GLRP:EMs:Royal Spies & Guard:2011:Ouroboros:The Feline Pharaoh
Title: The Feline Pharaoh
Author: Pami Pimay
In ancient Zealan, cats were revered. This was largely due to their ability to destroy vermin (such as mice and rats), which threatened the food supply, and to fearlessly kill snakes, especially cobras.
Wild cats, it is likely, strayed into villages and hunted vermin and snakes. It is easy to imagine the grateful Zealans leaving out scraps of food. Over time, many would take their favorite cat home, where its kittens would be born and raised. The symbiotic relationship became one of affection. Thus were the wild cats domesticated.
That sunny-maned great cat, the lion, also roamed Zealan lands. Unfortunately, they were hunted to extinction. The memory of them survives in the Zealan letter 'L', which has the lion as its hieroglyph.
Cats, as they have such good balance, were associated with the god Apathas. They roamed freely about his temple.
Apathas sometimes took on the form of a female cat. In that form s/he was called Apathastet and was considered the protector of home, mothers, birth, music, and dancing. Many households had a statue of Apathastet, who was loved as much as worshipped.
Zealan won an important battle against Umbra because of cats. Pharaoh had just died, so the Zealans were dispirited. They had a clever idea though. As the Umbrians attacked, the Zealans released thousands of cats at the front line. Terrified by the onslaught of snarling, hissing, clawed creatures, the Umbrians fled in panic. The biggest, fiercest cat from that battle, the one found wrapped around the neck of the Umbrian leader, was acclaimed pharaoh on the spot.
His name was {Bat_flower_spiral_cup_hexagon_crystal-elemental_feather_waves}; Miukaten in our language.
Pharaoh Miukaten was a normal cat at the time. However, through participation in the usual rituals of being pharaoh and daily meetings with his advisors, he gradually learned to speak and would often walk upright.
He was merciless and cruel in war strategy, treating the enemy like a mouse he would inevitably devour. Tribute poured in from other cities to win his goodwill. Miukaten is regarded as one of the great pharaohs.
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