Su-Menent

A Guild (MTC) of Arisen (MTC) who served as funerary priests and preparers of corpses in ancient Irem. They practice the art of the shell, guiding the souls of the departed to the Underworld and perfecting the deathless form and magic of the Arisen. In the Nameless Empire, a future Shepherd of the Chamber was raised from childhood to keep the guild's secrets and be trusted with the rites of the Shan'iatu, and today they are just as secretive and careful. Tradition and conformity are important to them and they are determined to keep to the old ways through the coming Sothic Turn.

=Structure= The mummies of the Su-Menent still follow the structure of the Hem-Netjer, the ancient priesthood of Irem. While this was not originally a hierarchy for ruling regions, it has become so in the modern ages. Shepherds on each are directed by a First Prophet who organizes the resources of the guild throughout the continent and focuses the myriad personal missions into a single purpose. Below him are the Second Prophet and Third Prophet, normally purely honorific positions for Su-Menent or even mummies of other guilds. When there is not a First Prophet awake to deal with a crisis, however, a Second or Third Prophet can be appointed and the title is kept for life, making it also a badge of honor for the Shepherd.

Below the Prophets are the High Priests who lead a temple dedicated to the worship of a specific Judge of Duat, oversees the temple's needs and its community, and holds ceremonies when required. Alongside them are the Shemsu, once temple guardians and now serve as enforcers and assassins of the High Priests. The Tp-a Priests (tip-AH) are historians and chroniclers of the guild, maintaining the rites of the guild and working on secretive "special projects." The Wab Priests are the administrators and organizers of the guild, and deal with the logistics of worship and holy rite. Lastly, there are the In-Irty, priests either naturally blind or ritualistically blinded through a practice called the Blessing of Mechenti-irti. Because of their "blessing," what most would consider a handicap, the In-Irty are more resistant to rites dealing directly with the Judges that would drive sighted individuals mad.

Outside of the structure are the Deshr Hry-Tp (desh-erie-TEP), heretics who have been made apostate by the guild and First Prophets. The Red Magicians, as they are called, have strayed close enough from orthodoxy to earn censure by the guild but they are not yet Shuankshen (MTC). Whether knowingly or unknowingly sinning, the Deshr Hry-Tp are watched by the Shemsu rather than actively hunted until they stray into truly dangerous practices that demand destruction.

=Organization= As a guild focused on tradition and demanding purpose and unity of its members, there is considerable debate as to the best way to carry that out. The Traditionalists believe that there is no need to change and it is the focus of their membership, not its understanding of the modern world, that needs to be addressed. Opposite them are the Contemporaries who feel that aligning the guild's practices with modern realities is the only way to stay relevant and recruit the cults of mortals that their purpose demands. Between them there are moderates who try to find another way, though these searchers often stray too far and earn the brand of Deshr Hry-Tp.