Sophanem

Sophanem
Released		26 April 2005 (Update)
Members		Yes
Location		Kharidian Desert
League region		Desert✓
Inhabitants		Humans (Menaphites)
Teleports		Pharaoh's sceptre (Jalsavrah)
Music		City of the Dead, Back to Life
Map
Advanced data
Type		settlement

Sophanem, also known as the City of the Dead, is a plague-ridden city located in the southern end of the Kharidian Desert. In order to gain access, players need to partially progress through Icthlarin's Little Helper. The city is connected to the capital Menaphos, although it cannot currently be entered.

As its nickname suggests, Sophanem's main business is to take care of the Menaphite deceased, erecting large tombs and pyramids and mainly worshipping Icthlarin, shepherd of the souls of the departed.^[1][2] Unfortunately for the Sophanites, these treasure-filled tombs are a magnet for graverobbers such as Simon Templeton. It is the seat of the High Priest of Icthlarin, whose duties include the protection of the great pyramids and ensuring that the souls of the dead are protected from the Amascut, Icthlarin's deranged sister. Cats and their protector, the Sphinx, play an important role in this latter task.^[3]

There are several ways of reaching Sophanem through teleports, listed here in order of least running to most:

• Pharaoh's sceptre — Pyramid Plunder minigame (Jalsavrah).
• Fairy ring AKP — Necropolis island. Requires 62 Agility and completion of Beneath Cursed Sands.
• Fairy ring DLQ — well north of Nardah. The magic carpet system can also be used to travel to Sophanem from southern Pollnivneach after starting Icthlarin's Little Helper. Players can teleport near a magic carpet, and reach Sophanem:

• Nardah teleport — town centre, slightly east of the rug merchant.
• Desert amulets — Temple of Elidinis, slightly east of the rug merchant.

• Construction cape — Pollnivneach house portal, north of the rug merchant.

A shortcut on the wall just east of the bank leads to the camp just north of Sophanem, west of the Agility Pyramid.

The following lore is sourced from Contact!, Beneath Cursed Sands, and Icthlarin's Little Helper.

In the early Fifth Age, Sophanem was beset by a plague, leading many Sophanites to flee to Menaphos and causing the new High Priest to quarantine upon the city. Menaphos, likewise, was locked down and heavily barricaded. Shortly after, a passing adventure was hypnotised by the Devourer, who sought the previous High Priest's soul. The adventurer was able to save the previous High Priest's soul, but the plagues on Sophanem continued. When the plague was found not to be contagious, the city reopened, but the gates of Menaphos remained closed, leaving many citizens of Sophanem trapped within Menaphos. When attempting to lead a delegation to Menaphos to convince them to end the quarantine, the new Head Priest was fired upon by Coenus, head of the Menaphos guards.

The aforementioned adventurer was again enlisted by the High Priest and followed a series of Scarabite tunnels under the bank to a chasm underneath Menaphos. Here, the adventurers communicated with Maisa, a spy from Al Kharid, and her deceased colleague Kaleef. The passage to Menaphos itself was not accessible due to a large chasm, however, leaving her trapped on the other side. Maisa agreed to send word to the Sophanites that they could return if the adventurer would fetch her master, Osman, to help her get out of the quarantined city herself. This was successful, although the Scabarites' giant scarab guardian, already having killed Kaleef, injured Osman before attacking and being slain by the adventurer. Maisa, who had fled out of the cave on the Menaphite side, kept her word and the townspeople returned home.

During the events of Beneath Cursed Sands, it is revealed that the plagues were caused by Amascut herself, forcing the Sect of Scabaras to poison the cows and release plague frogs and locusts upon the city. The pox is revealed to be from the bark of a cadavaberry bush, which is unusual for the area. The source of the pox remains unknown, although it is suggested that Osman may have been the one to cause it.^[4] Maisa and the player work together to free the High Priest of Scabaras from the Devourer's control, and with the help of Zahur, developed and distributed a cure for the pox. Additionally, enough citizens have returned to Sophanem that they were able to drive out the frogs and locusts, leaving Sophanem finally free of all the plagues once more. Pharaoh Kemesis, also under the control of Amascut, met with the High Priest of Sophanem, informing him that Menaphos will begin preparations to end the quarantine.

• There is a bank in Sophanem for use by anyone who has completed the Contact! quest. It is located underground beneath the Temple of the Lesser Gods in the north-east.
• The Great Temple^[5] is a place of worship overseen by the High Priest of Icthlarin. It contains an altar to Icthlarin where one may recharge their prayer points, and several lesser priests.
• The northern pyramid is called Jalsavrah and it is where the ancient pharaohs of Sophanem and Menaphos are buried. Players may rob these tombs in the Pyramid Plunder minigame.
• The southern pyramid, Klenter's pyramid, is the burial site of the Sophanite clergy, named after its most recent occupant rather than carrying a fixed name like its northern twin. It is a principal location during Icthlarin's Little Helper.
• Carpenter's home, a large building with an anvil. The carpenter is involved in the Icthlarin's Little Helper quest.
• Stonemason's home, although nothing is for sale.
• Embalmer's home, where players can learn how to enbalm, and also buy as pots, gnome spice and antipoison.

A number of stalls open up after the Contact! quest:

• Blades by Urbi sells-daggers fom bronze to dragon, and scimitars from bronze to steel.
• Jamila's Craft Stall sells moulds and other crafting supplies.
• Nathifa's Bake Stal sells bread, cake, chocolate slice, and waterskins.
• Raetul and Co's Cloth Store sells desert clothes and several other Crafting supplies.

The Sophanem Dungeon is under the bank, and features heavily in the Contact! quest. It can be extremely dangerous, and requires a light source to traverse. While it takes players under Menaphos, it cannot be used to enter it at this time.

• Fourbankers, who allow players to access the bank of Gielinor.
• Carpenter^{[A 1]}
• Embalmer^{[B 1]}
• Guardian mummy, who runs the Pyramid Plunder minigame.
• High Priest, who leads the church of Icthlarin.
• Klenter, the cruel former high priest.
• Jamila, who runs the Crafting stall.
• Jex, a priest of Icthlarin.
• Maisa, a spy from Al Kharid who got trapped in Menaphos during the quarantine.
• Nathifa, who sells baked goods and water.
• Neferti the Camel, a camel that shares its desires to see the world.
• Neite, the former priestess to Amascut and the widow of Bob the Cat (found only before Dragon Slayer II).
• Osman
• Fivepriests
• Raetul, who sells crafting supplies.
• Stonemason, who doesn't currently sell anything due to the state of the village.
• Sophanem guard
• Siamun
• Sphinx
• Tarik, a treasure-hunter.
• Urbi
• Sevenworkers

• Locust (x27)
• Plague cow
• Plague frog (x22)

After completion of Beneath Cursed Sands, these monsters can no longer be found in Sophanem. There are also several monsters in the Sophanem Dungeon:

• Locust rider (x40)
• Possessed priest
• Scarab mage (x30)

• Beneath Cursed Sands
• Contact!
• Icthlarin's Little Helper

v t e Sophanem
Inhabitants	Banker Carpenter Embalmer Guard High Priest Jamila Jex Klenter Nathifa Neferti the Camel Neite Plague cow Priest Raetul Rug Merchant Siamun Sphinx Stonemason Tarik Urbi Worker
Monsters	Locust Plague frog
Shops	Blades by Urbi. Jamila's Craft Stall. Nathifa's Bake Stall. Raetul and Co's Cloth Store. The Spice Is Right.
Features	Pyramid Plunder (Jalsavrah Pyramid) Sophanem Dungeon Klenter's Pyramid Great Temple Temple of the Lesser Gods
Related	Icthlarin's Little Helper Contact! Beneath Cursed Sands