Geb (person)

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Geb
Geb, alive at left and undead at right.
(Person)

Alignment
Ancestry/Species
Human (Garundi) ghost
Level
23
Class
Gender
Male
Homeland
Born
Died
Source: The Inner Sea World Guide, pg(s). 74 (1E)
Impossible Lands, pg(s). 142 (2E)

Geb, founder and overlord of his namesake nation, is a powerful necromancer whose magic is in the tradition of ancient Osirion.1 His life has been defined by his millennia-long rivalry with the Archmage Nex,2 but after recent changes, Geb now seems more actively involved in governing his thriving and cosmopolitan nation, which would undoubtedly be regarded as one of Garund's most affluent and promising kingdoms. However, its prosperity is overshadowed by a significant factor—the majority of its populace consists of grotesque undead creatures, willingly bound to their malevolent leader for all eternity, serving his sinister ambitions without question.34

Background

Geb was born in Sothis, the younger son of a powerful noble family with ambitions for the Osirian throne. During his family's rebellion against Pharaoh Kenaton, Geb served as a wizard and mortuary priest. In -1119 AR, when Kenaton defeated his family, burying its leaders and sentencing the rest to exile, Geb fled Sothis for Mechitar, then part of Osirion's southern frontier.5

In -1108 AR, Geb politely asked the provincial governor in Mechitar to make him king. When he was laughed at, Geb tore the governor's soul from his body and became the ruler of a new country that now bears his name.5

Initially, Geb's relationship with his neighbour Nex, the only other wizard of their age who could be his peer, was mostly cordial. The two visited one another and their nations engaged in peaceful diplomatic relations.5 As each showed off their powers to the only other person who could understand, their professional competition grew more and more vicious, since neither could accept to be second-best.6

Geb and Nex first went to war in -892 AR. As both had used powerful magic to extend their lives, the conflict dragged on for centuries and the neighboring regions suffered immense destruction. They left behind a desolate wastelands where the very fabric of magic was rendered inert by pervasive and twisted radiation: the Mana Wastes.73

In 576 AR, Geb launched a gas attack on Nex's capital of Quantium, killing thousands, and supposedly won the contest when his rival disappeared, seemingly for good. Uncertainty as to Nex's exact fate ate away at Geb, who believed that his rival was merely waiting until he could have the chance to retaliate. His search for a way to determine Nex's true fate ended when Geb committed suicide in 632 AR.2 Geb's obsession with Nex could not be ended so easily, and he rose as a ghost soon thereafter, unable to find rest until he could convince himself that Nex was truly defeated. Nex has not been seen for four millennia, but Geb still worries that his rival has somehow managed to survive.7

For many years, Geb found himself directionless, only finding relief by taking a personal interest in anything that might challenge him. In 3890 AR, in retaliation to an invasion by the Knights of Ozem, Geb stole the corpse of Arazni and reanimated her against her will as a lich.89 In 4329 AR, when the warrior women of Holomog invaded Geb, he turned all of them into stone, creating the Field of Maidens, and rained down a cataclysm on their capital city. However, each defeated foe only sank Geb further into despair, since none of them could hope to match his old rival.102

After turning Arazni into his queen, Geb left her to rule in his stead and became more and more secluded, rarely appearing before his people.2

When Nex's fleshforges began to activate and powerful monsters marched into the Mana Wastes, Geb felt excitement for the first time in millennia.2 Around the same time, in 4719 AR, after Arazni's disappearance, Geb returned to active rulership and began preparing his nation for a grand destiny, as he was certain that his old rival Nex was returning soon.11 However, Geb continues to be bound to Mechitar; he fails to remember his suicide and revival, and is unaware that his imprisonment is due to his own nature as a ghost.12

Recent history

After recently returning to active rulership, Geb noticed that at least three cities, including the greatest necromancy school in Geb, had vanished. Some of his subjects deduce that they were taken into the Hao Jin Tapestry. Geb has sent ambassadors to Goka to demand their return or the aid of Hao Jin herself as compensation.12

Camilia Drannoch has been secretly negotiating with Geb to rid Galt of the final blades. Geb is interested in reforging the final blades into weapons for his graveknight generals, and is in an excellent position to negotiate since his country produces plenty of food for the starving Galtan rebels.12

Having noticed the firearms of Alkenstar and the technological secrets of Dongun Hold, Geb seeks an alliance with Anong Arunak, if only to deprive Nex of a potential ally.12

References

  1. Erik Mona, et al. “Chapter 2: The Inner Sea” in Campaign Setting, 76. Paizo Inc., 2008
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Michelle Jones. Geb” in Legends, 44. Paizo Inc., 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 Erik Mona, et al. Impossible Lands” in World Guide, 74. Paizo Inc., 2019
  4. Erik Mona, et al. Impossible Lands” in World Guide, 76. Paizo Inc., 2019
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Paizo Inc., et al. “History” in Impossible Lands, 14. Paizo Inc., 2022
  6. Paizo Inc., et al. “History” in Impossible Lands, 15. Paizo Inc., 2022
  7. 7.0 7.1 James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 74ff. Paizo Inc., 2011
  8. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 35. Paizo Inc., 2011
  9. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 74–75. Paizo Inc., 2011
  10. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 77. Paizo Inc., 2011
  11. Erik Mona, et al. Impossible Lands” in World Guide, 77. Paizo Inc., 2019
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Michelle Jones. Geb” in Legends, 45. Paizo Inc., 2020