The Battle of the Lost Temple of Khepri, Hemati vs. the Heru Alliance

From the Scrolls of Shefdu Sootootma:

After our Feint on Hierakonpolis my suspicions of the breathers concealing something of monumental import were confirmed. My agents from both the Horus and Set factions of the breather civil war sent word that the hidden monastery of Lord Khepri's former priesthood had been discovered in a hidden valley in a deep desert. Marching on the location were a small Typhon force lead by the Infamous Neper-Hotep, and the combined warbands of the would-be Heru Pharaoh, Harakhty, and his pet Asar Chike. Both sides were likely seeking to threaten the newly rediscovered priesthood into supporting their faction.

My duty lay elsewhere, as I needed to meet with those who had raided Eleithiopolis while we battered Hierakonpolis' gates. And so it fell to my beloved Hemati to rush to this forgotten monastery to try and arrive before the breathers. Unfortunately, the delay in our receiving this information caused her to arrive long after the battle had begun.

It appeared the Typhon held the courtyard of the monastery when Hemati arrived, but the overwhelming numbers of Heru and their allies would soon likely turn the tide. Hemati and Neper-Hotep silently agreed to a truce between their warbands to focus all their efforts against the combined Heru force. Most of the combined Heru force were headed for the central ramp leading to the courtyard. If they managed to secure the ramp for their own use, the battle would surely be theirs. Hemati committed her warband to stalling the Heru advance to the ramp. The mummies charged into combat with Asar and To-Tanem units blocking the way to the ramp. These breathers were handily dispatched. The focus then turned to a pair of elephants and their handler, as well as more To-Tanem, who were next in the line before the ramp.

The Asar follower of Ptah, Chike, separated from his warriors in a bid to challenge Hemati to Provocation. But instead, he found himself attacked by Sejetmu, Dread Axe of the Nile, from one side and by a terrible Typhon hero from the other. Before Hemati could reach the Asar for Provocation he fell to the blows of this alliance of convenience.

Hemati spotted the Heru Harakhty headed towards the ramp, and tried to make her way through the fighting to finish the Provocation they had begun days earlier at Hierakonpolis. Sejetmu's Pirates marched in front of her towards the ramp, blocking her way. Sejetmu himself rushed to the aid of Jhondru the Necromancer, who was under attack by a lone Heru. The battle shifted towards the Heru favor as all saw Neper-Hotep fall under the weight of two Heru units and a Beastmaster with lions on the courtyard at the top of the ramp. With that, most of the Typhon warband routed, leaving Hemati as the sole focus of the combined Heru force. She knew that even with one of the allied harbingers down, her small warband would not last long against such superior numbers. She withdrew, studying the terrain in preparation for a future assault, if Lord Khepri wills it.

My meeting with the Eleithiopolis raiders informed me that Mabuki was outside the city as they left. The boy managed to scatter the raiders, but most of the items they were sent to find were safe. Something must be done about Mabuki soon, before he manages to disrupt any more of my plans...

The Hierakonpolis Feint, Hemati & Shefdu vs Chike & Harakhty & Hierakonpolis

From the Scrolls of Shefdu Sootootma:
The breathers of Hierakonpolis and their allies were well forewarned of our impending attack. I took with me a portion of the Ankhara City Guard. My beloved Hemati and her warband accompanied us, as well as the famed 'Nightmare Lords.'

Few of those present knew of the true plan behind our attack on the City of Horus. My Lord Khepri desired objects believed to be in Hierakonpolis' sister city Eleithiopolis. Left empty since the Nekharu civil war ages ago, Eleithiopolis still holds many secrets for those who know what beings to ask. The main stumbling block to rediscovering those secrets was the vigilant Heru guardians of the quiet city. Thus our assault on Hierakonpolis was not as sudden or surprising as it could have been. Our massive force reached the Hierakonpolis Gates right on schedule, after taking a direct route through the desert mainly during daylight hours to be seen by as many breather eyes as possible.

Most of the Eleithiopolis guardians had been recalled to help in the defense of Hierakonpolis. And, despite the current Typhon and Heru struggles, some breather Harbingers came to the city's defense. Among these were the Heru Harakhty, the self-appointed Guardian of the Nome, and the Asar servant of Ptah Chike. Mabuki was led elsewhere by my shadowy hand, I have grander plans for the boy...



My beloved Hemati led our left flank charge at the gates. She was joined by Seneshet, my trusted Crypt Lady, and several groups of horde mummies from the Ankhara City Guard. Hemati led from 'The Long Reach,' her unit of mummy archers to better direct their fire. The would-be Heru Pharaoh, Harakhty led the forces opposite Hemati.

An exchange of chariots led off Hemati's wing of the attack. Seneshet's chariot charged forward under heavy fire from the walls. Seneshet crashed into a unit of Khemru slingers to keep their stones from flying. A breather chariot charged into the mass of horde mummies and soon fell under their slow blades.

Sejetmu's Pirates charged into combat with Harakhty as the Heru was engaged with Seneshet. The Pirates helped keep Harakhty entangled so that the main attack on the gates would be unhindered by breather harbingers.



My beloved separated from the archers and charged into Provocation with Harakhty. It was a titanic struggle, Harakhty with his large Aspect of the Defender body and Hemati with her well-preserved Aspect of the Cobra body. They circled each other and struck with ferocity. Hemati traded wound for wound with Harakhty for quite a while. Once the Heru realized he was the lone breather outside the walls of Hierakonpolis he broke off Provocation and Hemati let him go since her part in the Feint was fulfilled.

As for my own actions, I followed the second wave of mummy spears through the defenders of the gate. Once through the gate and into the city I waded into a unit of breathers, stealing their breath. When it was clear that the Feint had succeeded, I grabbed a Heru banner from within the city and withdrew.



The force that entered Eleithiopolis unopposed was able to gather items and information that will be of use in the battles to come....

Hemati, Shiver of the Lands, Shefdu's Girlfriend

'As ripples on the water, her being radiates to all hearts she nears'

Never has that been truer than now, since my beloved Hemati has become the most beautiful Harbinger in service to my lord, the Risen Khepri. Her serpentine form, a remnant of the Aspect of Uatchet gift she had in life, is nearly perfectly preserved- yes, they did know how to embalm back then.

She is among many restored Harbingers whom Khepri has set the task of softening the breather resistance before our next step in claiming Ægyptus for the Eater. She is joined by the Necromancer Jhondru 'Khepri's Kiss' and his Scarab Ogre. The Crypt Lord Sejetmu and his newly reformed band of Nile pirates should provide her with a strong core. Also, the Crypt Lord Zenubeti 'Khanum's Disgrace' and the Abomination Chedmebd 'The Quiet One' give her strong tools to deploy against any foe she may meet.

Although parting from her so soon after finding her is almost intolerable, I know we will be together in the end. I will be watching her from afar and counting the nights until we are once more together.
-Shefdu Sootootma,
Chosen Scribe of Khepri

Sootootma's Scrolls 1 The Rebirth of Hemati

We have finally raised the ancient Uraei Harbinger Hemati from her long rest. The ages have been kind to her beauty. 'As ripples on the water, her being radiates to all hearts she nears,' Reshqyt the scribe once said of his mistress. Two lifetimes seeking the legendary Hemati, Protectrix of the Lands, has finally brought her to my side.


Though some disappointment did come from her revival. I had hoped to awaken Hemati as a fellow Harbinger in service to the Eater of the Dead, but the results were somewhat less than expected. During the process of her awakening, another breather warband came near Hemati's Tomb and managed to disrupt the ritual. No harm came to her, but Hemati was not fully awakened. She is a torpid reflection of what she could have been, yet there is a fire deep within her that I can feel. Someday soon Hemati, Shiver of the Lands, may emerge and help usher in a new age for Ægyptus.


Hemati chose the Bottomless Quiver of Darkynis, with her own fine bow, and Senfibeh, an enchanted poleaxe, from her armory.


The Quiver of Darkynis was obtained on an excursion against one of the Babylonian God Kings. Darkynis was an excellent bowman who could fire a score of arrows in the span of a heartbeat. His rapid rate of fire often left his quiver empty before a battle was finished. A sorcerer was commissioned to do something about Darkynis' problem. His solution was to create a 'bottomless quiver' that would replace each arrow removed from it. Hemati gained the Quiver by defeating Darkynis in personal combat. She reached his position through a hail of arrows and killed him with his own bow.


As for the origin of Senfibeh the enchanted poleaxe, it came from Ægyptus as a gift from some greatful temple or other. [i]Once there was a Sebeki who revelled in mayhem and murder. He would fight anyone who crossed him and delight in their suffering as he defeated them in combat. One day a Master of Words ran afoul of the Sebeki. The Master of Words begged the Sebeki to let the perceived slight pass, but the Sebeki would not listen. There was no fight, though. As the Sebeki charged the Master of Words sighed in exasperation and then muttered the words to some ancient spell. The Sebeki stopped and roared in fear as his body reshaped itself into a brilliant poleaxe. The Master of Words caught the poleaxe before it fell to the ground. "Foolish beast, you were given a chance to save yourself. The misery you have caused at your every whim is at an end. Let you now suffer at the hands of others. They shall wield you at their whim and the only control you will have is how much of their enemy's blood you shall feel washing over your blade."[/i]


Hemati will be most helpful at my side...

Dispatches of Trub 8, Several battles in one Dispatch

Shefdu has been busy since I could last send a dispatch of his progress to you, Master. His wanderings brought him into contact with a Sebeki harbinger near the ruined temple of an unknown god. L'lithyki, the necromancer, approached the temple and worshipped at it so it was likely a temple of some long-forgotten evil foreign god. This battle saw Shefdu's new chariot engaged with a Beloved of Sobek throughout. The fighting overall was minimal and the two harbingers seemed to come to an understanding, joining forces to raid a nearby necropolis complex. Also raiding the complex were an alliance of an Asar and Heru harbingers. What I could see of this battle was quick and fierce. The Sebeki took on the Heru in provocation and defeated him. Then Shefdu engaged a Beloved of Sobek (not the one from his allied warband) while the Sebeki and Asar harbingers clashed.

Shefdu's warband returned to the Tomb of Hemati, now their basecamp in Ankhara. A Basti harbinger came across the tomb and the battle was on. Shefdu remained on foot to defend the tomb entrance with Senshet and his horde mummies. Blackclaw rode the chariot of Hemati into battle and smashed a unit of City Dweller spears. Shefdu's mummy warriors advanced under heavy bowfire and routed two of the Basti archer units. Kestru-toth, the Abomination, charged forward into the Basti lines routing many of the Basti before falling to a barrage of bowfire. The Basti Harbinger rushed forward into combat with Senshet and eventually provocation with Shefdu. Neither harbinger won the provocation and the Tomb of Hemati remained safe from Basti predation.

Most recently, Shefdu came into conflict with an Anubi harbinger near an oasis with scattered ruins nearby. Both warbands were searching for an artifact among the debris, but that did not stop them from engaging in battle. Once more, Blackclaw was given the chariot of Hemati. He crashed into a unit of Anubi swords and was stuck in their mass eventually joined by a City Dweller spear unit. Kestru-toth dispatched a unit of Anubi slingers before joining in the fray at the chariot. The Asar Master of Words eventually found the artifact but fell to Senshet, who had been focused on the artifact more than the battle. The Anubi harbinger's chariot rolled past the oasis only to be attacked by a Desert Lobster! The monstrous thing clamped onto the chariot but was quickly dispatched by the harbinger. The Anubi harbinger soon engaged Shefdu in provocation but neither gained the upper hand. The Anubi chariot was splintered by the mummy warrior axes and the mummy warrior spears scattered the Anubi archers. Shefdu likely gained another component for his grand scheme...

Dispatches of Trub 7, The Haunted Chariot of Hemati

Shefdu's latest message to you, Master, made note of a long-dead Harbinger of Uatchet named Hemati. Our research has brought us closer to rediscovering this remarkable Uraei heroine from a time long passed. Hemati fell in battle against a large Atlantean raiding party that threatened to attack the city of Bubastis. The Atlanteans were routed, but Hemati was gravely wounded and died some days after the battle. Her long service as a guardian of all Ægyptus was rewarded with a burial in a magnificent tomb in Ankhara.

Shefdu mentions Armor of Burning Scales as one of Hemati's treasures expected in her tomb. There were many sets of this armor forged by Ptah himself then given to his brothers and sisters. Its scales are said to still burn from the magical fires of Ptah's Forge, protecting the wearer from most attacks.

Uatchet's Forked Kopesh was a double-bladed magical sword that Uatchet created to aid her children in protecting Ægyptus from malevolent sorcerers and beasts of great power. Hemati gained the Forked Kopesh by winning a tournament to decide which Uraei would be its next bearer and main protector of Ægyptus' borders.

The Helm of Farsight was another of Uatchet's creations for her children. It is said to grant its wearer with visions of what events will come to pass. The helm would also enable its wearer to see nearly halfway across the length of Ægyptus.

The Bottomless Quiver of Darkynis is a mystery to me. No references to it could be found. The name suggests a Babylonian origin and Hemati was known to have been involved in two campaigns against that barbarous land.

Finally, the Soul-Searing Chariot Shefdu mentioned was originally fashioned by an Anubi Master of Words. It could literally burn the Ka of its enemies, often resulting in their death. Hemati took the Chariot in battle with an Anubi Harbinger outside the city of Pharos.

With the information Shefdu had learned from the library complex, he led his warband directly to the Tomb of Hemati. After some time inside Shefdu and his lieutenants emerged with a chariot drawn by one cobra-headed horse and one normal horse. The newly revived beasts were unsure footed at first, but soon they were able to trot and run almost as well as in life. The chariot was similar to descriptions of the Soul-Searing Chariot, but the centuries sealed in Hemati's tomb had somehow altered it. Ghostly appendages emerged from the body of the chariot writhing and grasping at the air. Even from my distance away, I could hear the unearthly cries coming from the chariot, cries of the tormented dead. It appears that the souls of those killed by the Soul-Searing Chariot have remained trapped inside of it - a terrible fate and a very disturbing sight.

Shefdu led his warband off to search Ankhara further, but I fear he will again return to the Tomb of Hemati to further bolster his forces...

Dispatches of Trub 6, Greenwood "Skirmish" vs. Roebeast

Shefdu's warband continued its search for whatever specific thing he had remembered from his studies of Ankhara in life. For days they ransacked the ruined buildings and tombs they came upon. Finally a large complex of buildings and yet another Heru warband were found. As the warbands clashed, both Harbingers led their lieutenants into the complex. The search parties focused on two buildings within the complex: a smaller outlying structure and a very large building that I believe was a library or hall of records. Shefdu and his Crypt Lords became engaged in a pitched battle at the library entrance. Blackclaw managed to fell the Heru harbinger (although the harbinger had been greivously wounded by Kestru-toth early on) before engaging in the larger battle at the library entrance. L'lithyki flew into the library with the aid of her black birds. She remained out of the fighting and eventually recovered what Shefdu sought. From what I could see of Tebbi's progress into the library, a small beast of some sort had made its lair inside and it attacked when he entered. The beast may very well have been a dreaded sand chicken, but I cannot confirm this.

There is now no question in my mind that Shefdu is aware of your interest in his activities. His latest note to you is clearly a boast or warning directed towards you:

The Tomb of Hemati, Sootootma knows now the location
Ancienl Harbinger of Uatchet was she
Interred in Ankhara from death on the spears of barbarian invasion
Hemati's tomb is to have many warriors who fought with her and wealth of her life
Armor of Burning Scales, Uatchet's Forked Kopesh, Helm of Farsight, Bottomless Quiver of Darkynis, scrolls of foreign magic, Soul-searing Chariot and the rest of Hemati's treasures will be for Sootootma now
Herself, Hemati will join me and burn cities once she protected
Then come for you, will we, Mabuki