Ritual Magic/Rituals of the Ennead
Ask Upon Khenti-Amentiu
A beseechment upon Osiris or Anubis (now Guardian of the Dead - ed.). The user must speak the words of the ritual over an image of the deity they wish to contact, and then tattoo those same words upon the hand and arm of one recently dead and faithful to that deity in life. Once so done, the questions must be asked to the body; the spirit of the person will then carry the questions to the deity, who will then respond.
- This ritual requires a successful DC 20 Craft (Tattooing) or similar check to succeed; reciting the ritual takes one round, and tattooing it properly requires one hour. If successful, it functions as Commune cast at CL 10 towards the deity chosen. Using this ritual too often can annoy the deity chosen, and they may refuse to answer if it is not a question of great need or import.
- Spell 100 of the Coffin Text
Call Upon the Knowledge of the Timeless One
A beseechment upon Thoth. The user must take a louse from his head, placing it on their knee and reciting the words of the ritual. They must then spit until a fly snatches the louse from their knee, at which point they may speak their questions and receive their answers.
- This ritual takes 3d4 x 10 minutes to complete, and requires a Con check every 20 minutes starting at DC 15 and increasing in DC by 2 with every check. If a check is failed, the ritual cannot be attempted again for a full hour. If successful, it functions as Speak With Dead cast at CL 5 on a single individual of the user's choice.
- Spell 98 of the Coffin Text
Gaze of the West
A beseechment upon the Ennead. The user must rub a mixture on their face made of bread and herbs marinated in beer and myrrh, and must then sleep in a room of great familiarity. As they fall asleep, they must focus on that which they hope to see in their sleep.
- This ritual requires a full night's rest, regardless of effects that may reduce the amount of sleep required. No skill or stat check is required. When performed, this ritual allows the use of Arcane Sight or True Seeing in the room where they sleep, or the use of Scrying upon someone to which the user has a close relationship, with a DC 25 save. The effect occurs for one hour in the middle of the person's sleep as a dream, and is recalled as much as any dream the next day, but the user is aware of the truth of what was seen. This ritual can be performed once a month, and if this ritual is used, the user wakes up fatigued and with none of the usual benefits of a night's rest. Such a rest does not count for spellcasting.
- Religion and Ritual, pg.158
Letter to the Dead
A beseechment upon Osiris. The user must inscribe in the language of the Kemet a formal letter to the spirit of a follower of the Ennead to which the user was close in life, stating their request. This letter must be inscribed upon a clay bowl in red ink, and in this bowl an offering of bread or grain must be placed. The bowl must be left out over night; if the offering is taken come morning, then the letter has been received, though it is up to the spirit to decide whether to grant the request or not. If the spirit agrees, they will appear in the user's next dream to either communicate or simply tell the user that they agree to the request.
- This ritual takes between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the level of detail in the request. No skill check is required, but a spirit will only perform a task for the user a limited number of times. This ritual can function as Augury, Bestow Curse, Dream, or Speak With Dead cast at CL 5 with a DC 20 save, although the spirit has the ultimate discretion whether or not to perform a given task. If used for Dream, then the spirit serves as the messenger. It can also summon the spirit of the one beseeched to face against a specific foe as a ghost, the summoning lasting until either the foe is defeated or the ghost is near-defeat.
- General Egyptian practice
Protection of the Dead
A beseechment upon Shu and Osiris. First, the user must carve by hand a fist-sized piece of carnelian (worth at least 25 gold) taken from lands of the Kemet into the form of the forepart of a lion. This carnelian must be placed on a golden chain, and set around the neck of the one the user wishes to protect. The user must then speak the words of the ritual.
- This ritual requires a successful DC 20 Craft (Jewelry) or similar check to succeed; reciting the ritual takes one round. If successful, it prevents the one bestowed the amulet from being used as any form of undead — corporeal or incorporeal, in whole or as a component — as a Consecrate spell. It lasts so long as the amulet remains on the neck of the subject.
- Spell 82 & 83 of the Coffin Text
Protection from Spirits
A beseechment upon Horus. The user must take a piece of linen, lay it upon a stone pedestal consecrated to Horus, and pour holy water upon it until soaked. This cloth is then to be written upon in ink made of myrrh harvested from the lands of the Kemet, engraved with the words that identify the bearer with Horus himself. The cloth is then to be wrapped around an herb and tied with sinew of a jackal, knotted seven times. So long as the amulet is worn and the herb is whole, the user will be protected from spirits.
- This ritual takes 6 hours to complete, and the resulting amulet will last 1d6 days. While worn, this amulet functions as Shield of Law against any undead or outsider regardless of alignment, although without the Slow effect.
- Magic in Ancient Egypt, pg.119
Purging of Dire Enchantments
A beseechment upon Set. The user must weave a piece of linen from flax grown in the lands of the Kemet. This fabric must then be tied into seven knots while calling upon Set. This fabric must then be attached to the big toe of the one to be freed from their affliction.
- This ritual requires a successful DC 20 Craft (Weaving) or similar check to succeed; performing the ritual takes one round. If successful, the ritual functions as a Break Enchantment spell cast at CL 15. Any given cloth can only be used once for this ritual, but the flax can be unwoven and remade into a new piece of linen.
- Egyptian Magic, pg.80
Strike Against Foes
A beseechment upon the Ennead. The user must craft a figurine of wood, pottery, or stone representing the enemy they wish to strike against, formed of material from the lands of the Kemet. This figurine must be engraved with the name of the enemy and a description of their lineage. When they wish to strike against their foe, they must smash the figurine in a single strike.
- This ritual requires a successful DC25 Craft (Pottery), Craft (Stonework), Craft (Woodwork) or similar check to succeed; performing the ritual takes a standard action. If successful, the ritual functions as a Blasphemy, Dictum, Holy Word, or Word of Chaos spell at CL 10, with a save DC equal to the result of the Craft check. This ritual can only be used against an undead or outsider, and only one such figurine can be made by a person at a time.
- Religion and Ritual, pp.159-160
References
- The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts: Vol. I
- The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts: Vol. II
- The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts: Vol. III
- Egyptian Magic
- Magic in Ancient Egypt
- Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt