Khafru the Deathkeeper

Only the strongest Undead warriors may serve a lord as mighty as Nekhret the Great. Or so the Deathless Eagle has proclaimed. In his desert fastness, Nekhret builds an army of conquest; it is a slow process, for he deems few worthy enough to fight in his shadow. Foremost among his chosen warriors is the mummified brute known as Khafru the Deathkeeper. Khafru has served Nekhret longer than any other being; a dubious honor, but one which Khafru claims for his own. In life, he was Nekhret’s chief bodyguard. The scion of a Deadlander tribe of the Akar peoples, Khafru was chosen in boyhood to be his master’s companion, like all of Nekhret’s protectors. Selected for his size and strength, impressive even then, Khafru was then trained by the greatest warriors of the kingdom so that he might serve Nekhret well, and protect him from any danger. More, he was taught the values of prudence and patience, the better to advise his headstrong charge. Khafru served Nekhret well for many years, believing his master to be the greatest king to ever tread the jeweled sands. He fought alongside Nekhret in his many wars of domination, and defended him against several assassination attempts. He counseled him in times of peace, and did his best to curb Nekhret’s hunger for glory. This was no easy thing; more than once, Khafru found himself out of favor with his master. On occasion, he was even exiled from the kingdom. But eventually, thanks to his skill and abilities, he would be forgiven and would return to his master’s side. Khafru failed in his duty only once, during Nekhret’s final battle against a great sand wyrm. Unable to convince his lord of the foolishness of confronting the beast alone, he dutifully accompanied Nekhret in pursuit of the monster. But when they found the creature, Khafru was so terrified by the sight of it that his courage failed him for the first and last time. Sword and shield hanging forgotten in his hands, he could only watch in frozen disbelief as his master slew the terrible creature alone, albeit at the cost of his own life. Ashamed and dishonored, Khafru carried the broken body of Nekhret back to his people. Then before Nekhret’s funeral, he volunteered to be mummified and entombed with his lord, as recompense for his failure. Khafru swore that if he could not protect Nekhret in life, he would keep him in death. And so he did, for a year to the day of Nekhret’s passing, when the Deathless Eagle rose from his tomb as an Undead horror. Whatever fell magics had resurrected the dead king afflicted Khafru as well, drawing him reluctantly from the sleep of oblivion. Nekhret had Khafru entombed once more, conscious and aware, for the failure the king had not lived to punish himself. But only for a short time. As in life, Nekhret was forgiving of his most loyal servant, and Khafru now fights alongside his master once more, as one of the Undead. But his old shame haunts him even now, and he fights all the more fiercely for it. Death seems to have not remotely weakened Khafru’s formidable strength. In battle, he acts as Nekhret’s immovable shield, protecting his boastful liege against any foe who dares come within reach. With his great shield and keen blade, he makes for a terrifying opponent. He is determined to protect Nekhret from whatever might harm him. For while he might have failed his king in life, in death he will keep him safe at any cost.