Bast

Bubaste, Ubaste, Bastet, Goddess of Cats, Pasht, the Chewer of Corpses, B’al-sot, B’sst, Mother of Cats

### Associations

Anxiety, cats, dreams, espionage, the home, ghouls, vengeance

### Relatives

Re (father); Yogash the Ghoul (offspring); K'baa the Serpent (grandchild); Ghoth the Burrower (great-grandchild); Howard Phillips Lovecraft (distant descendant)

### Common Blessings

**Cat Whispers:** able to communicate with cats, using feline helpers as spies, or may call upon a gathering of cats to cause confusion/obstruction to others.**Cat Form:** able to transform into a cat (costing 5 or more magic points); some may change into a hybrid human-cat like beast (with increased hit points, claw attacks, and so on).

> The statue was a remarkable likeness of the cat goddess, possessing the form of a slender human female with a cat’s head; svelte and nimble, and elegantly dressed and attired with ornate jewelry. Around her feet were gathered an assortment of cat companions. The second statue, encountered as we made our way into the inner sanctum, showed a more frightening aspect. Here, she was coiled and ready to pounce, her teeth bared, her eyes narrow, and her long nails thrust forth. Clearly, a warning for us to go no further lest we bring Bast’s anger and retribution on our heads.
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Bast is one of the few Elder Gods who seems to have taken an interest in or has some dominion over the Earth. Many of the names we have for Bast derive from humanity, and it appears some humans in ancient times characterized this entity as a member of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, as a netjeret (goddess) of cats. The exception is the rarely used “B’al-sot,” a word that is probably closer to the true name of the entity from which our earthbound notions arise. What seems evident is that B’al-sot’s appearances became connected in human minds to lions and then cats. Whether this is accidental or a means for the elder deity to appear before or communicate with humans without driving them insane is unknown. Certainly, other elder entities, such as Nodens, appear to take a sometimes apparently benign stance to humanity, rather than displaying the total indifference of beings we associate as Old Ones and Outer Gods, which do not “filter” their appearance for humanity’s sake. Given their alien makeup, one would assume the true appearances of such elder beings to be as equally distressing as those of the likes of Tsathoggua, Great Cthulhu, and Azathoth, yet unlike those entities the Elder Gods find some value in being able to communicate with humanity without at the same time destroying it.

Whatever the real reason or motivation, this daughter of Re is considered to have dominion over the feline species of Earth and Earth’s Dreamlands, including those on the planets of Mars and Jupiter. The horrific cats from Saturn and Uranus appear to fall outside this remit and seem to be allied with other beings or independent actors in the cosmic scheme. Bast is sometimes connected with Sekhmet and linked with the netjeret Mut. Bast is also linked with ghouls by some Saracen sorcerers, who call her "the Chewer of Corpses" and claim that she is the mother of Yogash, the very first of that species, by means of the Charnel God Mordiggian.

Bast appears to be no fool, as having a vast “army” of cats through which it can interact, spy, and influence the human world is a useful tool. One theory supposes that Bast’s form and dominion are a human creation. Bast is a formless thing, who only takes physicality through human perception. Something in the human brain detects Bast’s presence and manufactures an image, that of a cat- or lion-headed woman. Think of this as the human mind trying to make sense of an alien thoughtform. For some reason, our mass consciousness interprets Bast as a conglomeration of human and cat. Or is that the wrong way to think about it? Are the cats themselves fashioning Bast in their image, and humanity simply a bystander? Such matters entertain Mythos scholars during sleepless nights.

What is known, according to various texts, is Bast’s alignment to earthly cats, a being that will seek retribution for those who consistently act cruelly or harm cats. Often such “revenge” is enacted through other cats, with Bast sending hordes of furry felines to worry and endanger such humans.

Given the evidence, it seems that Bast has earmarked the cat and human races for something. Otherwise, why would an Elder God devote such attention to Earth? Maybe, Bast foresees a time, perhaps when the stars are right, when humans and cats will play some role and become useful tools for the Elder Ones in their dealing with other cosmic beings. Until then, Bast is content to monitor and sometimes take a hand in the affairs of our planet.

## Cult

In Ancient Egypt, Bast was worshiped in the city of Bubastis, with her cult eventually flowing out to major Roman cities, including Pompeii. During such times of active human worship, Bast was both a deity of the home and a lioness war goddess and was regarded affectionately. The original cult seems not to have survived among humans in general terms, although small sects ~ more aligned to the concept of Bast the Elder God than Bast the earthly goddess ~ are said to have existed down the years into modern times, with these seeming to be particularly concerned with guarding and protecting ancient artifacts and lore concerning Bast; perhaps, such lore reveals far more than the common wisdom normally associated with the goddess.

A secret temple to Bast was established in Cornwall by a ghoul-cult dedicated to her that was forced to flee from the Middle East.

Some dreamers recount seeing temples to Bast in the Dreamlands where the cult of the goddess appears to remain active and strong. Whether these are echoes of humanity’s collective unconsciousness or more tangible manifestations of Bast’s will is uncertain.

## Encounters

Rarely does Bast make personal appearances, although when the deity does it is a fearsome and often fatal encounter. Retribution is usually the apparent motive, although Bast is not beyond using humans to progress schemes, so may at times appear or communicate via other omens to influence humans to do her bidding, which usually stems from some action to limit or curtail the efforts of her enemies (read: Great Old Ones and their cults). Some reports speak of Bast appearing in bestial feline forms, such as a large panther or human-lion creature, that appear to embody a terrifying and unbridled rage. At times, Bast has been known to appear as a human female, usually either young and elegant or old and cantankerous, as a means to enter into a dialogue with those who may be of use to her. In all cases, the god’s appearance is always accompanied by numerous cats of all shapes and sizes, who arrive ahead of their goddess to herald her arrival.

## Aura

A sharp tension and expectation, as if anything could happen, pervades the atmosphere around Bast and within her secret temples. One feels as if they are constantly being watched (with numerous cats around, this isn’t a surprise to those who know of Bast) and there’s a sense of danger and electricity in the air. Humans will feel the hairs on the backs of their necks stand up and a mounting sense of anxiety.