Sakhmet

Do you know the tale of Sakhmet? No? She was Simba, one of the lion tribe, and I am sure that one of their number could do this tale better justice — if you could follow their maddeningly subtle manner of speech. This tale is of importance to the Garou for three reasons. The first, because it spells out for us how most of us are strangers to this land when compared to some of the other Fera. The other two? Well, you shall see in a moment. Sakhmet was a warrior queen among the Bastet's preeminent warrior tribe and, unlike most Bastet, she was far more enamored of the solar Celestine Re than of Gala or Luna. The citizens of Ancient Egypt soon came to know her as a fiery agent of divine destruction, an avenger goddess known as the "Eye of Re." In this guise she was a vengeful aspect of the usually benevolent goddess Hathor (who some among us consider an aspect of Gaia herself). She was also the “Lady of Pestilence” who could send plague and disease, but at the same time was revered as a healer of these ailments – a paradoxical goddess indeed.

As the story goes, in an episode of godly paranoia, the sun god Re came to believe that humanity was plotting against him and sent his avenging eye against the human race. Sakhmet, maddened by her charge, descended from the heavens and slew almost all of humanity before Re thought better of his command. After some difficulty, he restored her to her more benign aspect (reportedly by tricking her into drinking vast quantities of beer colored red to look like blood). The intoxicated goddess aban­doned the slaughter and humanity was saved.

Myth. Yes? Perhaps in part. Substitute "all of hu­manity" for the "people of pre-dynastic Egypt" and you may have a better idea of the power levels involved. I have asked numerous lore spirits about this and here is what I've pieced together: Sakhmet was a real historical entity and in fact somehow garnered abilities from the Celestine Helios, making her an avenging avatar of his might on Earth. The barriers between the Umbra and Ta-Mera were thinner then than they are today. A crimson Penumbral sun shone over Egypt for almost a full week, day and night, as Sakhmet battered down the defenses of the ancient villages, incinerating and maul­ing her victims in an ecstatic orgy of bloodlust.

I can only imagine the els' fear and surprise at such a strange phenomenon. They used to move about the night with little fear, for what could challenge such creatures? Potent though most individual vampires were back then, even they would have been poorly suited to resist such an onslaught as some of them were caught unawares in this week of midnight sun. I understand that a favorite childe or grand-childe of Set himself, died in the first night of the slaughter. Others went hungry in Sakhmet's fiery wake as many of their human "herds" were incinerated or flayed alive, their precious blood draining onto the dusty streets. Nor can I say what actually hap­pened to Sakhmet in the aftermath of her carnage. Per­haps she came to her senses as the tales say, or perhaps, over-charged by carrying the power of a Celestine, she burned herself out. Ah, but I promised you two more reasons for why this matters to us today. First, of course, Set and his brood took a special interest in the Bastet (and by extension, we Garou) from that night forward; no small matter that soon became. The other? Let us just say that it proves a cautionary tale when discussing the archetype of the avenger goddess — especially as it pertains to our dark Kin, Nephthys. Curious? Then let's move on.

Reference

 * WTA: Rage Across Egypt, p. 22, 23, 24