Song of the Crimson Nile: Curse In Thebes

In ancient Egypt, over 5,000 years ago, a group of people known as the Shesmu lived with magic, a practice forbidden by Pharaoh Menes II. These dark magicians mastered Necromancy and Oneiromancy, allowing them to communicate with the dead and enter people's dreams. However, their powers made them outcasts, and they were hunted by the Pharaoh's hunters. The Shesmu were forced to hide, their identities concealed to avoid capture and execution. A turning point came when Supreme Epistates Ahmose was killed in his sleep, and a seer revealed the killer to be a Shesmu who used Oneiromancy. This led to widespread fear and protests, resulting in the banning of dark magic and the execution of Oneiromancers. The Pharaoh, convinced of the danger, ordered the deaths of all Oneiromancers, sparing only the Necromancers. The Shesmu were forced into hiding, their freedom to practice magic lost. Despite this, some continued to secretly practice dark magic, driven by the need to survive. Years passed, and Menes II became Pharaoh, reinforcing the ban on dark magic and restricting Necromancy to palace priests. The Shesmu remained hidden, their actions leading to more deaths and perpetuating the cycle of fear and persecution. Ancient Egypt, Thebes... Two Shesmu, cloaked and mysterious, emerged from the desert and approached Thebes. From a distance, they gazed upon the town's silhouette. The elder Shesmu nodded to his companion, who began a ritual, chanting, "As the last moon appears, the Nile will turn crimson, and death will spread. The sins of the people will be their downfall. You are the mighty god, patron of evil and chaos. Grant our wishes, and we will give you what you want." The pair slit their wrists, filling a cup with their blood, and whispered an ancient incantation. Their eyes darkened, the moon turned red, and the man spilled the cup, unleashing the blood-red waters into Thebes. The people awoke to find their homes filled with blood, choking and coughing as they realized they were under attack. As chaos erupted, the Shesmu watched, the elder one nodding in satisfaction. "This is enough. Everything is unfolding as planned." They departed, leaving behind a town in terror. . . . . . . . In 321 B.C., Hermopolis, Ancient Egypt... Evthys was roused from sleep by Ramesses' voice. "Eva, wake up," he said, chuckling as she stretched and yawned, her eyes still closed. "You overslept, I guess your 'other world' is distracting you," he teased. Evthys opened her eyes, rubbing them as she looked at Ramesses. Memories of her arrival flooded back - the fear of a spear at her neck. "Leave me alone, Ramesses," she said, waving him off. Just then, Dia joined the conversation. "Evthys, class starts soon, and you're not ready," she said, clicking her tongue as she approached. Evthys groaned, "Not you too, Dia?" Dia persisted, "Get up, now! Remmao will scold you again for being late. He hates waiting." With a final nudge, Dia left Evthys to get ready. Evthys snorted, shook her head, and looked in the mirror, muttering, "Time to get ready." Song of the Crimson Nile: Curse In Thebes Coming Soon on December 12, 2025