def __new__(cls, index):
"""Verify the given index is valid and store base attributes."""
# Get the given indexes edict
edict = edict_from_index(index, False)
# Is the edict valid?
if edict is None or edict.get_unknown() is None:
# If not raise an error
raise ValueError(
'Index "{0}" is not a proper entity index.'.format(index))
# Create the object
self = BaseEntity.__new__(cls)
# Set the entity's base attributes
self._index = index
self._edict = edict
self._pointer = pointer_from_edict(edict)
# Return the instance
return self
