List of the King Deshret's Seven Sages Revealed: Apep Prominently Listed

This article provides a detailed compilation of current lore surrounding the King Deshret, addressing numerous Travelers' questions, with the relationship between the King Deshret and Apep explicitly mentioned for the first time! This analysis is primarily based on weapon lore, character dialogues, and other in-game materials but contains significant subjective speculation and baseless conjecture. Please refer with caution.)

1. The Seven Sages of the King Deshret

According to the lore of the Staff of the Scarlet Sands, through the Goddess of Flowers' sacrifice, King Deshret (Al-Ahmar) learned the secrets of the sky and the abyss. He once envisioned new laws of the world in hidden dreams. Among his many schemes, 'the sevenfold Sage-Kings' were repeatedly mentioned, leading to speculation that entities like the Seven Dragon Sovereigns, the Seven Archons, or the Seven Sages might be essential to sustaining the world.

This was confirmed after Neuvillette's Character Story update: Following the War of Vengeance, Celestia could no longer enforce the world's primordial order with absolute authority and was compelled to establish the "new Sevenfold Order."

"Then the seven sage monks were established again, and they ruled the trajectories drawn by the earth, water, and stars." -Staff of the Scarlet Sands

In the lore of the Version 4.5 event weapon "Dialogues of the Desert Sages," the names of the Seven Sages under King Deshret have been fully revealed. Although this weapon's text is merely the story of "King of Invokations," certain details within it suggest the narrative is not entirely fabricated. Thus, the list itself is tentatively considered to possess a degree of credibility.

2. Members of the Seven Sages

2.1 The Goat King of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

Viceroy of the Scarlet Sands, First of the Seven Sages, Form of Forms. Likely corresponds to The Goat King Khnum from ancient Egyptian mythology, originally the deity of the Nile's source. As the Nile's annual floods brought silt and clay, which were believed to carry life, he became associated with fertility and creation. Legends claim he shaped infants' bodies from clay on a potter's wheel before placing them into mothers' wombs. In later myths, even other deities were said to be sculpted by Khnum, earning him titles like "God of Potters" and "Creator God."

The ram or goat-headed figure was seen as a symbol of potent fertility. Egyptians believed Ra manifested as Atum or the Goat King during the night, and the 'Mesektet Boat' would carry him through the underworld to return eastward for rebirth. In the in-game book The Lay of Al-Ahmar, the Goat King is listed among the "Three Retainers" who lured King Deshret toward forbidden knowledge.

2.2 The Crocodile King of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

In The Lay of Al-Ahmar, the title "Commander of Commanders" is mentioned. Alongside the Ram King and the Ibis King, they form the Three Retainers in the story, and like the Ibis King, they are frequent characters in the King of Invokations tales. Additionally, the desert people once revered the Spiny-Crowned Crocodile as divine messengers, and even today, the red crowns on their heads are still regarded as relics of the ancient deities.

Its prototype is likely the "Crocodile God" Sobek. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, Sobek possessed fourfold divine power, as he wielded the fire of Ra (sun god), the breath of Shu (air god), the earth of Geb (earth god), and the waters of Osiris (underworld god). The Book of the Dead records that he guarded the young Horus, aided the grown prince in reclaiming his throne, and assisted Isis and Nephthys in opposing Set.

2.3 The Ibis King of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

In Lay of Al-Ahmar, the title "Scribe of Scribes" is mentioned. It is speculated to correspond to the Egyptian god of writing, Thoth, whose symbol, the sacred ibis, was revered by the ancient Egyptians as sacred-aligning with in-game descriptions.

Thoth, the god of wisdom and the moon, was the chief deity of Heliopolis. He is typically depicted in ibis-headed human form, symbolizing intellect and reason. Regarded as the inventor of Egyptian hieroglyphs, he became the patron deity of scribes and served as the divine record-keeper for the gods. In the Book of the Dead, he is portrayed as a standing judge during the weighing of the heart ritual.

2.4 The Sage Bennu of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

The bird soaring toward the sun, the soul of kingship. Bennu (Bennu), equivalent to the Egyptian phoenix, was revered as the ba (soul) of the sun god Ra, bearing epithets including "He Who Came Into Being by Himself," "The Ascendant One," and "Lord of Jubilees.". According to ancient Egyptian mythology, Bennu self-created from the burning flames of a sacred persea tree within the sanctuary of Ra's temple. Alternate traditions describe Bennu emerging from the heart of Osiris through cosmic parturition.

In the game, Candace's shield is rumored by outsiders to bear the blessing of Bennu, granting the power to command every grain of sand in the desert and summon sandstorms at will. The Bennu bird is often depicted as a long-beaked heron, though occasionally as a wagtail or eagle-imagery directly reflected in the names of Candace's Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst.

2.5 The Sage Sefenkh of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

The Sphinx, the Will of the King. Originating in ancient Egyptian mythology, the Sphinx was typically male, depicted as a guardian crouching before royal tombs and temples, symbolizing benevolence and nobility. One of its iconic forms is the mythical beast with a human head and lion's body. In Egyptian, the word for Sphinx is Shesepankh (Sefenkh), meaning "Living Idol."

2.6 The Hermanubis of Seven Sages of the King Deshret

Sage of the Desert, chief of the priestly order, referred to in Tales of Al-Ahmar as "Supreme Among Sages" (named 'Hermanubis' in the text, with both versions aligning in English). Hermanubis is a syncretic deity formed during the Hellenistic Ptolemaic period by merging Anubis, the Egyptian god of death, and Hermes, the Greek messenger god (both associated with guiding souls). Later depictions show him as a jackal-headed figure wielding a divine staff.

Cyno, hailing from the desert, shares the closest ties with this Sage-King. Numerous rumors circulate within the Akademiya about him-some claim he was raised by an unnamed "Priest of Hermanubis" who taught him martial skills and mental discipline, though Cyno himself neither confirms nor denies these claims. What is confirmed is that his jackal-headed headpiece is custom-made, and he indeed bears the mantle of Hermanubis' power.

3. Al-Ahmar·Apep

The dragon who was finally bestowed the Flesh of the King yet never considered herself among the Seven Sages (a trait true to her nature). In mythology, Apep, also known as Apophis, is regarded as the embodiment of destruction, chaos, and darkness, as well as the archenemy of Ra, the sun god. An ancient entity of evil and destruction, Apep seeks to plunge the world into eternal darkness and usurp Ra. Born from the endless curses of the wicked in the underworld, it manifests in the mortal realm as a colossal serpent of gold and black.

In the game, Apep, the Dendro Dragon, yearns to restore the dragonkind's former glory. To obtain Forbidden Knowledge and defy Celestia, she forged a pact with King Deshret, halting her assaults on human cities and retreating to the palace gardens to live a secluded life. Though geographic records describe her as the Scarlet King's 'ally and confidant,' Apep in truth deeply despised and scorned him. After the fall of Al-Ahmar's kingdom, she emerged from the sands as promised and consumed the deity's corpse.