The Lion's Roar - Recruitment drive

[Boknice275 1188]

 

 

 The Hand of Tetu in Rah’tuma is a formidable spiritualist force dedicated to protecting the city and its people from all manner of threats, both mundane and supernatural. The Pride is also devoted to advancing the Pharaoh’s will in both Rah’tuma and foreign lands as necessary. Named after the Sphinx-God Tetu, who is revered as the defender of Rah’tuma and the conqueror of Isfet (chaos), this militia operates with a deep sense of duty and spiritual purity. Outside of Tetu, the Hand also honors the deities Ahura-ma, the Goddess of Freedom, and Kalthet, wife of Tetu, the Slayer of Isfet.

 

Composed from the greatest warriors in the realm, the Hand of Tetu stands as the frontline defense against supernatural dangers such as demons, malign spirits, bad dreams, aengudaemonica agents, undead, voidalists, and any other forces that oppose the Pharaoh and the Gods, and threaten the safety of Rah’mun cities. However, their duty extends beyond mere physical protection; the Hand of Tetu is also tasked with maintaining the integrity of Rah’tuma, ensuring that the balance of Ka’tau is upheld and chaos is kept at bay.

 

Led by the Nehemtempi Machimoi, the champions of Rah’tuma and the faith, members of the Hand undergo rigorous training, often found lacking in other nation’s armed forces. Besides basic weapons and unit tactical training, Machimoi also learn to defend against magical arts, such as Voidal Magics, and learn to use potions and alchemical agents in combat. Machimoi also are instructed to assist in rituals necessary to invoke the protection and blessings of their deity. 

 

Machimoi are an aspect of everyday life in Rah’tuma; often seen patrolling the city streets, guarding sacred sites and shrines, participating in ceremonial rites to honor Tetu, and carrying out foreign missions at the behest of the Pharaoh. 

 

 

 

 

Once you prove your worth through the initiation trials, and become an official Machimoi, a member of The Hand can look forward to the following benefits:

1. Fair Wages paid in Salt. A Machimoi will be paid their full weight in Pure-Salt upon initiation, and are there-after paid by the pouch based on rank and performance. Salt is a valuable commodity and can be traded for food, weapons, materials, or exchanged for Mina.

2. Each Machimoi will be provided with custom forged and tooled weapons and armor, crafted by the most accomplished smiths. The first set of armor and weapons are included upon initiation, however, any additional items must be paid for by the Machimoi.

3. Each Machimoi will also be provided with a home at a discounted rate of Tax.

4. A Machimoi will be expected to accompany Rah'tumian Nobles, Merchants, and Ambassadors to different lands; as such, those wishing to travel and witness new lands may find such opportunity.

5. You will gain status within Rah'tuma. Machimoi are honored by all, and smiled upon by the Gods. You are a warrior and a protector. Your actions will be steeled by the powers of Ka'tau, and you shall be a light in a world enshrouded in darkness. You shall be blessed in your service to Tetu, and as such, proven warriors may have the opportunity to wield Blessed Arms and Armor. A Champion might even be given the honor of learning the powers of Heka, to wield the Pure Magics of Ka'Tau.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon successfully enrolling into THE HAND, the enlistee will be met with 3 compulsory tests: A test of Faith, a test of Fortitude, a test of Endurance, and finally a test of Might.

 

A Machimoi of the Hand must profess clear belief in the Gods of Rah’tuma and the concept of Ka’tau. The Hand, being a spiritualist military, is motivated firstly by religious goals, and secondarily by political ones. All soldiers are expected to devoutly follow the principles of Ka’tau - which involve believing that it represents Truth, Justice, Harmony, and law in Creation - and the Gods that enforce it. A belief in Kalthet and Tetu, both Gods within the religion of Ka’tau whose domains encompass warfare and defense, is required to serve in the Hand. Machimoi may worship any other God within the pantheon of Ka’tau. Machimoi must also follow the dictates of Ka’tau, such as abstaining from practicing voidalism and dark magicks, forsaking worship of other gods, maintaining absolute loyalty to the Pharaoh, and following expectations established in the laws and ethics of Rah’tuma.

 

Strength of mind forges the warrior's spirit. In this trial, designed to test the enlistee's resolve to serve a greater cause and overcome adversity, participants must traverse a bed of coals drawn from the eternal flame outside Ra'tuhmet's temple. Spanning 15 feet, the fiery embers challenge the very essence of their determination. At the journey's end awaits a vessel filled with Hesthor's purifying and restorative waters. Enduring the fiery crucible of the coals, the participant demonstrates not only the strength of their mind but also their potential as a formidable asset.

 

A warrior must be at his best at all times, this challenge not only challenges one physically, exerting them to the full extent of their body but also challenges the willpower of the Machimoi-to-be. Participants must swim from the edge of Rah’tuma’s dockyard, and to the nearest island’s shore without aid, and back again without rest.

 

The art of combat is not confined to wielding weapons; true mastery lies in the ability to fight even when unarmed. This test serves as a crucible, assessing not only the enlistee's martial prowess but also their unwavering resolve in the face of adversity. Participants are thrust into a series of intense one-on-one duels against formidable opponents, where agility, strategic acumen, and sheer determination are put to the ultimate test. Victory in this trial demands not just physical skill, but the mental capacity to persevere until one combatant concedes defeat.

 

 

If you possess the courage to attempt  these trials and aspire to serve a cause greater than yourself, you have many avenues to do so. You may journey to Rah’tuma, a settlement situated approximately a hundred meters west from Northsah, or you may send a letter to Pharaoh Atemu-Ta (boknice2754) or Vizier Jahtep (HopefulSaint), expressing your eagerness to enlist with the Hand of Tetu. Alternatively, you may submit your application directly to the recruitment office (by responding to this forum thread with the following format)

 

Name: 

 

Age:

 

Race: 

 

Fighting skills/specialties (if any; say willing to be trained if none):

 

Why do you want to join The Hand of Tetu?:

 

Are you willing to learn how to use spirit magic (Heka) and/or how to use potions from alchemy in combat? Not every Machimoi will need these skills:

Are you willing to convert to the Rah’mun faith and culture if you have not already?: 

 

Are you willing to be subjected to darkspawn testing (aurum, salt, and spiritual methods):

 

How soon can you start?:

 

 

 

• Atemu - Pharoah

Atemu is the voice of Ka’tau and the messenger of the Rah’mun Gods. His orders help keep the domain of Rah’tuma grounded in the law of Ka’tau, and his actions are seen as extensions of divine will. He enjoys total control over the Hand and communicates the will of the Gods to them.

 Vizier Jahtep-Ra.

Jahtep is the Vizier, who is the personal servant of the Pharaoh and his voice to the people. The Vizier supervises the functions of Rah’tuma and ensures Ka’tau is being followed and all is functioning harmoniously. He is the second most powerful individual in the entire Kingdom, and thus possesses similar authority to the Pharaoh over the Hand. A command from the Vizier is generally accepted as the will of the Pharaoh himself. He is empowered to authorize the Hand to conduct operations and missions, covert and explicit. He can also adjudicate disputes amongst the lower ranked officers, if necessary.

2.  Nehemtempi Machimoi - Commanders

The highest ranking officials amongst all the Machimoi, the Nehemtempi Machimoi are responsible for conducting the Pharaoh’s will, issuing orders to lower-ranked officers, ensuring the successful completion of the Hand’s missions, objectives, and duties and overseeing the defense of Rah’tuma. These individuals are always “Champions” of their specific God (see spirit pacting lore) and have a direct connection to them. For this reason they are endowed with a special authority not seen by lower ranks. 

3. Tet-hemtempi Machimoi - Captain of Tetu

A Tet-hemtempi Machimoi is a devotee of Tetu who is not a champion but may otherwise be affiliated with him, either formally or informally. Most of the time this is a Netjer (priest) of Tetu whose service to him involves taking formal combat measures which go beyond the duties other priesthoods expect. This Captain of Tetu will therefore serve as a spiritual Machimoi, ensuring the lower ranks remain in order with Tetu’s principles and virtues while embodying them on the battlefield.

4. Kalhemtempi Machimoi - Captain, affiliated with Kalthet

A Kalhemtempi Machimoi fulfills the same function as the Tet-hemtempi Machimoi, except the allegiances of this spiritual warrior is with the wife of Tetu Kalthet, Goddess of Rah’mun strategy and battle tactics. 

5. Katempi Machimoi - Lieutenant.

The Katempi Machimoi is the second-to-last lowest ranked official in the entire Hand. It is also the only rank Machimoi can progress to without representing a specific God. The Katempi Machimoi help organize foot soldiers for day-to-day operations, including patrols and defense of sacred sites. These officials often will lead squadrons on foreign missions as well, sometimes with the oversight of a Kalhemtempi Machimoi or a Tet-hemempti one. These officials often require clearance and permission from higher-ranked individuals before doing much beyond defense and patrols of Rah’tuma. 

6.  Machimoi - footsoldiers

This rank is the lowest rank in the Hand. These are the backbone of the Hand who carry out orders from the chain of command and defend Rah’tuma from all enemies. 

 

The Hand of Tetu serves solely at the pleasure of Pharaoh Atemu-Ta and secondarily his Vizier Jahtep-Ta, who are the two most senior officials in the Kingdom of Rah’tuma.

 

The Pharaoh delegates authority to both Nehemtempi Machimoi to conduct the functions of the Hand as necessary. The Nehemtempi Machimoi shall have supreme authority over the rest of the chain of command beneath them. The religious officers will control the ranks beneath them - Katempi Machimoi and Machimoi. And Katempi Machimoi shall be in charge of platoons of Machimoi by delegation of higher-ranked officers. 

 

Edited February 12 by Boknice275

[GrenadierGaming 55]

Rakhnar fired up his forge and dusted off his anvil, ready to begin forging great arms and weapons for the new recruits. Khopesh, Mace, Spear and Shield would all fill the armory, honed in the fires of Purity, ready to taste the blood of Darkspawn and Isfetian Ilk.

[Hopeful 29]

Jahtep-Ra read over the recruitment drive with pride, waiting for the potential recruits.