"When the cats are gone the mice will play."
-Unknown
A Collection of secrets from the elders of their kind,
these Gifts are easy to learn -- if you can find a mentor
who shares your tribal heritage. Otherwise, a cat would be
hard-pressed to uncover the necessary lore. Bastet who
come into their own without the guidance of a tribal kuasha
often learn these secrets later in life (that is, after character creation), when and if they find a mentor from the same family.
Bagheera
Although the wereleopards range across Africa and Asia,
their most refined Gifts come from the ancient lands of India.
There, the sages of the Folk have melded the disciplines of
Hindu mystics with the ferocity and wisdom of the leopards
themselves. As they wander across the world, most Bagheera
acquire a variety of secrets from the General Gifts. Their
ancestral magics, however, draw a certain flavor from their homeland.
Balam
It's all too easy to see the werejaguars as raging defenders of their homelands; truthfully, though, many of their Gifts recall the ancestral races from which they came -- two tribes whose ferocity was matched by their perceptions and wisdom. The magics this tribe calls its own meld the secrets of these lost ancestors with the living land and the fury in the Malam's hearts -- a fury most jaguars are all too willing to take out on trespassers.
Bubasti
The sinister shadowcats preserve their Gifts in riddles and puzzles. Although they occasionally learn new ones from spirits like Whispers and Old Snapjaw, most tribal Gifts are passed from elder to younger. These Gifts are never taught to other tribes -- they're hard-won ancestral lore, proudly pretected by a system of taboos and punishments. A Bubasti who instructs an outsider in their ways is hunted down and destroyed (see the Eater of the Dead rite).
Ceilican
The Gifts of the "lost" Ceilican show their old affinity to the fae. Illusion, enchantment and other trickery inspire the arts of the faerie cats, which mix wonder and terror in equal measure. Some talents have come to the fore in recent decades, but the majority of the tribe's Gifts retain their link to lost faerieland -- fallen Arcadia, where dreams and reality were one. Despite rumors of their extinction, these cats have no intention of following their allies into oblivion.
Khan
The weretigers' warlike nature is balanced by their cultural discipline. Their tribal Gifts tap into both violence and serenity, tempering personal strength with refined skill. Traditional servants of the Maker, these fierce cats can invoke devastating powers against the Asura and all their kind.
Pumonca
Simple, rugged folk as a rule, the sturdy Pumonca draw their magics from their connection to the land they wander. Unlike many other nature-bound cultures, the solitary cougars pass lightly across the land, rather than living bound tightly to it. This fleeting contact, and the hazards they encounter on their quests, have given rise to a collection of eclectic, timeless Gifts.
Qualmi
Insight and enigma. Perception and misdirection. The Qualmi may be a small tribe in both stature and numbers, but they make up for their size with the strength of their riddling magics. Most Qualmi Gifts and rites involve riddles and guessing games. In many cases, the best defense a target has is to figure out what the werelynx is doing and counter it with another riddle before the enigma takes shape. As a rule, Qualmi respect anyone who can out-guess them; the best way to make friends with a lynx is to beat her in a riddling contest. The names given to Qualmi Gifts reflect their foundness for metaphor; a trick rarely does what its name implies.
Simba
Ferocious and inspiring the magic of the lion-folk drives inferior creatures to their knees -- literally. Although there are a few benevolent tricks in a Simba's bag, most of them are geared toward mastery, not subtlety. Fast, impressive and loud, many of these magics rely on imposing his will on others. The Simba who cannot master such an easy task is not long for this world.
Swara
It's easy to underestimate the Swara. Most people do. They're not particularly strong, and their Gifts concentrate on
misdirection and speed. Although they're faster than any other creature on land, the Swara's general skittishness and shy
behavior lead other werecats to underestimate their equally quick and subtle minds.
As rovers, Swara tend to pick up many general Gifts, and learn secrets from many other tribes -- including the Garou. Unbeknownst to most Bastet, the Children of Damaa walk the space beneath the world. In the Umbra, they traffic with the spirits and learn many of the ancestral Gifts usually reserved for the dogs. These Gifts, too numerous to mention, place them close to the werewolves when it comes to spirit-savvy. Most Theurge Gifts can be considered ribal secrets of equal rank, in addition to the ones offered below. This wisdom is not common knowledge among catkind; for the rambling cheetahs, it's helpful, even essential, to remain underestimated.
