The Book of Tehuti
I am Nefrekeptah, son of the pharaoh Amenhotep and prince of Kemet. I am warrior, scholar, and great magician. I can tell you where lies the Book of Tehuti.
My tale began many years ago, when I learned that the Book of Tehuti was located at Koptos at the bottom of the Nile. It was said to be in the middle of the river, guarded by snakes, scorpions, and a Mighty Serpent Which Cannot Be Killed. I immediately set sail for Koptos with my wife and son.
Once we reached Koptos I dropped a magical rope from the bow of the boat and commanded it to locate the iron box containing the Book of Tehuti. Then I waited. After an hour I commanded the rope to rise out of the water. It had captured a large iron box guarded by snakes and scorpions. I cast a spell that turned the beasts to stone before they could attack.
Then the Mighty Serpent Which Cannot Be Killed rose up out of the water and attacked the boat. Almost without thinking, I ran toward the serpent and chopped off its head. But within seconds, the head reattached itself to the body and it struck again!
I sliced off its head a second time, and jumped backwards to avoid the poisonous fangs as the head fell downward. Almost as quickly as the Mighty Serpent’s head landed on the solid planks of the ship’s deck, the serpent was made whole again. I struck the serpent a third time and watched its head reattach itself once more. I realized I couldn’t fight the beast indefinitely, as the Mighty Serpent would gain advantage once I grew tired. What I needed was a plan.
I called out to my son to quickly fetch a large empty jar from the ship’s hold. When he returned, I separated the Mighty Serpent’s head from its body once more. But this time I speared the head with my sword and threw it into the jar, closing the lid. Then I cast a spell to fasten the lid tight and ordered my son to throw the jar into the river.
The serpent’s body continued to flop around on the deck of the ship, but it was harmless without its head and poisonous fangs. I approached the iron box and opened it. Inside the iron box was a bronze box. Inside that box was a wooden box, and inside that box lay an ivory and ebony box, and inside that box was concealed a silver box, and inside the silver box sat a box of gold. When I opened the golden box, I found the fabled Book of Tehuti.
I unrolled the scroll and began reading it. I immediately learned how to converse with birds and beasts. I read further, and I learned how to see the wind and how to hear the sun. As I read more, I learned the secrets of the gods and the songs of the stars.
We then set sail for home, but along the way my son became crazed and jumped over the side of the boat, drowning himself in the Nile. No sooner had my son drowned himself than my wife began to scream and shout, and she suddenly jumped off the boat, drowning herself in the Nile also.
I used my magic to speak to the ka (souls) of my wife and son. They warned me that Amun-Ra and Tehuti were punishing me with great sorrows for my transgression against the Neteru.
Grief-stricken, I laid down on my bed as the boat sailed homeward. When I arrived, it was too late to save my ka. My servants found me dead, gripping the Book of Tehuti tightly to my chest.
I am Nefrekeptah, son of the pharaoh Amenhotep and prince of Kemet. My family is dead and I am cursed by the Neteru, bound to haunt my earthly tomb, where I sit clutching the Book of Tehuti tightly, awaiting the end of all things.
