World-building Notes
Duat Residents: Divine Creatures
World-building notes on the beings and creatures that reside in DEITIES Project. This section focuses on the various divine creatures that live among deities and mortals.
A variety of divine creatures can be found inhabiting both Duat and the overworld of Egypt. […] Divine creatures are known to serve as allies, protectors, and companions to other beings, and many are revered as sacred beings by both deities and mortals.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY
Within DEITIES verse, a variety of divine creatures can be found inhabiting both Duat and the overworld of Egypt. These beings — who often appear as composite hybrids of different animals — are not generally regarded as “gods” in their own right, or to the same degree as true deities, but they also do not share the primal affinity to chaos energy that demons have.
Instead, divine creatures are known to serve as allies, protectors, and companions to other beings, and many are revered as sacred beings by both deities and mortals. While divine creatures cannot freely control magic or cast spells in the same manner that deities can, many do possess their own supernatural abilities and traits. Many divine creatures are also fairly sentient, and some are able to communicate in some form with their deity counterparts.
BESTIARY OF DIVINE CREATURES
Below is a basic bestiary listing some of the more recognizable types of divine creatures, as they appear within DEITIES verse. The following information is by no means exhaustive, and details and visual designs for each creature may be expanded and adjusted as the project continues to develop.
BENNU BIRD
Bennu birds appear as large birds resembling herons, often with elongated necks and legs, and with plumed tail- and head-crest feathers.
Some notable deities who can take the form of a Bennu bird include Ra and Osiris.
VARIATIONS
Bennu can vary in their anatomy, but often resemble the forms of herons, and on occasion appear as other wading birds such as cranes, egrets, or storks. Bennu birds very rarely take the appearance of other non-wading birds, such as the smaller wagtail.
ABILITIES
Bennu birds are capable of powered flight and often have the strength to carry and hold down large weights. They possess the ability to use mild forms of magic, and can understand the language of deities and mortals.
ROLES
Bennu are rarely encountered by others, even within Duat, but their presence is considered a good omen. They are said to serve as divine guides and messengers for especially important tasks and information.
SPHINX
Egyptian Sphinxes are sacred, hybrid beings that possess the body of a lion, with the head of a human or otherwise different species. They occasionally wear jewelry and regalia such as crowns, collars, or headdresses.
One notable sphinx who allies with the major pantheon is Tutu.
VARIATIONS
Androsphinxes are a commonly recognized variant of sphinxes, who possess the body of a lion and the head of a human. Other variants include the ram-headed Criosphinx and the falcon-headed Hieracosphinx, and there may be less common variations as well. Some sphinxes also possess wings, or have the tails of other animals like snakes.
ABILITIES
Sphinxes are able to consume demons without the ill effects caused by chaos energy. Most sphinxes also possess the ability to speak the language of deities and mortals.
ROLES
Sphinxes are considered sacred beings who are natural demon quellers and hunters. They are commonly used as the guardians of temples and tombs, tasked with protecting sacred areas from intruders and from demons. They are occasionally tasked together in pairs.
GRIFFIN
Egyptian Griffins are large, hybrid beings with the head and forelegs of a falcon, and the lower body and hindquarters of a lion. They occasionally wear jewelry and regalia such as crowns, collars, or headdresses.
Some notable deities who can take the form of a griffin include Horus, Montu, and Atum.
VARIATIONS
Many griffins, but not all, possess large wings for powered flight. Griffins may also have variations in their avian features, and possess the traits of other birds of prey such as hawks, vultures, and eagles. Some griffins may also possess the horns of a ram or antelope.
ABILITIES
Winged-griffins are capable of powered flight, and much like sphinxes, are able to consume demons without the ill effects caused by chaos energy.
ROLES
Much like sphinxes, griffins are sometimes used as the guardians of sacred grounds, but are also adept at guarding valuables and treasures of their masters. They are also sometimes used to pull chariots, and less commonly used as mounts for transport. They are often tasked together in pairs.
SACRED CATTLE
Sacred Cattle are large, divine cows and bulls capable of reincarnation, and known as symbols of strength, fertility, and rebirth. They are highly revered and may be decorated with jewelry and regalia such as crowns, collars, or headdresses, and often carry large sundisk emblems between their sets of horns.
One notable Sacred bull who allies with the major pantheon include the Apis Bull. Additionally, some notable deities who can take the form of sacred cattle include Osiris, Ptah, Nut, and Sokar.
VARIATIONS
Sacred cattle are larger than average compared to their mortal counterparts. They often feature impressively large sets of horns that hold a sundisk emblem, and have tails that end with long, wavy or curled hair. Sacred cattle possess special markings along their hides, which may take the form of sacred symbols such as wings and/or celestial patterns.
ABILITIES
Sacred cattle, particularly Sacred bulls, have the ability to reincarnate into a mortal form over several lifetimes. In this manner, they can transcend the realms of both mortals and gods, and can also travel between other plains. They are also known to possess low forms of magic that can bless, heal, and restore energy to other beings.
ROLES
Sacred cattle are among the few divine creatures who interact with living mortals (albeit, in a mildly indirect way), as envoys and “living images” of the deities. Different regions of Egypt are devoted to a specific Sacred bull, such as Apis.
During their time as mortal animals, Sacred bulls and their kin are raised in their own temples and treated to a life of luxury, each acting as the guardian of their region. Once the bull lives its life and passes on, it is buried with ceremony, and is reborn as a new mortal bull.
URAEUS
Uraei (singular: uraeus) are fire-breathing cobras who commonly guard a sundisk emblem which they keep between their coils, or which may hover around their person. Uraei are often depicted on the crowns and headdresses of royalty and certain deities.
One notable uraeus who allies with the major pantheon is the two-headed Nehebkau. Additionally, some notable deities who can take the form of an uraeus include Wadjet and Renenutet.
VARIATIONS
Uraei are often golden in color, or otherwise metallic-quality scales, and may have colorful scale markings in the inner part of their hoods. Some uraei may also have a pair of feathered wings.
ABILITIES
Uraei have the ability to spit fire, and they can also levitate themselves and travel by hovering through the air (regardless of whether or not they have wings). Similar to demons, they can also adjust their size to wide proportions, from small enough to fit within one’s hand, to as large as several feet in length — though rarely more than 20 feet.
ROLES
Uraei are considered symbols of the divine and the royal family, and are often tasked with protecting the lives of the individual kings and queens. They are occasionally tasked together in pairs or groups.
OUROBOROS
Ourobori (singular: ouroboros) are “tail-eating” serpents who commonly guard a sundisk emblem, and represent the concept of infinity, purity, and the cyclical nature of beginnings and ends.
One notable ouroboros who allies with the major pantheon is Mehen.
VARIATIONS
Ourobori appear serpentine in form and constantly grasp the ends of their tails between their jaws. Some take after snakes and do not possess any limbs, but many appear lizard-like and possess one or two pairs of short limbs.
Some ourobori may also have horns and raised scutes on their head or along their spine, and most ourobori have two-toned color schemes with some additional markings or patterns. They can also vary widely in their size and length — from as small or short as geckos, to as massive or as long as crocodiles.
ABILITIES
Ourobori are able to adjust the length of their tails to several feet long, depending on their size. Their tails can also easily detach if necessary (much like a skink), but can also gradually regrow to full length. Contact with, or consumption of, the tails of ourobori is also known to have healing and restorative properties.
ROLES
Ourobori may be used as guardians and tasked with protecting sacred areas and items. They are occasionally tasked together in pairs or groups, sometimes grasping the tails of the others in a continuous, interlocking loop. The detached tails of ourobori can also be used as materials in medicines and potions.
SERPOPARD
Serpopards share hybrids traits of both felines and serpents, with their most notable features being their elongated bodies and necks. They are divine creatures who nonetheless possess a wild streak similar to that of demons.
VARIATIONS
Serpopards commonly have colorations and markings that mimic that of leopards, but other variations exist that resemble those of other native felines — including lions, cheetahs, panthers, and others — as well as other native serpents.
ABILITIES
Serpopards have flexible vertebrae along their entire body, and posses the ability to adjust the length of their necks, able to elongate them to several times their usual length. They also commonly possess venom that they can inject through their fangs.
ROLES
Serpopards are naturally territorial and make fierce protectors of areas and other beings, and their venom can be used as materials in potions. Due to their more wild, instinctive natures, serpopards are often tasked with hunting prey or pursuing lost souls and individuals. They are also often tasked together in pairs.
AKHEKH (WIP)
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VARIATIONS
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ABILITIES
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ROLES
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AMPHISBAENA (WIP)
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VARIATIONS
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ABILITIES
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ROLES
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SHA ANIMAL
Sha animals (aka “Set animals”) are quadrupedal creatures of varied body shapes and features (see below), but share a few distinctive traits in common. Sha have distinctively long ears with squared off ends; a slightly curved or sloped muzzle; and a long, whip-like tail with fanned or forked ends.
One notable deity who can take the form of a Sha animal — and who gives them their colloquial name — is Set.
VARIATIONS
There are numerous variations in the body shape and overall anatomy of Sha animals. Many Sha appear more canine-like in build, but it is also common for others to appear more feline, equine, musteline, cervine, swine, or any other combination of builds and anatomy. Colors can also vary among individual sha, though many possess dark colorations with subtle accents and markings along their bodies.
ABILITIES
Of what little is known about Sha animals, they are known to be very adaptable in nature and among different environments. Sha animals can also hold their own well against demons, and seem naturally resistant (though not fully impervious) to their poisons and venom.
ROLES
At the time of the story’s start, Sha are not commonly seen as companions or in service to other beings, and seem to be solitary in nature. But they can be rarely tasked with hunting and demon-quelling.
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