The Khemetic Mysteries
The Khemetic Mysteries are a complex system of beliefs and rituals that form an integral part of Khayan society. It centers on the Khayans' interactions with many deities, the Khemet, believed to be present in, and in control of, the world. Rituals such as prayer and offerings are provided to the gods to gain their favor. Formal religious practice traditionally center on the Pharaohs, who are believed to possess divine powers by their descent from Osirion and Nepthys, and their appointed high priests who govern in the Pharaoh's stead throughout the land. The Pharaohs are intermediaries between their people and the gods, and while they ruled were obligated to sustain the gods through rituals and offerings so that they could maintain Ma'at, or the order of the cosmos.
Individuals often interact with the gods for their own purposes, appealing for help through prayer or compelling the gods to act through magic. These practices are distinct from, but closely linked with, the formal rituals and institutions. Khayan belief in the afterlife and the importance of funerary practices is and always has been at the fore of Khayan thought, and can be seen in the great efforts made to ensure the survival of their souls after death – via the provision of tombs, grave goods and offerings to preserve the bodies and spirits of the deceased.
Mythology & Lore
The Trinity Gods
While the vast majority of gods in Khayu are worshiped directly by all mankind, the Trinity, being the most important gods in Khayu, occupy a place in the afterlife so lofty that only the Pharaohs themselves may commune with them. The Trinity is composed of, in order of importance: AMUN-RA: The most important god of the Mysteries, Amun-Ra created the universe and gives life to all mankind. Known as the King of Gods, for he sits above all, he now reigns over his creation from afar, sitting proudly on his throne of fire in the sun. Though he must sleep every night, the presence of Amun-Ra is always with mankind. He is rarely depicted with a physical body. Most inscriptions of the god are symbolic and describe him as an ethereal ball of fire with rays of light bursting from his form. However, in temple statuary he is usually depicted as a supernaturally tall man with the head of a falcon. OSIRION: Osirion is the only son of Amun-Ra. He was created by Amun-Ra's intense love of mankind, and was sent to Khayu to rule benevolently over mankind for all eternity. Osirion's reign came to an end when he was slain by the human magi Beseth, who was covetous of Osirion's divinity and desired to take the god's magic for his own ends. Now, returned to the Aether between life and death, it is the ethereal Osirion that guides mankind through their lives and will weigh their souls of those buried properly. Those who have been mummified and wrapped in linen, will be welcomed by Osirion who will walk with them to heaven where they will live an eternal life in golden splendor. Osirion is most commonly depicted as a man with the sun disk of his father, Amun-Ra, above his head. NEPTHYS: Originally a human woman who Osirion took as his queen, Nepthys ascended to divinity upon the murder of her godly husband. For, when his son was slain by a man, Amun-Ra's wroth was so great that he reigned down terrible vengeance upon the world. It was only when he saw Nepthys' endless grief for the loss of her husband that he relented in his vengeance and welcomed the mortal woman to his side along with the departed spirit of Osirion. After her ascent it was her children, part divine, that would rule Khayu as the Pharaohs. Nepthys thereafter became the god of love, fertility, justice, law and order, and family bonds. She is normally depicted as a human woman with the sun disk of her husband's father, Amun-Ra, above her head.The Natural Gods
The natural gods have domain over the workings of the world. They control the wind and the rain, the tides and the floods. Without them the world would perish, and it is to them that most men pray. KHENEMU: The god of the jagged cliffs and narrow passes of the Nekhen Mountains. He is known to appear and guide travelers through the treacherous mountains, but he also torments and condemns those who enter them unprepared. He is depicted as a man with the head of a ram with a long and wizened beard. SEKHMET: Once a human woman and Osirion's strongest champion, Sekhmet became the God of War when, after Osirion's murder, she became the first of all mankind to feel wroth and war. It was she that led a great host upon Beseth and took revenge upon the magi. It is said that her great host still roams the deserts of Khayu, and it is from her whims that all men are stirred to war. She is depicted as a human woman, though sometimes she is given the head of a lion. SET: The god of the Great Seti desert who guides humanity across these dangerous dunes. He is commonly depicted as a man with the head of an ass.The Dark Gods
The dark gods are monsters at best, and abominations at worst. They are objects of fear and horror, and it is commonly believed that only the depraved or the insane would dare offer them prayer or sacrifice. APEP: Apep, the soul devourer, is the most feared creature of the Mysteries. A cosmic horror near inconceivable to mortal minds, it is Apep that devours and destroys the Ka, or soul, of men unworthy of entering Heaven in the afterlife. Apep is most commonly displayed as a gigantic, world devouring snake. It is said that it is Apep who created the Daeva, hence the Khayan's deep mistrust of the race. BESETH: Known as the Lord of Lies, he was once a powerful human magi who was Osirion's strong right hand. However, Beseth grew jealous of his king's divinity and sought to steal the essence of Osirion's Ka for himself. After slaying the king, Beseth took the body and fled to a secret desert location where he performed dark rites on the body. Though he was slain by Sekhmet, his Ka was damned by Nepthys to the underworld. Though he tries to escape every night while Amun-Ra slumbers, he is chained in his dark realm by the ka of the heavenly departed and the great rings that they form in the night sky. He will will remained trapped in the underworld until the souls of men falter and the end of the world comes. He is depicted as a human man with the head of a black dog or jackal.Cosmological Views
It is believed by the men of Khayu that before Amun-Ra breathed life into the world, all was black but for the sun and Amun-Ra's light. After creation, Amun-Ra placed Kaena at the bottom of existence, above only the hellish underworld.
Above Kaena were the great heavenly rings made up of the departed Ka of all mankind that has come before. This heavenly splendor of the deceased can be seen every night, as the Khayans believe that the souls of their ancestors prevent the escape of Beseth and the end of the world. Occasionally shooting stars may be seen in the night skies above Khayu. It is believed that these are the souls of great warriors sent by Amun-Ra to do battle with Beseth when the Lord of Lies grows too strong and must be put back in his underworld prison.
Finally, above the rings are the stars and the sun. The stars are created by the godly energy of the Aether that separates mankind from the divine, and the holy sun is where Amun-Ra sits and rules all of existence. No mortal has ever been called to Amun-Ra's side since Nepthys in the early years of creation.
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