Mummy

"If you're adventuring in Kemet, heed this advice. Leave the fancy coffins alone. Like as not, there's more than a dusty old corpse in them."
-Jace Cartwright, retired adventurer

In Kemet, the dead are revered-- as if those who had passed still remain. The most honored dead are often left with great treasures, but sometimes these are protected by more than religious taboo-- even by more than fiendishly cunning traps. Sometimes, the dead serve as their own guardians.

Aren't You in the Monster Manual?
Compared to the rest of the creature entries, you might notice this one is a bit basic. Mummies are a D&D staple, so what the Duat are they doing here? Well, they're here for 2 reasons:

1. Egyptian mythology is a little light on creatures. If I'm to reach my arbitrary 2 creature quota, they have to be here.
2. Mummies are very important to the Kemetans and a little different from the 5e Monster Manual version, so I thought they were worth an article.

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

Like many other undead, mummies are bound to their burial places, never leaving and protecting it from those who would defile it. They also have a connection with all things that rest in their tomb. They are perfectly capable of hunting down those things stolen from them, no matter where the thieves hide.
Because the Kemetans view the desert as the land of the dead, almost all tombs that might hide a mummy are built in the desert away from the River Sebt. The desert sands have swallowed up most of these tombs, leaving many fogotten-- their treasures left untouched by thieves and looters.

Abilities

The magic that ties these mummies to the mortal plane have also given them great power. Despite their desiccated form, they are far stronger than they appear, capable of striking with incredible force and making them surprisingly deadly even when unarmed.
Indeed, their power is even greater than that, as their very touch is cursed. Those affected will slowly waste away until they are reduced to sand. Most terribly, the curse is unable to be dispelled through simple healing, requiring more specialized magic to cure those afflicted.
In addition, their gaze has been imbued with fearsome power. Those that meet the empty sockets are often overcome with fear, possibly even paralyzed by its power. Those strong of will can overcome this power, but most simple grave robbers are incapable of mustering that much willpower.
Finally, mummies retain the abilities they possessed in life. Many are simply merchants or servants, capable of little more than the abilities granted by their undead states. Others, however, are powerful mages, sorcerers, warriors, and priests. These retain their powers and skills, often becoming very dangerous to those that disturb them.

Origins

Mummies are created via a secret ritual known only to priests of Anubis. This is the only form of necromancy allowed in Kemet. Unlike most undead, which are animated by dark magic, mummies serve as a conduit for the soul of the deceased to return from the afterlife if disturbed.
Not all bodies preserved by the ritual become mummies. The priests only provide power to those whose grave goods would tempt thieves, and only those whose souls have not been devoured by Ammut can animate their bodies. Servants of some nobles, priests, and pharaohs often sacrifice themselves to become protectors of their masters even after death.

Appearance

Physically, imbued mummies are identical to simple corpses preserved through Kemetan ritual. It is only when they move that this difference becomes apparent. They resemble dried, whithered husks, with their eyes empty sockets. It can sometimes be difficult to see the features of the living person they once were.
These creatures retain the clothes of their burial. Mostly, these include fine ceremonial robes and armor, covered in wrappings. These wrappings are often partially falling off or are damaged if they have already risen before. This is one of the few ways to tell the difference between an undead mummy and a simple corpse.

Behaviour

Like some undead, such as the dreaded draugr of Bjornland, mummies are obsessively protective of their belongings. Unlike them, it's not greed that drives them. The gods of Kemet consider grave robbery to be among the worst crimes. They seem so obsessive mostly due to their intense desire to return to their afterlives, not due to any particular attachment to their burial goods.
While many undead are envious of the living, mummies are not so malicious. Aside from their protective desires, mummies are individuals that retain their personalities even after death. They do, however, invariably prefer their place in thr afterlife to inhabiting their body on the mortal plane.

Lifespan

Immortal

Average Height

5 - 6 ft.

Average Weight

90 - 150 lbs.

Geographic Distribution

• Nahrica