Ghazia priestess of Nekhbet
Context
Ghazia appeared in several Jungle Comics 1942 stories.
These were published by Fiction House, who did pulpsCheap, often lurid novels in the US during the 1920s and 1930s. and comics from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Is there enough material to support a writeup for Ghazia ? Not really, no. I just think it’d be kinda cool to bring her back after all this time.
Sequence
There’s a WHOLE LOT of context here, so you should first read :
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Background
- Real Name: Ghazia.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Temple of Nekhbet in Khefra.
- Base of Operations: Khefra, in the Hidden Valley.
- Height: 5’3″ (1.60m). Weight: 100 lbs. (45 Kg.).
- Eyes: Grey. Hair: Blonde.
Powers & Abilities
Ghazia is a trained Ancient Egyptian priestess, and good at scheming. She apparently schemes a lot.
She is a capable archer, and seems to be an experienced hunter.
It is implied that she runs surprisingly fast.
History
Once upon a time, Ghazia was the head priestess of Nekhbet .
(Nekhbet is rendered as “Nekbi” in the stories.)
She lived in the city of Khefra, within the Hidden Valley. Which we *assume* was a lost Ancient Egyptian colony in central Ethiopia.
Jungle wanderer Fantomah then barged in. She demonstrated divine magic, and saved Khefra from an invasion. This convinced the locals that she was their rightful Queen.
Players unknown
There’s no data as to the politics or economics in Khefra. Apparently Wosret — the high priest of Anubis — and Ghazia were the top dogs, but in a behind-the-scenes sort of way.
There existed violent tension with neighbouring jungle peoples. Wosret, Ghazia and others used this to advance their own agenda within Khefra – even if that meant dead Khefrans.
The reasons behind the tensions are unexplored. The jungle folks are Black, and therefore “savages”. That’s all the motivation the stories need for them.
An unnamed third man — let’s call him Iuwelot for clarity’s sake — was also plotting from within Khefra. He had ties with Ghazia and Wosret, plus jungle tribal leader N’Gulo.
We don’t know anything else, though “Iuwelot” may have been part of one of the priests’ staff.
Turbulent priests
When Fantomah arrived in Khefra, “Iuwelot” reacted quickly.
He cast doubts as to her claim to be daughter of Pharaos. Then warned N’Gulo, who came in with a war band.
The idea was to ambush Fantomah while she still had weak support due to “Iuwelot” casting aspersions.
However, Fantomah prevailed.
The two priests then sent an assassin – apparently “Iuwelot”. But Fantomah stabbed him in the heart as he tried to strike. Cheh.
The hound plot
Ghazia and Wosret then resorted to subterfuge.
They struck during a hunt – even though Fantomah saved Ghazia from a leopard attack during the event.
Ghazia’s hulking, nameless Nubian servant (let’s call him Henok) covertly killed one of the sacred hounds used during the hunt. He used an arrow stolen from Fantomah’s quiver.
The Queen could therefore be accused of having accidentally slain a sacred hound, which was punishable by death.
Fantomah was about to be executed by “Henok”. But, seeing the hatred in his eyes, she intuited that it all was a conspiracy. She summoned more sacred hounds of Anubis, tasking them with attacking the true culprits.
Wosret and “Henok” were slain by the hounds. But Ghazia managed to dash for the safety of her temple.
(We can therefore assume that neither the Queen, nor Anubis, could breach the sanctuary of a temple of Nekhbet.)
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Scheme anew
Ghazia plots anew by allying with N’Gulo. She facilitates his men’s bloody raiding of Khefra while disguised as mummies.
This lures Fantomah into investigating the local pyramid, to check on the mummies therein. She is captured – but thanks to her panther Fury, Horus locates her.
They provide enough breathing room for Fantomah to realise who the “mummies” really are, and slay them all with a spell.
Fantomah also kills N’Gulo using surprise and Horus’ sword. But in the commotion, Ghazia manages to flee from Khefra.
Scheme again !
Ghazia soon allies with another jungle tribe – the M’Zili, led by Koba. She promises them looting rights in Khefra if they’ll depose Fantomah.
As it happens, Fantomah has been patrolling nearby with Fury and guards captain Horus. She can thus be captured.
But once she sees how Ghazia has betrayed her city, Fantomah turns nearby men into giant vultures – sacred to Nekhbet. These grab Ghazia and fly away.
Koba is killed by Fury, and the remaining M’Zili decide to ally with Khefra.
Personality
The scheming viper type. These are short, formulaic stories.
She and Wosret never hesitated to violate the tenets of their faith. Which in turn made it easy for Fantomah to call divine wrath ’pon their heads.
Quotes
“O Fantomah, Khefra is blessed by your presence ! In your honour, I will arrange a hunt on the morrow !”
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
The “Mysterious Ancient Egypt” theme was big during the 1940s. Yonder in the DC Universe, Hawkman and Doctor Fate were the two main connections with it.
Captain Marvel had his own over at Fawcett, and Charlton’s Blue Beetle would later develop some.
Porting Ghazia could thus be done using any of these roads. Though you could of course pick something more obscure as a hook, such as the Scarab or Ibis the Invincible.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ghazia
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 02 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Charisma (Persuasion, Interrogation): 05, Weaponry (Archery): 03
Advantages:
Expertise (Ancient Egyptian religions), Familiarity (Hunting), Sidekick (“Henok”).
Connections:
Khefran upper class (Low).
Drawbacks:
Dark Secret (Treacherous schemes). Ghazia presumably doesn’t speak English, but that doesn’t matter in her setting.
Motivation:
Power.
Occupation:
Priestess.
Wealth:
005
Equipment:
None, but she’ll have a self bow whilst hunting.
“Henok” the Nubian
| Dex: 04 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 010 |
Skills:
Thief (Stealth)*: 04, Weaponry (Melee, Missile)*: 04
Advantages:
Familiarity (Jungle survival, Ancient Egyptian religions).
Connections:
None demonstrated.
Drawbacks:
MIA toward serving Ghazia.
Motivation:
Unrevealed.
Occupation:
Servant.
Wealth:
001
Equipment:
- Ancient bow [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 03), Enhance (Range): 02 (cap is 04), Ammo: 01, Recommended STR: 02, R#03, Limitation: Limited Penetration, Descriptor: Piercing].
- Ancient Egyptian heavy sword [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 06), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].
Source of Character: Jungle Comics 28-30.
Helper(s): Darci.
Writeup completed on the 30th of September, 2021.