Apollodorus The Sicilian
Ethnicity: Greek
Born: Sicilia
Age: 40ish
Sex: M
Apollodorus is an imposing figure in Cleopatra’s entourage, due to both his physical prowess and mental acuity. He has the stocky, weathered demeanor of a man used to long weeks of rough travel when the need calls for it, even though his natural home is prim and proper at Cleopatra’s side tending to affairs of state. His hair is dark black and his eyes are solid brown. He has created a network of informants across Egypt to keep him apprised of the comings and goings of local Ptolemies, mostly commoners and merchants under oppression from the official regime under Cleopatra’s brother Ptolemy XIII.
Though born in Sicily, his people are ethnically Greek and he came to Alexandria as a young adult to serve the court of King Ptolemy XIII. The epithet “The Sicilian” is therefore a nickname given by his adopted countrymen.
Hotephres
Ethnicity: Greek
Born: Krokodilopolis
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Hotephres is a former Adventurer and a skilled warrior. Although Greek, has settled down and married an Egyptian woman. He is saddened by the Ptolemaic rule and feels partially responsible for the land re-appropriation by Berenike and other Greek officials. His job now is less “sexy” than adventurer is and he is constantly forced to take the high road, however he will quickly regret this when his daughter is callously murdered by Berenike.
Hotephres is charming and gregarious, but following the loss of his daughter, deeply troubled. He blames himself and his wife for her death, and is initially riddled with grief, guilt, and self-loathing. As a father he failed to protect his daughter, inadvertently putting her in harm’s way.
He normally speaks easily, with a friendly, cultured tone of voice. After his daughter’s death, his voice flattened and betrayed his depression. Once resolved, however, he returns to his normal easy-going, quietly quipping self, albeit with an edge of sadness.
Hotephres is inspired by Bayek, as they share a common bond on having both lived a deep tragedy involving their only child. This links him to the Creed’s formation in the end. Being thrown back into the midst of the ongoing battle against the Ptolemaics, he re-discovers himself.
Khenut
Ethnicity: Egyptian
Born: Memphis, Egypt
Age: Mid 40s
Sex: Female
Khenut is a well-educated Egyptian woman in her late 30s who rose to moderate wealth through her talent as an administrator, officially in charge of land distribution in the Faiyum. She is clear headed, pragmatic, and determined. Despite her position, she does not wear lavish clothes and spends a lot of time as a local activist, advocating for and helping the poor.
She met Hotephres during his younger years when he was an adventuring rogue. They fell in love, married, and settled down. They had a child, Shadya, upon whom they both dote.
Khenut has a strong sense of duty and justice. In contrast to her husband, she does not often show humor (though she has a dry wit) and can be mistaken for being humorless. She has a motherly nature, however, and is gentle and empathetic to those in need. She drives Hotephres to ‘do the right thing’ when Apollodorus asks him to be his contact in the region. She has a flaw—hubris. She believes she is untouchable as a government official. When ‘The Crocodile’ begins to lean on her to distribute land unfairly, she thinks the worst that can happen is “mere” intimidation. This is the point where Bayek meets her in the game.
She is wrong. They could not touch her, but her family was fair game, and they drown her daughter.
Khenut begins as someone who thinks herself invincible and her position as unassailably “right.” She suffers a grave loss, and for a time is a completely broken person. However, emerges from her tragedy determined, and ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure no other mother in Faiyum has to suffer as she did.
Phoxidas
Ethnicity: Greek
Born: Athens
Age: 40
Sex: Male
A Nauarchos (admiral) in Cleopatra’s navy, Phoxidas is a wealthy owner of a fleet of ships and its crew, who has pledged his loyalty to Cleopatra. He was loyal to Cleopatra’s father, although he found Ptolemy Auletes to be a rather boorish man. He hates how the politicians who seem to manipulate the court of young Ptolemy have dominated the affairs of Egypt and its people.
A strong and rugged man in his forties, Phoxidas prefers the outdoors and the open ocean to the backroom dealings of court. He was a soldier in his youth, but retired into great wealth and used this money to fund his fleet of ships. Despite being a man of means, Phoxidas prefers to dress in practical garb, even if he allows himself the occasional flourish of luxury.