Set

Set, also spelled "Seth", is the god of deserts and evil. He is the son of Geb and Nut as well as the brother of Horus, Isis, Osiris, and Nephthys. Later, Horus would become his nephew and Nephthys would become his wife. He is the main antagonist of The Red Pyramid, but a minor supporting protagonist in the rest of the series.

Background
Set was born on the third Demon Day (December 29th ) to Geb and Nut as their third child. In time, Set would become the most powerful servant of Ra and was chiefly responsible for protecting him from Apophis. When Ra withdrew, Set was entrusted with protecting a third of the Book of Ra which would awaken him. After his rebirth, Set married his former sister, Nephthys and fathered an estranged son named Anubis with her. When Osiris became king of the gods, Set refused to stand for it and planned to kill him. During the king's birthday celebration, he trapped Osiris inside a magnificent sarcophagus and poured molten lead into it. Declaring himself ruler, he relentlessly hounded a pregnant Isis who would give birth to a reborn Horus and resurrect Osiris. Although Osiris could not be truly revived, Horus would go on to avenge his father's murder by dethroning Set.

The Red Pyramid
Set, along with his brothers and sisters, is released by Julius Kane while attempting to summon Osiris. He kidnaps Julius who has become the host for Osiris and possesses Amos Kane. He then charges the demons under his command to construct a pyramid in Phoenix, Arizona to serve as both a medium for his power and a vessel for his being. He originally intends to turn all of North America into a desert, but is manipulated by Apophis into targeting the entire world by possesing his lieutenant Face of Horror. Set also tries to capture and destroy the Kanes by possesing their uncle Amos Kane who he releases once he lures the Kanes to the Red Pyramid. He tries to steal the power of Nephthys from Zia Rashid, but is shocked to discover Zia is not Nephthys' host, not knowing Zia is actually a shabti. Set battles the Kanes at the Red Pyramid after Carter merges completly with Horus. After Sadie learns Set's secret name Evil Day from Zia, she merges completly with Isis to face Set. When he points out they are in the source of his power, the desert and that a magician can't open a portal during the Demon Days, Sadie reveals her merging with Isis and transports Set, the pyramid, his army and the magicians battling them as well as herself and Carter to Washington, DC, weakening Set. There, Carter holds him off while Sadie casts the banishing spell from the Book of Overcoming Set, but realizes that Apophis is the true enemy and stops the spell just before the banishment is complete, using the Feather of Truth to show Apophis in the sky instead, revealing that he'd been using Set to create enough Chaos that he could escape his prison. Carter kills Face of Horror and they show Set how he was manipulated and offer him a deal: if he leaves and doesn't come back until they summon him to help fight Apophis, they will let him go. Set agrees to the deal and swears on his secret name and Ra's throne and departs as ordered by Sadie.

The Throne of Fire
Set reappears when Vladimir Menshikov summons him inside of a malachite jar. As Menshikov knows his secret name, he is forced to reveal the properties of Apophis' prison, Set notices the Kane children saying he needs a sacrifice "and a magician who can't do a proper invisibility spell like Carter Kane over there" would be perfect, alerting Menshikov to their presence with the intention of gaining freedom. When Vladimir is about to attack them, Sadie destroys the jar and frees Set who incapacitates the rogue magician and allows the siblings to escape as thanks.

After the Tjesu heru poisons Carter, he helps Sadie get her brother back to safety with Bes and also gives her the location of the last part of The Book of Ra in exchange for his secret name. At first, Sadie didn't agree because she thought he was about to kill her, but after she gives back his secret name, he doesn't kill her and says "I hope you live, after all, Sadie Kane. You're quite amusing. But if they do kill you, at least enjoy the experience!" Bes confirms that Set would know as Ra's priests had given it to him to hide. Sadie agrees to this but makes the god swear to a truce with her family before the exchange. He also reveals the location of Zia Rashid to Sadie, though Sadie remains suspisious of his motives as he is a god of evil and Apophis told Carter where to look too, though not as well as Set. Set departs to Sadie's surprise without trying to harm them, keeping his word. Set is later seen when Ra retakes the divine throne.

The Serpent's Shadow
Needing more power, Amos Kane begins following the Path of Set, learning how to channel the god's power. This leaves Zia, Sadie and Carter worried about him as they worry that Set may be manipulating Amos again. Set later appears to Carter on the Egyptian Queen and assures Carter that he is not manipulating Amos and indicates that Amos was the one who in fact sent him. Set indicates that he simply exists as a balance to the other gods who are good as he is a god of evil and that he is a nesscary evil. However, Set reminds Carter that he used to be Ra's lieutenant and assures him that the last thing he wants is Apophis to win, saying that between Ra and Apophis, he'd take Ra. Later, Amos hosts Set again, but this time Amos is in control, though he seems to struggle sometimes with Set's more violent tendancies. Carter uses this as proof to the rebels that they are not evil. Set, hosted by Amos, participates in the battle against Apophis and leaves Earth with the other gods when Sadie and Carter destroy the Serpent.

Personality
Set is arrogant, cunning, cruel, manipulative, and enjoys toying with his enemies often for his own personal entertainment. Sadie described him as being ruthless, and cruel, to which he sarcastically replies, "You make me blush, Sister." Throughout the book he has shown a sense of humor; he is, however, hinted to have an honorable side to him. His first concern is always himself and is willing to submit to his enemies if it is in his best interest.

Appearance
Set has multiple forms due to shape-shifting capabilities, and has appeared in several ways, but always contains some form of the color red, throughout the series.

The first form he was seen in was that of the fiery outline of a man; a head of a Set animal sometimes appears on this form or an almost human face with pale skin, cruel, angular features, and glowing red eyes. Throughout the Red Pyramid, he appeared as a tall and strong, almost a twin to Osiris, but with dark red skin, a pointed beard, long black hair, and red eyes. His face sometimes flicker between that of a human and the Set animal.

He sometimes wears blood-colored robes, red combat fatigues, fiery armor, or a red silk suit.

His true form in the Duat, however is, as Sadie describes it, a mountain of sand, doused with petrol, set on fire, spinning in the world's largest blender.

Powers and Abilities
After Ra and Apophis, Set is the strongest of the gods. He has been stated to be their greatest warrior making him Ra's second in command. He speacilizes in storm magic and has his own Set avatar. His domain is in the desert where he is at his strongest, and not even Horus and Isis can defeat him there.

Relationships
Nephthys: Despite their marriage, the two do not seem to trust one another. Although she does seem to love him, Nephthys knows that Set is dangerous and aids in the battle against him. However, it is hinted that Set also loves her, as when she betrays Set to let Isis escape, he doesn't harm her. Also Set has told Nephthys his Secret Name showing some evidence of love. She also gave away their only son, Anubis, claiming that she did not want him to meet his father.

Osiris: Set seems to hold a hatred for Osiris, possibly because Osiris replaced Ra as the king of the gods. Set has made many spiteful actions against Osiris and seems to actively attempt to cause him suffering.

Ra: Set was said to have been Ra's lieutenant, indicating that he was fiercely loyal to him (in fact some myth states that he was the only god that helped Ra through the centuries against Apophis). This loyalty would add to Set's hatred for Osiris. Set confirms his loyalty to Ra to Carter saying that he prefers Ra to Apophis who is a god of evil like Set and refers to himself as the "loyal opposition."

Anubis: Anubis, despite being Set's son, has never actually met him before The Serpent's Shadow. He is reluctant to admit to Sadie that Set is his father, but helps defeating him by giving them the Feather of Truth to save Osiris, the only family he ever had. The two apparently meet for the first time when they battle the rebels together and Set is impressed when Anubis kills Sarah Jacobi, complimenting him on his actions. However, Anubis shows dislike towards him and his praise telling him "shut up, Father."

Carter and Sadie Kane: Set was Carter and Sadie's first enemy and throughout The Red Pyramid battled them until they defeated him and forced him to side with them using his secret name. They also make him realize that he is being used. Despite their status as his enemies, after The Red Pyramid, Set never activly tries to hurt them and helps them a few times. He exposes the invisible Carter to Vladimir Menshikov in an attempt to escape and in thanks for being released, he holds Menshikov off so they can escape. Set then helps Sadie carry the fatally poisioned Carter to Bes and tells them where to find the last part of the Book of Ra in exchange for his secret name back, but gives them the location of Zia Rashid without anything in it for himself. He keeps to the truce they set up even after its officaly over through The Throne of Fire and The Serpent's Shadow and even appears to Carter to reassure him that he isn't controling his uncle like he fears and warns him of an upcoming attack though he doesn't help with it.

Amos Kane: When Set is first set free, he posseses Amos and uses him as one of his hosts throughout The Red Pyramid, using him to go after Carter and Sadie. Set nearly burns out Amos' soul from the possesion and abandons him, leaving him in a depressed and weakened state for a long time. However, Amos apparently gains an understanding of Set from the incident and when he decides to follow the Path of the Gods, he chooses to follow the Path of Set, drawing on Set for power and apparently communicating with him. Set works with Amos against Apophis, willingly sharing his power and its indicated visiting Carter to ease his worries at Amos' request. During the final battle, Set takes Amos as a host again, but this time with Amos in control with Set seeming to mostly let him except when he tries to have "fun" by killing people, but Amos is able to keep him under control, something that is supposed to be impossible.

In Mythology
Set was originally a major god of Upper Egypt. He was viewed as a benevolent god and protector, though he has a long history of feuding with Horus. When Upper and Lower Egypt merged, the followers of Horus gained power and increasingly demonized Set. He went from being a chief god, to Ra's protector, to being merged with Apophis. Despite this, he was still in some areas a major god and has had several revivals.

Trivia

 * Set says he wishes his secret name was something else, such as "Rockin' Red Reaper" or "Glorious Day".
 * Set's blood is black, as shown when Carter stabs him.
 * His Greek equivalent is the Storm Giant, Typhon.
 * It is said in the book that Set has red skin, however, in his picture, he has gray skin