Kefnet's Monument
| Kefnet's Monument | |
|---|---|
| Monument of Knowledge | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Amonkhet |
| Colors |
 |
| Status | Unknown |
| Part of | Desert of the Mindful, Oashra Valley, Naktamun, Shefet |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Kefnet's Monument is a legendary artifact and sacred site on the plane of Amonkhet, built in honor of the god of knowledge, Kefnet. Towering above the city of Naktamun, the monument serves as both a shrine and the arena for the perilous Trial of Knowledge, where initiates prove their mental prowess. Within its stone walls lies a shifting maze of illusions and inscriptions that record the city’s history and Kefnet’s teachings. The monument stands as a testament to Kefnet’s demand for intellect above all, forever watching over the worthy and the unworthy alike.
Description
"The worthy shall cultivate a nimble mind to perceive the glorious wonders that await them."
— Monument Inscription
Kefnet's Monument stands as a vast stone structure inscribed with intricate hieroglyphs and sacred symbols in the Desert of the Mindful in the city of Naktamun, near the flowing Luxa. Positioned atop a cliff where waterfalls spill into a lake at its base, the monument dominates the landscape.[1]
Flanked by Oketra's Monument and Rhonas's Monument, Kefnet's Monument is built directly into the Luxa's riverbed. The water, managed by Kefnet's viziers, laps at the base and flows into an elaborate network beneath, used for the Trial of Knowledge. The structure itself is a grand pyramid crowned with Kefnet's elongated neck and beak, carved from stone to loom above all other monuments. The sculpture not only depicts Kefnet's likeness but also evokes his uncanny presence - wherever one stands nearby, the statue's eyes seem to follow, as if the god of knowledge is forever watching and judging. Many fear the monument even more than the god himself.[1]
Beyond hosting the second god trial, the monument serves as the site of Kefnet's Testimony - a record of Naktamun's history inscribed upon its walls. Each night, by the light of the Second Sun, new events are carved glyph by glyph. As the Second Sun nears its final resting place between the horns of the distant statue of the God-Pharaoh, the monument's surface has nearly reached capacity. Kefnet plans for an even greater monument in the afterlife, where he may continue to chronicle eternity.[1]
Inside, the monument is a sprawling maze of illusions known as the Knowing's Knot. This labyrinth, which winds upward through Kefnet's neck and into his head and beak, is conjured by magic similar to that which sustains the Hekma. It draws water from the channels beneath the monument, infused with Kefnet's mirage magic to create a mind-bending network of twisting stairways and deceptive pathways.[1]
Acolytes and initiates often gather in the courtyard beside the monument, bringing offerings of fresh fish, though such gifts win no favor from Kefnet. He values displays of mental prowess far more. Some initiates meditate until they levitate above the ground, while others craft illusions or puzzles meant to impress. Though Kefnet acknowledges these clever offerings, none have ever proven a true challenge for the god of knowledge.[1]
The Infinite Puzzle
Located just inside the entrance, the Infinite Puzzle is an elaborate puzzle box used by Kefnet as a teaching tool. It reflects his belief that deeper knowledge sharpens perception, revealing ever greater truths - including the ultimate mysteries of the afterlife. A novice illusionist may unlock the outer layer, only to find another box within. As an initiate's skill grows, they open further layers, each unveiling yet another wondrous puzzle. None has ever reached its final core, leaving its last secret untold. However, Kefnet's viziers sometimes attempt the final layers; the most accomplished gain a glimpse of the afterlife as Kefnet envisions it. Upon this revelation, Kefnet rewards them with a glorified death, sending them on to await him in the perfect afterlife.[1]
The Trial of Knowledge
The Trial of Knowledge is Kefnet's contribution to the God Trials, held within the monument's labyrinth. Entrants find themselves in an endless maze of illusions and waterways designed to confound the mind. Within, initiates face horrors, traps, and false paths that prey on their deepest fears. Their goal is to recognize the glyphs on the walls that reveal a hidden spell - without it, they risk drowning in the final chamber. Only the wisest emerge dry.[2]
After passing the Trial of Solidarity, initiates must train with Kefnet or his viziers for at least a season before attempting the Trial of Knowledge. Each initiate chooses when they feel ready, often facing the trial alongside initiates from other crops. The trial tests mental acuity above all else. When the initiates arrive, a barge ferries them to a dock at the monument's single entrance. Kefnet greets them himself, then casts a spell that dulls their muscle memory and physical instincts, forcing them to rely solely on intellect and magic. Aven mummies then carry the initiates up to the trial entrance, hidden within the monument's beak high above the city.[1]
Inside, the labyrinth shimmers with silvery blue light. Floating pathways and stairways twist through impossible angles, defying gravity and space. Doors lead across vast distances or drop initiates onto walls or ceilings, inverting reality at every turn. Navigating the maze requires more than cleverness - it demands unraveling illusions and overcoming fearsome traps. Initiates encounter spectral creatures shaped by their worst nightmares, from desert horrors to the corpses of loved ones. Those who fail to confront these visions risk losing their minds and dying in the maze, their bodies carried out by anointed mummies to join the ranks of the embalmed.[1]
Throughout the labyrinth, the walls are covered in glyphs that collectively teach the spell needed to find the true exit. Simply wandering the maze is not enough - Kefnet expects initiates to gather every fragment of knowledge along the way. At the maze's heart lies a vast chamber filled with hundreds of doors, but only one leads to freedom. Opening a false door causes the room to flood faster, ensuring that trial and error is fatal. Only the spell inscribed on the walls reveals the true exit and drains the water.[1]
Those who succeed emerge at the dock, where Kefnet waits to reward them with their cartouches. Occasionally, an initiate stumbles upon the right door by luck alone, but they are met by Kefnet's viziers, not Kefnet himself, and are told they have failed. Few who fail once ever pass a second time, for sloppy minds rarely sharpen anew.[1]
Gallery
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As seen in the desert -
In the backdrop of the city
In-game references
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- Depicted in:
References
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j James Wyatt (July 2017) - The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Amonkhet, Viz Media.
- ↑ Jay Annelli (2022). Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, DK. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.
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