Bast (Earth-7642)

**Bast** is a Psychopomp goddess worshiped in Wakanda. She is also one of the matrons of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall.

## History

### Origin

Bast is one the eldest of the Egyptian Gods, the child of Ra himself, though by her own admission she and her fellow deities were originally mortal beings who apotheosized to divinity through being worshiped.

### Wakanda

10,000 years ago in what would one day be known as Wakanda was home to a collection of primitive human tribes. It was during this time a massive meteorite made of a sound and energy-absorbing mineral, which would later be known as vibranium crashed to Earth. One of the tribes, led by Bashenga, its mightiest warrior, decided to investigate, believing this to be a gift from the gods. When they reached the crater, they found that the material vibrated and decided it would be useful to forge into weapons.

However, the radiation the meteorite gave off also had a side effect, turning some of the tribesmen into "Demon Spirits". Bashenga prayed to the "Panther God" to give him the strength to defeat these demons, becoming her avatar and the first "Black Panther" since prehistoric times and uniting the tribes to form the nation of Wakanda. His lineage would later rule the country for centuries.

Alongside Thoth, Kokou, Mujaji, Ptah, and Nyami, Bast is a member of the pantheon of Wakanda, known as Orisha. The humans and the Orisha defeated the Originators and banished them to the Nether-Realms beyond a group of gates. As part of their duty, the Orisha became guardians of these gates.

### Ancient Egypt

As the pharaoh's took rule over Egypt, many gods moved to Celestial Heliopolis, while Bast adopted a realm bordering Celestial Heliopolis and Ala (home of Africa's gods, the Orishas), the Spirit World. Bast inherited Ra's life-giving solar heat, while his sibling Sekhmet inherited his fiery, destructive fury; both siblings had male and female forms. In Egypt, Bast was worshiped primarily in the city of Bubastis as a goddess of pleasure, dancing, and music and it became a pious custom to bury mummified cats within Bast's sanctuaries. Bast protected men against diseases and evil spirits. The goddess received greater regard in 952 BC when Pharaoh Sheshonk elevated Bubastis to prominence within a kingdom.

An unidentified sorcerer created the Claw of Bast, a powerful artifact using Bast's power to restore the sick or dead while also empowering its wielder. It was employed seven times before Egyptian leader Khafre had it broken into fragments in 2,500 BC.

## Powers and Abilities

### Powers

* **Godly Physiology**: Due to her origin Bastet possesses immeasurable power, with her upper limits being above the comprehension of mortals.
	+ **Cosmic Awareness**: Bastet sees the multiverse as it truly is, which is incomprehensible to any mortal.
	+ **Immortality**: Like all of her Old God brethren Bastet will never age in the conventional manor. By her own words, "Gods can't die. We merely fade away." This means that while gods have worshipers, they will not die
	+ **Possession**: Bastet is able to project her consciousness into any cat on Earth, being able to communicate with people as well as control the creature's actions.
	+ **Size Alteration**: All Egyptian gods can grow in size.
	+ **Animal Empathy**: Bast can communicate with cats.
	+ **Animal Control**: Bast can control cats.
	+ **Possession**: Bast can transfer a cat soul to a human body.
* **Power Bestowal:** Bast is believed to be extremely powerful, though she typically acts through surrogates or possesses and grants power to others (usually some degree of superhuman strength, speed, agility, senses, etc.). Each of the Black Panther's abilities is connected to Bast and derives power from her support. Bast typically appears most commonly as an immense black panther or a humanoid panther, and despite being female Bast can assume both male and female forms.

### Weaknesses

* **Power Loss**: Without followers, Bast will gradually lose her powers and fade away.