Chapter I: Fire in the Sky
Issue 1
Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4
Issue 5
Chapter 2: Gods and Monsters
Issue 1
Prologue
In the mid 21st century...
A rumble shook the building. Bits of plaster and dust fell from the ceiling onto the table. Dr. Hector Morales, a middle-aged haggard looking man, leaned over the shoulders of a young woman sitting in front of him. "You okay, Aubrey?" The young woman, still in her teens, gave a tepid nod. "Good, good," Dr. Morales said, placing a reassuring hand on Aubrey's shoulder. "They'll keep 'em busy. We just need to work as quickly as possible."
"It's never quick," Aubrey sighed. "You know that. I can't work under pressure."
"Just do your best," the older man smiled.
"So what am I looking for?" the young woman asked, ready to complete the task sooner rather than later.
"Well, what do you see?" Dr. Morales asked, peering over her shoulder. Aubrey Brinkman pursed her lips as she examined the object on the table. "A crystal shard."
Dr. Morales grunted. "Dear, you're looking with the wrong set of eyes. We haven't much time. What do you see?"
Aubrey frowned in defeat. She wiggled her thin fingers over the crystal shard and then placed both hands upon it. Her eyes shut, the pupils darting to and fro underneath her eyelids. After a few seconds she let go of the crystal. "There's too much. I'll never be able to sort through it all."
"You don't have to, Aubrey. No. Just go back to the beginning. What I need to know is at the beginning." Morales rubbed an encouraging hand on the teen's back.
A siren blared in the distance. The building shook from the impact of... something... somewhere... Dr. Morales and Aubrey pretended not to notice.
"The beginning. Right." Aubrey took a deep breath and placed her hands on the crystal shard once more. "Here goes nothing."
Chapter 1: Fire in the Sky
Mid-27th Century BC
It was a period of unrest.
Pharaoh Djoser has been sending military units to the Sinai Peninsula to quell the civilian population in order to mine for valuable minerals. He also wished to secure the region as a buffer from incursions from Asia. There were divided loyalties in the homeland, as many people did not agree the union of Upper and Lower Egypt (or more to the point: the union of followers of Horus and Set). His reign was tenuous, but Pharaoh ruled with a tight grip.
Djoser wished to cement his status as the embodiment of the gods, but he was dealt a terrible blow recently. His only son, Nassor--barely a man--gasped his last breath just yesterday. Djoser let it be known publicly that his son was sent to be with the gods according to divine plan, but those in the royal court knew his heart lie in anguish. Rumors spread around the royal court of possible foul play and that Pharaoh would unleash his wrath upon the culprits, but no one seemed to know for sure.
For now, Djoser must lay his only son to rest. A caravan departed Memphis for Saqqara when the sun reached its highest point in the azure sky. At the center of it was Djoser and his family: queen Hetephernebti, eldest daughter Inetkawes (come of age), and youngest daughter Kepi (nearly come of age). A royal protector was assigned to each of the daughters: Husani and Zuberi. The children had grown together and Pharaoh knew the young men would lay their lives down for his lineage. Djoser also had by him two of his most trusted advisers: Tsekani, a hardened man with a wandering eye, and Imhotep, Djoser's chief architect and healer.
Also within the caravan were various soldiers, nobles, servants, and tradesman to ensure a smooth and safe journey. Kepi kept her handmaiden Ahti nearby as always.
As the procession neared Saqqara, the newly completed pyramid appeared on the horizon. Djoser had hoped to be the first interred in the monument to the gods, but his son would have that honor now. Preparations were still to be made for the ceremony at dusk. As the fire in the sky lowers and casts a long shadow over all of Egypt, so too would an eternal shadow be cast over Nassor's spirit.
GM wrote:Everyone should have received a PM regarding what your character is doing. Once everyone is introduced, I'll post a response and move the game forward.