Thoth is the Egyptian god at the head of the ancient pantheon of Ardis Vala (twelve gods, twelve cosmic platforms), “the judge, the scribe and the restorer of all order”. Once worshiped by the Archontians, he has no declared faithful today, yet remains “the basis of magic” of that world.
| Type | Deity |
| Symbols | Ibis (heron), mandrill, feather, pyramid |
| Spanish entry | Thoth |
Description
His animals are the ibis and the mandrill; baboons are related to him. His emblem is the feather; some guards’ tabards bear a “symbol of the sun and the feather”. His priests carry a staff topped by his symbol and a satchel of parchments and brushes, as does the scribe, a small, black, duck-footed being whose skin darkens as light dims.
As god of secrets and hidden chambers he knows the first things and masters magic. His secret chambers, the secreta secretorum, open to any of several access names.
Places
- Temple of Thoth: “in the highest heights, where there is nothing further up, nothing further down”.
- Halls of Thoth: excavations under Ardis Vala with an underground lake and mirror-lit libraries: “where the baboons used to roam, there are now beings of light.”
- Library of Thoth: on level two, the Howling Caves; thousands of baboons and a druid bar the entry, “to not allow others to access the knowledge” inside.
- Pyramid of Thoth: a worn, graffiti-covered stair; no one has opened its top.
Rites and customs
In the Ritual of Thoth the penitent confesses, leaves “a record of the truth” and offers restitution; the Scales of Thoth weigh the pen against the parchment: “may your word weigh as much as the truth”. Some powers belong only to his consecrated priests, now few.
The Halls are neutral ground, feeding those who respect the condition of travelers. Guests may stay as allies, vassals or residents if the lord Pope agrees. The dagger of Thoth works as a compass.
History
The clergy split into conservative theosophists, guarding the schools of magic, and Sortians, for whom “democracy is luck”, offering “magic for all”; the College of Thoth split likewise.
Twelve hundred years ago Thoth and Set coexisted. Now Set’s followers hold former temples of Thoth, at least one desecrated: “Since Set returned, Thoth has not returned as much.” Codeities such as Isis, Tiamat, Anubis and Horus remain present below; at least two gods of the pantheon are forbidden or forgotten. The Seekers once visited his temple.
Conflicting accounts
- The baboons of the Halls are said to be replaced by beings of light; two accounts say the Library is still overrun by them.
- One voice calls the cult “now forbidden”; another separates a forgotten god (Thoth) from an unnamed forbidden one.
Open questions
- Who imposes the prohibition; how the druid relates to the baboons.
- Whether the Temple, the Pyramid and the desecrated temple are one building.
- What the access names open and what the beings of light are.
- “Thoth has mutated in some sense”; what Thoth was exactly is unknown.