Neferu
Empress Neferu Elmahdy
Neferu, Daughter of Osirant, Empress and Mother of the Valcoran Empire of Torrezon.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Her Demi-Godhood kept her in good health for most of her life.
Body Features
Very dark skin and hair, small freckle like drops of gold scattered along her nose, cheeks and shoulders.
Facial Features
Large blue eyes, which were said to glow faintly in darkness. Gentle angular, almost Elven features, full lips, arched brows.
Identifying Characteristics
Her sold blue eyes and golden freckles.
Physical quirks
Left Handed.
Special abilities
Said to be able to communicate with the dead, even lead those who had died years before. She was able to shepard and guide those spirits who accepted her counsel safely the Gate of the Dead, an ancient ethereal place said to be the entry to The Land of the Dead, Osirant's personal Plane.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Neferu was born a short number of years after humanity came to the shores of Torrezon. Her mother revealed the truth of her birth to her at a young age, allowing her to grow into her true power and understanding of what she was. Even knowing this, Neferu did not understand her true power until she came under the tutelage of her father, the leader of the The Torrezon Pantheon Osirant, and her uncle Thalatos, God of Knowledge.
Osirant taught her how to tap into her divine essence and channel her spirit into the Ethereal Plane, and from the age of fourteen she served him personally within its borders, leading those who had died and had been mummified according to Osirants decree along the shadowy pathway that lead through the Ethereal Plane to the massive black stone Gate of Death, which lead to The Land of the Dead, a paradise realm the Torrezon Pantheon had crafted to allow the spirits of those who served them and followed their teachings to have eternal rest.
By the age of twenty one she had risen through the ranks of The Church of Osirant to reach the rank of High Priestess, and was personally blessed by Osirant in a public ceremony to become one who 'Speaks with his Voice', a title and ability that allowed her a permanent mental connection with her father. Using her connection, she was able to tap even further into her understanding of the many aspects of death, and was able to further refine the mummification rituals to allow those who died and were mummified to be even safer on the trip to the Gate.
At the age of thirty, she was approached by the high priests and priestess of the holy orders of the Torrezon Pantheon, as well as the mercantile and agricultural leaders of Uhuru who informed her they felt that humanity on Torrezon should be held under the structure of an empire, and requested she take the title of Empress. She was shocked by their request, and respectfully declined the offer, feeling her place was with the people, not held aloft above them, as the Emperors and Empresses of Ssashan had been, not to mention she wa far to young. The representatives understood her misgivings, but moved forward with their plans of an empire regardless. For the next year, they approached her again and again, one at a time, begging her to reconsider, to which she politely refused them each in turn. It would not be until the following year during a famine that the agricultural representative came to her a second time, prostrated himself before her and said:
Dearest High Priestess, beloved Speaker, I come again to beg you to take the position of Empress of our fledgling empire. I understand your concerns, you are young yes, but you are also gifted with God given knowledge that surpasses all of us. Your deep connection with our beloved dead and the power your father has granted you would grant you insightsthat the rest of us could not fathom. We love you. The people of Uhuru, your people, love you. If you would refuse for us, please, accept for the people, for the children. Under your guide I have not a shred of doubt we would be able to avoid a famine such as this ever again.His words touched Neferu deeply, and she eventually relented and accepted the position and title, becoming the first Empress of The Valcoran Empire. For the next ten years, she drove the empire forward, pushing for further increases to the educational institutions available to the people of her empire, and allocating a significant portion of the empires budget to trying to increase the fertility of the empires fields to stave of starvation and famine, even going so far as to sell a large portion of her personal belongings, and even giving over the use of the central palace area of Uhuru to those doing the research, sleeping in temples or even on the street if needed. Neferu ruled the Valcoran Empire for two hundred years, before eventually stepping down and passing the role of Empress to her daughter, Joba, and returning to her duties as High Priestess of the Church of Osirant. She spent the rest of her life working to continue increasing the welfare of the people of the Valcoran Empire, until the beginning of the War with the Ssashathan Empire in 1493 ST. During the siege of Uhuru in 1480 ST, the Godshield that the Torrezon Pantheon had erected over the city to protect it from the sea bombardment that the Ssashana warships power began to fade, as the several of the Gods had been drawn out of the city to deal with the invading Gods of Ssashan that were reeking havoc along the inner continent. As destruction began to slowly rain down upon the city, Neferu, in her last act of service to the people she wanted so desperately to protect, walked out of the city, to the very cliffs before the sea, tapped into her Godly powers and used hre own life essence to create a massive shielding dome that covered the heart of the city. The shield lasted for the rest of the war, sheltering a majority of the citizens from attack.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Raised on the stories of suffering and salvery her mother had experienced at the hands of the Yuan Ti, Neferu was driven to provide a safe home for her people, free from the horrors of their past. She was a leading figure in the priesthood of Uhuru and the chosen priestess of Osirant, given the right to 'Speak with his Voice'. As head of his order she also oversaw the preparation and interment of the dead. At the age of 31, she was chosen by the people of Uhuru to take the mantle of Empress, a role which she first refused. Under her rule she encouraged exploration of the continent, drove for increases in public education, and funded studies to improve the fertility of the land to increase food supplies.
Likes & Dislikes
Like her father, she was said to love children, and often could be found spending time with the children of Uhuru when she had a free moment.
She had a great dislike for snakes, even so far as to suggest suppression of the worship of Zehir.
Virtues & Personality perks
Neferu was extremely humble, dispite all that she was to her people. She could often be found walking among the people of Uhuru, even after being crowned Empress. She felt a deep compassion for all those around her, especially for the children of the newly formed empire, which is largely what drove her to increase public education and further research into increasing the food yields the harsh desert plains provided to ensure all had enough to eat.
Social
Family Ties
Religious Views
Neferu was extremely devout to the Church of Osirant and much of the The Torrezon Pantheon as well. She was known to often spend hours in debate with members of the Order of the Ibis Feather, and took part in many of the Mummification ceremonies preformed within Uhuru.
Divine Classification
Demi-God
Realm
Church/Cult
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Empress, She Who Guides, Death's Shepherd, Daughter of Osirant, Mother of the Valcoran Empire, Mother of Uhuru, The Shield of Torrezon.
Professions
Life
1798
1480
318 years old
Birthplace
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
A solid dark blue, with no pupil to speak of.
Hair
long, sleek and black. Often worn in braids. Near the end of her life, bald.
Height
4' 3''
Weight
126 lbs.
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments