Living in Kemtawy (Ancient Egypt): A Custom Quest Novel by Horus Michael.
Copyright © 2022 Horus Michael All Rights Reserved.
You
are a character within a story that has multiple possible outcomes.
Your decisions will lead to other adventures, or end abruptly. This is a
story about living in Ancient Egypt, but you don’t need to be an
Egyptologist to comprehend everything.
Excerpt:
(Similar to the Choose-your-own-Adventure Genre):
Foreword:
A long time ago
Thousands
of years ago, you lived in a land called Kemtawy (The Dark Lands of the Two
States). The life-giving Nile River
would flood each year, offering fertile black mud along the riverbanks, ready
to farm. Through a system of irrigation
and cultivation, Kemtawy produced
grain and other crops for the people. The produce was stored in large ceramic
containers called Granaries, which existed in Temples, Farms, and Palaces. The Temples contained libraries, schools,
theaters, Court rooms, and offices as multipurpose buildings.
You were
recently admitted to the Temple after your fifth birthday, on advice from your
parents. One of your best friends is Nakht, a son of a Scribe. He recommends the Scribe education, but there
are still others to choose from.
Turn to the Next Page.
The five
listed occupations are displayed on a stone stele, written in Hieratic Script:
First: Lector Priest, or reader of the
holy books. They are usually well-paid.
Second: Scribe, or copyist, a general
occupation for the Middle Class.
Third: Soldier, a Military occupation. The pay is meager, unless you find loot in
enemy lands.
Fourth: Artisan, a craftsman. Pay is adequate.
Fifth: A Farmer; usually paid in bread
and beer.
For
Lector Priest – go
to page # 12
Scribe – go to page # 13
Soldier – go to page # 14
Artisan – go to page # 15
Farmer – go to page # 16
Chapter 1: Lector Priest
You chose
to be a Lector priest. Although it is the highest paid occupation
listed, it is also the most intellectual and requires much studying to
excel. The Lector priest performs Last
Rites for the dead, the one who reads the Book
of Opening of the Mouth, as done in the tomb. With most people dying at a young age, this
work is profitable.
For many
years you are educated in the art of reading and writing. You begin by copying from existing texts,
learning to draw the Sacred Writing, then having mastered it, you continue with
Hieratic (Priestly script). You copy
words onto pieces of recycled pottery shards, on rocks, or used papyrus. When you reach ten years of age the Overseer
gives you access to Magic books. The
books contain lore about the World, the flora and fauna of the desert, about
types of stone, and forms of Climate.
They also show Magic Spells, so as to manipulate Natural forces and bind
them to your will.
Go to Page # 17
One day
the Overseer of Works arrives in the Temple, clutching a papyrus roll dripping
in blood. “Praise Set!” he
announces. “An invasion force from the
North has penetrated the White Walls of Mennofer. We need conscripts to defend against them,”
he said while searching the collection of Priests that graced his
presence.
“We are
humble Priests, not Soldiers. What good will be done by informing us?” asked
Nakhtef, a local Priest of Bes & Isis.
“Are you
not all Sorcerers?” he asked.
“Well,
yes…” the audience agreed.
“I propose
we vote on this,” you said. “All in
favor of sending forth an Army of Akhu say Aye, and all who oppose say Nay.”
If you say Aye in favor, Go to Page: # 18
If Nay, Go to Page: # 19
Your Priests opposed the decision. The Overseer of Works left the Temple for the
Viceroy of Kush to see if any soldiers would help him. His absence makes you wonder if the decision
was a wise one.
The Temple
received a supply of papyrus rolls from another Library. The Librarian asks you to catalogue each roll
according to the name of its author and year it was recorded. You place each roll into a wine rack hidden
by a wall. Each roll is tied shut with a
cord and a piece of wet clay, impressed with the logo of the Temple. A ring bearer keeps the logo safe.
A fellow
Priestess named Istara asks you for a favor.
She owns a Tailor shop in the Market town below the Temple
property. Her shop doesn’t have an
official endorsement from the Temple that would make it exempt from taxes. She asks you to borrow the Seal and impress a piece of clay on the shop’s Title
Papyrus as evidence of an endorsement.
If you borrow the Seal, go to page: # 21
If not, go to page: # 24
MC 2022.
