| The Djed | |
 Imhotep's priests from ancient Egypt. |
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| Motto | |
| "There are no potentates who can act in destroying Our Two Lands. The ancestors' strength in me is more than theirs. Their powers are within me, their souls are with me, their shades are with their lords." | |
| Clan Name Meaning | |
| A symbol of stability that represents the backbone of Osiris. | |
| Statics | |
| High Chieftain: | Sutekh Marenaser |
| Commanders: | 7 positions are available |
| Ethnicity: | Egyptian |
| Caste: | Bedouin |
| Religion: | Kemetism |
| Government: | Patriarchal Hereditary Absolute Monarchy |
| Languages: | Ancient Egyptian (Native) |
| Arabic (Native) | |
| English * | |
| Colors: | Yellow, white, red and green. |
* = depends on rank and
occupation. |
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| Tribes | |
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Marenaser (Main)
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Sahusakhet
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Meketharu
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Niuserset
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Neferkaese
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Ma'anisobek
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Shepseskahet
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| Hover your mouse over a tribe name to reveal the meaning of the tribe name. | |
| Occupations | |
| Councilors | Commanders |
| Warriors | Spies |
| Priest/Priestess | Healers |
| Messengers | Undertaker |
| Scribes | Messengers |
| Herders | Hunters |
| Domestics | Storytellers |
| Traders | |
The Djed
During ancient times when Pharaoh Seti I was being assassinated by Imhotep and Anck-su-namun, Imhotep's priests were onlookers and guarded the door so that the Medjai couldn't intervene. However, when they could no longer keep it closed, the priests dragged Imhotep away so that he wouldn't be caught for treason, only to leave Anck-su-namun behind upon her request. They aided in the ritual that would resurrect Anck-su-namun's soul from the Underworld, but when they were caught by the Medjai, they - like Imhotep - were condemned to be mummified alive as punishment and ultimately became Imhotep's eternal servants. They didn't suffer the Hom Dai like Imhotep did.
In The Mummy, the priests from ancient Egypt were resurrected by Imhotep to aid him in performing the ritual that would resurrect Anck-su-namun while Evelyn O'Connell served as her sacrifice. With Ardeth's and the O'Connells interference, their attempt failed and they - along with Imhotep - were sent back to the Underworld and they remain buried at Hamunaptra.
The priests living descendants formed a Bedouin clan known as the Djed millennia's ago, and they're the Medjai's ancestral enemies. In order to remain connected with their ancestors, they continue to practice ancient Egyptian religion and culture.
The Djed are also responsible for resurrecting Imhotep and Anck-su-namun in order to begin their search for the Karawan amulets. Unknowingly to them however, their High Chieftain is the reincarnation of Pharaoh Seti I. The Djed shouldn't be confused with the cultists that resurrected Imhotep in The Mummy Returns as they're a unaffiliated.
Naming Conventions
The Djed use ancient Egyptian naming conventions and names. A forename is given to them after birth, and it usually provides hints of their personality, a God their family worships or an honored name their family wishes to keep alive.
Although the Djed have individual surnames for each family, the commander's family uses their tribe name as their surname. When a Djed women weds their surname changes to their husband's whilst their husband's surname remains the same.
A second name (not to be confused with middle names) is given to Djed members when they complete their quest and training as it represents their new status. Their name then becomes forename second name surname. Their full name is usually used only during formal and ceremonial situations, and their forename is used for mundane purposes.
If a Djed doesn't complete their quest or training they won't be given a second name, and this isn't a problem for the Djed. However, if a Djed dishonors their family or clan in some fashion they'll be stripped of their second name when they're alive and all of their other names will be erased from texts after death.
Cultural Rite and Occupations
All Djed (including women) partake in the cultural rite at age 15 before entering adulthood. They're taken out deep into the desert, locked inside a cave and remain completely isolated from civilization. Their supplies only consist of a canteen of water and minimal food.
Initiates are required to endure the effects of sensory deprivation in order to receive a "vision from the Gods" that decides their lifetime occupation. If they survive the rite by the time a Djed comes to retrieve them, they're taken back to the councilors and they're not permitted to have any food or water during this time.
They're required to relay their vision (if they had one) to the councilors and they'll interpret it and associate it with an occupation. If the councilors are unable to interpret and associate it with an occupation, or if the initiate received no vision, they'll be given their hereditary occupation instead and it'll be based on their gender and their parents. However, if they did receive a vision from the Gods the initiate's permitted to take the occupation that the councilors associated the vision with.
Djed training begins when they're 15 years of age and it ends at 18 years of age. They're required to partake in a quest when they become 18 years of age that'll usually vary in occupation. However, domestics, priests, scribes and storytellers aren't required to partake in a quest. While a Djed will complete their training if they successfully complete this quest, they'll be required to return their hereditary occupation if they fail.
Djed are only permitted to have one occupation unless their occupation has a sub-occupation. As a fair note, if a Djed refuses to partake in the rite they'll not only be unable to enter adulthood, but they'll (most likely) be disowned and exiled if the councilors and their family deems fit. This is because it's breaking tradition unless a valid reason for the initiate not to take the rite is provided. If a Djed lies about having a vision in order to have their desired occupation and the councilors discover this, they'll be exiled by default.
Lastly, it must be emphasized that all Djed men are permitted to partake in any occupation available even if it's usually dominated by women. It's not frowned upon for a Djed man not to become a priest or a warrior, but it is the preferred path. Unlike Medjai women, Djed women have more freedom in terms of occupations especially if they receive a vision during the rite.
Occupations permitted for women are:- Domestics (Extremely common)
- Healers (Extremely common)
- Storytellers (Common)
- Traders (Common)
- Priestess (Common)
- Spies (Uncommon, and their primary occupation must be a trader, otherwise women won't be "spies" as their primary occupation.)
- Scribes (Uncommon)
- Warriors (Extremely rare, and we're not permitting female warriors at this time.)
Appearance
All Djed are required to wear the traditional colors and garbs unless they're on a mission, a spy in the outside world or for another valid reason. For clothing, Djed men wear kaffiyehs and on special occasions (such as ceremonies) they wear shenti's. Djed women wear light-colored robes and they're permitted to show their skin.
As it was a commonplace amongst their ancestors, many Djed women can be found with tattoos for religious practices. However, it's not uncommon for Djed women to not be tattooed, but it is uncommon for a Djed man to be tattooed. Tattooing isn't a requirement amongst the Djed like it is with the Medjai. All tattoos are done in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic text.
It's strongly recommended (but not required) that Djed have a Middle Eastern looking play-by. It's highly unlikely that they'll have any other hair color aside from black or brown. The images above are examples of Djed fashion.
Notes
- The Djed remain ignorant of the events regarding Imhotep, Anck-su-namun and Pharaoh Seti I as parallels of this legend has been foretold over the years.
- Although they're not the guardians of ancient Egypt's secrets, the Djed are not only knowledgeable, but they're also the Medjai's equal.
- The Djed remain knowledgeable of the events that occurred in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns despite not participating in this. Furthermore, they're aware that the Medjai's warrior population declined after the Battle of Ahm Shere.
- The Djed believe that they're superior to foreigners and therefore they're unwelcoming to them. To align one's self with the Djed as a foreigner, the foreigner must provide something beneficial to the Djed that they can't gain through other methods.
- The Djed aren't widely-traveled and therefore they remain ignorant of other cultures. It must be emphasized that it's unlikely that any Djed has traveled outside of North Africa's borders before this adventure began.
- The Djed have access to a copy of the Book of the Dead and they're capable of reciting incantations from the book within reason, but it's still considered blasphemous to do so and they rarely use it. However, only the Djed High Chieftain and High Priests of Osiris can wield magic from the book amongst the clan. Furthermore, the book's currently in possession of Pharaoh Seti I's reincarnation.
- After resurrecting Anck-su-namun, they used her reincarnation's wealth for their funding.
- Although some Djed can speak English, they're illiterate and they don't have a linguist amongst them.