Khepri

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Khepri
From left, the Osirian gods Khepri, Sobek, and Hathor
(Deity)

Titles
The Humble Hand1
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Freedom, the rising sun, work
Worshipers
Peasants, laborers
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Artifice, Good, Liberation, Sun, Trickery
Subdomains (1E)
Agathion, Day, Deception, Freedom, Revolution, Toil1
Favored Weapon
sling
Symbol
Blue scarab
Sacred Animal
Source: Empty Graves, pg(s). 69

Khepri is the Osirian god of freedom, the rising sun, and work. He represents those who toil in ignominy and squalor, and is a trickster, turning the indignity of his appearance and labor upon those who consider themselves refined, elevated, and superior to others.21

History

Since the Age of Destiny, the people of Osirion have worshiped their own local gods, including Khepri, in addition to those deities venerated more commonly throughout the Inner Sea region. Their worship was most popular during the early millennia and waned as the Osirian people gradually turned to foreign deities. During the Age of Enthronement, the Osirian gods, while continuing to guide Osirion from afar, retreated from Golarion and turned their attention towards the distant land of Kemet. When Osirion was under Keleshite rule, the foreign overlords sought to eradicate the faith of the indigenous gods, but they remain a part of the history of Osirion's land and people. Since the restoration of native Osirian rule in 4609 AR,3 interest in these ancient divinities has been rekindled.45

Appearance

Khepri is routinely depicted as a scarab beetle or a human man with a scarab beetle for a head.

Relationships

A family tree of the Osirian pantheon. Note Khepri's absence.

Unlike most of the Osirian Pantheon, Khepri is not related to the rest of the pantheon, like Bes, who he is close friends with thanks to their shared trickster roles. In his role as a sun god, Khepri is closely aligned to Ra, Horus, and Hathor, and strongly opposed to Apep and Set. Khepri enjoys the revulsion he elicits in gods who consider themselves refined, like Bastet, Maat, and Thoth.1

Worshippers

As patron of the common folk, Khepri's priesthood spends most of their time alongside laborers. Permanent shrines to the Humble Hand are rare, but temporary places of worship are often created wherever workers rest.1

Associated items

The Scarab of Khepri is a magic item in the shape of a small golden statuette of Khepri that allows the user to speak with vermin.2

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 69. Paizo Inc., 2014
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jason Nelson & Amber Stewart. “Faith: Cults of Osirion” in Osirion, Land of Pharaohs, 25. Paizo Inc., 2008
  3. Erik Mona, et al. Golden Road” in World Guide, 51. Paizo Inc., 2019
  4. Rob McCreary. (March 13, 2014). The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Osirion, Paizo Blog.
  5. Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 65. Paizo Inc., 2014

External links

  • Khepri (real-world deity) on Wikipedia