Jamaa, spirit guardians and friends of the Bastet, great allies and at the same time terrible enemies these spirits are unlike Garou totems in the fact that they take personal allies amongst the Bastet rather than an entire Pride. One will rarely see a Jamak manifest itself across the Gauntlet. Instead they prefer to reside in the Umbra. Often a Jamak will choose a Bastet as their ally and not the other way around, however, Some Bastet have been known to come to a Jamak for help.
Bonyscrap
Background Cost: 1
A brooding scavenger bird, Bonyscrap lurks near the dying and the doomed,
waiting to pick their corpses. He does not , it should be noted, always wait
until the prey dies. Although honorable Bastet shun this Vulture-spirit, wise
cats know he has valuable insights to share with those who tolerate his company.
The Bubasti, in particular, listen to what Bonyscrap has to say.
Favors: The vulture occasionally whispers clues and hints that foreshadow
the future into a werecat's ear. First, though, the Bastet character has to
endure the spirit's reeking breath, foul presence and obnoxious comments.
Bonyscrap usually taunts his "buddy" before giving up the goods,
which consist of bits of information that the Storyteller wants to pass along
to the player. Alternately, the spirit's favor may simply add a die or two
to Enigmas or Investigation rolls, although this option's not nearly as much
fun to roleplay.
Ban: Bonyscrap is an obnoxious cuss, and often insults finicky Bastet just
for fun. He usually offers bites of a rotted roadkill or a partially-devoured
meal, accompanied by a blast of avian halitosis. Any cat who can put up with
this abuse is considered all right in Bonyscrap's book.
Butterfly
Background Cost: 1
The many forms of Butterfly recall the metamorphosis at the heart of creation.
Unlike so many other creatures or spirits, Butterfly is always changing, forever
bursting into new shapes, colors and sizes. A special favorite of the Balam,
Bagheera and Qualmi, this Jamak values the peaceful heart, full of wonder
at the dance.
Favors: Butterfly grants its ally with the Gift: Monkey's Uncle, and adds
+2 to the Bastet's frenzy roll difficulty. Although it shifts across the color
spectrum, Butterfly is without anger or despair. This spirit stands as a symbol
of hope and renewal.
Ban: Allies of Butterfly cannot attack a foe in anger, only for defense.
Citlacoatl, the Feathered Serpent King
Background Cost: 3
A crafty, clever spirit, Citlacoatl floats across the humid forests and arid
plains, chuckling to himself. His folk know the tiny shadows where even werecats
never venture, and they listen from the newspaper's shade and the hanging
branch as humans scurry about their short little lives. The Serpent King is
endless, and like his folk, understands the ways between life and death. His
jaunts span the Three Worlds of creation, and his tongue tastes the essence
of Gaffling, ghost and Epiph alike.
Only Pumonca and Balam understand the wisdom Citlacoatl brings; most other
Bastet disdain his council and chew his children between their fangs. Fair
enough -- cats may have nine lives, but serpents are eternal. Citlacoatl watched
the rise and fall of Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Olmecs and so many others, and
he watches their ghosts even now, wandering through the Flayed Shadowlands
as if they still lived. Mortal men amuse the Serpent King. A cat who respects
the spirit's wisdom might learn to share that humor -- or to fear it.
Favors: Citlacoatl winds between the worlds of life, death, consciousness
and dream. To find him, a werecat enters a trance and goes seeking. Occasionally,
the Serpent King Follows the werecat, if only for amusement. There's a lot
of fun to be had in mortal warfare; Citlacoatl has an odd (some would say
sick) sense of humor. Bastet who make him laugh or protect his kind might
learn the Rite of Nine Lives or the Gift: Walking Between Worlds. More often
than not, Citlacoatl just sends snakes to his allies' aid, or teaches them
the Dance of the Cobra if they're admirably wise and persistent.
Ban: Although there are similarities between Citlacoatl and King Snake, the
two have never come to an accord. A follower of one becomes the foe of the
other. Citlacoatl also hates the agents of the Unmaker Wyrm; creation is too
much fun to be destroyed.
Hatii the Thunderer
BAckground Cost: 5
One of the most powerful Jamak, this Elephant-spirit rarely chooses allies
among catkind. There's too much bad blood between his protected cousins and
the predatory cats. He will never choose a Simba ally, for it's been said
that in the early years following the Impergium, the children of Akuma hunted
elephants for fun. Hatii never forgives a slight, nor does he forget an act
of kindness. To the Khan, he's a valued ally, a strong and wise friend who
gifts his chosen few with tough skin and an excellent memory.
Favors: It takes an outstanding act of courage or wisdom to attract Hatii's
attention;p werecats who heroically defend elephant herds, especially from
other werecats, are his favorite allies. To them, this spirit grants an additional
two points of Stamina in battle. This bonus only appears during a fight, and
fades when that specific fight ends. Additionally, he may gift the werecat
with the Photographic Memory Merit for one specific even per story, and occasionally
offers a hint to some puzzle which confounds the Bastet (AN "under-the-table"
hint from the Storyteller might come through as the elephant's guidance).
On the grasslands of Africa or India, a herd of elephants might intervene
to save one of Hatii's chosen from death.
Ban: Hatii's allies must defend herds of his cousins whenever possible, and
should hunt down and kill anyone who murders an elephant for sport or ivory.
Ika-Ika the Monkey King
Background Cost: 3
A noisy and boisterous spirit, Ika-Ika represents caprice, mischief, nonsense
and ferocity; his friends, however, understand the wisdom inherent in Monkey
King's chaos, and respect his drive to break rules whenever possible. When
he finds someone he respects (a rare occurrence), Ika-Ika is a loyal and powerful
ally. While he might kid his friends, or play pranks on them,k he'll be the
first Jamak to show up if something's wrong. The Bagheera and Swara find Ika-Ika
amusing, while the more serious Khan and Simba resent his careless ways. Bubasti,
as a rule, hate this mad spirit, and avoid those who befriend him. Naturally,
he loves to annoy their kind, and favors a cat who does the same.
Favors: A Favor from the Monkey King means an extra dot in Dexterity and Acrobatics,
which last the remainder of the day. On a more permanent basis, he sometimes
teaches his friends the Gifts like Treeclimber, Farsight, Clawstorm and Monkey's
Uncle. These last two Gifts he leaves for respected allies, not simple buddies;
a Bastet must achieve at least Third Rank and maintain a long alliance with
Ika-Ika to receive such valuable Favors.
Ban: Ika-Ika likes anarchy; his friends have to know how to kick down the
walls and let loose. Even so, they should know where to stop -- the Monkey
King is wise chaos, not cruelty. They should also understand the value of
friendship. When he's feeling wild, Ika-Ika might show up in person, either
as a monkey or as crazy man. His friends should welcome him if they want to
keep him.
King of Cats
Background Cost: 3
Dashing, quick and clever, the King of Cats embodies both the bright works
of Rahjah and the dark charm of Cahlash. Although most Bastet follow one aspect
or the other, very few realize that both spirits are one and the same -- a
rogue who does good deeds even as he violates good conduct.
Some see the King of Cats as the first of their kind, the one who saved Seline
from the Asura; others believe he's an avatar of both Father spirits. Whatever
his origins, the King of Cats is a dapper fellow with a sharp sword and a
razor wit. Although his dress changes to suit the occasion, he seems to prefer
swashbuckler trappings. Though he turns feline if need be (sometimes white,
often black), the King of Cats prefers to dance around human guise, daring
enemies to harm him. He is the soul of valiant rebellion, and favors those
who live and die with style.
Favors: Allies of the King of Cats receive the Grace Merit and a permanent
point of Dexterity if they live by his codes: Play hard, laugh at death, and
go out with a flourish. He can teach any Bastet Gift, but seldom does.
Ban: The King of Cats will not tolerate a sober disposition. If one of his
allies falls into depression or morbidity, he abandons her to find another.
King-of-Beasts
Background Cost: 6
The majestic symbol of kings and conquerors, this Lion-spirit roars proud
challenges to all rivals. The revered spirit of many Simba prides, King-Of-Beasts
crushes enemies beneath his mighty paws. His mane is like sunshine and his
roar is 500 thunders. No creature can meet his gaze for long; cowering, they
slink away and hide.
Still, King-of-Beasts is a generous despot. Though he demands total obedience,
he gifts those he loves with strength and magical prowess. It's a rare Bastet
who can "afford" this spirit's patronage, also Simba prides often
follow him together (pooling their points as do the Garou with a pack totem.)
Once, many humans gave homage to this spirit, and he favored them as well.
In the modern world, men have grown too "smart" for totems. His
allies come from the Bastet, and from some Garou packs.
Favors: This Jamak speaks in formal tones and demands the same from his chosen.
Werecats who can meet King-Of-Beasts' high standards might receive one extra
dot in Strength in battle and may reduce all Intimidation difficulties by
three. Their voices seem to deepen, and those who can see auras notice that
the followers seem to blaze with power. The King also teaches many Gifts when
he feels a pride is worthy. These benefits extend to every member of the pride
that allies itself with the totem (maximum of four characters).
Ban: This spirit is a harsh ally; his followers must bow to his majesty while
dominating every other creature in sight. Any faltering or cowardice will
cost the entire pride his aid, perhaps forever.
Mantis
Background Cost: 2
The creator of the world according to some folklore, the wise and patient
Mantis dreams its way out of trouble. This Jamak knows the seven levels of
silence, from meditation to death, and teaches them to its allies. When some
problem threatens, Mantis folds itself still and waits. Sooner or later, the
solution comes. The Khan and Bagheera understand Mantis' wisdom, and the Simba
of the Kalahari claim its example helped them temper their tribal rage.
Favors: Mantis sends dreams and prophecies to those who understand how to
be still. In game terms, this lowers the difficulty for rolls involving Enigmas,
Investigation or Occult. THis bonus depends on the successes the cat makes
on a Willpower roll (difficulty 9) to remain still and clear her thoughts.
Each success lowers the difficulty by one. Such discipline often takes an
hour or more, and cannot be done in combat or hectic circumstances.
Ban: Allies of Mantis cannot be hasty or reckless. if they aren't smart enough
to be still, the spirit leaves them alone.
Mistress of Catkind
Background Cost: 5
Creation, as the Bastet know, is a woman. From mad Mother Nala to the endless
birth-death of Ahu and the comforting hands of Seline and Gaia, the cats recognize
the female essence that gave them form. The Mistress of Catkind is that essence
in spades, the embodiment of fierce maternity, nurture and passion. Through
her many faces, the Bastet recognize the greater power she represents. Freyja,
Durga, Hecate, Sekhmet -- all these names and more personify the Mistress
to human eyes. The Bastet themselves echo her most obvious manifestation,
Bast, in their racial name. Even so, the Mistress is a personable spirit.
Like the King of Cats, she channels her divinity behind an accessible face.
Let other boastful Jamak rival her for power; those who embody All need not
make displays.
The Mistress appears in a variety of forms; sometimes she comes in the form
of a great white cat, sometimes a woman clad in moonlight, a goddess in robes
of war, a white buffalo or a tiny blue kitten. Unless she's angry, her voice
is soft and her touch, and all sounds fade as she approaches. This spirit
teaches all the skills of survival, from hunting to magical Gifts, and often
appears when her followers need her, not before. Sometimes she takes human
guise for fun, or becomes a white tiger on the Siberian cliffs. Whatever face
she wears, the Mistress' followers recognize her instinctively. WhILE SHE
NEVER expects them to bow to her, this Jamak deserves respect, and has no
trouble getting it. As gentle as she seems, the Mistress can bed fierce and
unpredictable. In defense of her children or of nature, she lashes out like
a cornered lion. Doting mother, passionate lover, goddess of war, mystery-walker
-- the Mistress of Cats is all those and more.
Favors: The Mistress comes to comfort her lost or fearful children, or to
rally them for a good fight. In every aspect, the Mistress teaches all the
Gifts of catking to those who deserve them. Occasionally, she grants some
special power or sends animal minions to a follower's aid; under most circumstances,
however, the Mistress prefers to come in person, advise a cat, and leave.
Ban: While the eternal Nala may be drawn to Cahlash, her Mistress aspect despises
corruption. A fierce enemy to Asura, she has nothing to do with the servants
of Cahlash, especially if those servants are cats. Needless destruction or
perversion is anathema to her. A Bastet who joins Cahlash will lose this Jamak
forever.
Old Snapjaw
Background Cost: 2
A favored spirit-friend of the Bubasti, this devourer guards mystic knowledge.
An Alligator or Crocodile-spirit (depending on where you find her), Snapjaw
lurks bellow the waters of transition, watching things pass away until someone
approaches her store-house of secrets. If he is worthy, she tests him until
he solves a series of riddle-games; if he seems foolish or hesitates to do
what must be done, Snapjaw consumes him, sometimes killing him entirely, more
often just marking him to warn other Jamak of his cowardice.
Favors: Snapjaw tests her chosen constantly; a werecat who guesses the answers
to her riddles (Wits + Enigmas tests with varying difficulty) may add an extra
three dice to his Dice Pool for any Enigmas roll that does not involve Snapjaw's
own riddles ("You have to figure that one out yourself, boy!").
Old Snapjaw's ferocity also conveys an extra point of Rage to the Bastet who
wins her favor.
Ban: Those who approach Old Snapjaw must not hesitate to do whatever is necessary
to learn a magical secret. She does not choose cowards or fools.
Thunderbird
Background Cost: 5
Like a crack across the sky, Thunderbird comes on endless wings. His domain
is courage and purity, and he sleeps on the tops of mountains and rides the
skies in forms so vast that the human eye can't recognize him. The tester
of courage, Thunderbird roars and flashes to frighten the seekers of visions
while cautioning them to be brave. Those few who can withstand the fury of
the Thunderbird's cry gain this spirit's respect.
Thunderbird lives cloaked in clouds. He has no head, but he does have a great
beak filled with sharp teeth. He has no feet, but great grasping talons. He
has no face, but shoots lightning from his eyes when angry. Although he seems
to be a raging spirit, Thunderbird likes humans and favors the Pumonca and
Wendigo above all creatures. In his voice, the crack of creation can be heard.
In the winds, the beat of his wings can be felt. Cats who can withstand his
tests of bravery are rewarded by his friendship.
Favors: Many Pumonca Gifts come from Thunderbird, and he teaches them to any
cat he favors. In emergencies, he may send a thunderbolt (as per the Gift)
or two to buy the Bastet a chance to regroup. Hawks and eagles often come
to the aid of Thunderbird's friends. and bursts of sheer terror scare his
enemies away.
Ban: Thunderbird detects a coward. Running away from anything in fear may
cost an ally his favor, although he tends to be more forgiving than many other
spirits. Corruption and its agents are abominations to him; an ally of this
Jamak must destroy anything tainted, or at least try to redeem it. Those who
side with the forces of decay (including vampires, fomori and Banes) may be
struck down with thunderbolts.
Tzinzie
Background Cost: 2
Buzzing eternally, Tzinzie the Fly Lord spins across the universe, biting
whoever he pleases and pestering folks for the sheer hell of it. He stands
for elusiveness, for a trickster nature which flits past larger, slower beings,
tantalizes them with a false promises, and disappears, laughing. Most Bastet
pay no mind to this annoying spirit, but those who understand him (usually
Bubasti, Ceilican or Qualmi) realize what a profound folly-finder Tzinzie
can be. By dancing under the nose of the serious and the Wrathful, the Fly
Lord points out their own foolishness. Those who join his dance find the steps
becomes that much easier.
Favors: Cats who ally themselves with Tzinzie often learn the Catfeet, First
Strike and Swipe Gifts, and gain an extra dot in Dexterity when feeing from
a bigger, more powerful opponent.
Ban: Tzinzie's chosen must never bully the weak, nor should they let a self-important
person rest peacefully.
Whispers
Background Cost: 2
The spirit of Secrets, Whispers leads her allies to discoveries. With a little
effort, her chosen can decipher messages no normal person could understand.
This Jamak drifts in the air, unseen and barely heard. It's said that she's
the echo of the Jamaa themselves, of celestial voices that filter down to
the mortal world as half-heard memories. She's a hard Jamak to find, and tends
to reveal herself only to the wisest Bastet.
Favors: Whispers' allies reduce all Enigmas-related difficulties by -3 if
they make their Perception + Awareness roll first (difficulty 7 or so). On
a whim, she might bestow a Gift like Night's Passage, Cheshire Prank or Eavesdropper's
Ear. No one makes assumptions about Whispers' motives.
Ban: Allies of Whispers must avoid making loud noises, especially while speaking.