The Medjai
Motto
If I were to say to you that, "I am a stranger traveling from the east, seeking that which is lost." ...Then I would reply that, "I am a stranger traveling from the west, it is I whom you seek."
Statics
High Chieftain:	Ardeth Bey
Commanders:	4 positions are available
Ethnicity:	Egyptian
Class:	Bedouin
Religion:	Muslim
Government:	Patriarchal Oligarchy
Languages:	Arabic (Native)
	Ancient Egyptian*
	English*
Colors:	Black (Primary), brown (secondary) and grey (tertiary).
* = depends on rank and occupation.
Tribes
Bey (Main)	al-Basir
al-Faris	al-Gabir
TRIBE NOTE: There used to be 12 Medjai tribes but because of Kill Them All only 4 of them remain. The only remaining members of the Bey clan are those who participated on the expedition as everyone else was killed. The rest of the clans are back in the desert unless otherwise stated. We use Nisba format for tribe names but it isn't required for it to be the format of your character's surname. Hover your mouse over the tribe name to reveal the meaning.
Occupations
Councilors	Commanders
Warriors	Spies
Healers	Scribes
Hunters	Herders
Messengers	Traders
Domestics	Storytellers

The Medjai

The Medjai were once Pharaoh Seti I's sacred bodyguards that were duty-bound to protect the royal family of Egypt. However, when Pharaoh Seti I was assassinated by Imhotep and Anck-su-namun, Anck-su-namun committed suicide and implored Imhotep to resurrect her. Imhotep had done so willingly at Hamunaptra, but was caught by the Medjai after they discovered his treason and the ritual was stopped, thus sending Anck-su-namun's soul back to the Underworld. The Medjai condemned Imhotep to the Hom Dai and his priests were mummified alive as punishment, whilst Imhotep was forced to watch.

The Medjai have since become the guardian of not only ancient Egypt's utmost secrets, but they've also changed their duties after Imhotep's sentence: their objective now is to ensure that Imhotep is never awakened, and if he is they're duty-bound to return him to his grave at all costs. Due to their duties, they've also kept watch over Hamunaptra's grounds for over 3,000 years and ensured that no man would trespass, therefore taking over the warrior priests of Anubis's duties in modern times after their extinction.

As of today, the Medjai have remained the Djed's ancestral enemies and they frequently battle against them. The Medjai remain uninformed that Pharaoh Seti I was reincarnated amongst them as the Djed High Chieftain, however they're informed that Evelyn O'Connell is the reincarnation of Princess Nefertiri, Pharaoh Seti I's daughter.

All Medjai men partake in an endurance rite at 16 years of age. While accompanied on horseback by an adult Medjai warrior, they’re handed only a canteen of water that’ll last them (usually) one day. The warrior accompanying them then departs once they reach a certain point in the desert leaving the initiate stranded, and the initiate is then required to make their way back using their survival instincts and do anything necessary to survive. There is no time limit for this rite.

All Medjai men are given an opportunity to become a warrior if they pass the rite, but they’re not a full warrior until they receive all the mandatory tattoos. If they don’t pass the tattoo rite or don’t want to become a warrior (this is usually frowned upon given their heritage), the councilors will give them a different occupation that’s suitable for them. Furthermore, unlike Medjai women, Medjai men can partake in any occupation that the Medjai have, regardless if it's dominated by women.

However, it must be noted that all Medjai men begin training as a warrior when they become 7 years of age. They only become full warriors if they pass the rite.

Medjai women enter adulthood at age 16, and although they don't partake in any tests like Medjai men, they're required to visit every occupation available for women. A Medjai councilor and a senior in the occupation will observe them as they do their duties and decide if this occupation is suitable for them based on their abilities.

• Domestics (Common)
• Healers (Common)
• Traders (Uncommon)
• Storytellers (Uncommon)

Upon entering adulthood all Medjai (including women) are required to partake in the tattoo rite and have the Medjai symbol engraved on their left wrist. However, only Medjai warriors and commanders are given extra facial and body tattoos that symbolize their status. Medjai commanders can be distinguished by the tattoo engraved on their forehead that's given to them when they become a commander.

All Medjai that partake in the tattoo rite aren't allowed to cry, move or make a sound during this rite as it dishonors their family. All tattoos are done in black ink and in Arabic and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic and hieratic text.

All Medjai are required to wear the tribe colors and garb unless they're spies in the outside world or on a mission or for another valid reason. Medjai women are required to wear clothes that cover their body in order to preserve their modesty due to their religion, and unlike Djed women, Medjai women do not tattoo themselves for religious practices.

All Medjai either have black or brown hair and it's unlikely that they have other hair colors. Although it's not required but recommended, all Medjai should have a Middle Eastern looking play-by. The images above are examples of Medjai clothing.

• Naming Conventions: The Medjai use the Arabic naming conventions and names. However, for game-play purposes only a forename and surname is required.
• The Medjai are well-informed of the events that occurred 3,000 years ago between Imhotep, Anck-su-namun and Pharaoh Seti I as parallels of this legend doesn't exist amongst them. Medjai are required to memorize this legend in their childhood.
• It must be emphasized that aside from ancient times and the events in The Mummy films (only the O’Connells and the Djed are aware of their existence), the Medjai were thought to be myths as they haven’t been heard or seen for millennia’s.
• Due to the O'Connells aid in sending Imhotep and the Scorpion King to their graves, the Medjai have partially opened up to foreigners; however, they're still very wary of them.
• Due to their duties the Medjai are widely-traveled, and some Medjai have even taken occupations in modern society depending on their superiority in the clans. An example of this is Dr. Terence Bey - Evelyn O'Connell's deceased boss - who was the curator of Cairo Museum of Antiquities.
• Unlike the Djed, the Medjai don't have access to the Book of the Dead and therefore don't wield magic. However, even if they did have access to the book it's considered blasphemous to use it.
• The Medjai's benefactor in this expedition are the O'Connells - Evelyn O'Connell in particular.
• The Medjai own an orphanage in Cairo, Egypt and have branded its orphans with a Medjai tattoo, thus making them a member of the Medjai order. Rick O'Connell is an example of one of the orphans that grew up in the Cairo orphanage, and in this orphanage they're required to memorize the Medjai motto. However, they're not told any of the ancient Egyptian's secrets, what the Medjai are, or why they were tattooed. We are currently not accepting characters that grew up in the Medjai orphanage that aren't canon.

Recommended Reads

The following articles are optional if you're familiar with The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. However, if you're unfamiliar it's recommended to read them.