In many ways, that had me go south, to act as a scout for the army. Or rather, to range ahead at night and gather what information I could... and of course, to bring back prisoners or enemy commanders for interrogation and demoralization. Or, in more practical terms? It had been a decade since I came to the Egyptian court, and I had not been idle. Because even if my initial selection of vampiric feats were mostly focused on utility in some respects, well, there were more impressive ones close at hand. That and hunting was a common hobby, and hunting meant experience points.
Jackals, Hyenas, Lions, Crocodiles, Hippo's... all of these I sacrificed on the altar of gaining experience, of becoming more. In many ways, the greatest thing about gestalt, once I had it unlocked, would be the fact that with a single feat dedicated to it I would be able to unlock the single greatest cheat. Because I was grabbing a mythos class. Quest rewards down the line indicated that they were aware I would be taking a mythos class. And even if that would be Magos to unlock my magical potential more than just blood magic, alchemy and occult rituals?
I would gain the Krekeri's ability to weave flesh into grafts. To weave bonus feats into my own flesh and gorge myself on options. But, with the changing of a dynasty, that was ninety eight years away. Because the entire term of service had to be inside a single dynasty. And yes, even Snefru was one of Huni's by a secondary wife who happened to marry his half sister, they still seemed to consider it a new dynasty. Despite the fact that they did inheritance through the mothers side, hence the incest. Annoying, but life.
And it wasn't like I didn't know this was coming. It was why I had looked into the fact that hey, you could earn skill ranks by practicing with them. The same in many respects, for feats, as this was life and not an actual hard and fast tabletop game. Of course, it took time and effort to pick them up, less if there was a skilled teacher on hand, so that only reinforced the real world side of things. And of course, some feats, largely vampire powers, were locked and that I needed a free feat slot for them.
Such however, was life. I was still able to get my gear together. Largely made by myself as well, but those were the perks of learning how to do things and applying some of the techniques, alchemical and otherwise, to them. To be sure, my own gear was less impressive (visually) than that which I gave as gifts to Snefru. But then, the man was Pharaoh and you don't try and out bling someone that is seen a living god and is named for his beauty. But then again, the unadorned nature of my great bow and blade likely made their own statements.
Of course, the other important thing? I didn't do the decoration myself. I had been up front with the priests, that I had been looking to gain their aid in a gift. After all, I knew how to make iron and steel weapons and armor. But, I admitted to them, they who had the artisans to transform the otherwise simple crafts into gifts worthy of the great king. He, and the court, found out that it was in the works inside days. And while I could not really witness the full effects, I am told that the brilliance of the gold inlays was rather spectacular.
But, in an ironic twist of fate, I think one of my greatest contributions would be the fact that the wheel had not yet been invented, or at least wide spread. Not until the fifth dynasty. Thus, wagons and yokes a thousand years before they were originally introduced. Oh, how the quartermasters seized onto those with greedy hands, as everyone could see the benefits for moving things around, particularly with the ox yokes. Massively increased the amount of supplies the army could carry with them... and of course I also pondered on the nature of donkey driven chariots, basically battle wagons.
The campaigns of Pharoah Snefru against the land of Nubia early in his reign can be considered to an example of one of the most decisive uses of the wheel in early military tactics. While some sources credit a sorcerer brought to his fathers court with the explosion of technological innovation that occurred, the simple truth was that said scholar was brought into the Egyptian court just a decade previously and the techniques and technology that was introduced was too polished and refined to be the work of a single individual, but the obvious culmination of processes that had already been in progress for some time.
To be sure, none could deny that there were a series of experiments in this campaign regarding their mobility. While the bulk of the army, as far as records of the time indicate, remained as it was, logistics away from the Nile had been simplified by the presence of ox drawn wagons, with the majority of the armies needs being supplied by ship from the Nile. However, several companies of archers were allowed to ride in fortified wagons with sheets of bronze over planks of hard wood to make them mobile fortresses on the battlefield.
From these, the archers could carry greater stocks of arrows and be transported quickly around the battlefield to support infantry formations. Additionally, smaller carts would act to deliver supplies and orders across the battlefield, and help evacuate the wounded to marked fallback positions to receive medical attention. Among the greatest surgeons and doctors of the ancient world, rivaled only by the field medics of the Roman Legions thousands of years later, these actions saved the lives of many soldiers and helped cement the popularity of fourth dynasty in the hearts of their subjects.
Of course, the fourth dynasty was also known for the night attacks. Records show that the Blood Cult was often involved in these attacks, or at the very least claimed the involvement of their founder and god, who they claim to be the progenitor of the vampire race. And while the first recorded instances of the Night Born can be traced to Snefru's grandchildren, Menkaure being the most prominent example. While it is true that the Blood Cult were among the first practitioners of blood magic, it is unlikely that they ever saw more than partial successes, particularly so early on in their existence.
One of the best lesser beast traits to gain was that of the spider. When you combined it with Vampiric Speed? Why, it was all too possible to literally race up the walls and leap from building to building (helped along with Vampiric Athletics) meant that I was in many ways a shadow, perfectly suited for these night raids. Oh, to be sure, I was far too pale to pass as one of the natives even in the dark of night, but I could see just fine. And truth be told, the hunting had been good practice, as I snuck up on guards, hands on their lips as I tore out their throats.
It was a sweet and heady nectar, but the true prize tended to the rulers of the city. While they did not count for The Blood of Kings, want to know an interesting thing about Nubia? It was a matriarchy. To be sure, the men were in all the actually dangerous positions, nothing new there, but all the valuable prisoners counted for Arabian Nights. Alas, I could not indulge without destroying what value they had, as they could be considered part of the war booty, along with the livestock.
Fun thing about Lesser Beast Traits (Snake). Drow Poison was only priced at seventy five gold pieces. Sure, some could complain about the feat slot used for it, but hey, its an unlimited supply of poisons a hundred gold or under that transform harmlessly into water if they are not used in an hour. And so, its an unlimited supply that only costs a blood point per dose. Yes, I needed to feed on some guards to restock my supply. but this was an enemy city. So long as I only sowed chaos and confusion, sabotaged the gates and allowed for there to be a glorious battle come morn?
I was being paid per noblewoman dropped by the pharaohs feet. The noblemen who had been married to said women? Their heads were going on the spears by the gates for the defenders to discover in the morning. Of course, I could not be TOO successful. That would mean there was no military victory. But, there could be some fireworks strung up, a long wick laid down and lit, ready to go off in an hour or two from a few carefully placed barrels...
As a side note. Blackpowder is easier to make than you would think if you know the materials... its just sourcing some of them. Ironically, the one I worried about the most? Sulfur was already used for bleaching fabric. Still, I was not planning on going the whole 'give them guns' uplift route, if for no other reason than guns could be used to kill me easier.
Still, a few fireworks, many of the nobles missing or dead when combined with the planned dawn attack? Yes, their capital was going down harder than it did historically, but my quest rewards go burr.