Kemet is the black land: an enclosed world ringed by ice, its one gate sealed. Menkhef, an outsider to both its civilizations, is carrying a piece of the pillar that sealed the gate in the first place. It is killing him, and it is the only thing pointing him toward the truth both civilizations buried on purpose.
Ka priests bind the dead so the spirit is never homeless.
Hierophants pour Nepenthe down the throats of the grieving, so the living forget what they buried.