Bastet - Art with Fatal Grace

When Cat embodied herself on earth, so magnificent was she that it took not one godhead to contain her glory, but many. Ra took cat-form to slay the serpent of night; Lilith yowled like a cat in heat. Sekhmet roared with the fury of a lioness, but it was Bast, precious Lady Bastet, who epitomized Cat best. Goddess of the home, marriage and sexuality, she purred with satisfaction and spat with rage. Temples fi lled with earthly cats were her sanctums, and a city — Per-Bast, called Bubastis — was raised to her earthly name. In its streets, cats and people mingled. Spirits met and blood fl owed freely. Perhaps the Changing Gift had been there all along. In Bubastis, though, it became sacrament. The souls of Man and Cat merged as one. It’s been said that there are two kinds of people: dog people and cat people. While this is nonsense, it has a ring of truth. Of all the changing breeds, the most numerous are either felines (the Bastet) or canines (the Uratha included). But while werewolves share a vast community, each werecat is a walking work of art. Individual in her beauty, she strikes out on her own. And yet there are breeds, colloquially named for the Goddess to whom Egypt bent its knee. In more than a dozen bloodlines, Cat spreads her influence across the world. There are cat-folk who shift into house-sized bundles, and cat-folk who become the greatest predators on earth. Some trace their ancestry to the hot shadows of Bubastis, while others wake up in alleys, reeking of fish and wondering where their whiskers went. Clearly, humanity senses an accord with Cat, and if that presence seems more “feminine” than “masculine,” perhaps Man needs to re-evaluate his reflection. Cat provides graceful counterpart to the loyalty of Dog. Where he curls at his master’s feet, she stretches out near his head. Male or female, Cat speaks of sleek independence and spirits only lightly bound in skin. People who become cats seem otherworldly; sensual and fierce, they balance affection with a deeply feral hiss. Often smaller than their canine counterparts, cats and cat-people make up the difference in grace. In any form, they’re light on their feet, agile of mind, body and spirit. If they seem too carnal for their own good, it’s because each sensation is too precious to waste.

Character Creation Notes

As a breed, werecats are agile and attractive. The Striking Looks and Fast Reflexes Merits are almost essential. Social and Physical Attributes usually dominate — cats are smart but often impulsive. Meanwhile, the wide range of feline interests can manifest in any Skill set. Most feline ferals have a dot or two in Athletics, Survival and Investigation, but as always, each cat is her own master.

Accords for Bastet

Den-Warder:

Fierce as she might be, few beasts are as affectionate or nurturing as a mother cat. Even males among the Bastet are family-oriented, and while they’ve been known to abuse or kill a rival’s offspring (a bad thing if the feral gets involved with someone’s ex), they’re loyal to their own blood. Ferociously protective, these werecats guard loved ones with deep devotion. Knowing that survival depends on stability, these Warders set watch over their kin and territories, challenging (and often eating) anyone who would threaten their existence.

Heart-Ripper:

Imagine a cat with a mouse. Now you’ve got the general idea.

Root-Weaver:

Cats are clever, but rarely industrious. Bastet temperament is usually too fleeting to resonate with this accord. In the context of Odyssey Earth, every so often, though, a bright werecat takes a liking to engineering or more industrial crafts and then dedicates herself to making them work better. Still, she’ll pursue that goal with style; an unnecessarily large clockwork toy, a finely crafted sword with a hilt basket of intricate filagree, or clothing painstakingly tooled and colored to resemble shimmering dragon scales suit a werecat’s fancy. They were not meant to merely blend in.

Sun-Dancer:

The obvious choice for a budding werecat, this accord lives on its own terms. The rootless state of a feral Dancer suits the young felines like a second skin. In time, though, this chase for the sun grows boring to many Bastet. While many “kittens” begin their feral lives under this accord, most soon forsake it in favor of more dedicated paths.

Wind-Chaser:

On many levels, this is a werecat’s perfect accord: he can be solitary except when he chooses not to be, visionary on his own terms and aspire to more than simple indulgence. This path calls to many Bastet throughout their lives. Endlessly curious, the average cat loves exploring mysteries. With open eyes and an open road, the Chaser seeks inspiration yet refuses to settle down.

Species of Bastet

1. Rajanya - Tigers
2. Bubasti - Kyphur
3. Hatara - Lions
4. Bahgrasha - Panthers
5. Balam - Jaguars
6. Cait Sith - Trickster Cats
7. Qualm'a Ni - American Big Cats (Cougars, Lynx, Bobcats
8. Klinkerash - Devil Cats

Basic Information

Anatomy

With very few exceptions, Bastet are lean and lovely. In either sex, they’re smooth and elegant. A few“fat cats” betray their heritage, but by and large the cat-folk are strikingly attractive. Their physical agility outweighs sheer strength, but it’s the eyes that catch your attention. Large and curious, they see all yet give nothing away. One could read affection, mockery or nothing in those eyes. Even in human form, they always seem to shine.Whether the Bastet moves on little cat feet or with the poise of a massive predator, she embodies the fierce beauty of Nature. Her breed-mates roam from Chinese peaks to American gutters. People born into Cat’s pride share a common lithe form, regardless of size; similar to their animalkin, werecat bodies have subtle differences but share a common ferocious beauty. A small Klinkerash boasts the same anatomy as a bulky Rajanya — size varies, but the essentials are the same. The housecat and the tiger share the same design, one of the most perfect in all Nature. Curious and tactile, Bastet are creatures of sensation. They see, hear, taste, smell and feel more deeply than most humans can imagine . . . and Bastet enjoy it. This openness to experience often seems rude by human standards; Bastet acquire “reputations” regardless of their morality. Brazen in her physicality, a werecat sizes up anything (or anyone) of interest. Still, she’s a capricious soul, and if that object of her attentions or affections bores her, she’ll be searching for another one in no time.

Genetics and Reproduction

Kinship matters dearly to Bastet. Although promiscuous, they rarely breed true. The Changing Gift may skip generations, even centuries, within a bloodline, and so when a child is born to a werecat parent, that child receives a ferocious guardian. Often, that guardian watches from afar — cats are notorious for hooking up and moving on. Still, a Bastet’s child sees shadows on his wall at night and hear deep purring from the corner of a room. He may not meet Dad or Mom till later (feline ferals often leave their children with human kin), but he’ll feel their presence even when the cat remains unseen. Sadly, most big cats are endangered. Man’s infl uence cuts deeply into their territories and prey, and his instinctive fear of predation keeps his fi nger very tense on the trigger when they’re around. The mutual fascination between humanity and cats keeps them nosing around one another’s dens, and although many ferals feel protective of their animal kin, they’d rather see the breeds die free than live encaged. The reverse is true of their smaller cousins. Domestic cats are among the most common animals in Man’s acquaintance. This has been a boon to the smaller Bastet species, who are far more numerous than their venerable kin. The Bubasti, Klinkerash, Ceilican and other petite species require much less food and space, and enjoy closer contact with humans as a whole. In the modern age, these werecats are far more adaptable to urban settings than their regal yet imposing breed-mates. A black cat might not have the glamorous power of a panther, but she’ll have an easier time finding shelter and meals.

Ecology and Habitats

Just as their feline kin, werecats range across the globe. No land is a stranger to their feet. Certain breeds, such as jaguars or tigers, have ancestral bonds to certain regions. Even then, though, a Bastet wanders when she can. Feline shapechangers prefer comfortable, pleasant surroundings. A human home might be draped with wallhangings and suffused with incense, or could display the Spartan grace of a single futon and a plain low-slung table. The werecat’s “den” should suit the size of the feral form; a small cat won’t mind a cluttered apartment, but a jaguar needs room to stretch. Cats excel at making almost anything seem comfy; still, a shapechanger will want someplace to run free in her feline guise. In no form do cats enjoy confinement.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Cats are the perfect land-based predators, and cannot survive without at least a bit of meat in their diets. Most werecats prefer much more than just “a bit.” Although Bastet are among the most refined beast-folk around, predators are predators, and instincts are instincts. Prey animals (human and otherwise) feel a trembling fascination in a Bastet’s presence. Even if they’re “on the same side,” the beasts still eye one another with blood in their thoughts. The rift between cats and dogs runs deep. Instincts ripple red between them. Yet just as dogs and kittens can bond in a home, so Bastet and Canidae and even Uratha can share a “pack” of sorts. In any form, there’ll be tension and an underlying rivalry. But in their way, each breed is loyal to its loved ones. A feral tiger will fight just as savagely for a close lupine comrade as she will for a feline one.

Behaviour

A cat chooses her own company. Unlike her canine cousins, she is not bound by pack or protocol. Most werecats keep a small yet dedicated pride of kin beside them. Real cats and “mere” humans alike, these kin enjoy the feral’s trust. Although some werecats (notably Bubasti and Hatara) share company with others of their kind, the majority do not. Bastet can be quite territorial, and have loud and bloody ways of securing their private space. Cats are infamous for being selfi sh. To an extent, the stereotype is true. A Bastet often looks to her own needs and comfort above all else. Still, her feelings run deeper thanyou might expect, and she’ll risk everything for a person or cause that suits her. Notoriously independent, Bastet listen to whomever they please — which often means “no one.” The regal presence of a cat inspires devotion or fear in other creatures, and many felines enjoy that allure. In groups, feline shapechangers resist all attempts atauthority, except those coming from other Bastet. Between one another, werecats have sharp ways of working things out; loud, unnerving cries and a few quick swats usually settle dominance issues . . . for the moment, at least. Social “caterwauling” is common, too, especially in human guise. Most cats take verbal swipes at rivals whenever the opportunity appears.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Earthy yet perceptive, Bastet remain curious about almost everything. As a breed, they lack the deep spiritual connection of their werewolf cousins. Individual werecats, though, can master the spirit ways, pursue beastmagic or ignore both in favor of more carnal pursuits.

Bastet

Werecat

Bastet - Art with Fatal Grace