Bastet
These are werecats, one of the many Changing Breeds of the World of Darkness. Like the Garou, the werecats have many different tribes, each from a different species of wild cat
Tribe
Bagheera - Panthers/Leopards Balam - Jaguars Bubasti - Kyphur Khan - Tigers Pumonca - Cougars Qualmi - Lynx Simba - Lions Swara - Cheetahs |
Willpower
4 3 5 2 4 5 2 4 |
Bastet Tribes
Wise sages, potent judges, the werepanthers and wereleopards of India and North Africa may take their roles seriously; But are seen as the more laid back of the Bastet tribes. This, however, isn't an invite to take advantage of them. They maybe slow to anger, but once pushed, they can become whirls of spinning death. Savage sentinels of the New World who can give a Khan a run for his money when it comes to their rage against the any invading Garou and humans in their native South American home lands. They are engaged in a fierce battle for territory in the Amazon, going against both the agents of Pentex and the Garou. And give neither any quarter. Directly related to Egyptian demigods are rumoured to be the old of the Nine Tribes, these sorcerous cats use cunning over brute to attack their enemies. They are odd and plumb the mysteries of magic and science to discover a way to undo the extinction of their feline Kinfolk the kyphur of Egypt. The mighty weretigers oath bound to defend of the Earth, sworn to battle the Asura demons on their own terms. These fists of the gods hold strength and honor as the greatest achievements. If any tribe could lead the Bastet, it would be the Khan, sadly so few remain in the modern world. Wandering werecougars who keep a watchful eye on the lands of North America. Though not particularly wise, quick or magic proficient, children of Thunderbird are strong and adaptable. Riddling werelynxes who confound their companions with enigmatic remarks and tricksters' tales. Proud werelions who believe even now that they were born to rule the other tribes, by force if necessary. Werecheetahs who embody the messenger's speed and the traveler's urge. Unknown to most Bastet, these sleek and subtle creature hide a spiritual power few other werecats can match.</li> |
Beginning Gifts
Humbaba's Escape, Treeclimber Hunter's Mists, Storm of Pests Alms to the poor, Scholar's friend Razor Claws, Skin of Jade Mockingbird's Mirror, Wanderer's Boon Breakfast of Stones, Turned Fur Majesty, Submit Diamond Claws, Impala's Flight |
Bagheera
– Bagheera sleep deeply during the New Moon. Once they slumber, nothing short of violence can awaken them.
– Make a trail of salt; a panther will follow it from beginning to end without stopping.
– Blessing a leopoard’s prey with Aabhaya (a hand gesture meaning “protection”) will force the cat to flee unless his rage is just.
Balam
– Demons feed the wrath of the Balam; send one against him, and he will rage into madness.
– Burn the heart of the jaguar and you destroy its soul forever.
– Jaguar feathers hold great power. If you find one, burn it by the great cat’s face. Once it is ashes, the Balam will die.
Bubasti
– These secrets are so deeply guarded that even the Tekhmet don’t know them. The passing of the Yava occurs at the second Rank among the Bubasti, and involves blood-oaths before the kheper. The Followers of Set would do a lot to gain these tribal secrets, and young shadow cats are told “Better death than the serpent’s kiss.”
– When all immortals of the tribe are slain, the tribe itself will die with them
– The Black Soil of Khem is forever tied to the tribe; if all Bubasti in a generation flee the land, they will be the last of their kind.
– Bubasti are always hungry. Though no amount of good or drink will ease their craving, they will always eat what’s put before them.
Khan
– The Khan belong to the tribe of the sun; when he sleeps, they sleep also. During an eclipse, all Khan slumber for one day, then awaken hungry.
– Khan cannot resist the meat of an innocent child, though it violates their laws to eat it.
– A tiger cannot resist a direct challenge. To turn away costs him his rage for a fortnight.
Pumonca
– A Pumonca is one with her land; if she leaves it for more than a full moon cycle, she will die.
– The essence of the poisoned land (toxic waste, radiation, sewage) is deadly to a puma. Immerse him in its toxins and he will quickly perish.
– All beasts fear the puma. No horse will bear him, no dog will follow him. The great cats are his Kin and they befriend him, but no other animal can approach without terror.
Qualmi
– The power of a lynx lies in her riddles; to unravel them is to undo her magic (i.e: Gifts)
– The Qualmi share a soul with the salmon; poison the salmon, and you harm the tribe.
– No lynx can speak the truth about her parents. Confront her with their names and faces, and she will be confused for days.
Simba
– A rope made of lion’s mane will bind a Simba fast.
– To defeat a lion, steal his roar. In it, you may find a bit of his soul. He will not harm one who holds that soul until he finds his roar again.
– No male Simba will kill his wife, or allow another to do the same.
Swara
– The Swara are very protective of their mother’s good name. By telling tales of Damaa’s cowardice, you can reduce a cheetah to madness.
– The soil of the moon intoxicates the Swara. Mix it into his drink, and he will dance and laugh for days.
– The Unwaker had his hand deep in all Bastets’ souls. A frenzy will herald his approach. A Swara fears such frenzy, and must avoid its taint at all costs.
– Bagheera sleep deeply during the New Moon. Once they slumber, nothing short of violence can awaken them.
– Make a trail of salt; a panther will follow it from beginning to end without stopping.
– Blessing a leopoard’s prey with Aabhaya (a hand gesture meaning “protection”) will force the cat to flee unless his rage is just.
Balam
– Demons feed the wrath of the Balam; send one against him, and he will rage into madness.
– Burn the heart of the jaguar and you destroy its soul forever.
– Jaguar feathers hold great power. If you find one, burn it by the great cat’s face. Once it is ashes, the Balam will die.
Bubasti
– These secrets are so deeply guarded that even the Tekhmet don’t know them. The passing of the Yava occurs at the second Rank among the Bubasti, and involves blood-oaths before the kheper. The Followers of Set would do a lot to gain these tribal secrets, and young shadow cats are told “Better death than the serpent’s kiss.”
– When all immortals of the tribe are slain, the tribe itself will die with them
– The Black Soil of Khem is forever tied to the tribe; if all Bubasti in a generation flee the land, they will be the last of their kind.
– Bubasti are always hungry. Though no amount of good or drink will ease their craving, they will always eat what’s put before them.
Khan
– The Khan belong to the tribe of the sun; when he sleeps, they sleep also. During an eclipse, all Khan slumber for one day, then awaken hungry.
– Khan cannot resist the meat of an innocent child, though it violates their laws to eat it.
– A tiger cannot resist a direct challenge. To turn away costs him his rage for a fortnight.
Pumonca
– A Pumonca is one with her land; if she leaves it for more than a full moon cycle, she will die.
– The essence of the poisoned land (toxic waste, radiation, sewage) is deadly to a puma. Immerse him in its toxins and he will quickly perish.
– All beasts fear the puma. No horse will bear him, no dog will follow him. The great cats are his Kin and they befriend him, but no other animal can approach without terror.
Qualmi
– The power of a lynx lies in her riddles; to unravel them is to undo her magic (i.e: Gifts)
– The Qualmi share a soul with the salmon; poison the salmon, and you harm the tribe.
– No lynx can speak the truth about her parents. Confront her with their names and faces, and she will be confused for days.
Simba
– A rope made of lion’s mane will bind a Simba fast.
– To defeat a lion, steal his roar. In it, you may find a bit of his soul. He will not harm one who holds that soul until he finds his roar again.
– No male Simba will kill his wife, or allow another to do the same.
Swara
– The Swara are very protective of their mother’s good name. By telling tales of Damaa’s cowardice, you can reduce a cheetah to madness.
– The soil of the moon intoxicates the Swara. Mix it into his drink, and he will dance and laugh for days.
– The Unwaker had his hand deep in all Bastets’ souls. A frenzy will herald his approach. A Swara fears such frenzy, and must avoid its taint at all costs.
Category
Attributes Abilities Backgrounds Gifts Rites Willpower Freebies Merits Flaws |
Points
7/5/3 13/9/5 5 3 3 15 8 8 |
Info
Prioritize the three categories: Physical, Social, Mental. (These stats start at 1.) Abilities: Prioritize the three categories: Talents, Skills, Knowledges. (These stats start at 0 and cannot exceed 3 before Freebies are spent.) This is a given and does not count from Freebies One each based on Breed, Auspice, and Tribe Based on Rites Background and Rituals Knowledge Can spend Freebies to raise higher, not to exceed 7 without ST approval Unless prior authorization this is the cap Not to exceed Not to exceed |
Bastet Pyrios (Auspices)
Daylight: regain willpower when face challenges, are courageous or inspiring
Twilight: regain willpower when solving mysteries, solving puzzles, creativity
Night: regain willpower when secretive, protect territory, bring pain to others.
Twilight: regain willpower when solving mysteries, solving puzzles, creativity
Night: regain willpower when secretive, protect territory, bring pain to others.
Overview
The Bastet are obsessed with secret knowledge and are always pursuing and hoarding it. Many are great magicians, others are great warriors, but they are rarely pack animals and generally work alone. Some of their tribes suffered greatly during the War of Rage. The Bastet, like the Kitsune, were created by Luna (whom they call Seline). Rather than given a specific purpose, each tribe attempts to fill a gap where others didn't quite catch on. Garou (and some others) refer to them as the Eyes of Gaia, since much contact comes in Egypt where the Silent Striders once allied with the Sorcerous Bubasti against the vampire Set, and in North America where the Wendigo and Uktena have regular dealing with the enigmatic Qualmi.
Despite the wide geographical range of their animal Kin and divisions within the Tribes, the Bastet have a fairly consolidated system to track renown and share many spiritual aspects. All Bastet speak a common language of chirps, meows, howls, cries, snarls, and rumbles, as well as a more elaborate system of sniffs, licks, stares, whisker twitches, and postures. This ancestral tongue, while limited, crosses all cultures, breeds, and forms, enabling a Nigerian Simba in Crinos form to speak to a British Khan in Homid.
It's hard to express abstract or complicated thoughts in this language (Kheuar, pronounced "kew-arr"), but simple warnings or messages aren't difficult. More complex conversations demand a shift to Homid or Feline forms for clarity. Bastet lore claims Kheuar came from the original conversations of the First Pride, and its subtleties are passed to new kittens by their Kuasha. Thus, a Bastet who hasn't been taught the ways of the Folk won't be aware of the subtleties of the group language, although communications like "Get out of my way" are always clear enough.
Unlike Garou who learn most of their Gifts from spirits, Bastet most often learn from other werecats, or by “stealing” them from other shapeshifters. They have a much easier time instructing one another in Gift-use than do the Garou; it generally only takes a single night of instruction for one werecat to impart a Gift to another.
In addition to the usual heightened senses, Bastet possess padaa, a sense that combines smell and taste from a distance. To use it, a Bastet opens his mouth, flares his nostrils, and inhales. The air passes across his tongue and an organ in the roof of his mouth, allowing him to perceive multi-sensory details about the world around him.
Despite the wide geographical range of their animal Kin and divisions within the Tribes, the Bastet have a fairly consolidated system to track renown and share many spiritual aspects. All Bastet speak a common language of chirps, meows, howls, cries, snarls, and rumbles, as well as a more elaborate system of sniffs, licks, stares, whisker twitches, and postures. This ancestral tongue, while limited, crosses all cultures, breeds, and forms, enabling a Nigerian Simba in Crinos form to speak to a British Khan in Homid.
It's hard to express abstract or complicated thoughts in this language (Kheuar, pronounced "kew-arr"), but simple warnings or messages aren't difficult. More complex conversations demand a shift to Homid or Feline forms for clarity. Bastet lore claims Kheuar came from the original conversations of the First Pride, and its subtleties are passed to new kittens by their Kuasha. Thus, a Bastet who hasn't been taught the ways of the Folk won't be aware of the subtleties of the group language, although communications like "Get out of my way" are always clear enough.
Unlike Garou who learn most of their Gifts from spirits, Bastet most often learn from other werecats, or by “stealing” them from other shapeshifters. They have a much easier time instructing one another in Gift-use than do the Garou; it generally only takes a single night of instruction for one werecat to impart a Gift to another.
In addition to the usual heightened senses, Bastet possess padaa, a sense that combines smell and taste from a distance. To use it, a Bastet opens his mouth, flares his nostrils, and inhales. The air passes across his tongue and an organ in the roof of his mouth, allowing him to perceive multi-sensory details about the world around him.
Ranks
Rank 1 - Tekhmet: "Little One". A term of address (usually condescending) from elder cat to a youngster.
Rank 2 - Akaa: "Truthchaser". An honorific between Bastet of equal rank.
Rank 3 - Tilau: "Accomplished Friend". A respectful title of address denoting experience and accomplishment.
Rank 4 - Ilani: "Wonder Favored". A title used when flattering another Bastet.
Rank 5 and 6 - Bon Bhat: A respectful term for an elder, also used to greet the host when attending a Taghairm in a foreign land for the first time.
Rank 2 - Akaa: "Truthchaser". An honorific between Bastet of equal rank.
Rank 3 - Tilau: "Accomplished Friend". A respectful title of address denoting experience and accomplishment.
Rank 4 - Ilani: "Wonder Favored". A title used when flattering another Bastet.
Rank 5 and 6 - Bon Bhat: A respectful term for an elder, also used to greet the host when attending a Taghairm in a foreign land for the first time.
HomidYour mother was human, Kin or not, or a homid Bastet. You grew up among humans and learned how to live in their society. Yet something always set you apart. Other kids reacted unconsciously to the predator within you, and to the vicious temper that you couldn’t always keep under control. Strange dreams marked your childhood, and as you grew you remembered more and more of them — dreams of the moon, of the taste of blood, of the smell of war. Maybe they found you before your Change, maybe after, but now there’s no going back. You are what you are — you’re as much wolf as human now.
Homid characters have no limits on what Abilities they may purchase during character creation. They have plenty of experience with the abstract thought that’s newer to their feline cousins, and they usually grow up surrounded by human technology. No bastet is better able to deal with the many peculiarities of human society. In their breed form, homids can also handle gold with no Gnosis penalty. The human-born advantages at navigating human society are balanced against weaker connections with the feline and spirit portions of their nature. Homids are generally less intuitive and perceptive than feline or metis. They’re likely to rely on what they see and hear, rather than what they feel. Moreover, their innate spiritual connections are weaker, as represented by their low starting Gnosis. Humanity has simply grown apart from the spirit world. Odds: Most common Initial Gnosis: 1 Beginning Gifts: Cat Claws, Sweet Hunter's Smile |
MetisBorn to two Bastet for love or lust, you were a child that shouldn’t have been but one raised among the Bastet anyway. They produce deformed metis, as Garou do, but they do not suffer from the same social stigma. You endured a hard, thankless life, stemming from the deformity that is your birthright. Though whatever the case, you’ve survived from a hard birth, through years of living only in your Crinos body (the natural form of a metis), to finally undergo your First Change. Whether your parents raised you or long-suffering but devoted Kinfolk did, you’re now ready to take your place in the sept. Unlike homids, you have a lot of knowledge about werewolf society already the nobility, the brutality, the wisdom, the spite.
Metis characters have no restrictions on Abilities. Like homids, they have early experience with abstract thought, and are often introduced to technology, education, and other human creations early on as part of being raised at the sept. But like their fera relatives, the metis also have a strong connection to their animal nature. They have the strengths of both sides to some degree. On the other hand, all metis bear the mark of deformity. Another flaw of this breed is that all metis are sterile; none can sire or bear children. It’s faintly ironic that Bastet/Bastet pairings are the only matings that invariably produce werecat offspring and yet they are no way to ensure the future of the People. Odds: Rare but not persecuted Initial Gnosis: 3 Beginning Gifts: Create Element, Sense Primal Nature |
FelineNone are closer to nature and the hidden face of Gaia than you are. You were born a precocious cub, already showing remarkable intelligence above that of your siblings. When the Change overcame you, and you discovered your true nature, the world itself became something you had never expected.
Felines are quite capable of abstract thought, but much of their experience with the concepts governed by such thought comes after the First Change. They pick up the basics of Bastet speech very quickly, and the basics of human languages with surprising speed, but the small nuances and connotations frequently elude them. They are accustomed to the socialization of their family, not of a greater society which can be particularly problematic. The advantages of the felines are several many of them spiritual. The feline-born lack the spiritual disconnection that the homids have gradually developed, and they are also free of the spiritual “static” that comes with the blood of the metis. They have a knack for mastering the animistic rituals of the Bastet, as they are closer to “spirit logic” than the more educated reasoning of humankind. Some of this is reflected in their high starting Gnosis. However, feline characters have little opportunity to learn many useful skills before their First Change, and are therefore limited during character creation regarding the Abilities they can purchase. Odds: More common than lupus Garou Initial Gnosis: 5 Beginning Gifts: Heightened Senses, Pounce |
The Bastet are cat breed shape shifters, born of primal spirits and raised to watch over creation. Bastet aren’t just people with cute cat heads; they’re a mysterious and defiant race all their own. To most Bastet, the Garou are messy, genocidal dogs: They do a dirty job, but they’ve let the violence in their own nature go to their heads. The Bastet have a higher purpose: to watch over the earth, to taste the shadows’ wisdom, and bring it back to Seline, the Moon Mother whose blessings created all changing breeds. Although the werecats have a nasty primal edge themselves, they like to boast that they combine the best aspects of cat and human.
Bastet Organisation
No, this isn't an oxymoron. Despite what outsiders see, Bastet do have some minor organization. Among their own tribes that is.
And while it is true that each tribe has a role, the Simba are Warrior Kings, the Kahn Warrior Generals, the Balam Warrior Priests, the Qualmi and Bubasti are mystics, and the Bagheera are Ambassadors; it isn't heavily enforced by any one tribe or group of Bastet. This is mainly due to the fact that each "role" is more than a continent away. Leaving the cats to do their own thing.
On a more individual level, few Bastet operate in any kind of numbers. Most cats only form small hunting parties when the time calls for it, and the rest tend to be strict loners. Since Bastet do not mate with Bastet,(or rarely do, there are Bastet metis after all to prove this.) few will do more than take on a Kin or two as permanent companions.
The noted exceptions to the rule are out there however. The first and foremost are the Simba. A Simba pride may not be as tightly knit as a Garou pack, but when each has the tendencies of an Ahroun, they aren't pushovers either. Swara males will often form small bands, usually only two or three, to mutually protect mates and Kin. The Bagheera, despite their usual solitary nature, will often form War Parties to deal with a specific threat. And lastly, the Kahn of the Beast Courts are as likely to join a Sentai (pack) as any other Hengeyokai.
Bastet Traits
A Common Language – All Bastet speak a common language of chirps, meows, howls, cries, snarls and rumbles, as well as a more elaborate system of sniffs, licks, stares, whisker twitchers and postures. This ancestral tongue, while limited, crosses all cultures, breeds and forms, enabling a Nigerian Simba in Crinos form to speak to a British Khan in Homid. It’s hard to express abstract or complicated thoughts in this language (Kheuar, pronounced “kew-arr”), but simple warnings of messages aren’t difficult. More complex conversations demand a shift to Homid or Feline forms for clarity.
Bastet lore claims Kheuar came from the original conversations of the First Pride, and its subtleties are passed to new kits by their kasha. Thus, a Bastet who hasn’t been taught the ways of the Folk won’t be aware of the subtleties of the group language, although communications like “Get the hell outta my way!” are always clear enough.
Accidental Shifting – Bastet are temperamental folk; for all their cool exterior, were cats always retain a hunter’s edge. When pressed, a Bastet might “jump forms” and become a cat or human before she knows it. Many First Years begin when some crisis triggers an accidental change. The chaos this causes brings your old life to an end and often alerts an elder to your predicament, and to your youth.
The Usual Shapeshifter Banes… – Bastet possess the same pros and cons as Garou do towards silver, use of Rage, frenzy, Thrall of Darkness (of the Wyrm), effects of the Curse and the Delirium.</li>
Bastet Yava
The Yava is of utmost importance to any Bastet, and is only taught to cubs who have proven themselves to be able to survive their first years alive. Sometimes they are so closely guarded that they don't learn them until they are Akaa (rank two, equivalent of Fostern). These three or four tribal secrets are weaknesses that the tribe as a whole possesses.
Most are supernatural, but all are kept secret from outsiders, because they tend to grand power to those who who have learned them. They are the most rightly guarded of all Bastet Lore, and are only exposed under the most extreme circumstances, if even then.
History of the Bastet
Long ago, before the humans learned to bend the world to their will, Gaia created the Changing Breeds. Powerful beings borne of flesh and spirit, the Changing Breeds had the task of safeguarding Gaia's creations, both from the ravages of the spirit world and from their own selfish desires.
She created the Garou to be Her warriors, the Corax to be Her eyes, the Mokolé to be Her Memory, and so on and so forth. There were many Changing Breeds, and all had an appointed role to play in protecting Gaia's children from the trappings of Rahjah (The Weaver), the madness of Cahlash (The Wyrm) and the raw chaos of Mother Nala (The Wyld.) All of Gaia's creations excelled at their tasks, and She moved Her attention to other matters, secure in the belief that all would be well.
Sadly, it was not to be. When Gaia looked in on Her creations a short time later she found that, while most of them were quite good at doing what She designed them to do, all were rather inept when it came to working together. The Garou, for example, spent more time fighting one another than anything particularly malign, while the Corax were so intent on sharing information with one another that they forgot to share it with anyone else. The Ratkin were so caught up in their task of spying on humanity that they neglected the world beyond, and since the Mokolé spent all their time wallowing in the mud and remembering the past, they did little to address matters in the here and now.
Similar problems existed with all the Changing Breeds, and Gaia pondered the situation for a while as She tried to figure out what to do. Some time later Gaia tracked down Cat, and asked him for his assistance in resolving the Matter. Cat wasn't sure how he could help Gaia, since he was by nature a solitary creature. This in fact was the reason She had passed him over when first creating the Changing Breeds. But She needed his help now, and he could hardly deny the will of the Mother. So it was that, with Cat's help, Gaia created the Bagheera, the first of the Bastet. Bagheera would see things as the Corax and guard secrets as the Mokolé, and fight more fiercely as the Garou did. Bagheera would do all these things and more, and in the process remind the other Changing Breeds of how they must work together to accomplish their goals.
Gaia looked upon the beautiful Bagheera and She was most please. She saw, however, that there were places Bagheera could not go. Some were too far away, and some were simply inhospitable. There were also things Bagheera could not do; they were swift, but not as swift as the Corax. They were strong, but not as the Gurahl. Clever, yes, but not as clever as the Nuwisha. As beautiful and fearsome as she was Bagheera would need help if she were to truly aid Gaia's children. And so Gaia created Qualmi, a clever beast whose riddles encouraged (or enraged) Gaia's children to think and ponder, to look inward as well as to fight. Some say the Qualmi inspired the Garou to create their Star Gazer tribe, maybe, maybe not. Gaia next created the fierce and mighty Balam, who stole off into the dark places where others were afraid to go, and tore the hearts out of any who would defile Gaia's beauty. Then came Swara and Pumonca, the brothers, whom Gaia charged with wandering the worlds of flesh and spirit, bringing their lore to all they encountered. Gaia looked upon all these children of Cat, and she was pleased.
But She didn't stop there. As Cahlash's madness sought to engulf Gaia's children, She responded by creating the mighty Khan, whose strength could shatter mountains and whose claws could rend spirits. And when Cahlash sought to tempt the hearts and minds humans, Gaia created the mystical Bubasti, who slipped inside of human society in an effort to help the Ratkin control humanity from within. And so the seven children of Cat were born of Gaia, all of them beautiful, strong and proud. But Gaia knew they would be unruly, as children tend to be. She knew that if they became enraptured with their own beauty they would forget why they were created. And so She bore Cat one final child, the most majestic and regal of them all. This child was Simba, and his pride was such that there was no battle he would not fight, no challenge he would not meet, no obstacle that could not be overcome. The other Bastet saw the great Simba and were shamed, and Gaia saw that they all took their duties much more seriously from that day forward.
Gaia was pleased with Her new creations, and confident that they would solve the problems Her other children had encountered. But it was not to be; the others were jealous of the Bastets' beauty, and felt insulted that the werecats' even needed to be brought into existence. After all, were they not the best and brightest of Gaia's children?
What did this say about their own abilities that a whole Changing Breed needed to be created in order to pick up slack?
This of course was nonsense; the Battle were created to help the others, not take their places. The fools would have known this if they had spoken to Gaia directly, but since they were hurt and offended they simply assumed that they understood Her intentions and treated the Bastet accordingly.
For the Bastet this was, in a word, intolerable. All they really wanted to do was to nap in the sun, enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and play on their own whims.
But Gaia had given them a task and they felt it was their duty to respond to the best of their ability. But now, they were being snubbed and punished by the very siblings that they were created to help! The insult to their pride was unbearable. When the Ajaba openly defied Gaia and the Garou began to subordinate the other Changing breeds to their will, the Bastet responded as any cat would. Slinking in a sulking manner to the shadows, vowing to ignore the other Changing Breeds until the time came were they would come to their senses and show the cats the respect and appreciation they deserved. As history showed, this did not turn out well for the poor cats. The Garou reacted poorly to this, their response (like so many other times in their brutal history) was nothing less than genocide, as they destroyed anyone who would not obey them.
Many of the Changing Breeds suffered, and the Cats were no exception. Most of them were eradicated in places that would become the Americans and Europe, and the only reason they did not suffer similar fates in the south was because the Garou simply did not exist in those places. In the aftermath of that calamity their hatred and spite rose to new heights, and the bitterness, contempt, and mistrust born of those times remains even to this day.
Bastet Organisation
No, this isn't an oxymoron. Despite what outsiders see, Bastet do have some minor organization. Among their own tribes that is.
And while it is true that each tribe has a role, the Simba are Warrior Kings, the Kahn Warrior Generals, the Balam Warrior Priests, the Qualmi and Bubasti are mystics, and the Bagheera are Ambassadors; it isn't heavily enforced by any one tribe or group of Bastet. This is mainly due to the fact that each "role" is more than a continent away. Leaving the cats to do their own thing.
On a more individual level, few Bastet operate in any kind of numbers. Most cats only form small hunting parties when the time calls for it, and the rest tend to be strict loners. Since Bastet do not mate with Bastet,(or rarely do, there are Bastet metis after all to prove this.) few will do more than take on a Kin or two as permanent companions.
The noted exceptions to the rule are out there however. The first and foremost are the Simba. A Simba pride may not be as tightly knit as a Garou pack, but when each has the tendencies of an Ahroun, they aren't pushovers either. Swara males will often form small bands, usually only two or three, to mutually protect mates and Kin. The Bagheera, despite their usual solitary nature, will often form War Parties to deal with a specific threat. And lastly, the Kahn of the Beast Courts are as likely to join a Sentai (pack) as any other Hengeyokai.
Bastet Traits
A Common Language – All Bastet speak a common language of chirps, meows, howls, cries, snarls and rumbles, as well as a more elaborate system of sniffs, licks, stares, whisker twitchers and postures. This ancestral tongue, while limited, crosses all cultures, breeds and forms, enabling a Nigerian Simba in Crinos form to speak to a British Khan in Homid. It’s hard to express abstract or complicated thoughts in this language (Kheuar, pronounced “kew-arr”), but simple warnings of messages aren’t difficult. More complex conversations demand a shift to Homid or Feline forms for clarity.
Bastet lore claims Kheuar came from the original conversations of the First Pride, and its subtleties are passed to new kits by their kasha. Thus, a Bastet who hasn’t been taught the ways of the Folk won’t be aware of the subtleties of the group language, although communications like “Get the hell outta my way!” are always clear enough.
Accidental Shifting – Bastet are temperamental folk; for all their cool exterior, were cats always retain a hunter’s edge. When pressed, a Bastet might “jump forms” and become a cat or human before she knows it. Many First Years begin when some crisis triggers an accidental change. The chaos this causes brings your old life to an end and often alerts an elder to your predicament, and to your youth.
The Usual Shapeshifter Banes… – Bastet possess the same pros and cons as Garou do towards silver, use of Rage, frenzy, Thrall of Darkness (of the Wyrm), effects of the Curse and the Delirium.</li>
Bastet Yava
The Yava is of utmost importance to any Bastet, and is only taught to cubs who have proven themselves to be able to survive their first years alive. Sometimes they are so closely guarded that they don't learn them until they are Akaa (rank two, equivalent of Fostern). These three or four tribal secrets are weaknesses that the tribe as a whole possesses.
Most are supernatural, but all are kept secret from outsiders, because they tend to grand power to those who who have learned them. They are the most rightly guarded of all Bastet Lore, and are only exposed under the most extreme circumstances, if even then.
History of the Bastet
Long ago, before the humans learned to bend the world to their will, Gaia created the Changing Breeds. Powerful beings borne of flesh and spirit, the Changing Breeds had the task of safeguarding Gaia's creations, both from the ravages of the spirit world and from their own selfish desires.
She created the Garou to be Her warriors, the Corax to be Her eyes, the Mokolé to be Her Memory, and so on and so forth. There were many Changing Breeds, and all had an appointed role to play in protecting Gaia's children from the trappings of Rahjah (The Weaver), the madness of Cahlash (The Wyrm) and the raw chaos of Mother Nala (The Wyld.) All of Gaia's creations excelled at their tasks, and She moved Her attention to other matters, secure in the belief that all would be well.
Sadly, it was not to be. When Gaia looked in on Her creations a short time later she found that, while most of them were quite good at doing what She designed them to do, all were rather inept when it came to working together. The Garou, for example, spent more time fighting one another than anything particularly malign, while the Corax were so intent on sharing information with one another that they forgot to share it with anyone else. The Ratkin were so caught up in their task of spying on humanity that they neglected the world beyond, and since the Mokolé spent all their time wallowing in the mud and remembering the past, they did little to address matters in the here and now.
Similar problems existed with all the Changing Breeds, and Gaia pondered the situation for a while as She tried to figure out what to do. Some time later Gaia tracked down Cat, and asked him for his assistance in resolving the Matter. Cat wasn't sure how he could help Gaia, since he was by nature a solitary creature. This in fact was the reason She had passed him over when first creating the Changing Breeds. But She needed his help now, and he could hardly deny the will of the Mother. So it was that, with Cat's help, Gaia created the Bagheera, the first of the Bastet. Bagheera would see things as the Corax and guard secrets as the Mokolé, and fight more fiercely as the Garou did. Bagheera would do all these things and more, and in the process remind the other Changing Breeds of how they must work together to accomplish their goals.
Gaia looked upon the beautiful Bagheera and She was most please. She saw, however, that there were places Bagheera could not go. Some were too far away, and some were simply inhospitable. There were also things Bagheera could not do; they were swift, but not as swift as the Corax. They were strong, but not as the Gurahl. Clever, yes, but not as clever as the Nuwisha. As beautiful and fearsome as she was Bagheera would need help if she were to truly aid Gaia's children. And so Gaia created Qualmi, a clever beast whose riddles encouraged (or enraged) Gaia's children to think and ponder, to look inward as well as to fight. Some say the Qualmi inspired the Garou to create their Star Gazer tribe, maybe, maybe not. Gaia next created the fierce and mighty Balam, who stole off into the dark places where others were afraid to go, and tore the hearts out of any who would defile Gaia's beauty. Then came Swara and Pumonca, the brothers, whom Gaia charged with wandering the worlds of flesh and spirit, bringing their lore to all they encountered. Gaia looked upon all these children of Cat, and she was pleased.
But She didn't stop there. As Cahlash's madness sought to engulf Gaia's children, She responded by creating the mighty Khan, whose strength could shatter mountains and whose claws could rend spirits. And when Cahlash sought to tempt the hearts and minds humans, Gaia created the mystical Bubasti, who slipped inside of human society in an effort to help the Ratkin control humanity from within. And so the seven children of Cat were born of Gaia, all of them beautiful, strong and proud. But Gaia knew they would be unruly, as children tend to be. She knew that if they became enraptured with their own beauty they would forget why they were created. And so She bore Cat one final child, the most majestic and regal of them all. This child was Simba, and his pride was such that there was no battle he would not fight, no challenge he would not meet, no obstacle that could not be overcome. The other Bastet saw the great Simba and were shamed, and Gaia saw that they all took their duties much more seriously from that day forward.
Gaia was pleased with Her new creations, and confident that they would solve the problems Her other children had encountered. But it was not to be; the others were jealous of the Bastets' beauty, and felt insulted that the werecats' even needed to be brought into existence. After all, were they not the best and brightest of Gaia's children?
What did this say about their own abilities that a whole Changing Breed needed to be created in order to pick up slack?
This of course was nonsense; the Battle were created to help the others, not take their places. The fools would have known this if they had spoken to Gaia directly, but since they were hurt and offended they simply assumed that they understood Her intentions and treated the Bastet accordingly.
For the Bastet this was, in a word, intolerable. All they really wanted to do was to nap in the sun, enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and play on their own whims.
But Gaia had given them a task and they felt it was their duty to respond to the best of their ability. But now, they were being snubbed and punished by the very siblings that they were created to help! The insult to their pride was unbearable. When the Ajaba openly defied Gaia and the Garou began to subordinate the other Changing breeds to their will, the Bastet responded as any cat would. Slinking in a sulking manner to the shadows, vowing to ignore the other Changing Breeds until the time came were they would come to their senses and show the cats the respect and appreciation they deserved. As history showed, this did not turn out well for the poor cats. The Garou reacted poorly to this, their response (like so many other times in their brutal history) was nothing less than genocide, as they destroyed anyone who would not obey them.
Many of the Changing Breeds suffered, and the Cats were no exception. Most of them were eradicated in places that would become the Americans and Europe, and the only reason they did not suffer similar fates in the south was because the Garou simply did not exist in those places. In the aftermath of that calamity their hatred and spite rose to new heights, and the bitterness, contempt, and mistrust born of those times remains even to this day.