Bastet

Proud and aloof, the Bastet serve as Gaia’s Eyes, hunting out secrets in the darkest and most dangerous corners of creation. As diverse as their many tribes, still there are certain elements that breed true among the great cats: beauty, grace, ferocity, cunning, and — by no means least — vanity.

## **History**

According to Bastet legend, the cat-shifters were created after all of the rest of the Changing Breeds. When Gaia first sought companionship from among the great spirits, feline storytellers claim, She found willing suitors aplenty. Wolf and Raven, Lizard and Bear, predators great and small prostrated themselves at Gaia’s feet, groveling for the chance to be her mate.

Knowing himself to be Her equal in beauty and grace, cunning and ferocity, Cat alone remained impervious to Gaia’s charms. Of course, this only heightened Her understandable interest in the feline spirit, but no matter how She called him to Her, he rebuffed Her attentions, refusing to be one of Her crowd of twitter-pated suitors. Time passed, and the other Changing Breeds were born, each with their own duty to their Mother-Goddess.

But to have a duty and to fulfill it are two different things. Time after time, the shifters of every sort barked and howled and nipped at each other’s heels, spending more energy securing some imagined position of prominence in each other’s eyes than they did to attending to their duties.

At length, Gaia had had Her fill of offspring who squabbled amongst themselves and neglected their duties. Turning from the rabble that had fawned over Her attention earlier, She walked out into the spirit wilds, and sought the companionship of Cat alone. And he, seeing She’d come to her senses and was ready to give him the respect he knew himself worthy of, now deigned to share his time with Her and to bestow upon Her children worthy of that union.

After their time together, Gaia gave birth to nine children, all of them beautiful, strong, and proud. She loved Her new children fiercely, for they were handsome and nimble, full of Cat’s sinuous grace. Seeing in them great potential, She tasked them with aiding their elder brethren with the duties already set before them, to remind their neglectful elder cousins of the tasks they were created to fulfill.

But it was not to be.

Despite (or perhaps because of) their beauty and skill, the other Changing Breeds were offended by the Bastet’s presence, taking umbrage at Gaia’s belief that they needed assistance in their duties. They snubbed Gaia’s youngest children, refusing their aid and their company.

For the Bastet, this was intolerable. Gaia had given them a task, and they would not accept insult in their efforts to fulfill it, certainly not from those very beings whose sloth and bickering they had been created to right. The insult to their pride was unbearable. The Bastet skulked off in disgust, vowing to ignore the other Changing Breeds until the time came when they could show the cats the appreciation they rightfully deserved.

The Garou, believing themselves Gaia’s best and brightest, did not react well to this turn of events. They might have spurned the aid of Cat’s children, but their own pride would not stand for the Bastet’s scorn. Their response was nothing less than genocide, as they destroyed anyone who would not obey them in what would come to be known as the War of Rage. The Bastet, unwilling to bend either individual or collective knee to their lupine siblings, suffered terrible losses. Most were eradicated in the places that would become the Americas and Europe, and only escaped that fate in areas where the Garou simply did not exist. In the aftermath of the War, the Bastet’s hatred and spite rose to new heights, and the bitterness born during those times remains even to this day.

### **Threatened on All Sides**

As if their persecution by the Garou were not enough, humanity seems to have aligned itself against the Bastet — despite not knowing about them. In every corner of the globe where they are found, the territories — and lives — of big cats are being threatened.

Throughout the world, poachers and habitat loss are the main causes of big cat endangerment. In recent decades, the wild Kin of every tribe of Bastet have made their way onto the world’s vulnerable, threatened, and endangered species list in ever-increasing numbers. And, as evidenced by the Grondr, without wild Kin, no Changing Breed can hope to survive.

Historically, the independent Bastet have attempted to deal with these threats in an up-front-and-personal manner, chasing off poachers who target their Kin, sabotaging construction that infringes on their traditional territories, and — when necessary — killing humans who don’t seem to get the message. But no one werecat — no matter how strong, swift, or smart — can hold back for long the overwhelming tide of humanity which threatens to drown the last vestiges of wild cat wilderness.

Rumor has it that some of the more experienced Bastet are seeking alternate methods for staving off their Kinfolk’s destruction — political manipulation, bribes, and blackmail — either directly or through their human Kinfolk. Whether these efforts will prove effective — or come too late to turn the tide for the Bastet cat-Kin — remains to be seen.

*Bastet Lexicon*
 **Cahlash, the Unmaker:** The personification of Entropy. Although Cahlash is technically the entity the Garou call the Wyrm, it is the ancient embodiment of the Balance Wyrm, rather than the current, corrupted aspect. As such, the Bastet consider him the Father of Night and the Author of Mysteries. To them, he’s dangerous, seductive, and ultimately essential.
 **Chatro:** The huge sabertooth war-form that all Bastet attain between Crinos and Feline forms.
 **Chaya:** Denizens of the Umbra, the brood of Cahlash, and the shadows at the edge of the world; spirits.
 **Crinos:** The half-human form of Moon-Rage, when the power of Seline brings forth the strongest elements of a Bastet’s nature and focuses them into a mystical killing machine.
 **Den-Realm:** An Umbral home territory, staked out by a powerful Bastet. Creating a Den-Realm is hard work, and violating it is a deadly crime.
 **Jamak:** Spirit allies who aid a werecat in return for favors and friendship. Similar to the totems of the Garou, although the relationship between Bastet and Jamak is more egalitarian.
 **Kuasha:** Literally, “mist.” The mentor who takes a Bastet under his protection, teaches her what she needs to know, then drives her away (or leaves) to teach the cub self-reliance.
 **Nala, the First Mother:** Known by the werewolves as the Wyld, Nala personifies the metaphysical state of Creation.

## **Organization**

With the exception of the Simba, Bastet are solitary hunters, with little motivation to form a cohesive, interactive society of their own. Werecats generally judge another of the Folk on his or her individual merits. They neither seek (nor offer) subservience to one another, save for the rightful esteem given to a teacher, mentor, or one who has earned the personal respect of an individual Bastet.

No Khan, for example, would bow down to another (let alone a Bastet outside of her tribe) just because he possessed more Renown than she did. Such deference is rarely given, and because of that, it means far more to the Folk than it would to a race that constantly scrambles over its pecking order. Bastet hold honor dear, but it is honor to one’s self, one’s word, one’s Kin and kind, to the earth, and to one’s secrets — not to a system of rank or prestige.

That being said, the relationship between a Bastet kuasha (teacher or mentor) and his student is an important and powerful one. While the exact nature of that relationship varies from tribe to tribe and individual to individual, a student’s relationship with their kuasha is often times the strongest they will ever have with another member of the Folk.

## **Yava**

Traditionally, Bastet give their cubs a year’s training in what it is to be Bastet and members of their particular tribe. The nature of that training differs depending on the teacher, student, tribe, and Pryio, but the symbolism of the First Year transcends boundaries. Before leaving the yearling to their own devices, a kuasha shares with her student several crucial tribal secrets — assuming they believe the cub to be ready for the burden thereof.

These secrets, known collectively as the Yava, must never be revealed to those outside of the tribe. Any outsider who learns a tribe’s Yava is a threat to the entire tribe. Anyone who knows a tribe’s Yava could control — or kill — a tribe with ease, as the Ajaba found out when their Yava were discovered by the Simba, Black Tooth. Mechanically speaking, an individual who knows all of the Yava of a particular tribe reduces his difficulties by two when he uses supernatural powers of any sort against members of that tribe. Bastet add two to the difficulties of any magical actions taken against someone who knows all of their tribe’s Yava.

Fortunately for the Bastet, the nature of the Yava is such that it can only be passed on willingly (although the definition of “willing” is a broad one). No magic, no matter how strong, can pry the secret from a cat who does not wish to reveal it; no mystic power can rip the Yava from their minds.

However, as some hunters have discovered, willingness can be coerced by physical, psychological, or emotional means. Some say the early Garou resorted to such measures during the War of Rage, torturing the Yava out of their Bastet captives, and then using the knowledge to decimate the tribes.

# **Tribes**

While both Bastet and Garou use the term “tribe” to describe an internal sub-set of their Breed, the import of the word is very different for each. While tribal pride can run fierce among werewolves, Garou tend to recognize themselves as a Nation, first and foremost, and to see their tribes as an important, but lesser identifying feature, not unlike their auspice or breed. For the Bastet, however, many identify most strongly with their tribal Kin, seeing the rest of the Bastet as loosely related cousins (and many times, drastically inferior to their “own kind”).

## **Bagheera**

Wereleopards are renowned for their mystic insights and ferocious tempers. They are a strong and sagacious folk, constantly plumbing the depths of Gaia’s wisdom, even as they fight savagely to rip the talons of Asura from the Earth.

The Bagheera claim that when Gaia was creating the Bastet, She created the Bagheera to be the lawgivers of the Changing Breeds. This role never fully materialized, in no small part due to the other shapeshifters’ short-sighted and selfish shunning of their cat-cousins. Still, traces of Gaia’s intent linger still; Bagheera possess a keen sense of justice and a spirit of righteous wrath that is terrible to behold.

### **Organization**

While they are not particularly social creatures, Bagheera social organization is nonetheless more highly developed than that of other Bastet tribes. Low-ranking Bagheera tend to maintain close ties with their elders, and it is not uncommon for the cats to form regional or even global chains of communication dedicated to keeping in touch and sharing information.

Bagheera are the lawgivers of the Bastet, and they take their duties very seriously. Bastet (or, indeed, any of Gaia’s children) who turn against Gaia, or whose actions threaten to rend the Veil, can expect to be held accountable by any Bagheera nearby. If the foe is particularly powerful, it is not unheard of for several wereleopards to band together to take him down.

Bagheera war parties are truly fearsome entities. While not suited to long-term cooperation, they nonetheless represent a devastating short-term concentration of power. Their tactics rely on using a combination of Gifts and Rites to run a victim to ground and then crush him as quickly as possible, before disbanding to go about their individual paths once more.

### **Distribution and Kin**

Historically, Bagheera are the most populous of the werecats. They were once found (along with their Kin) throughout the entirety of Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Africa.

However, in the past few decades, the habitat of their feline Kin has been fragmented, and leopards are now found mostly in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, and scattered in broken population zones in India and Asia. At the same time, cultural, political, and economic factors have pressed great hardship upon many of the Bagheera’s human Kin. The plight of their Kinfolk has encouraged the Bagheera to abandon global exploration, and settle where they can do everything possible to protect their extended families, making them quite rare in places like the United States.

*Human Kin*
In Africa, the wereleopards have typically chosen shamans and witch doctors as Kin, and they have never been particularly fussy about race — bushmen and pygmies are as appealing to them as Zulu warriors, and even Euro-immigrants and Arabs with an appropriate mindset find their way into Bagheera family trees.

### **Appearance**

Bagheera are sleek and graceful in all their forms, and exude an undeniable sense of power and ferocity. Many have black fur in their feline forms, but the standard leopard coloration is more common. Rumors exist of a branch of the tribe in the Himalayas that has successfully bred with snow leopards, but many Bastet believe this to be purely wishful thinking.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +1
 Sta: +2
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 2

**Beginning Willpower:** 4

**Starting Gifts:** Humbaba’s Escape, Treeclimber

### **The Yava of the 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 leopard’s prey with Aabhaya (a hand gesture meaning “protection”) will force the cat to flee unless his rage is just.

## **Balam**

Fury given a physical form, the Balam possess an intensity unmatched by any other Changing Breed.

Antisocial to the extreme, they merely wish to be left alone to prowl the twilight depths of the Amazon. Unfortunately, Pentex and the Asura are rending the rainforests of South America limb from limb, blighting the once-pristine jungle into a scarred perversion of its former self. And so, the Balam fight ceaselessly, making their foe pay a bloody price for every inch of land they seek to defile.

Balam are the fiercest of Gaia’s guardians. Before Europeans came to the Americas, the werejaguars used superstition and terror to steer humanity away from the territories under their care. Now, outnumbered and overwhelmed, they desperately strike directly at their foes to safeguard the sacred lands and forbidden lore that Gaia has given over to their keeping.

### **Organization**

Balam are highly solitary creatures, even compared to other Bastet. Most keep territories bordering those of several jaguars, or perhaps a Kinfolk village, and encounter others of their kind only rarely. While they recognize the rank and experience of their elders, and will listen to advice when appropriate, they are unlikely to change their actions or thoughts to cater to the whims of others.

The incursion of Pentex — and their associated industries — into the Amazon is driving the Balam mad, and not only because they are destroying Balam Kinfolk and Den Realms. These companies have brought a flood of foreigners into Balam territory, packing tens of thousands of humans into land that once held only native flora and fauna. The sheer influx of outsiders is infuriating to the werejaguars, who would do anything to cleanse their land of these tainted newcomers.

*Melanism*
Within the Bastet, melanism also exists. Some “werepanthers” consider their monochrome coloration to be a mark of particular honor, taking pride in their “panther” nature above that of whatever particular tribe they belong to. Others see it as a simple color variation, no more setting them apart from the rest of their tribe than a variant in eye color, height, or weight.
Regardless of their individual views, melanastic members of a tribe have access to the same Gifts as do the rest of their tribe. While a black jaguar-shifter might be mistaken for a Bagheera while in its feline forms, its tribe (and its personality) will be wholly Balam.

### **Balam Magic**

While no one who has faced a Balam in battle would deny their ferocity, combat is far from their solitary focus. At least as important to the werejaguars is the recovery of their lost lores — including ancient magics and rituals lost during the Second War of Rage. Balam scholars and warriors alike have fought for years to recover these ancient magics from anyone — Asura or Garou alike — who would keep their rightful heritage from them.

Storytellers running games with a focus on this aspect of the Balam are encouraged to adopt these “lost” secrets from any mystic aspect of the game that is thematically appropriate (and not normally easily accessible to the Bastet). This might include renamed versions of Garou Rites beyond those normally duplicated by the Bastet, Gifts that are listed as unique to other Changing Breeds, or abilities normally limited to those possessing a particular Fetish. Researching, searching for, discovering, and learning a “lost Balam Gift” in this way can be a sideline to an existing plot — or an intricate storyline in and of itself — depending on the characters and players involved.

### **Distribution**

Before European Garou spread throughout the United States, Balam often ranged the southern climes of the North American continent. These days, however, Balam are found almost exclusively in still-forested areas of Central and South America, although some have been reported recently ranging up into Mexico, possibly following the northward emigration of their human Kin.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Balam Kin are a diverse lot. While they once bred exclusively with the native tribes in Central and South America, the incredible diversity of immigrants to the area has encouraged Balam to expand their mating options. Nowadays, a Balam is as likely to be of Garifuna stock as Yanomamo, and mixed-race Kin are now more-or-less the norm.

Jaguars are solidly-built cats, and the Balam take after their feline Kin in this respect. Werejaguars tend to be short, stocky, and ferociously powerful. Like the Bagheera, many have black fur in Feline form, although the majority have a tawny pelt with arrangements of black rosettes not unlike those of their Asian and African cousins.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +1
 Sta: +2
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 4

**Beginning Willpower:** 3

**Starting Gifts:** Hunter’s Mists, Storm of Pests

### **The Yava of the 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 (shed while a Balam is using the Ancestral Wings Gift) hold great power. If you find one, burn it by the great cat’s face. Once it is ashes, the Balam will die.

## **Bubasti**

The Bubasti are a puzzle, an enigma, a mystery wrapped in contradiction. The mystics of catkind, they are a shy and secretive race. They are, however, also the most social of the Bastet, and tend to work closely with one another in most of their endeavors. Inextricably tied to the past, they also cast their golden eyes toward the future — and a time when the Bastet may truly fulfill the roles set for them by Gaia.

Long ago, the Bubasti were cursed by the ancient vampire deity Set, and as a result their lives are forever rooted in the soils of Khem, their ancestral home. It is said that if all of the Bubasti of a given generation leave Egypt, that generation will be the last. It is possible that this story is simply that — folklore — but the Bubasti do not care to test it, just in case.

From their creation, the Bubasti were charged with the task of guarding human mystics against the temptations of Asura. With the growth of humanity and the advent of Set’s curse, however, these werecats have had to change their tactics in order to survive. They still protect knowledge, as they always have. However, rather than bodyguards and sentries, they now fulfill the roles of scholars and researchers themselves, constantly working behind the scenes in an effort to sabotage the darker forces in the world through indirect means. Many magic-workers and sages count the Bubasti as potential contacts or allies, finding their knowledge and magical affinity invaluable.

Kyphur Cats

### **Organization**

Bubasti are highly organized, at least as far as Bastet go. The tribe is ruled by six elders, known as khepur, who have an intriguing secret — they are effectively immortal. Potent gifts allow them to seize new bodies upon their deaths, giving them a level of longevity and patience that rivals that of even the eldest vampires. This means the tribe tends to be more circumspect in its activities than most other Changing Breeds, since they can afford to bide their time until circumstances favor them.

Each of the tribe’s elders has his or her own projects, and each coordinates the activities of a portion of the tribe in the pursuit of those projects. Bubasti society is thus rather clannish in nature, with each faction minding its own business unless something truly momentous demands the attention of the tribe as a whole.

### **Distribution**

Set’s curse ensures that the Bubasti can never entirely flee Egypt, as doing so might destroy the tribe within a single generation. Because of this, and because of the insular organization described above, the Bubasti tend to spend most of their time in their ancestral homeland, and rarely venture forth to visit other locations.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Bubasti Kin are almost exclusively of Egyptian descent, and it is quite rare to find even Nubians among them. This is less an issue of breeding preference and more one of dynastic succession: the khepur elders of the tribe have maintained rather rigidly controlled families for centuries, and they are loath to introduce new blood when they can avoid it. Many younger Bubasti think this absurd, but obedience to their elders has been ingrained so deeply that it is difficult for any but the most rebellious to disobey.

Long-limbed and graceful, even among the Bastet, the Bubasti are considered unusually attractive in all of their forms. Their fur is always sleek and jet-black in feline form, a legacy of the Kyphur cats that were their ancestral breeding stock. In human form they are lean and lithe, with high cheekbones and prominent noses.

*Bubatsi Magic*
If the Storyteller is inclined to do so, she may allow the Bubasti players to design unique spells for their character to use. These spells might mimic the other Changing Breeds’ Gifts (including those from W20) or even be designed from scratch with power commiserate in level to those found in other Rites. For a more robust system, consider the Merit: Cat Magic. Bubasti magic is a wonder, even to Bastet of other tribes. On the down side, however, such arts have unpleasant side effects. Accomplished Bubasti sorcerers of Rank 2 or higher smell faintly of the Wyrm, which often hampers their relations with other Changing Breeds.
Bubasti with strong magical leanings thus tend to stay in the shadows even more than their cousins, leaving relations with other shapeshifters to their less magically inclined associates.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +1
 Sta: +0
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 1

**Beginning Willpower:** 5

**Starting Gifts:** Alms to the Poor, Scholar’s Friend

### **The Yava of the Bubasti**

• 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 hunger. Although their appetite is for something deeper than food, they will always eat what is put before them.

## **Ceilican**

Legends claim that this tribe died out in the great witch-purges of the 1500-1600s. The legends lie. The Ceilican, fearing the fate which is attributed to them, simply chose to take their existence into the shadows, and let those who would have purged them from existence assume they’d been successful.

For centuries, the Ceilican have succeeded in hiding in plain sight, pretending to be members of other tribes. However, even while infiltrating, they keep in touch with other of the fae-cats through an arcane network called “the Silent Way”.

While most Bastet have a Pryio that indicates their overall personality, the Ceilican mercurially shift Pryio, which makes friendships and long-term relationships difficult for them. Even the most freewheeling Ceilican have a manic, unstable air; this, combined with their secretive nature and duplicitous façade, leads to a tribe that is both enigmatic and volatile — a virtual powderkeg waiting to go off.

### **Organization**

In part by nature, and in part to protect their secret existence, Ceilican wander the globe, rarely interacting with those of their own kind. The exception, however, is a tribe-wide revel held each Samhain eve on the Scottish moors. Some of the tribe feel this meeting is a single point of vulnerability for their kind; an enemy could literally destroy every one of the fae-cats by targeting their shindig. However, the revel speaks to their nature on such a base and primal level that no Ceilican wishes to be the first to boycott it, no matter how high the danger.

### **Distribution and Kin**

Originally, the Ceilican tribe hails from Northern Europe, and their feline Kin were the maneless lions that were driven to extinction early during man’s occupation of the region.

Or so some claim.

Others of the tribe purport that their ancestry is actually linked to the Scottish wildcat, a small feline that hunted the forests of the British Isles throughout the Pre-Industrial Era before being driven to near-extinction through the destruction of its once-thickly-wooded territory. Still others claim that it is no mortal cat with whom the Ceilican share heritage, but instead the Cat Sí, a feline fae-spirit.

Regardless of the truth of their original lineage, the tribe’s feline Kin have been lost to history, either long extinct, nearly extinct, or driven away from mortal lands by the onset of the iron-heavy Industrial Revolution. And so, to ensure their tribe’s continued (albeit covert) existence, over the centuries Ceilican and their Kin have interbred with every other Bastet tribe while pretending to belong there. From amongst their “adopted” tribe, they tend to take lovers who inspire passion in them — musicians, artists, poets, and others who are led more by their heart than their head.

*Mercurial Cats*
Before abandoning one life and taking up another, she sends out a series of clues to those closest to her. In time, those who are privy to her secret track her down again, while others are left wondering whatever happened to that individual who made such an impact in their life and then disappeared.
Ceilican sometimes return to an old persona, appearing out of nowhere to step back into a life long-abandoned. This isn’t common, however, in part because their memories of previous lives are hazy at best. Until they actually take up the persona again, earlier lives feel more like a series of movies watched years ago, not real experiences from their past.

*Extintion and the Cunning Cat*
So, if the Ceilican draw their heritage from the now-extinct maned lions of Europe (as some claim), why are they still around?
The Ceilican are only one tribe within the Bastet Breed, and all Bastet (regardless of tribe) are children of Cat. It is possible that the presence of other Bastet-tied wild species allows the Ceilican to continue to exist, despite their own natural cat-Kin’s demise.
Or perhaps their cunning Cat Incarna spirit has simply found a loophole to keep his beloved offspring alive despite the death of their native feline Kinfolk.Finding (and keeping) secrets is what Cat is best at.
It’s also possible that the Ceilican who make these claims are simply wrong; perhaps it is the Scottish wildcat or the Cat Sí to whom the werecats owe their parentage. This would explain the tribe’s continued existence, at least for the moment. In the case of the wildcat, however, with less than 100 known members of the species surviving in the wild, the end of the species — and their shapeshifting brethren — might be nearer than any Bastet would care to imagine.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +2
 Sta: +1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 3

**Beginning Willpower:** 3

**Starting Gifts:** Faerie Light, Satyr’s Wisdom

### **Appearance**

In homid form, Ceilican embrace the width and breadth of humanity’s diversity, although they often appear to be of mixed racial heritage. Their feline forms tend to resemble a domesticated cat, but much larger — the size of a small panther — and can be quite fierce. Many have patterned fur — stripes and patches of coloration are common — and their interbred lineage often eases their claims to other tribes.

### **The Yava of the Ceilican**

Legends claim that one of their number found a way to break the Yava for the Ceilican, after certain fae lords used these curses to enslave much of the fae-cat tribe. The price he paid, however, was a fourth ban — the one which forces each Ceilican to change their persona at least once a year. Whatever trade was made, however, it appears time has eroded the bargain. In modern day, the ancient Yava have begun to gradually affect the fae-cats once more.

• Historic: The faerie cats fear the touch of cold iron. It burns them like a brand.

• Modern: Pure iron makes the Ceilican uncomfortable, and affects them as silver does.

• Historic: Reciting a Ceilican’s name backwards three times causes him discomfort; recite it six times thus, and he will die.

• Modern: Speaking a Ceilican’s true name — the one she was born with — backwards makes her uncomfortable. As of yet, no reported causes of name-related death have been reported amongst the tribe.

• Historic: The sound of a silver bell or church hymn strikes a faerie cat deaf for three days after.

• Modern: Ceilican are entranced by the sound of silver bells; it is difficult for them to take any actions, carry on a conversation, or willingly leave the presence of pealing bells. Spiritual songs have the same effect, even for those with no religious leanings.

• Modern: At least once a year, every Ceilican must forget who they are and become someone else. They cannot directly tell anyone of the change.

## **Khan**

Raw power defines a Khan. Neither subtle nor patient, they are infamous for their explosive tempers. But their strength is that of mountains, and their fury knows no bounds. Accustomed to being worshipped as gods, the Khan are the strongest of the Bastet and they are well aware of this fact.

But they know something else as well — that they are the champions of the Folk. As the greatest, their duty is to protect all who are lesser. While the Khan may be insufferable bastards, filled with arrogance and Rage, there is no one better to have at your side when the world comes apart beneath you.

### **Organization**

In ancient times, the Khan ruled as sultans among men, with the eldest Khan holding court over the younger, as well as his tiger and human Kinfolk. That system collapsed in the 1950s, when the last sultan betrayed his Kin and in the process nearly annihilated the Khan in their entirety. These days the Khan have no overarching organization, instead carving out their territories and protecting their Kin as best they can. The Bagheera aid them in this endeavor, though never openly; Khan pride wouldn’t allow overt assistance that might be seen as weakness on their part. But behind the scenes, ties between the two tribes remain strong.

### **Distribution**

The Khan, like their tiger Kin, once roamed throughout all of Asia, as well as the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. Recent years have taken a catastrophic toll on the wild tiger population, however, and the Khan have pulled back into India and Nepal, hoping to protect those few tigers remaining free in the wild.

### **Kin and Appearance**

In the past, some weretigers have allowed their human racial affiliations to color their judgments of one another, which led to horrible feuds between various families of the Khan tribe. Having seen the devastation that this in-fighting can create, modern Khan tend to be a bit more circumspect in their selection of partners, choosing mates who will put the battle against Asura above petty nationalistic concerns. A modern Khan may take her mate from any human clan or tribe, however he must be strong, powerful, and dedicated to the protection of his fellows.

Most Khan are massively built, weighing upwards of 300 lbs in human form and close to 800 lbs in Feline. When they take Chatro, they are matched in size only by the largest of the Gurahl or Mokolé. Khan exude a sense of majesty that other Bastet can only dream of; even the Simba cannot match them for sheer, feral power.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +1
 Sta: +2
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 5

**Beginning Willpower:** 2

**Starting Gifts:** Razor Claws, Skin of Jade

### **Yava of the 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**

The Pumonca travel a long and lonely path, wandering the wilderness of North America, in search of Asura blight or bits of forgotten wisdom. Although they walk alone, the rest of the Bastet respect them for the knowledge they bear, the tales they tell — and their single-minded dedication to their native lands.

### **Organization**

Pumonca have no organization. They are so isolationist, in fact, that they are the only tribe whose members are more likely to encounter other Changing Breeds than their own kind. This has hurt the werecougars considerably, since cubs have no established way to learn about Gaia, advance their rank, or coordinate their efforts when a task proves too great for a single Pumonca to tackle. Some of the tribe’s elders are trying to establish a rudimentary communications network with their fellows. However, as a tribe, the Pumonca are independent enough that even this vital task is in danger of failure due to lack of cooperation.

### **Distribution**

Pumonca have traditionally been most populous in the wooded, mountainous regions of North America, although their feline Kin extend into South America as well. Even within those lands, the werecougars rarely establish set territories. Instead, they prefer to wander the continent, seeking new stories, and sniffing out new threats.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Historically, Pumonca have chosen their human Kin from Native American racial stock. But with native tribes being herded onto reservations and many of their members integrating with non-native populations, the Pumonca now take mates where they can find them. Werecougars take their partners from among nomads, travelers, survivalists, and those who prefer the open road — or undeveloped lands — rather than the city or suburbs. Anyone still in touch with Mother Earth and Her ways might be considered as a mate for the natureloving Pumonca. The werecougars tend to be pickier about their feline Kin, however, recognizing how few of the North American great cats still exist. Those born from Florida panthers tend to seek other cats in that population when it comes time to mate, and the same holds true for cougar populations ranging from the Rocky mountains, the Cascades, or the Appalachians.

Pumonca are strong and lithe, and often have swarthy skin, either by virtue of Native American descent, or just extensive exposure to the elements. They are, for the most part, a quiet race, exhibiting neither the blatant power nor the raw majesty of many other Bastet tribes. However, they have stronger ties to the land than most of their Kin and this state of being “at one with their surroundings” is apparent in all of their forms.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +2
 Sta: +1
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 4

**Beginning Willpower:** 4

**Starting Gifts:** Mockingbird’s Mirror, Wanderer’s Boon

### **The Yava of the 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**

Sly and witty, the Qualmi are the most introspective of the Bastet, and the most maddening to deal with. While they enjoy company (in small doses), their enigmatic ways and inscrutable attitudes ensure that few beyond close friends and family can stand to be around them for long. But for those who can weather it, the Riddle Dancers are good friends and fierce fighters.

The Qualmi exist to remind Gaia’s other children (including the rest of the Bastet) of their duties. They are not content to simply lecture, however. Rather, they pose their questions as riddles in an effort to make the other Changing Breeds (particularly Garou) actually *think.*

### **Organization**

Because of their duty, Qualmi spend more time with other Changing Breeds than they do with one another. They are particularly close to both the Gurahl and the Wendigo, both of whom share their preferences for northern territories.

Unlike most Bastet, who receive a full year of initial training, young Qualmi are fostered for a period of roughly six months by their elders. During that time they learn about keeping in touch with other Qualmi, keeping tabs on the other Changing Breeds in the region, working with their allies to defeat the evils of Asura, and — most importantly — being cryptic. They likely spend more time on the last than any of the others, but since there tends to be great wisdom wrapped in their mysteries — for those able to unveil it — few begrudge them their eccentricities.

### **Distribution**

Qualmi are found exclusively in the northern regions of North America; the European Qualmi were exterminated in the War of Rage. Perhaps this is why werelynxes don’t travel abroad much, preferring not to leave their own territories if they can help it.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Qualmi aren’t picky about their human Kin; they simply don’t have that luxury. Human populations in the far north tend to be sparse and insular; a Qualmi takes a mate where he can, or remains alone.

Qualmi are short, compact folk, well adapted for surviving cold environments. They tend to come from Native American stock, but they aren’t terribly picky about their mates. In feline form they tend toward dappled grey fur, pointed ear tufts, and short, stubby tails — a particularly touchy topic for many werelynxes.

*Form Statistics*
 Sta: +1

**Beginning Rage:** 2

**Beginning Willpower:** 5

**Starting Gifts:** Breakfast of Stones, Turned Fur

### **The Yava of the Qualmi**

• The power of a lynx lies in her riddles; to unravel them is to undo her magic.

• 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**

The Simba represent the best Gaia has to offer: they are regal, proud, and powerful beyond compare. However, they are also arrogant, domineering, and malicious — even under the best circumstances. These traits — positive and negative — are currently being displayed to their extremes, as a Simba warlord attempts to bring all of Africa under his merciless control.

Historically, Simba have been a symbol of strength, unity, and perseverance for all of Gaia’s children. Alone among the Folk, they live, work, and thrive in groups of their own kind, leveraging all of their tribal strengths to a superlative degree. However, these traits — further stoked by egotism and a belief that Gaia created them to rule the Changing Breeds — mean that few Simba are content to follow the dictates of others. They must always lead, and if their fellows do not recognize their authority, they will battle for dominance until their opponents are beaten into submission. While this makes the Simba phenomenally poor team players on a larger scale, few things are more inspiring than watching a pride of Simba in action.

### **Organization**

Simba organization is nightmarishly complex. The basic unit of Simba organization is the pride. In lions, this is straightforward; two or more males dominate a group of females, reaping the benefits of the females’ hunting efforts — and breeding rights — in exchange for defending the pride’s territory from predators.

Since breeding is forbidden between Simba, however, the werelions’ organization is not so simple. Typically, feline Simba form a pride of mixed Simba and lion Kin, with a ratio of about one male to every three females. Homid Simba typically have several wives or husbands, with about 3-5 Kin per Simba. Some Simba prides maintain both lions and a number of human Kin, resulting in huge, convoluted Kinship networks.

Beyond the pride scale, most Simba interactions are handled via ritual. Stronger prides rule over weaker ones, and have first choice when it comes to Kin (lion or human), resources, and sacred sites, such as caerns. Pride is very important to the Simba, and social interactions center on rituals of respect and deference. Simba typically don’t have established ranks or positions within the pride; they simply establish a pecking order and are very careful to respect it (until such time as they are willing to challenge those who are higher up the chain).

*Out of Africa*
Things are changing, however. Rumors speak of a strangely-accented Simba female who sometimes holds secret council with Black Tooth in meetings where not even his closest pride-mates are welcome. Where this dark-eyed stranger comes from, or where her alliances lay, is a matter of great curiosity, although those who whisper about it are careful to do so well away from the warlord’s ears.
Is it possible that this mysterious stranger is a representative of a long-hidden pride of Indian Simba, now hoping to ride the coat-tails of Black Tooth’s success back into the limelight? Or is the Simba warlord dealing with forces even darker and more surreptitious than a lost tribal lineage?

### **Distribution**

Simba are found throughout Africa, although the decimation of wild lion territory has drawn the tribe in away from the northern and southern tips, consolidating most prides in the central region.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Simba human Kin vary depending on the tribe; some favor accomplished hunters and killers, while others look to their human halves for wisdom and understanding — or cunning and ruthlessness.

Simba are massively built, and beautiful to behold in all of their forms. Males have manes of varying lengths in Crinos, Chatro, and Feline forms, and luxuriant long hair in Homid and Sokto forms. Females tend to be athletic and graceful, regardless of their breed form. The most striking feature about a Simba, however, is his presence, which is never less than awe-inspiring.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +1
 Sta: +2
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 5

**Beginning Willpower:** 2

**Starting Gifts:** Majesty, Submit

### **The Yava of the 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.

*Black Tooth's Pride*
The majority of the Simba who have survived his onslaught have chosen to proclaim him their one and rightful ruler. Those who refuse tend not to survive long. The Bagheera and Swara of Africa have either thrown their lot in with this ferocious leader, or moved their people out of the path of his Endless Storm. The Ajaba — scruffy illegitimate cousins to the Bastet — have been decimated, destroyed almost to the point of extinction under Black Tooth’s tyrannical claws.
Many grumble — albeit not within his earshot — about Black Tooth’s reign of terror. But unless someone succeeds in rallying the rag-tag remains of the African continent’s shifters against him, it appears that this ruthless war leader may soon claim all of the Dark Continent as his own.

## **Swara**

Swara are built for speed: quick, wiry, and fast. It would be easy to think these the best of their talents, but swiftness is only part of their virtue. The world of spirit speaks to them, calling them to fight on Gaia’s behalf. This they do, and gladly, making them one of the most courageous of all of the Changing Breeds.

Werecheetahs like to fix things. The nature of the “thing” does not matter — physical or spiritual, natural or mechanical, real or imagined. So long as they feel the task aids Gaia, the specifics don’t concern them. They are drawn to repair what is broken and make whole what has been torn asunder.

Unfortunately, they are also plagued with a crippling xenophobia that makes interacting with other Changing Breeds difficult. They have been betrayed by others often enough that they do not give their trust easily. In a vicious cycle, their need to help Gaia often overrides their paranoia, exposing them to more harm, and thus amplify their xenophobia — sometimes to the point of madness.

During the War of Rage (and for centuries after) Swara kept to themselves to the point that many of the other shapeshifters believed them to be extinct. In recent years, they have been dragged out of hiding, and forced to play the role Gaia intended for them — in plain view of all of their peers. Whether this newfound status liberates them or destroys them remains an open question.

### **Organization**

Like Pumonca, Swara tend to be wanderers, and rarely have established territories. Since Simba, Ajaba, or even normal lions and hyenas often terrorize them, they are shy and reclusive, and often stick together to better their odds against the world. It is not uncommon to find young Swara traveling in bands of two or three, especially if they are related individuals. Some make good use of their numbers, relying on rapid pack tactics to take down their foes. Solitary Swara, on the other hand, are more likely to flee into the Umbra than stand their ground and fight (unless, of course, the target is of the Wyrm, in which case they fight to the death unless a more sensible option presents itself).

### **Distribution**

Swara were historically found throughout Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia, but nowadays they are concentrated predominantly in southern Africa. Many live in Umbral realms as well, having fled the world in the manner of the Nuwisha long ago.

### **Kin and Appearance**

Swara human Kin are, interestingly, often of European descent, since they control most of the private ranches in Namibia (which is some of the only suitable cheetah habitat left in all of southern Africa). This is less so in the north and east, where some cheetah still roam the grasslands and Swara mate freely with any human that strikes their fancy.

Swara tend to be long-limbed and lanky, with short hair and a nervous air about them. In Chatro form their fur occasionally has the striped king cheetah morph running through it, which is considered a sign of good luck.

*Form Statistics*
 Dex: +2
 Sta: +1
 Man: –1
 App: –1

**Beginning Rage:** 2

**Beginning Willpower:** 4

**Starting Gifts:** Diamond Claws, Impala’s Flight

### **The Yava of the Swara**

• The Swara are very protective of their mothers’ good name. By insulting their mother (literal or figurative), 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 Unmaker has 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.

# **Traits**

Bastet do not have auspices. They do, however, have Pryio (see below), a designation that tends to influence or represent their dominant personality traits and world-views.

Bastet determine Gnosis based upon their breed, while their tribe determines their beginning Rage and Willpower. All Bastet regain one point of Rage each sunset.

Feline Bastet may not take the Ancestors Background and can only purchase personal totems with Background dots or freebie points. Because of their solitary ways, they also may not take the Mentor Background after their first year. Storytellers may wish to make an exception for Bagheera, who maintain loose ties with one another throughout their lives.

The restriction on the Ancestors Background may also be waived for Swara. Swara have a deep connection to the land, and as such the Storyteller may allow Swara to purchase Ancestors to represent this connection. The Swara isn’t channeling an ancestor-spirit per se, but the game effects are similar enough that the mechanics used by the background represent the effects reasonably well.

Bastet cannot step sideways without a Gift.

### **Renown**

Bastet value Ferocity above Glory, and Cunning (sometimes called Cleverness) over Wisdom. Bastet perform Rites of Recognition to gain Renown, typically in the presence of their mentor or another representative of their tribe. The exact form of the ritual varies widely, however. Simba, being the most group-focused of the werecats, often include other members of their pride in the ceremony, while a nomadic Pumonca may call spirits to act as his witness, rather than another Bastet.

## **Breeds**

Homid is the most common Bastet breed, by a margin that widens each year as more and more of their wild-Kin are driven towards extinction. As they tend towards independence rather than social pack-groups, metis are less common than among the Garou, but not unheard of.

### **Homid:**

Homid Bastet come from all walks of life. In Africa and South America, they are typically villagers or people with a strong affinity for the wilderness. In the United States and Asia, they are often naturalists and outdoorsy folk, with a recreational, educational, or vocational conservationist bent.

**Beginning Gnosis:** 1

**Starting Gifts:** Cat Claws, Sweet Hunter’s Smile

### **Metis:**

Metis Bastet (the offspring of two Bastet mating) are rare, more due to the werecat’s scarcity than to prohibition within the Breed. Despite bearing physical (or psychological) flaws, they do not suffer persecution from amongst their own kind. After all, when you rarely see others of your kind, what time do you have for prejudice? Metis Bastet are judged by their deeds, and are valued as much as their homid and feline cousins, despite their defects.

**Beginning Gnosis:** 3

**Starting Gifts:** Create Element, Sense Primal Nature

### **Feline:**

Bastet try to breed with the strongest feline Kin they can find, but due to loss of habitat and excessive poaching, their pickings are often slim. Despite the popularity of wild cat exhibits in zoos around the world, most Bastet breed only with wild Kin. Condemning another to a life behind bars is seen as a deplorable act, and should a mating with a captive-Kin breed true rescuing a newly changed Bastet cub from the public’s eye could prove dangerous to everyone involved.

**Beginning Gnosis:** 5

**Starting Gifts:** Heightened Senses, Pounce

## **Pryio**

A Pryio is a subtle indicator of a Bastet’s true personality; it determines how the cat approaches life and handles the challenges thrown their way. While it is often determined by the time of day in which the Bastet achieved her First Change, Pryio can shift if the Bastet undergoes a severe life change. A Bastet regains Willpower whenever they do something particularly in keeping with her Pryio.

### **Daylight:**

Bastet with the Daylight Pryio are typically open and direct in their dealings. They can be taken at their word, and prefer straightforward battles if conflict is necessary. Daylight Bastet tend to be diplomats, warriors, lawgivers, and protectors. They have an optimistic take on the world and the events therein. Those with a Daylight Pryio regain Willpower when they face serious challenges head-on, and win through courage or good nature.

### **Twilight:**

Twilight cats have a penchant for mysteries and magic, and tend to see the world in shades of grey. They are questioners and questers, seeking the truth behind the scenes. They are often detectives, lawyers, spies, or mystics, searching for hidden meanings in all of their endeavors. Twilight Bastet are often driven by their emotions and are insatiably curious. They regain Willpower by solving mysteries, thinking rather than reacting, or creating puzzles or riddles that can lead others to truth.

### **Night:**

Night Pryio Bastet often possess a sinister or hidden nature. Most Bastet with this Pryio withdraw from others, concentrating on their own business unless interrupted. Although they might not be actively malignant, they often have short tempers, quiet ways, and fiercely guard their privacy. Night Bastet gravitate towards occupations such as assassin, scholar, scientist, and practitioners of dark magics. In the wilderness, the Night cats are hidden hunters and man-eaters, with nasty dispositions and eerie reputations. Activities that cause others discomfort, reinforce their private space, or protect a valuable secret from outsiders can refresh their Willpower.

## **Forms**

Bastet can change into five forms: Homid, Sokto, Crinos, Chatro, and Feline. They function in most respects like their Garou counterparts, and the difficulties associated with shifting forms for the Garou apply to the Bastet as well.

### **Homid:**

Bastet in Homid form tend to be attractive, but are indistinguishable from normal humans.

### **Sokto:**

The Sokto form is a hybrid of human and feline characteristics, with the emphasis on the human traits. The Bastet’s limbs lengthen, claws extend from her fingers upon command, and her facial features, eyes, and teeth become more catlike. Her body hair thickens, and she becomes disturbingly inhuman.

### **Crinos:**

This form is an anthropomorphic blend of cat and human, built for battle. The Crinos form offers the Bastet the greatest protection, while still allowing him to manipulate weapons and equipment. Bastet in Crinos form invoke the Delirium, although to a lesser degree than normal (Delirium is reduced by two ranks on the Delirium Chart).

### **Chatro:**

The primordial war-form, Chatro takes the feline form and super-charges it. This form is stronger than any of the other forms, massively built, and utterly terrifying. The Bastet’s canines extend to a length of 3-5 inches, allowing her to inflict an extra die of damage with Bite attacks. The Bastet evokes the Delirium at full strength in this form.

### **Feline:**

The Bastet’s Feline form is like that of her normal feline Kin. It is more useful for movement than any of the other forms.

# **Gifts**

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.

Bastet begin play with three Gifts: one Level One general Gift, one Level One breed Gift, and one Level One tribe Gift.

Stereotypes
 **Corax:** You do not know the true value of a secret, flapping your beak. That is why I listen to the birds, rather than telling them anything.
 **Nagah:** I’ve heard that they might not be dead. But that? That is not a secret. A real secret would be finding one, and escaping with your life.
*“They believe that hoarding secrets is the path to power. Normally, that’s no problem, but when we find any who know the Sacred Secret, they must disappear.” — Ten Steps*