Azalin Reviews: Darklord Tiyet
Domain: Sebua Domain Formation: 564 BC Power Level: 💀💀💀⚫⚫ (3/5 skulls) Sources: Domains of Dread (2e), Ravenloft (3e) Tiyet is the Darklord of Sebua, a desert landscape similar to Har’Akir, though somehow manages to be less “civilized” than Ankhtepot's dry husk of a Domain. Only the ruins of the city of Anhalla remain, the population is made up of nomades, and the people recognize no formal law. Chaos reigns.
Tiyet, a beautiful and ambitious woman, married Khamose, the 4th son of the Pharaoh. Not earning the title of "Grand" wife, Tiyet schemed to have the woman who was bestowed that title removed from her position. With a rather elaborate set up, Tiyet made it appear the Khamose's Grand wife committed adultery and as a result she was executed quite gruesomely; she was thrown into a pit of ravenous jackals.
Tiyet achieved her desires and became Khamose’s Grand Wife, but then she fell in love with Zordenahkt. Even though she really shouldn’t have felt guilty about this affair since her husband had multiple wives, it weighed heavily upon her. What she feared most wasn’t her own death at the jaws of jackals, but the judgement that would come after. I never was one to believe the gods have any say in our ultimate fate. It is absolute nonsense. But Tiyet believed and being sent to an eternity of damnation for her sins haunted her.
Zordenahkt told her about a ritual that would prevent her death, but then refused to do it for her. Honestly, what is the point of sharing such information if you’re unwilling to go through with it? It’s clearly what she wanted. I would have done it for her. Well, for a price, of course.
Their affair was discovered and Tiyet finally convinced her lover to perform the ritual, which changed her and resulted in his death. Perhaps that’s why he didn’t want to? He could have shared that particular detail with Tiyet. She became a unique sort of Mummy. She could now hear the beating of every person’s heart, echoing in her mind. This drove her to, understandably so, kill her husband and eat his heart.
This act pushed her desert home into the Mists and she became the Darklord of Sebua. She cannot abide the living (I can sympathize with this) for she constantly hears the beating of their hearts. At least once a year she must consume a beating heart, but tends to feast upon them more often than that.
In Sebua, Tiyet does not rule but remains secluded in an estate near the ruined city of Anhalla with only the undead as her company. She has immense power over the undead and though she is a Mummy herself, she appears as she did in life. If only all of us were so lucky.
Though I do not feel her crimes were great enough to warrant the Dark Powers attentions, she is still a formidable Mummy. Her touch drains the very essence of her victims and her gaze can paralyze even the strongest individuals. Her preferred method of bestowing death upon another is to paralyze them so she can feast upon their still beating heart.