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Isis (Greater Deity)
Mother Goddess; Mother of the King; Sustainer of the Dead, Mourner of the Dead; Goddess of the Day; Great of Magic; Eye of Ra; Protector of Horus; Star of the Sea
Divine Ranks: 17
Deity Symbols: Sistrum rattle, tyet (Isis knot) amulet, throne, kite, scorpion
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Protection of the dead, resurrection, magic, guidance, female fertility and conception, motherhood
Domains: Good, Law, Magic
True Form: Isis appears as a human female clothed in an unbelted sheath robe, often with her breasts exposed; upon her head is a solar disk braced by cow’s horns
Avatar Form: Same as above
Other Manifestations: Sometimes Isis manifest in part or wholly as a hawk
Allies: Horus, Nephthys, Osiris, Ra
Foes: Set
Sacred Items: Sistrum rattle, tyet necklace
Sacred Animals: Kite, scorpion, vulture
Sacred Plants: Lotus flower
Sacred Minerals: Natron
Divine Artifacts: Tyet Amulet
Mythology: Isis is one of the four offspring of Geb and Nut, and is arguably the greatest. Much like her mother, Isis is considered the mother of all creation, being the font of life and its continuation on Earth. This primary aspect causes her to be associated with motherhood, marital devotion, the healing the sick, and the working of magical spells and charms for the good purpose, especially when in protection of the dead.
Isis is a canny magician, besting her kin time and again through intelligence and mystical prowess. She overcame Ra by learning his true name. Desiring the power inherent in knowing the true name of the great god, Isis crafted the first cobra from Ra’s saliva and Nile mud, and set it to bite him. On the verge of death, Ra exchanged his true name for treatment of the wound. Using this knowledge, Isis promoted her husband, Osiris, to control of the Earth, leaving Ra to reign in the heavens.
Isis’ most notable actions entail her revival of Osiris and her protection of Horus, her son by Osiris. Angered by his brother’s newfound power, Set grew jealous and slew Osiris, casting his body into the Nile. Overcome with grief, Isis fished the corpse from the waters and placed her greatest blessing upon him, returning life to his limbs. His fury unquenched, Set again slew Osiris and hacked his corpse into pieces, scattering them to the corners of the world.
As Isis roamed the lands retrieved and reassembled the body of Osiris she took on the role of a goddess of the dead and of funeral rites. Fearing that she would never restore Osiris to life, Isis impregnated herself from his corpse and subsequently gave birth to Horus in secrecy at Khemmis in the Nile delta. There the Mother Goddess hid her child from the clutching fingers of Set. Under her ministrations and tutelage, Horus grew to adulthood and took his vengeance on the slayer of his uncle. After the battle, Isis, Horus, and Nephthys gathered all the pieces of Osiris’ corpse.
With care and love, the Isis mended the sundered flesh and breathed life into it. Though great was her magic, the events of her husband’s death were too severe for even her to fully overcome. Though alive, the aura of true death clung to Osiris, who was condemned to dwell in the Underworld. With her husband evermore removed for Earthly rule, Isis bequeathed Ra’s true name to her son, allowing Horus to rule uncontested.
Main Tenets of the Faith: The protection of the bonds of love, life, and death are paramount to the faithful of Isis. The interrelationships between spouses, parents and children, and friendships are the very embodiment of her worship. As such, the clergy of the mother goddess strive to maintain the family unit in their flock by providing guidance, advice, and aide to parents and children who are struggling with personal issues. These issues include infertility, abuse, marriage, and childbirth. They also shepherd the deceased into the afterlife, offering protection against the perils of the Underworld.
Location of the Faith: Isis is universally worshipped throughout Egypt, with smaller temples and shrines being found in nearly every village and caravan stop. Major temples exist at Iseion in the west delta region, Thebes, Abydos, Dendera, and at the island of Philae.
Sects: Many cults of Isis exist, most being simple variations of her general worship peculiar to the site in question. For example, the temple near Thebes promotes fertility, childbirth, and care for children. Its ceremonies and rituals are specialized towards those areas, though the temple still performs traditional rituals common to all centers of Isis worship.
Responsibilities of the Clergy: The clergy of Isis (traditionally female, though not exclusively) is responsible for the care of the sick and helpless, especially for those that cannot tend to themselves: children, the elderly, and the dead. The must tender aide to these individuals, giving what comfort they can. Priests of the Mother Goddess are also expected to oversee the funeral rites of the recent dead. These rites are meant to ward the deceased from evil spirits that can cause the soul to wander in the afterlife.
Rights of the Clergy: As a priest of the Mother Goddess, one is entitled to free access to any home inhabited by children, elderly, or the sick.
Restrictions of the Clergy: Priests of Isis are not permitted to touch or consume rotten food, as it is unclean and taints their ability to administer to the needy. Those that do must perform a cleansing ceremony where they bathe in herbal oils and infusions.
Rituals: Ceremonies for the cults of Isis revolve around the protection and continuation of family, from its inception to death. The faith has many rites designed just for the interment of the dead, aimed at protecting the soul from the dangers present in the Underworld. They also have many healing rituals, especially for animal venoms and natural hazards.
Vestments: Priestesses of Isis wear unbelted sheath robes of a pale gauze material, often in several layers. Priests wear a heavier robe, also unbelted. Upon their breasts hang the tyet amulet, a knotted braid very similar to the stemless ankh. During high rituals the high priest or priestess wears a solar disk and horn crown.
Isis’ Path of the Devout
Devout Classes: Cleric paladin, sorcerer, wizard
Devout Alignments: LG, LN, and NG
Favored Weapon: Staff
Devout Oath: Priests of Isis must never intentionally harm a child, give poor treatment to the sick, refuse to ease the passing of the dying, or leave the recently dead unwarded against the perils of the Afterlife.
Devout Benefits: 1/day a devout follower of Isis can either summon one Medium, 2 Small, or eight Tiny scorpions.
Avatar of Isis
20th Level Wizard
Medium Outsider (Good, Lawful)
Divine Rank: 8
Hit Dice: 10d8 + 40 plus 20d4 +80 (280 hp)
Initiative: +11 (+7 Dex, Improved Initiative)
Speed: 70 ft. (14 squares)
AC: 52 (+7 Dex, +2 staff, +5 robe, +5 ring, +14 natural, +9 deflection), flat-footed 45, touch 38
Base Attack/Grapple: +28/+31
Attack: Rod of Righteous Retribution +33 melee (1d6+5/19-20)
Full Attack: Rod of Righteous Retribution +33/+28/+23/+18 melee (1d6+5/19-20)
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Special Attacks: Artifact powers, domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities, spells.
Special Qualities: Avatar immunities, divine senses (4-mile radius), damage reduction 28/-, greater teleport (at will; caster level 20th), immortality, immunity to electricity effects, outsider traits, planeshift (at will; caster level 20th), resistance to cold 18, resistance to fire 18, salient divine abilities, speak and read all languages, SR 44, spontaneous casting (domain spells), summon familiar, telepathically communicate with any living creatures (1-mile radius).
Saves: Fort +31, Ref +34, Will +42
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 24, Con 18, Int 30, Wis 28, Cha 28
Skills & Feats: Bluff +37, Concentration +36, Craft (basketweaving) +38, Heal +43, Hide +35, Knowledge (arcana) +38, Knowledge (nature) +38, Profession (apothecary) +37, Listen +37, Search +38, Spellcraft +42, Spot +37, Survival +39, Swim +31; Augment Summoning, Brew Potion, Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item, Craft Wand, Empower Spell, Improved Counterspell, Improved Critical (Quarterstaff), Improved Initiative, Maximize Spell, Scribe Scroll, Self-Sufficient, Silent Spell, Spell Mastery (any), Spell Penetration, Still Spell.
Salient Divine Abilities: Arcane Mastery, Gift of Life, Increased Spell Resistance, Instant Counterspell
Domain Powers: Good (cast good spells at +1 caster level); Law (cast law spells at +1 caster level); Magic (use scrolls, wands, and other devices with spell completion or spell trigger activation as a 28th level Wizard).
Spell-Like Abilities (8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1; caster level 28th; save DC 37 + spell level): 1st-magic aura, protection from chaos, protection from evil; 2nd-aid, calm emotions, identify; 3rd-clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, magic circle against evil; 4th-divination, holy smite, imbue with spell ability; 5th-dispel evil, spell resistance, true seeing; 6th-anitmagic field, blade barrier, find the path; 7th-holy word, legend lore, spell turning; 8th-discern location, holy aura, protection from spells.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/7/6/6/6/6/5/5/5/5; caster level 28th; save DC 37 + spell level): 0— acid splash, light, message, touch of fatigue; 1st— alarm, charm person, expeditious retreat, magic missile (x2), summon monster I, true strike; 2nd— acid arrow, eagle’s splendor, gentle repose, hideous laughter, scorching ray, summon monster II; 3rd— dispel magic, hold person, lightning bolt, searing light, suggestion, summon monster III; 4th— dimensional anchor, enervation, rainbow pattern, solid fog, summon monster IV, wall of fire; 5th— cone of cold, major creation, permanency, private sanctum, summon monster V, telekinesis; 6th— antimagic field, lucubration, shadow walk, summon monster VI, wall of iron; 7th— control weather, delayed blast fireball, sequester, spell turning, summon monster VII; 8th— binding, mind blank, summon monster VIII, sunburst, trap the soul; 9th— disjunction, foresight, meteor swarm, summon monster IX, time stop.
Artifact Powers: Isis’ artifact grants her additional powers:
Tyet Amulet (Caster level 20th; save DC 28): at will-detect magic, erase, mage armor, magic aura, read magic, shield; 5/day-identify, magic missile, web; 3/day-lucubration; 2/day-clenched fist, disjunction, prismatic sphere; Spell resistance 20/epic; spells cast by the wearer are at +4 caster level; Combat Casting, Still Spell, Silent Spell and Weapon Focus (ray) Feats; Silent Spell and Still Spell feats to her spells at no cost.
Possessions: Rod of righteous retribution (as staff of power), ring of protection +5, robe of the archmagi (white), boots of levitation, circlet of blasting (major), wand of magic missile (9th level caster), wand of polymorph other, wand of lightning bolt (8th level caster), wand of bull's strength, Tyet Amulet.
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