In Ancient Egypt there once was a commoner who rose to the heights of mortal authority, acting as counsel to personages no less than pharaohs. So great were his deeds and esteem that he rose higher still after his demise, ultimately getting deified. You probably know him from The Mummy but to many throughout history he was the god of medicine and healing: I’m talking about Imhotep!
This fellow initially served King Djoser, the first pharaoh to be entombed in a pyramid (purportedly of Imhotep's design), and then King Sekhemkhet (who was getting a pyramid built but that got curtailed due to an early end to his rule). The egyptians of the day didn’t credit him for that or for engineering the first building supported by stone columns, but there’s speculation those were also among his accomplishments. Two millennia after his demise Imhotep becomes deified, his cult of followers mixing with those of Thoth (the god of architecture, mathematics, and medicine, and patron of scribes) and exalting him as the (spiritual?) sibling of another deified architect by the name of Amenhotep and the Greek god of healing Asklepios. His mother gets some godly treatment, and he’s credited with bringing about the end of a 7 year famine sometime about three centuries before anno domini, but the cooler tale is definitely him sneaking about trying to save his sister from King Djoser, and more importantly his magical battle against an Assyrian sorceress.
Design Notes: So it’s been pointed out that there’s no evidence Imhotep here was a physician, which makes it odd he became the god of healing—unless he had healing magic! With that in mind I’m going to invest his levels into cleric, specifically the knowledge domain. Taking a look at the numbers: the DMG lands him at 6.25 and the Blog of Holding rubric puts him at 7.333, which averages out just under 6.8. If he had more hit points I’d probably bump him up, but as it is now he’ll go down pretty fast without someone else to get in the way and take hits on his behalf (you know, like a servant or guard or other underling).
Imhotep
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral cleric (knowledge) 8
Armor Class 18 (breastplate, shield)
Hit Points 44 (8d8+8)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +5
Skills Arcana +5, History +5, Insight +7, Persuasion +8
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Amharic, Coptic, Middle Egyptian
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Background: Scholar. Acumen or fate gently nudges Imhotep toward the answers to his questions. When he fails to recollect or discover more about a subject of lore, he knows where or whom can give him that information (usually from an athenaeum, library, institute of higher learning, another scholar, or mystical creature). The lengths to which he must go to acquire this information and the feasibility of doing so is entirely at the GM’s discretion.
Channel Divinity (2/Short Rest). Imhotep can channel his divine energy to fuel one of two magical effects.
Divine Knowledge. As an action, Imhotep gains proficiency with one skill or tool he chooses. This proficiency lasts for 10 minutes.
Peruse Mind. As an action, Imhotep forces one creature he can see within 60 feet to make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the creature is immune to this feature until Imhotep finishes a long rest. On a failure, for the next minute Imhotep learns the surface thoughts of the creature (what is most on its mind) whenever it is within 60 feet of him. During the duration, Imhotep can use his action to cast the suggestion spell on the creature, which automatically fails to resist the spell, without expending a spell slot. Upon casting suggestion in this way the feature’s other effects end.
Turn Undead. As an action, Imhotep presents his holy symbol and speaks a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead within 30 feet that can see or hear him must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. When an undead of CR 1 or lower fails its saving throw the creature is instantly destroyed. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from Imhotep as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of him. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Potent Magics. Whenever Imhotep deals damage with a cleric cantrip, he deals 4 extra damage.
Spellcasting. Imhotep is an 8th level spellcaster that uses Wisdom as his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15; +7 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared from the cleric’s spell list:
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage.
This fellow initially served King Djoser, the first pharaoh to be entombed in a pyramid (purportedly of Imhotep's design), and then King Sekhemkhet (who was getting a pyramid built but that got curtailed due to an early end to his rule). The egyptians of the day didn’t credit him for that or for engineering the first building supported by stone columns, but there’s speculation those were also among his accomplishments. Two millennia after his demise Imhotep becomes deified, his cult of followers mixing with those of Thoth (the god of architecture, mathematics, and medicine, and patron of scribes) and exalting him as the (spiritual?) sibling of another deified architect by the name of Amenhotep and the Greek god of healing Asklepios. His mother gets some godly treatment, and he’s credited with bringing about the end of a 7 year famine sometime about three centuries before anno domini, but the cooler tale is definitely him sneaking about trying to save his sister from King Djoser, and more importantly his magical battle against an Assyrian sorceress.
Design Notes: So it’s been pointed out that there’s no evidence Imhotep here was a physician, which makes it odd he became the god of healing—unless he had healing magic! With that in mind I’m going to invest his levels into cleric, specifically the knowledge domain. Taking a look at the numbers: the DMG lands him at 6.25 and the Blog of Holding rubric puts him at 7.333, which averages out just under 6.8. If he had more hit points I’d probably bump him up, but as it is now he’ll go down pretty fast without someone else to get in the way and take hits on his behalf (you know, like a servant or guard or other underling).
Imhotep
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral cleric (knowledge) 8
Armor Class 18 (breastplate, shield)
Hit Points 44 (8d8+8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
10 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) |
Skills Arcana +5, History +5, Insight +7, Persuasion +8
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Amharic, Coptic, Middle Egyptian
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Background: Scholar. Acumen or fate gently nudges Imhotep toward the answers to his questions. When he fails to recollect or discover more about a subject of lore, he knows where or whom can give him that information (usually from an athenaeum, library, institute of higher learning, another scholar, or mystical creature). The lengths to which he must go to acquire this information and the feasibility of doing so is entirely at the GM’s discretion.
Channel Divinity (2/Short Rest). Imhotep can channel his divine energy to fuel one of two magical effects.
Divine Knowledge. As an action, Imhotep gains proficiency with one skill or tool he chooses. This proficiency lasts for 10 minutes.
Peruse Mind. As an action, Imhotep forces one creature he can see within 60 feet to make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the creature is immune to this feature until Imhotep finishes a long rest. On a failure, for the next minute Imhotep learns the surface thoughts of the creature (what is most on its mind) whenever it is within 60 feet of him. During the duration, Imhotep can use his action to cast the suggestion spell on the creature, which automatically fails to resist the spell, without expending a spell slot. Upon casting suggestion in this way the feature’s other effects end.
Turn Undead. As an action, Imhotep presents his holy symbol and speaks a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead within 30 feet that can see or hear him must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. When an undead of CR 1 or lower fails its saving throw the creature is instantly destroyed. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from Imhotep as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of him. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Potent Magics. Whenever Imhotep deals damage with a cleric cantrip, he deals 4 extra damage.
Spellcasting. Imhotep is an 8th level spellcaster that uses Wisdom as his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15; +7 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared from the cleric’s spell list:
Cantrips: guidance, light, sacred flame, spare the dying
1st level (4 slots): command, create or destroy water, cure wounds, identify, inflict wounds, sanctuary
2nd level (3 slots): aid, augury, hold person, spiritual weapon, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, nondetection, sending, speak with dead, spirit guardians
4th level (2 slots): arcane eye, confusion, death ward, stone shape
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage.
