Up to the Index PageThere exists a small waystation, Osiris Hotel, an out-of-the-way hotel owned by a grumpy old couple which actually serves as a station for hermetics travelling to and from Egypt, or waiting for admission to the Library. West Delta Transport Company, a shipping company allied with the Order, can provide entry to the country with no questions asked, a very cursory check of the passport and no custom control of the luggage.
This chantry was founded during the British occupation by a group of colonialist hermetics, in direct opposition to the Sittah wa ashrin. At first the both chantries worked against each other, but slowly they became more cordial as they began to divide the occult territory between themselves. The Temple (usually called the Club) concentrated on Egyptology and the digs, trying to prevent the Technocracy from obliterating history and placing all important artefacts in museums to leach quintessence from them. The Sittah was more active in politics and trade, helping the Club to send away some artefacts and engaging in metaphysical battles for the future of Egypt.
After the end of the occupation the Club has slowly dwindled; its archaic British style and strong ties again put it in conflict with the Arabic Sittah, and it found it harder to recruit new members. Most members arrived directly from outside Egypt, and it began to have trouble gaining Egyptian contacts. When the Sittah was destroyed the Club was dumbfounded, and while it tried to help the survivors, it didn't manage to use the situation in any constructive way. Most hermetic mages left Cairo for the Library of Alexandria, which was rapidly growing in importance at this period.
Currently there are just three members - Ethan Barnes-Wentworth, Jonathan Cunningham and Dr. Victor D. Noble (of the Sons of Ether). The Club continues its limited egyptological research, but is clearly in decline. Dr. Noble spends most of his time in geographical expeditions to study the true flow of the Nile and to find its secret origin, while Barnes-Wentworth and Cunningham prefers to observe Egypt from their air-conditioned study rather than visit the digs or old temples.
Still, the Club has its secrets. The mages know more about the pyramids than anybody in the Order of Hermes, and has amassed an impressive library of ancient Egyptian lore, probably second to none. They spend much time sifting through it, discovering patterns and old secrets; in fact, all three mages have begun to be affected by the peculiar force of ancient Egypt. Just as their patron Amun was the god of secrets, they have become keepers of secrets. They know a great deal, but do not reveal it even to themselves, just hinting behind their facade of colonialist gentlemen.
The Club lies on al-Gazirah island, in the British quarter of the city. It lies on a quiet but respectable street, surrounded on both sides by equally staid and British buildings. The cover is perfect, nobody in the vicinity ever notices the club or the infrequent visits of guests. Inside the building the style is gracefully colonial, complete with a real English butler, a reading room where the mages usually greet their guests and guest rooms for the rare visitors.
The chantry is fuelled by a powerful node on the other Cairo island, Al-Rawdah; according to the myth this was the place where Set and Horus had their final battle, and the divine blood flowed into the sandy island. Beneath the cellar of a house built in the 50's the mages have dug a circular chamber with simple, dried red clay walls covered with sacred hieroglyphs. In the middle stands a double-cube altar: a white marble cube on top of a black, a symbol for the unity of opposites (with a hint of the eventual triumph of good over evil). The true power of the node is seldom unleashed, and instead stored for future use or defence.