Anubis
Jackal-headed Anubis oversees embalming and guides souls through the Hall of Ma’at. He weighs hearts against the feather of truth, ensuring the dead are properly judged and the tombs remain undisturbed.
Story beats
- 1) Priests invoke Anubis during mummification, wrapping bodies under his protection.
- 2) In the afterlife, he leads the deceased to the scales where their heart will be weighed.
- 3) He watches for tomb robbers; jackals and black dogs near tombs are seen as his avatars.
- 4) Anubis presents the justified to Osiris; the unworthy face Ammit.
Context & symbolism
Anubis embodies transition between life and death, combining practical mortuary care with divine oversight. His jackal form connects to scavengers of cemeteries, reimagined as guardians rather than desecrators.
He represents fairness and ritual precision—every wrapping, charm, and prayer aligning the body with cosmic order.
Motifs
- Scales of Ma’at and heart weighing
- Black jackal head and flail
- Embalming linens and resins
- Guardian dogs at necropoleis
Use it in play
- Escort a soul through judgment; correct rituals avert Ammit.
- Stop tomb robbers angering Anubis, or negotiate penance.
- Obtain sacred resin blessed by Anubis to preserve a relic.
- Heart-weighing trial for a PC who died mid-campaign: roleplay fairness tests.