Imhotep

"I am Imhotep. This is all you need to know."

Imhotep is the main protagonist and hero of the Hero of Egypt series. Born an Egyptian, Imhotep spent his whole life at the service of the Pharaoh and the Gods, before becoming a Pharaoh himself. Cursed while being still an infant, he was soon destined to become the one that would have saved Egypt.

Weapons and powers
Despite being a mortal, Imhotep possesses incredible superhuman strength and endurance beyond that of any mortal or beast, the exact limits of which are yet to be determined. His strength seems to fluctuate depending on the situation. He can subdue many large and powerful beasts and is capable of overpowering the Sphinx, and even toss it away when it tried to stomp him. Feats of durability include falling from great heights and walking away unharmed, getting crushed, stabbed, beaten, blasted, and burned by various enemies and traps. Imhotep also has useful skills that include climbing mountains and building, jumping great heights, and swinging on ropes to cross long gaps.

In his battle against the Forbidden, who is considered to be unrivaled in terms of sheer strength in all the Hero of Egypt series (up to the third chapter), Imhotep proved capable of stopping his charges, forcing him backwards and enduring even his godkiller stage without any ill effects, even breaking free from them and defeating him. Also, Imhotep has shown being able to rip off heads, limbs, legs or even hearts of various enemies in certain occasions with only his bare hands. It was presumed Imhotep was born with his god-like strength and abilities, until he is revealed to being cursed by Seth after being born, which gave him an enhanced strength that Horemheb's formation helped him control it. It is possible he had acquired a permanent level of power and ability beyond even that of demigod from his constant trials and contact with different powers and magic.

In addition to his vast physical strength, Imhotep also possesses superhuman agility, stamina, durability, endurance, reflexes and speed. He is capable of sensing danger and possesses great skills and accuracy with all forms of weapon and powerful magic. Imhotep can also keep up with opponents who possess vast speed. Due to these abilities, Imhotep is able to defeat monsters, magical beings, demons and even the Gods themselves. Imhotep also possesses powerful resistance to most forms of attack and magic (for example, time manipulation, illusion, and soul manipulation) that would easily kill most humans or magical beings; Imhotep is also immune to any mind control, hypnosis and brainwashing of any kind.

Before becoming a Pharaoh, he wielded the Egyptian Khopesh, a regular Egyptian sword similar to the standard military khopesh. After becoming the Pharaoh, Imhotep's main weapon became the Khopesh of the Pharaoh, which revealed a gift from Osiris as a sign of friendship. Also, Imhotep, before and after becoming a Pharaoh, gained many powers, weapons and items, some of them from the Gods.

Imhotep also has a wisdom almost matching Thoth the God of Wisdom as he managed to solve many puzzles throughout his journey, including a Labyrinth created by Setna, and another created by Thoth himself in his Trial. As such, he not only survived all the traps and creatures that attacked him, or even managed to hurt him with blows that were supposed to kill him, but he also became the only one to manage to surpass such challenges, even the Trials of Thoth, Seshat and Sokhar. Imhotep also was wise enough to use the environment against his enemies, notable examples including weakening the Hand of Duat by collapsing buildings on it, leading the Hittite army defense and destroying the Assyrian army minimizing the Hittite losses, exploiting Seth's mind control to attack his mind, his weak point, defeating a Babylonian army 400'000 soldiers while leading 43'000 Egyptian soldiers (a battle which only resulted in 150 Egyptian losses against the almost entirety of the Babylonian army), and greatly weakening a Babylonian elite general (by using the Axe of Kalash to shatter a stalagmite and provoking an earthquake that destroyed the general's whole equipment, and left him weakened).

Equipment
Over the course of the series, Imhotep obtained various weapons, often given to him from the Gods. His most notable examples are in the original Hero of Egypt, where, besides his traditional weapons, he also managed to obtain weapons from Anhur, Neith and Osiris. He also received magic powers from the Gods as well, such as Geb, Nut, Amun, Kuk, Heh, Nun, Ra, Thoth, Bastet, Tefnut, Shu, and Seth himself. Also, his curse received from Seth proved to be his first transformation, which makes him stronger and tougher.

Egyptian Khopesh
The Egyptian Khopesh is Imhotep's trademark weapon. Imhotep can use it as a sword, or a knife, and is capable to using it in any way possible, from slashing enemies with very wide slashes, to impaling enemies through most defenses.

Personality
Throughout most of the series, Imhotep has shown himself to being a strong, agile and intelligent individual, ruthless against all who wish to destroy Egypt. Ever since the first and original Hero of Egypt, he would willingly face anyone who threatens the safety of his country, even when all odds seem against him.

Despite his cold appearance, Imhotep is actually a friendly and respectful individual, who respects practically every person regardless of their social ranks, be it a slave, a farmer, a priest, an artisan, or even the Pharaoh (whom himself respects Imhotep back). He is also very protective, an example of which being the time he once helped some workers from the yokes of their cruel stable masters. He is also shown to be quite expert in almost every field he is in, such as the art of war, writing, arts and fighting. An example of his world-class intellect is shown when Imhotep reveals his friends that he surpassed every scribal test with a perfect score when he was younger.

Imhotep is shown to care deeply for his wife (Tanit) and son (Amenhotep), as he saved his soon-to-be wife twice, once from Setna in Chains of Duat and once from her own parents and from Seth in the original Hero of Egypt. Also, when a revived Ashurbanipal reveals Imhotep about Tanit's death, Imhotep's anger evolves to pure anger and hatred, which bring him to the brink of madness (transforming him in his Chaos form). He also cared for two of his friends, Ramses and Nefertari, whom deaths (Ramses' supposed death, in fact) further contributing to his growing hatred for Seth, the Egyptian God of Chaos and only responsible for his suffering. Throughout the entire series, Imhotep has also shown great friendships to the Gods, especially ever since he saved Osiris (besides Tanit) from the grasp of Setna, the treacherous apprentice of Osiris himself.

However, his friendship with the Gods actually started when he and his friends descended into Duat (the Egyptian Hell) along with Setna (before they discovered the latter's true colors); soon, Osorkon, a friend of Imhotep, would be impaled by a blade of an henchman of Ankhu (Imhotep's treacherous master) and being corrupted by the blade's poison as a consequence. Responsible of everything bad that happened to his friends, Imhotep had asked the help of the Gods, whom promptly started helped him by contributing curing Osorkon from the poison after Ankhu's henchman was killed, with Imhotep himself contributing the cure as well. Deeming himself responsible, he would lead a last attack with all of his friends against the army of Setna, only to proceed and end his mission alone, demonstrating his actual care for his friends when he ordered them to gather together outside Duat, along everyone that came with Imhotep himself in Duat.

Quotes
"Really? It must be my pharaohmones."

- Imhotep, in Hero of Egypt

"I. Am. Imhotep. I. Am. Justice! YOU. ARE. NEXT!"

- Imhotep's warcry, addressed to Ashurbanipal, in Hero of Egypt

"Father... why have you forsaken me...?"

- Imhotep calls the help of Osiris, in Hero of Egypt

"Justice... has been done."

- Imhotep in Hero of Egypt 4

Dialogues
"Seth: Hello, son. Imhotep: I am not your son, Seth! Seth: Aren't you? You were born with my blood. Imhotep: Your own power of Chaos affects your thinking Seth. I am born through the womb of my mother and the sperm of my father. Seth: [Chuckles] Think about it, mortal. Whom do you think is the scorpion that bit you when you were still in diapers? [Imhotep stays silent.] Seth: Not convinced? You still refuse to admit you had been chosen by me to be my herald? How sad. After all the time and effort I took to get respected, I am so disappointed that no one does appreciate it... let alone you. You have no idea how hard it to be worshipped, respected, feared, adored. And I though the people of Egypt would have loved me at first when I disposed of my dear brother Osiris, and became the king of the Gods on his place. Imhotep: Everyone knows what you did, how you did it, and why you did it. You are a traitor of the Gods, and that is why no one considered you as a legitimate ruler of Egypt, nor a God of Kemet! Seth: It does not matter. None of all that happened until now matters now. Keku and Sekhet were worthy servants of me. I must confess I am quite surprised that you, alone, have managed to defeat both of them, along with numerous foes that stood in your way. But tell me... have you ever faced a God? No... answer me not. But I guess you intent to, which is a shame, considering that we could share this world, you and I, together. Then you must excuse me for finding your "offer" amusing. I guess you have not learned anything from the lesson I taught you last time. You should really known better than to challenge your king so recklessly- Imhotep: You are NOT my king! And I am very aware of my own limitation as a mortal. But I also know I can hold my own fighting you, and I know what is at stake. There would be two outcomes for this battle: either you defeat me in combat and keep your stolen throne, or I defeat you, save Egypt, and all the known world, and keep you out of the world of the living. Seth: [Stares at Imhotep, then chuckles] Well then... I guess I should give you some credit, mortal. That was a bold thing to say. You almost sound... like an actual threat. But... [Points his scythe on the throat of Imhotep] ...as much as I am very aware of your power, Imhotep, we both know who is the strongest between the two of us. So I ask you this, mortal... why should I humor a damned brat with a duel, when I could easily kill you right this instant, and take the whole world for myself? Imhotep: You aspire to be the king of the world, Seth, but I have a far greater power than yours. Seth: We will see about that..."

- Imhotep confronts Seth

"Imhotep: I let you live. You say I am your son... but I have chosen a path different, a path that was of my own choosing. Maybe you are right. Maybe you truly have chosen me to be your herald... or better, your slave. But I let you live. Know this, Seth: you have no power on me. Seth: Perhaps you think that the Gods will help you... but I ask, Imhotep: where are your Gods now? Why do they not come to your aid? Imhotep: I ask you, Seth: how do you think I got this strong? How do you think I achieved all these weapons, these powers, this spirit? Your own evil has caused every last disaster against the Gods. YOU forced Nephtys to choose Osiris as her lover. YOU are the responsible for the deaths of Osiris, your own sibling. YOU are the one who provoked the Great War of Egypt that ended when Narmer unified all of Kemet, while Horus finally defeated you and claimed the throne he deserved. YOU chose to be a demon, refusing to be a just deity. And I could tell you even more reasons why the Gods have chosen me as the victor of this battle, and not you. Seth: [Chuckles] What a spirit you have... perhaps you, too, are right... [And Seth, in his first moment of kindness after millenia, makes sure that Tanit awakens.] Seth: Enjoy the peace you truly deserve, Imhotep. Savor every moment with your loved one. But know this, Imhotep: for me, peace is only a word that describes a moment to bury the dead and sharpen blades. Do not presume I can accept defeat for all eternity. Let me warn you, Imhotep: I will come back. Imhotep: Of all the lives you should worry about, "father", mine is not one of them. I fought a war as bad as this. [Imhotep touches Seth's chest with the point of his sword, and the God of Chaos starts to freeze in green crystal shards, which slowly form a sarcophagus.] Seth: We will meet again, Imhotep. The stars have deemed it. One day, you will regret not finishing me."

- Seth is defeated at last

Bonus costumes
Throughout the whole Hero of Egypt series, the player can also make Imhotep wear some costumes before starting a new game (or level). Basically, they are playable in all games, and more specifically in the Bonus Play modes. Some of them are hilarious, but all of them bring benefits to Imhotep in some way or another, by altering certain statistics and settings, such as the value of any orbs he collects, or his strength and defense.

Hero of Egypt: Chains of Duat
The first four of Imhotep's costumes in the game are actual armors depicting their respective animals. The fifth, however, completely covers Imhotep in a robotic armor, and every single equipment of his is "robotized", as if it were the equipment of a cyborg or a robot.

Hero of Egypt
The first costume in the game dresses Imhotep as a Sultan, and his khopesh becomes a scimitar. The second costume dresses Imhotep as a shinobi, the third into a mummy king, and the forth into a Roman centurion. The fifth and final costume gives Imhotep a special armor forged by the power of Seth himself.

Multiplayer only costumes

 * Ramses II:
 * Narmer:
 * Tutmose III:
 * Akhenaten:

Dubbing

 * Italian: Patrizio Prata
 * English: Qaurie Marshall
 * French:
 * German:
 * Spanish:
 * Portoguese:
 * Japanese: Daisuke Hirakawa
 * Russian:

Trivia

 * Imhotep is basically inspired (and named) after the same Egyptian polymath who served under the Third Dynasty king Djoser as chancellor to the pharaoh and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. He also is considered by some to be the earliest known architect, engineer, and physician in history, though two other Egyptian figures identified as physicians, Hesy-Ra and Merit-Ptah, lived around the same time.
 * He was one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death.