There is something about Egyptology and Science Fiction. Whether it’s in movies, comics, or anime, putting Ancient Egyptian elements on top of or inspired by alien cultures is a running theme. I suspect it is due the period of time when Heiroglyphics were both easy to find and impossible to translate, as a mystery always fosters speculation. The truth, of course, is that the Ancient Egyptian culture achieved marvels through innovations in math, architecture, and shear monumental effort, but Starfinder is a SciFantasy setting and we are free to bring some Xeno-Egyptian elements into the game.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Egyptian Pantheon: Originally adapted to Pathfinder in the first volume of the Mummy’s Mask adventure path (and made widely available for PF1 here) the full pantheon is probably too big for the Pact Worlds setting where existent deities already fill a fair number of niches. That said, I think there is space for a limited representation of the ‘Old Gods’, particularly the ones focused on the astronomical and metaphysical.
APEP
The Star Eater
CE god of chaos, darkness, destruction
Centers of Worship Akiton, Apostae, the Diaspora, Eox, Verces, Veskarium
Symbol a serpent encircling and devouring a sun
Often related to or mistaken for the Devourer, Apep embodies destruction not for some entropic goal, but rather for the joy of breaking the universe. Cults of Apep can be extremely dangerous, if they don’t self destruct first.
HATHOR
The Joyful Melody
CG goddess of dance, joy, love, music, the stars
Centers of Worship Absalom Station, Akiton, Castrovel, Idari, Triaxus
Symbol a bipedal figure crowned with a sun
Venerated in all strata of civilizations, Hathor embodies the joy of movement, music, and freedom. She is often considered an ally of Desna and Weydan. While rarely militant, her adherents are passionate advocates and artists.
ISIS
Queen Mother
NG goddess of healing, magic, and creation
Centers of Worship Aucturn, Azlanti Star Empire, Castrovel, Idari
Symbol a winged figure with a halo
Isis embodies the creative nature of magic and biological life. She is worshiped by many who practice the arcane arts for her bounteous gifts of arcane power. She opposes Apep and The Devourer, as well as the inherently the destructive nature of Urgothoa.
OSIRIS
The Reborn God
LN god of regrowth, rebirth, and resurrection
Centers of Worship Aucturn, Bretheda, Castrovel, Liavara
Symbol a stylized flail and crook, crossed
Embodying the tendency in systems to cycle through periods of fallowness and fertility, he is both a constant and an ever changing force. Many of his adherents also give praise to Oras, seeing in both gods the ability of life to persevere and overcome adversity.
RA
Glorious Light
LG god of fire, glory, light, and solar systems
Centers of Worship Aballon, Absalom Station, the Sun, Veskarium, Verces
Symbol a stylized eye often within a sun, or incorporating a sun into the eye
The light of life and civilization triumphing over the darkness of entropy and death, Ra is a natural ally for both Serenrae and Abadar. Many cultures and military organizations give lip service to Ra, as he is ultimately about the eternal struggle against the dark.
SET
Endless Hunger, The Black Beast
NE god of evil, empty spaces, and madness
Centers of Worship Aucturn, Verces, the Vast
Symbol a stylized head of a beast with a long snout and long ears
Few openly worship Set, as he is more a deity to be feared than venerated. Embodying the great empty vacuum of space, always hungry and inimical to most life, many travelers and explorers will make prayers or offerings to avoid the attention of the Black Beast. He is believed to be either an ally of Nyarlathotep, an aspect of the Black Pharoh, or twin in some way to that Elder God, as the two are linked and worship of one is often indistinguishable from the other.
THOTH/NETHYS
The All Seeing Eye
N god of knowledge, magic, science
Centers of Worship Absalom Station, Azlanti Star Empire, Eox, Bretheda, Castrovel, Liavara
Symbol a mask divided into two tones or a stylized eye bisected into positive and negative space
Whether he was a great priest of Thoth, an aspect or child of the god of knowledge, or simply blessed/cursed by that god, when Nethys ascended to become a deity he was intrinsically linked with Thoth. Over time the two have become synonymous with each other, and are know by many other names besides. Regardless of symbol or name, their nature remains the same. They embody uncaring and impartial facts. Revered by scientists, scholars, and others who hold the pursuit of knowledge as sacrosanct, they have no agenda other than the primacy of learning.
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Until next time Starfinders!
Jeremy Corff
Artist and Writer