shiny things tend to lure even the most cautious huldufolk out of hiding, but they are eager to return to it. Once they receive an item they want, they disappear and leave behind a reward.

## **Isis**

Goddess of magic and wisdom, protector of kingship, Isis stands peerless in the pantheon of Egyptian gods. Mortals call to her for healing and see in her a mother who guides them into the afterlife.

Isis is wife to Osiris and mother to Horus. When Set killed Osiris, Isis carried her son to safety, then lured Set away so he would not find him. Horus has not seen her since, and whether she survived Set is unknown.

In a vision, Horus foresaw that Set would ambush his hideout. He prepared to defend himself, but he did not foresee Loki. Loki called to him in the guise of Isis, distracting him long enough for Set to finish him.

## **Izem**

A young urchin separated from his nomadic tribe, Izem decided to take up snake charming. He is learning to play a pungi, a flute from a distant culture, to cajole snakes into dancing for him. If only he played better.

Izem's tribe has many fine traditions: traveling, trading, and music. While he could not master music, he traveled farther afield than his tribe ever did in order to master snake charming.

Izem prayed for the gods to bless him with more talent. Horus heard his pleas and revealed the path to his refuge. Izem can now pursue his dream of snake charming in the company of the gods.

## **Medjet**

Medjet guards the Egyptian gods in their outpost. For her fierce loyalty, they elevated her to demigod status. Medjet keeps to herself, watching all who enter the outpost, whether she personally trusts them or not.

Medjet blames herself for failing to defend Horus from Set. In truth, she would not have been able to stand against Set and Loki, when the Egyptian pantheon could not stop them. She continues to stand guard in his honor.

Medjet served in the royal guard until D.M. made her an offer. If Medjet allowed D.M. to access Egypt through her body when necessary, Medjet would ascend to greater powers. She used them to defend Horus.

## **Mereret**

Mereret, a lone hippo, has single-handedly guarded the channels, mangroves, and tributaries of the Nile Delta for years. Destroyer of boats, devourer of humans, disrupter of trade, she scares locals away with her chaos.

The army of Sobek hunted Mereret while searching for Cyrene. The two joined forces when Cyrene found Mereret trapped in the Waterworks. Mereret blames Sobek for all that is wrong with the Nile in the Delta.

Mereret raged for so long due to Sobek's blight in the Nile river. A journey from Kemet to Museplheim helped cure the blight and heal the great god Tanuu. Only then did she reveal that this blight claimed her young.

## **Nakhti**

Nakhti is a gamemaster from Lower Egypt with a talent for using a sling in the hunt. When Sobek came to power, he lost his role. Fortunately, Bes invited him to Ra's Outpost as an ally, and Horus approved.

Nakhti has since installed a shooting gallery overlooking a cliffside. While few indigenous gods need training in Egypt's preferred ranged weapon, visiting gods may enjoy the opportunity to test their skills.

He once toiled in the employ of a nomarch who led a small administrative district in Egypt. This nomarch played along with Sobek's corruption, which affected the game Nakhti oversaw. He chose not to stay.

## **Osiris**

Osiris is Egypt's first pharaoh. He united the Two Lands, Upper and Lower Egypt, and brought about great prosperity to the people. His brother, Set, grew so jealous, he killed him and claimed his throne.

Osiris had married his sister Isis and together they welcomed a son, Horus. When Set killed Osiris, Isis took Horus to safety. Osiris never intended to fight his brother, but he did intend for Horus to succeed him.

When Set slayed Osiris, he cut him into pieces and threw them into the Nile. Isis then went in search of him. As a god, his remains may well fertilize the river, while his death may not in fact be the end.

## **Paakhet**

A faithful and religious companion, Pa-akhet is a falcon bred to serve as a hunting bird for a stern Egyptian officer. Without his master, he struggled to survive. He would have died on his own without help.

Before, he didn’t have to worry about predators, his next meal, nor where he would sleep that night. As such, Pa-akhet feels guilty about abandoning his master, Ahmose, who was ambushed by Set's army.

In searching for his master, Pa-akhet confesses Ahmose treated him both harshly and warmly, depending on his mood. When he discovers Ahmose was overtaken by Set's corruption, Pa-akhet is glad to end his suffering.

## **Polydeuces**

Polydeuces came to Egypt all the way from Greece to pursue the hunt with his brother, Castor. He would have made his last stand in a Deathstalker lair had not a foreign god interceded and reunited them.

Polydeuces was cast out of Olympus with his brother and sent to Egypt. Polydeuces claims to hate Olympus with all its chaos and show little love for anyone. In fact, he is truly content as long as Castor is content.

Son of Zeus and the mortal Queen of Sparta, Polydeuces sacrificed his immortality to save Castor from death. The two retain some of their divine strength, which Polydeuces uses to pursue the hunt and protect his brother.

## **Ptah**

Ptah was once regarded as the chief god. He and his consort Bast ruled Egypt from its old capital, until their relationship faltered. Ptah then abdicated his throne and took up the mantle of the god of craftsmen.

Bast embracing the violence of Sakhmet fractured their relationship. When Set's corruption reached her, Ptah knew he must oppose her. He crafted weapons for the battle, but lacked the heart to fight his former love.

Ptah retreated into seclusion, mourning his life with Bast. In his heart, he fears that, had he accepted Sakhmet as she was, Set would have never been able to corrupt her. Ptah now serves to make up for this abdication.

## **Ra**

Ra, the god of the sun, reigns above Egypt from his solar barque during the day. At night, he plumbs the depths of the underworld aboard another barque. There he slays the serpent Apep so that he can rise again.

Egyptians believe Ra created all forms of life from his sweat and tears. All future pharaohs will claim his as forefather. His allies among the Egyptian pantheon once included Set, who traveled with him in the Duat.

Ra takes the form of a falcon in the daytime and the form of the ram god Atum at night, as he sets to prepare for the underworld journey. He created Bast and Sakhmet as an aspect of his might and vengeance.

## **Sakhmet**

“She who mauls,” the “Lady of Slaughter,” Sakhmet is the warrior goddess of healing. The pain she inflicts, she can also take away. She sought to wreak vengeance, and in her blood lust, Set was able to corrupt her.

The queen consort of Ptah, Bast ruled from the capital in Lower Egypt. Just as fiercely as she protected the king, she protected Egypt. She took on the role of Sakhmet after receiving a message from Ra, so she claimed.

While other gods tolerated Sakhmet's violence, Ptah felt he no longer recognized her. Even after Ptah’s reign ended, Sakhmet remained in the royal court, so she could be unleashed to dole out righteous punishment.

## **Set**

Set has transformed from beloved sky god and brother to treasonous dictator intent on dominating the people and gods of Egypt. He rules the Two Lands through the gods he has corrupted and turned into his generals.

The god of chaos and trickery and “Lord of the Desert,” Set killed his brother Osiris, dismembered him, and tossed him into the Nile. After driving his family away, he corrupted Sakhmet and Sobek to enforce his law.

Set believes himself the best possible ruler to lead Egypt into the future. He stole Horus's prophetic eyes and wields the symbols of kingship, the crook and flail. He may also appear in the form of a mysterious animal.

## **Sobek**

Sobek has turned his back on Osiris, Isis, and Horus by allying himself with Set. Sobek has abandoned his duties as a water god and protector of the Nile in favor of cultivating wealth and glory for his cult.

Sobek, lord of crocodiles, is a god of water and the wetlands, as well as fertility and procreation. Now he turns his attention to fine food and drink, lounging in his baths, while the lands and people suffer, parched.

Sobek still bears his vicious power into battle, though his long recline in the baths may slow his attack, but not his dash. His water attacks have not slowed, and may require a water animal to fight back.

## **Subira**

Subira is a fierce panther captured in the land of Kush. She nearly drowned in a cage on a ship destined for Egypt's ruler. Subira seems to hold no love for humans and only wishes to see the world they kept from her.

Subira was held captive in the Kushite royal court, where the naive princess Qalhata befriended her with meats and kindness. The king sent Subira as a gift to Set, but the ship was attacked and the princess captured.

Subira wanted to free Qalhata from her kidnappers, as Subira had been freed. In fact, Qalhata had returned to the shipwreck to free Subira. With both safe, Qalhata would welcome Subira back to Kush, if she ever wishes.

## **Surtur**

King of the fire giants, Surtur is the defender of Muspelheim. When Odin slew the ancient giant Ymir, Surtur and the fire giants defied him. Odin sealed him and his ilk in Muspelheim using a powerful magic.

It is foretold that at the onset of Ragnarok, Surtur will raise his bright sword and lead his army of giants against the Aesir. The Bifrost Bridge will fall, along with the Norse gods, and flames will consume the world.

While sealed in Muspelheim, Surtur has been building an army of metal and fire including constructs that can repair themselves. From his Fortress of Flames, he can rain down explosive rage on his enemies.

## **Tanuu**

Tanuu, the “exalted earth,” represents the earth as it rose from the waters of chaos. As a personification of the land of Egypt, he is worshiped as the source of natural resources like plants and minerals.

Tanuu desires a return to balance in Egypt with the restoration of water to the river and his habitat in the delta. Tanuu nevertheless remained content to ride out the chaos, believing fate will happen in due course.

Until then, Tanuu slumbers. As he neglects the world around him, he has neglected his own body. He has let an irritation fester inside his immense body, while a number of parasites have taken up residence there.

## **Thoth**

Thoth, god of wisdom, taught Egyptians how to read and write. All works of science, religion, philosophy, and magic derive from him. He seeks balance and knowledge, sometimes at the expense of others.

Thoth keeps company with a baboon, the animal with the greatest intelligence and wisdom. The baboon also will not talk back.

He leaned on his brother Ptah's craftsmanship for his observatory, but chose not to go to him when it was in need of repair. In his wisdom, Thoth knew he could not guide Ptah away from his grief unless he wanted help.

## **Tiya**

Tiya was a wandering mortal who relied on her skill to entertain in order to earn her bread and beer. Her prayers for divine inspiration yielded a surprising invitation to join Thoth in the outpost of the gods.

The most popular game in all of Egypt, Senet, fails to engage Tiya. She has always wanted to create a game of her own. Blessed with sustenance from the gods themselves, she is now free to test her ideas as she pleases.

Tiya devised her game, Disk Sliders, in order to emphasize the joy and frenetic spirit of life. She constantly iterates on her game to improve upon it. She may enjoy designing it more than players enjoy playing it.

## **Viggo**

Viggo roams the lava fields of Muspelheim, the “battle swine” who ever befouls the operations of Surtur’s realm. This living, breathing boar found himself in the realm of metal and fire by way of one of Loki's Anomalies.

A loner, Viggo has had to rely only on himself. He believes himself the best on the battlefield because he has survived every battle alone. His Muspelheim reputation would have been his end had not Alvilda interceded.

Growing up, Viggo was never alone. His brothers tested his battle prowess endlessly. While he was forever loyal to his family, he never had allies. He has learned that true strength comes from accepting help from others.

## **Wahka**

The young baboon Wahka lived in servitude. His entire baboon troop was tasked with the defense of a wealthy man’s tomb, living in and around it. A magic seal binds the troop to the tomb. But now, only Wahka remains.

With divine help, Wahka can wield the Egyptian khopesh, both an offensive and defensive weapon. He also carries beads, a gift from his father, that can instantly grow into a tree. It helps him traverse great distances.

Wahka discovered his late father sacrificed himself to protect the rest of the baboon troop, so that only his family would be captured. Wahka learned he was much like his father: helpful and quite fond of fruit.