For El'Zeath :3

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Skill - Apostle 1/5

Time of day became difficult to track. What did routine mean when Ra did not sail the sky? Clouds gathered, ever more intently as the days passed. No spell, no prayer, not ritual had abated it. Something had gone very wrong indeed.

But as near as Hotep could guess, it was now midday. When Ra's disk should burn fiercest. Hem came to the red flame and stood where the light cast dark fur into a bloody tinge. An altar should be built here, in stone, to honour and defend the great god's gift.

Again, he petitioned the sun to rise, prostrating himself before the flame. There were no incantations for this thing, this encroaching dark. But Hotep had engraved many into his heart, and as Greatest of Seers, might add chapters to the book of spells. If only he could find the proper combination!

He rises in Akhet, and sets in Duat. The opening of his eye brings light, the closing brings darkness. This inundation is in accordance with his sacred decree.

"I am he who illumines the Sacred Land, he who drives away darkness, he who rises by day and by night. I am the bull of the Eastern horizon, the lion of the Western horizon, who crosses the above day and night without being repulsed!

"I have come at the voice of my son, Geb, who says, 'Look! The land withers!' The chained wolf is bound: Retreat from this world, you rot! You are torn down from the sky. Retreat from all lands and all skies.

Hotep finished his melodic intonation, and lifted his eyes again. In darkness. His ears flattened, and he tried again, circling the flame as his shadow followed in undulation across the sand.

Your darkness gives way beneath the benevolent Ra. Hear the cries of mourning of each god and goddess at the destruction you wreak! Behold, the sun storms with rage at your filth! He demands you be cut up and scattered. Back!

Cold wind. Some urgency of the gods, or resistance of demons. Hotep raised his howl to the heavens,

Behold, Set comes with his sky-metal fangs, to rend you, and restore the barque into the sky! The flame rises! Up, into the sky! It will burn you. You will be made ash! Go, you! Begone, filth!

He knew he had died. He had done it before, been dead. Dead and come back, with the magic power of the Life blessing. This was the moment right before one can open their eyes back to life. The moment one’s consciousness comes to, like the darkness before one wakes from sleep. Yet it was different this time. In the darkness, he heard a passionate voice. A voice that he does not know, in an accent he has never heard.

He feels an urge to go closer to the light in his darkness. The voice grows louder as the dark world, almost unimaginable, grows brighter. He feels so drawn to this voice, but realizes he has no body as he is sucked into the light like water down a drain. The words grow louder and louder. Your darkness gives way beneath the benevolent Ra. He wonders what it means as the light turns red. Oh so red.

The flame rises!

Suddenly, he was violently and roughly slammed into a body with great force. Begone, filth! A blinding flash of light erupted from the red flame, and from it, a wolf. She, for the consciousness was now female, sprang forth, as if being literally forged and born from the light. The light assembled her form; her golden highlights briefly glowed before being choked out by black fur, as if the darkness itself fought to remain.

She lands on cream colored paws in the dusty sand, crouching to catch herself in this new form. Before the rising flame stood a formidable woman, tall and powerfully built. She slowly straightened to her full height, her brilliant orange eyes opening to a cautious squint, adjusting to the environment.

Breath.

She feels her first breath, and she takes another oh so deeply. The red flame danced behind her, illuminating her figure as she lifted her head with new grace. Around her neck, a rope necklace with feathers and claws, and it is the first thing she looks down towards before looking back at the unknown lands before her. It was then her brilliant orange eyes looked about, catching sight of Hotep. Gently, she smiles.

”Why, hello there,” she pauses then, seemingly shocked by her own voice and how…different it was. More feminine. Still deep, and a bit more raspy. ”Your blessing…you brought me back to life,” she finished, a touch of shock mingling with calm authority as her eyes rested on Hotep with profound appreciation.

Skill - Apostle 2/5

This... was not Ra. Hotep was... fairly certain it was not Ra, or any of the various forms Ra had been known to take, being a god of many faces. Was this a new one, shaped in the cosmos of Mythris? Or — born from the flame — a daughter, then? Come in the flesh!

Certainly Hotep had not personally encountered this particular magic before, and while be believed in stories of Sekhmet come to wreak wrath, and Osiris walking among the River people, it was quite another to bear witness himself.

She wore feather and claw, and in this he interpreted a lioness's wrath, and the balance of Ma'at. And her fur, of banded black and gold and white, surely marked her kin to Pharaoh and Queen — divine blood! From divine fire!

"Your blessing... you brought me back to life."

Blinking, Hotep shook his head and bowed low, Please, goddess — I would give you the proper obeisance, forgive your humble servant's ignorance and bless me with your name!

As she looks upon him with blazing orange eyes, he bows, and such words come as a shock. Her head tilts slightly. ”God…ess?” she questioned, turning her head slowly to look between her legs. ”Well…it looks like something is…missing,” she looked back up to Hotep with an amused look on her face. ”It should have been God!” she said with a hearty chortle, taking a few friendly, but hulking steps towards Hotep. She couldn’t help but approach all this with a bit of humor, at least for now. Will this humor continue as the days go on and this life becomes more real? Perhaps not.

”Friend, I am no god,” she thinks then of her wings. She did not feel the golden feathers resting on her back. She turns then to look, and frowns. ”In fact…it looks as if my powers have grown weaker…my wings are gone,” she said with slight disappointment. Her memory was….fuzzy though. She remembered being male. She remembered her old body. She had flashing images of her old life, mainly surrounding her latest death, and the death before that. But she knew she wasn’t a god…she had powers before, this she knew, but a god? She leans down and gently touches her muzzle to cheek, to lift his head up.

”Do not bow to me, fellow wolf. If you desire to know my name, I am called…ah….El’Zeath,” she said with a nod, her husky voice seeming to land on this new name with a bit of hesitance, but with resolution. It was appropriate with her new-found…feminine…energy. Perhaps she didn’t really have a particularly feminine aura. Her form was tall and wide, and if it was not for her rather kind face, she perhaps would be considered terrifying in build. ”In fact! Could we not call you a god for bringing me back with the life blessing? And I don’t even know you!” she said playfully, her tail wagging gently behind her as she grins. The red flame continues to dance behind her with relentless energy. Sure, this was a bit confusing, but at this point, she was just happy to be alive again.

Skill - Apostle 3/5

Hotep lifted himself carefully, one overlarge ear folded back. Not a god... but surely not a demon? And she could not possibly be mortal! Unless... He recalled the visions of wolves with wings and horns and many other monstrous shapes. Those who first broke the world, and shattered Ma'at. Had he then resurrected one from the dreams?

Shaking his head sharply, he lifted a paw with pads splayed in sharp denial, That would be treasonous. I am not a god, only one permitted to invoke their power. Pharaoh and his Great Royal Wife, they are the heirs of Ra — who's flame you have been reborn from, El'Zeath.

His own tail didn't wag back, though the lopsided ear did begin to hedge forward again. I am Setemhotep, High Priest and Physician. It was Ra's light I meant to return to the sky. A blink. If you are not a god, were you then sent by one?

She looked down at this paw, his denial strong. She knew not why he was so adamant, almost as if he felt he was lesser than. Such a thought brought a touch of sadness to her features, as he continues about names she had never heard before.

His question was a curious thing.

The warm touch of the fire could be felt behind her, and slowly she turned to look at it with him. ”Good question. Perhaps, in my last moments before death, I used the blessing of the Phoenix Fire. I…do not remember doing so, but I don’t seem to remember a lot right now,” she wondered, trying hard to really remember…yet it was all so vague. She knew He died, her prior form, but she cannot really remember how he died this time around. It was odd that she could remember the lands, remember the blessings, but the events themselves seemed so shrouded.

He offered his name, and that he was a priest of some sort. It appears that the man was trying to appear to some god, but instead, got her. She looked from the fire, and back to Hotep.

”I am afraid you are stuck with me,” she said with a bit of a laugh to her smoky voice. El’Zeath was almost completely relaxed, like her orange eyes had seen many things and this really wasn’t much compared to the world of her previous life. ”Well, that is certainly possible! How do we find out?” she asked, sitting on her haunches. She did let her gaze wander away from Hotep for a moment, taking in the sights. This was not a land she had ever seen before. She knew Wolf Mountain and the surrounding territories in and out, with his 20 years living there, and ability to fly? He was able to cover ground like no wingless wolf could. But what if the memories she does have are wrong? She couldn't be for certain right now.

She was somewhat relieved though if it was true she was reborn elsewhere. She had a long life there…was this a chance at a new adventure? But what of this Ra? This Pharaoh? Already questions were swirling in her mind.

Skill - Apostle 4/5

A phoenix! He awed. But if her amnesia was to be believed, it was impossible to know whether her invocation of the undying bennu bird was an offense to Ma'at, or in alignment with it, like the work of the priestess Phoenix Rising who Hotep believed had honoured the fiery ba of Ra by taking up its name.

Surely, it must be a blessing, though! He could not have summoned an enemy of Ra with these spells? To walk out of the sun god's flame implied some allegiance, or at the very least, the will of that higher power made manifest.

We must take you to Pharaoh Khaemwaset and the Great Royal Wife, Merneith — at once. Hotep decided, beckoning El'Zeath. Pharaoh is the highest of priests, and his queen has opened the path between worlds before. Let them see you, and know what has happened. We will find the truth of it.

”Yes, possibly but…I cannot be for certain right now,” she said with hesitation. Her brows wrinkled a bit in thought as she attempted to pull the memories from the void. It was an odd feeling, being able to remember some things but not others. It is like she knew the memories were there, but locked away. It was rather irritating, but what could she do?

At this point, the woman could only go off of the information before her. She knew she had died and was no longer in her previously world or body. She simply had to move forward, and discover this new life and land, and hopefully uncover these memories in time…or let them fade to oblivion.

Her face brightened again and she nodded. She knew not who these leaders were, but they seemed important to Setemhotep, and Setemhotep is who she owes her life to. ”Hmm, okay then Setemhotep! Let’s go!” she said with a grin, eyes flickering to the fire for a moment. Perhaps she should question this fire more, but it seemed not of great concern anymore to Setemhotep. It was the fire she came from though, so she bowed her head to it before looking to Hotep to lead the way.

We will find certainty together, then. Hotep encouraged, offering a smile still tinged with bewilderment and awe. He straightened himself, neck arched into serpentine poise, then turned and nodded in invitation to follow.

Small feet darted in limber stride over sand; he kept an ear back for any sign that she might be struggling to keep pace. Hers was the heavy build of a Northerner, and dunes did not move quite like snow, even under skies as cold as this. If he needed to slow, he would.

Until the obelisk was in sight, its great shape reaching heavenward as if to pierce the gloom. Look at her glory, the Skyspear! He called, with some pride.

Once they reached it, he explained, Horus-heir should be within. Ordinarily I would say that you must be cleansed to enter... but given that you emerged from sacred flame, it is hard to imagine how your form could be more entirely purified.

He approached the guard out front, announcing himself and proclaiming the need for audience. Though loathe to interrupt the intended restful hours of Khaemwaset and Merneith, in this case, he felt it ought not to wait.

It was only a matter then of waiting to be summoned. When we enter, you must bow. Very low. Hotep mimed the gesture for her to observe. Pledge to them your good intent, and recognition of their sovereignty in this land. Then wait to addressed before you rise again. They are patient rulers, and as a newcomer I do not think you would be punished for neglecting the step. But as you enter in my shadow, it would reflect better on both of us if you make good attempt to perform these rites.

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hustling this one a bit to not keep El'Zeath out the gathering thread too long, but if i need to edit anything or slow down lmk! <3 Feel free to also shuffle them into the throne room if you like

El’Zeath followed the stranger in this new found land, her orange eyes taking in the sights with wonder. None of this felt familiar. The sand was certainly new, not quite like the sand on beaches. Yes, this was a completely new biome for El’Zeath, even if she wasn’t sure about her last life, she was sure she had never been to a land like this.

El’Zeath paused as the obelisk came into sight, a single cream paw raised in the air. His words were filled with pride and excitement, and she blinked in awe at the structure. There was an urge to fly to it, to whirl around it and see it from all angles. Her front paws lift, but quickly find the touch of sand again.

No wings.

No…wings.

She was disappointed but continued on, because what choice did she have? She would have to acquire the flying blessing anew in this world. ”I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it!” she exclaimed, trying to not let her disappointment touch her husky voice.

They come upon the structure then, and golden ears lean towards her savior as he explains the cleaning situation. ”Oh…hmm! Glad I came here well groomed!” she said with her signature chortle. She nodded to the guard and more about the expectation were explained to her. She did her best to listen, such things seeming familiar in way, though the specifics were different.

”Well, that all seems reasonable enough. I hope I don’t let you down, friend,” she says as the guard motion them to go in. El’Zeath motions a paw for Hotep to lead, and she followed…somewhat in his shadow. She was much too big to stay within it. Her eyes wander to the structure they were within, a calm smile on her face as she soaks it all in. ”Wow!” she whispers, eyes then flicking to the throne with the leaders upon it.

The woman of black, gold, and cream bows down, the feeling an odd one without that of the wings. She felt naked without them, but she could not linger on such feelings.

” Khaemwaset and Merneith , oh leaders of this land, I do present myself, El’Zeath from the sacred flame, to come learn the ways of your peoples, for I owe my life to your high priest Setemhotep. I come in peace and with eyes…wide open,” she announces, her raspy deep voice echoing through the halls as she awaits her judgement.