Hepzefa

Hepzefa (died 47 BCE) was an Egyptian who served as the Medjay of Siwa during the 1st century BCE.

The closest friend of Bayek, who also served as their village's Medjay, Hepzefa took over Bayek's duties during his absence, protecting Siwa's residents from the tyranny of the Oracle of Amun Medunamun. After Bayek's return a year later, Hepzefa assisted him in eliminating the Oracle.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Medjay of Siwa[edit | edit source]

Hepzefa was a childhood friend of Bayek along with Aya and Kensa.^[1] In 49 BCE, after Bayek's son Khemu was killed by the Order of the Ancients, Bayek embarked on a quest for vengeance against the group, leading Hepzefa to take up his duties and serve as the protector of Siwa during Bayek's absence.^[2]

During Hepzefa's tenure as Medjay, the new Oracle of Amun, Medunamun, sought to unlock the secrets of the vault beneath the Temple of Amun, and had his soldiers brutalize the villagers with extortion and detention. The villagers would look to Hepzefa for protection against Medunamun's brutality, and he tried his best to keep them safe.^[3]

In 48 BCE, Hepzefa learned of Bayek's return to Siwa and travelled to receive him. However, upon arriving at an Old Kingdom ruin, he was ambushed by soldiers working for Hypatos, the former bodyguard of one of Bayek's targets, Rudjek. Hepzefa held his own against the soldiers until Bayek arrived to help him dispatch them. Reuniting with his friend after a year, Hepzefa escorted Bayek back to Siwa, explaining the changes that had occurred since his departure; the Siwans, including the priests, suffered greatly under Medunamun, whom Hepzefa had identified as "The Ibis", a member of the Order of the Ancients and one of the targets Bayek was after.^[3]

Regrouping at his home, Hepzefa urged Bayek to rest before going after Medunamun, to which Bayek refused. It was only with the arrival of Rabiah that Bayek decided to rest, while allowing her to patch up his wounds. After resting for several hours, Bayek met up with Hepzefa outside his home, where the latter gave him a new bow to replace his broken one. They were then interrupted by a villager who warned Hepzefa that Ptolemaic soldiers were looking for him.^[3]

Hiding behind a tree, Bayek and Hepzefa learned that the soldiers were investigating the death of Rudjek and knew that Hepzefa was sheltering Bayek, so they came to arrest them both. Before the soldiers could rummage through Hepzefa's home, Bayek helped him eliminate the guards and prevented them from burning his notes.^[3]

Hepzefa then brought Bayek to his home's second floor, where he showed him all the requests for help he had received as Medjay, suggesting that his friend could assist him with helping their fellow Siwans in need. He also informed Bayek that in order to face Medunamun, he would need to have better armor, which he could get from the local blacksmith Benipe or with the help of Senu.^[3]

Following Medunamun's assassination, Bayek returned to Hepzefa to tell him of his mission's success. As the two celebrated with some drinks, Hepzefa revealed to Bayek that Aya had returned to Alexandria and was visiting her cousin Phanos the Younger in the Great Library. Hepzefa was also told by Aya to inform Bayek of the word "Serapis", if the Medjay were to ever travel to Alexandria. As Bayek left the oasis, Hepzefa bid him farewell, jokingly asking him to do something about his beard.^[4]

Death[edit | edit source]

A year later, in 47 BCE, Flavius Metellus and Lucius Septimius, two Roman officials and members of the Order of the Ancients, travelled to Siwa, where they unlocked the vault under the Temple of Amun using an Apple and Staff of Eden. Hepzefa attempted to stop them, but was discovered and killed by the Romans.^[5]

Bayek and Aya later arrived at the vault, where they found Hepzefa's lifeless body lying on the ground. Bayek was incredibly distraught over his death and carried his body to the Mountain of the Dead, where he was mummified and buried. As the villagers mourned his death, Rabiah gave Hepzefa's personal sword to Bayek, assuring him that Hepzefa would have wanted him to receive it.^[5]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

Hepzefa is a character in Assassin's Creed: Origins. He is voiced by Canadian actor Karl Campbell.

Like all NPCs in the game, Hepzefa has daily tasks: maintaining his home, cleaning the stables, chopping wood, and reading letters. He can also be visited at any point prior to his death in the memory "The Final Weighing", and Bayek will have short conversations with him regarding recent events and the members of the Order he has killed so far. Following Hepzefa's death, his house is boarded up and Bayek can visit his tomb to pay his respects to his late friend.