Rites of the Bastet are a type of Rite from Werewolf: The Apocalypse. They were first introduced in the Werewolf Players Guide and are exclusive to the Bastet (WTA).
Overview[]
Potent as the Gifts of cat magic are, some tasks require more ceremonial rites. Although the Bastet, being less social and more individualistic, don't place the same importance on rites as their lupine cousins, some occasions are still significant enough to warrant an elaborate ritual.
Most Bastet rites are solitary; while they often include chaya, these ceremonies are performed by a single cat. Taghairm Rites are an exception - these ceremonies demand the presence of a number of Bastet. Other werecats can participate in the solitary rites; their presence just isn't required to complete the rituals.
Like Gifts, rites involve story elements more significant than the game mechanics. Such rituals are important milestones in a werecat's life, especially the Rites of Kuasha, Need and Moon, and shouldn't be brushed off with a simple "Yeah, you did the Rite of Contrition and everything's fine." Folklore speaks in hushed tones of mad-cat rites, where screeches and yowls could be heard for miles and villagers locked themselves inside, lest they catch sight of the dancing cats even by accident, and be hunted down and ripped to pieces. The Folk are not casual with their rites - no stranger, not wizard not werewolf, not mortal nor immortal, is welcome at feline rituals. Play a rite for all it's worth; to a Bastet, it's worth a hell of a lot.
In game terms, Bastet rites function much like Garou ones. Each rites level requires at least 10 minutes worth of ceremony to enact, although the cat-folk don't require the various celebrants that werewolf rites do. A cat can only perform rites that she has the Knowledge Ability to understand, and must set aside a ritual space by clearing and preparing a spot for a sacred working. Although the Bastet don't have the strict social codes that Garou abide by, they take their rituals fairly seriously. The cat must be in the right state of mind to invoke the proper magics, and among some tribes that may take a bit of preparation in itself
Rites Chart[]
| Type | Roll | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Kuasha | Charisma + Rituals | 6 |
| Moon | Manipulation + Rituals | 9 - phase of the moon |
| Need | Wits + Rituals | 7 |
| Taghairm | Charisma + Rituals | 7 |
Overlapping Rites[]
Many Bastet rites duplicate Garou rites in effect, if not in form. Storytellers and players should work together to define the variations in a rite; for example, a Bastet might perform the Dedication Rite only at twilight. The following rites are shared, if not in name, by both werecats and werewolves.
- Kuasha: Dedication Rite (Rite of Talisman Dedication), Rite of Contrition
- Moon: Bind the Spirit-Fetish (Rite of the Fetish), Rite of Claiming, Rite of Summoning, Rouse the Sleeping Spirit (Rite of Spirit Awakening)
- Need: Rite of Cleansing, Rite of the Opened Bridge
- Tagharim: Festival of Flowers (Gathering for the Departed), Taghairm Rite (Moot Rite)
- Uncategorized: The Badger's Burrow[1], Rite of Binding[2]
Types of Bastet Rites[]
Uncategorized Bastet Rite[]
- Level Two[3]
- Rite of Fealty - This rarely invoked rite is used when a Bastet agrees to serve under another, usually an emir or raja of the Bastet. It is used in areas of India, where Bastet territories are few due to overcrowding. To be able to have a den, many young Bastet must sweat fealty to another Bastet, who then allows them a portion of her Den-Realm.
Bastet Accord Rite[]
- Level One[4]
- Cat Calls - The Bastet tend to be solitary, but like to know what other werecats are up to. This rite is one way of keeping each other informed. With it a werecat enciphers his message into the seemingly random movements of nature. Other Bastet who see similar patterns will know the meaning within them. Some Bastet use this rite with non-natural movements, such as the flow of vehicles in heavy traffic or the turning of a ceiling fan.
Hengeyokai Rites[]
Khan Rites[]
The Khan are actually not as accomplished ritemasters as are other hengeyokai; although they tend to learn rites of purification and exorcism, they often tend to leave the majority of spirit-work to those better suited to it. Part of this may stem from their difficulties entering the Umbra; if one rarely greets spirits, it is impolite to make demands of their services. Another likely theory is that the Khan are too proud to rely overmuch on fetishes and dedicated equipment; as such, they allow other hengeyokai of the Courts to do the rite-work as necessary, but will not admit to requiring spiritual assistance in all but the gravest cases.
Wild West Bastet Rites[]
Qualmi Rites[]
Like all shapeshifters, the Qualmi often make use of rites. In fact, they use many rites remarkably similar to ones of the Garou, except Riddle-Dancer rites are designed to be performed by a lone werecat. Some rites found in the Werewolf: The Wild West main rulebook simply don't apply to the werelynxes for one reason or another. Ones they tend to use the most are: Rite of Cleansing, Rite of Binding, Rite of Talisman Dedication, Rite of Summoning, Rite of the Fetish, Facing the Final Journey, Rite of Accomplishment and various minor rites.
References[]
- WTA: Werewolf Players Guide, p. 159
- WTA: Bastet, p. 118-125
- WTA/cMET: Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1, p. 200-207
- WTA: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East, p. 71
- WTA/cMET: Hengeyokai: Way of the Beast Courts, p. 63
- WTA: Players Guide to the Changing Breeds, p. 74-75, 190
- WTWW: The Wild West Companion, p. 135
- W20: Changing Breeds, p. 91
^ Level 1
| Taghairm: Caliah | Bastet | Pg. 123 |
| Taghairm: Caliah | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 206 |
| Accord: Cat Calls | Changing Breeds | Pg. 91 |
| Kuasha: Dedication Rite | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Taghairm: Festival of Flowers | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Need: Jamak Promise Bond | Bastet | Pg. 122 |
| Need: Jamak Promise Bond | Players Guide to the Changing Breeds | Pg. 74-75 |
| Need: Jamak Promise Bond | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 205 |
| Rite of Binding | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
| Moon: Rite of Claiming | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
| Need: Rite of Cleansing | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Kuasha: Rite of Contrition | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Need: Rite of the Opened Bridge | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Kuasha: Rite of Talisman Dedication | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
| Moon: Rite of Warding | Bastet | Pg. 121 |
| Moon: Rite of Warding | Players Guide to the Changing Breeds | Pg. 75 |
| Moon: Rite of Warding | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 203 |
| Kuasha: Speaking of the Name | Bastet | Pg. 118-119 |
| Kuasha: Speaking of the Name | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 201 |
| Taghairm: Taghairm Rite | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
^ Level 2
| Taghairm: Grooming the Newcomer | Bastet | Pg. 123 |
| Taghairm: Grooming the Newcomer | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 206 |
| Taghairm: Hanshii | Bastet | Pg. 124 |
| Taghairm: Hanshii | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 206 |
| Kuasha: Passing the Yava | Bastet | Pg. 119 |
| Kuasha: Passing the Yava | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 201-202 |
| Rite of Fealty | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
| Kuasha: Rite of Recognition | Bastet | Pg. 119 |
| Kuasha: Rite of Recognition | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 201 |
| Kuasha: Rite of Recognition | Players Guide to the Changing Breeds | Pg. 75 |
| Moon: Rite of Summoning | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Moon: Rouse the Sleeping Spirit | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
^ Level 3
| Moon: Bind the Spirit-Fetish | Bastet | Pg. 118 |
| Taghairm: Exile | Bastet | Pg. 124 |
| Taghairm: Exile | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 207 |
| Kuasha: Kuasha Degree | Bastet | Pg. 120 |
| Kuasha: Kuasha Degree | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 202 |
| Rite of the Badger's Burrow | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
| Moon: Rite of Claiming | Bastet | Pg. 121 |
| Moon: Rite of Claiming | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 203 |
| Need: Rite of Fear | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 122-123 |
| Need: Rite of Fear | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 205 |
| Moon: Rite of the Fetish | Werewolf Players Guide | Pg. 159 |
^ Level 4
| Bubasti, Moon: Eater of the Dead | Bastet | Pg. 121 |
| Bubasti, Moon: Eater of the Dead | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 203 |
| Taghairm: Festival of Dreams | Bastet | Pg. 125 |
| Taghairm: Festival of Dreams | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 207 |
^ Level 5
| Moon: Call the Four Winds | Bastet | Pg. 121 |
| Moon: Call the Four Winds | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 204 |
| Moon: Rite of Nine Lives | Bastet | Pg. 121-122 |
| Moon: Rite of Nine Lives | Laws of the Wild: Changing Breeds 1 | Pg. 204-205 |
| Moon: Wishing Waves | Bastet | Pg. 122 |
| Werewolf: The Apocalypse Rites | |
|---|---|
| Garou and Fera Rites | Accord · Age Role · Ahadi · Astrological · Caern · Dark Umbra · Death · Frontier · Hengeyokai · Minor · Mystic · Punishment · Pure Ones · Renown · Seasonal · Wyld |
| Fifth Edition Garou Rites | Common · Legendary · Social |
| Kinfolk Rites | Accord · Caern · Homestead · Milestones · Minor · Punishment · Renown · Ritual of Sacred Rebirth |
| Unique Fera Rites | Ajaba - Ananasi: First · Triumvirate · Viskr - Bastet: Kuasha · Moon · Need · Taghairm - Corax - Gurahl - Kitsune - Mokolé - Nagah - Nuwisha - Ratkin - Rokea |
| Rites of the Lost Breeds | Apis - Camazotz - Grondr |
| Wyrm-Corrupted Fera Rites | Blood Rituals · Defiler Kings · Buzzards · Histpah |
| Miscellaneous Rites | 7th Generation - Fomori - Miscellaneous Rites |