Ajaba
------
The Ajaba are a shape shifting race that was once included with the tribes of Bastet based on hyenas. But due to conflicts with the Simba werelions, the tribe was cast out and considered oath broken. In the distant past, these shapeshifters were respected for their role as trash collectors. Weak and aged creatures, tribal exiles and outlaws were hunted down and eaten, and bad children were lifted from their beds and taken into the night. The Ajaba, not truly catkind at all, were never well-liked, but they served a purpose. Many human tribes called them “Rainmakers” for the tears they caused to fall, and they secured their villages against the beast by lock, spell and spear. Bastet, especially among the Simba prides, took a more active role; if one of their kind was killed by the hyenas, the local werecats rushed into the night and took revenge. This went on for thousands of years; as far as the Ajaba were concerned, the Impergium never ended. The casualties they suffered in return seemed to be part of the cycle, and kept their own tribe from growing too large.
Before the rise of the Ahadi, the Ajaba were a struggling tribe that was teetering on falling to the Wyrm. When European invaders came into Africa, they brought with them guns, weapons and other troubles such as vampires, Mages, and of course the Garou.
The last of these was a minor threat but the more normal threats wreaked havoc on the shapechangers of Africa.
Some of Gaia's children, however, refused to lie down and suffer such indignities. One such individual was a Simba from Zululand in south Africa named Black Tooth.
As the ivory wars began in earnest during the latter part of the 1970's, black tooth put together a pride of Simba which lashed out at all the European interlopers, be they supernatural or mundane in nature. There were vampires who were subjugated. Mages who were expunged, ghosts who were exorcised this left the land silent. He was not selective in his efforts all who trod upon African soil were subject to his whim, and those who opposed him were eliminated. Most of Africa's bastet supported him, as he fought against the oppression of the colonials. On the Serengeti, the Ajaba refused Black Tooth's rule and to his annoyance, refused to die.
The first of these to refuse to kneel before the unnatural might of Black Tooth were those of the Hyena's King's court. Black Tooth was not pleased with this, and set upon them with terrible rage. However it proved hard, nay almost impossible to kill the “the choosers of the slain”, for they knew the secrets of death and were strong in numbers. However, as is often the case here, the Ajaba were betrayed by one of their own. In 1984 Black Tooth learned the truth of the Ajaba's Yava, and he used it to slaughter them in the Hyena King's court in the Nogorongoro crater. The tribe's numbers went from thousands strong to less than a handful in the span of a single battle, and with their defeat Black Tooth ruled the continent from the Sahara to the Kalahari.
This caused the tribe to become a scattered mess,determined to survive and return by any means necessary. Those with connections in the human world set up escape routes for their brothers and sisters, who took along a handful of ancestral Kinfolk as they left Africa. In overrun metropolises like Bombay, Calcurra, Los Angeles and Cairo, the Ajaba ran in packs, making what allies they could and keeping themselves alive. To endure, they were forced propagate as quickly and surely as possible. To that end, they made bargains with their spirit father Seb-at-Al, an incarnation of Cahlash and with other denizens of the urban darkness: Bone Gnawers, Ratkin, Nosferatu vampires and far worse. For breeding stock, zoos raids and grabbing what ever unsuspecting humans they could. From there they would drag their future mates into “fosterage dens” in the cities' hidden places, where they would breed until they die. In the long run, the ancient rainmakers could have a had a legacy more corrupt than their tormentors: one of thievery and shame.
Ironically, out of this shame, struggle and grief came a spark of hope for the tribe. On the brink of extinction, their rage boiled to terrible heights. It turned these proud warriors into the very thing they sought to destroy. As the Ajaba were defiant, so the Amadu'o became tyrannical. As the Ajaba were rebellious so the Amadu'o became despotic. None were safe from their wrath, and all were expected to participate in their wars of annihilation. These battles mirrored the War of Rage waged by the werewolves. In the north, save for the fact that it was an ongoing conflict that never seemed to end. The garou were motivated by fear and ignorance, and these things can be assuaged. Not so pride, the greatest sin of them all.
With Black Tooth having secured his place as the lion king of Africa, it is Ironic that his destruction, and the beginnings of restoration for Gaia's children in Africa was set in motion by a lone Ajaba. A mere upstart named Kisasi. Her story changed the face of Africa, and it will quite possibly change the face of the world before all is said and done. Born to a Maasai woman of noble blood, one who wanted nothing to do with the ruling Ajaba king of time, she was raised with no knowledge of her heritage. Or even her name, which means “revenge” in Swahili. After her First Change, Kisasi began to explore her heritage and legacy her mother had left for her. This is how she met Kiva, the revered Bagheera elder, who told Kisasi the significance of her name, as well as the events that led to the destruction of the Hyena King and his court. Surprisingly, however, the young Ajaba wanted nothing to do with the vengeance her named suggested; rather, she decided then and there that she was going to fix things, and was too young to realize that that was a hopeless venture.
Thank Gaia for the blind and stubborn determination of the youth!
As it turns out Kisasi made and excellent diplomat, and managed to make contact with the Mayi'o Simba, other Bagheera, the Swara, the two tribes of Garou in the region, the Mokolé, the Rokea, and a number of extended Kin networks throughout sub-Saharan Africa. She didn't know she wasn't supposed to like the Simba, and didn't care that they didn't like her. She simply refused to surrender in the face of antagonism, and they found her enthusiasm infectious. Before long, all of Africa's Fera believed that a united attack force could defeat Black Tooth's Endless storm, and lo, so it was. She also made them believe that that coalition was worth maintaining thereafter, and the Ahadi is the result of this belief.

Kisasi's efforts paid off in spades for the other Ajaba in the world. She gave them a banner to rally behind and the chance to redeem themselves, and they snapped it up with all the eagerness of a starving hound. The Mayi'o Simba and the other Bastet finally forgave the Ajaba's past sins, and as a result the Ajaba are once again growing in numbers and strength. Unfortunately, not all are committed to the Ahadi as Kisasi and her supporters are. Those who remember Black Tooth's reign of terror still nurse old grudges, and they are unwilling to forget or forgive, no matter the cost to themselves or others. Th most radical of these, led by a fearsome male named Shari, know only hatred for the Simba and who stand by them. Their hatred is unreasoning, unabating, and undeniable, and the threat they pose to the Ahadi is nearly as great as that of the Wyrm or the Vampires that infest Africa.

Yava
Each of these secrets were taken by the Simba, and used by Black Tooth; even so, they are not common knowledge the lions cultivated their image of superiority, and insisted that the Yava had nothing to do with their success against the hyena-folk. However, they are now just trying to get over their connection with Black Tooth maintain some dignity.

Each Ajaba has a nick the size of a quarter on the back of their skulls. Strike this spot and you demolish the brain.
Mixing white wine in a hyena's footprint intoxicates the animal who left it. The stronger the drink, the longer the effects last.
An Ajaba cannot bear the taste of baby meat; an infant younger than a year of age is always safe.
Aspects
In the past, all Ajaba were functionally Ragabash. This is changing, however, with the current trend toward restructuring Ajaba society, something has emerged. Aspects. They almost act like Garou Auspices; however currently only two major aspect are recognized among Ajaba elders. It is possible that more might emerge at some time in the future.

Dawn: Dawn Ajaba, if female, are filled with fury and Rage, eager to battle the Wyrm and prove their worth to Gaia and her clan. They are feisty and combative, easily offended and hyperactive, and they are one of the main reason the Wyrm is feeling the Ajaba's bite in Africa. Dawn Metis have a higher rage but still serve as protectors. In the case of males, Dawn aspects tend to be taletellers, a role similar to that of the Galliards in Garou society.

Dusk: Dusk Ajaba turn their Rage inward, learning more subtle ways to leave their mark on the world. Dusk females tend to become skulking assassins, striking down their foes in the manner of a Rage-filled Ragabash. Dusk males commit themselves fully to the study of Gaia's mysteries, and they are some of the most potent mystics Gaia's children have ever seen. Dusk Metis have a low rage, but once again. They hold to protecting the tribes fertile members.

Appearance
Ajaba may descend from any human racial stock. Regardless of their heritage, werehyenas tend to have large lower jaws, thick teeth, bristly hair, heavy builds, broad shoulders and hoarse voices. They're not the most attractive of the cat-folk and always have an unnerving air about them, course that could be their insanely disturbing laughter.

.

The War of Rage
Before the werewolves began their epic campaign to wipe the other fera of the Mothers face, the Bastet could be found all over the world. The Simba held grand courts in Europe and North America, while the Khan were mighty emperors whose grip encompassed all of Asia. The Bagheera and Qualmi were mystics and advisers, the Swara ran all across the world. It was a golden age for the cats, and they were content to share the power Gaia had blessed them with. The Garou, Gaia's chosen warriors would not have any of it.
The War of Rage left deep and horrible scars on the Bastet, not just on the surface, but also on their spirits as well. In some ways these scars are like those left on humanity in the fires of the Impergium; in the case of the Bastet, though, the result is a deep and lasting hatred of the Garou. One that can only be controlled with a great deal of effort. Modern Bastet are thus conflicted; The wise among them see the necessity of working with and helping the dogs to whatever extent possible, but also know that modern Garou aren't responsible for the sins of their predecessors. That realization, however correct it may be, wars with an instinctive desire to claw the eyes, hearts, and other vital spots of the werewolves on sight, so that they may right one of Gaia's greatest mistakes.
But despite the bad blood between them, Garou and Bastet can work together when it the situation calls for it. Hell in these final days it demands they do. This need has helped to produced pacts such as Emerald Courts of the Hengeyokai, and the Ahadi of Africa. In all cases, however the willingness of the Garou to swallow their pride and make amends has been paramount for successful cooperation. The Bastet know they need the Garou, but their own pride compels them so strongly that they would rather die than to be a subservient role to the werewolves. It is only when the Garou make the first move in asking for help that the Bastet are really willing to listen.

The Bastet Today
Bastet Elders are glad to point out, things have certainly been better. Big cats in the wilds are dwindling due to pouching and destruction of their habitats. And with out wild Kin, no Changing Breed can survive. What's more, when the Ceilican, a secretive European tribe was demolished at one of their gatherings in the heart of their homeland Scotland; the sudden loss of an entire tribe, it rather shockingly pointed out the Breeds mortality to the rest of the cast.
Despite the increase in the rate of global industrialization, not to mention alarming rates of habitat fragmentation and destruction worldwide, the modern era has spurred some changes for the Bastet. The growing trend towards global diversity has taken root in a few homid Garou, who have begun making concerted efforts to contact and make peace with the Changing Breeds of all spots and stripes. This effort has really paid off when it comes to the Bastet, it might well be too little too late, however. As the Bastet's feline kin are being annihilated all over the world, only time will tell if they can even recover to take advantage of the Garou's peacemaking efforts.

Organization
No, this isn't an oxymoron. Despite what outsiders see, Bastet do have some minor organization. Among their own tribes that is.
And while it is true that each tribe has a role, the Simba are Warrior Kings, the Kahn Warrior Generals, the Balam Warrior Priests, the Qualmi and Bubasti are mystics, and the Bagheera are Ambassadors; it isn't heavily enforced by any one tribe or group of Bastet. This is mainly due to the fact that each "role" is more than a continent away. Leaving the cats to do their own thing.

On a more individual level, few Bastet operate in any kind of numbers. Most cats only form small hunting parties when the time calls for it, and the rest tend to be strict loners. Since Bastet do not mate with Bastet,(or rarely do, there are Bastet metis after all to prove this.) few will do more than take on a Kin or two as permanent companions.

The noted exceptions to the rule are out there however. The first and foremost are the Simba. A Simba pride may not be as tightly knit as a Garou pack, but when each has the tendencies of an Ahroun, they aren't pushovers either. Swara males will often form small bands, usually only two or three, to mutually protect mates and Kin. The Bagheera, despite their usual solitary nature, will often form War Parties to deal with a specific threat. And lastly, the Kahn of the Beast Courts are as likely to join a Sentai (pack) as any other Hengeyokai.

Tribes
Bagheera
Wise sages, potent judges, the werepanthers of India and North Africa may take their roles seriously; But are seen as the more laid back of the Bastet tribes. This, however, isn't an invite to take advantage of them. They maybe slow to anger, but once pushed, they can become whirls of spinning death.

Balam
Savage sentinels of the New World who can give a Khan a run for his money when it comes to their rage against the any invading Garou and humans in their native South American home lands. They are engaged in a fierce battle for territory in the Amazon, going against both the agents of Pentex and the Garou. And give neither any quarter.

Bubasti
Directly related to Egyptian demigods are rumored to be the old of the Nine Tribes, these sorcerous cats use cunning over brute to attack their enemies. They are odd and plumb the mysteries of magic and science to discover a way to undo the extinction of their feline Kinfolk the kyphur of Egypt.

Ceilican
Werecats in the truest sense, who supposedly died off centuries ago, but they still survive in the modern world wreathed in their own madness.

Khan
The mighty weretigers oath bound to defend of the Earth, sworn to battle the Asura demons on their own terms. These fists of the gods hold strength and honor as the greatest achievements. If any tribe could lead the Bastet, it would be the Khan, sadly so few remain in the modern world.

Pumonca
Wandering werecougars who keep a watchful eye on the lands of North America. Though not particularly wise, quick or magic proficient, children of Thunderbird are strong and adaptable.

Qualmi
Riddling werelynxes who confound their companions with enigmatic remarks and tricksters' tales.

Simba
Proud werelions who believe even now that they were born to rule the other tribes, by force if necessary

Swara
Werecheetahs who embody the messenger's speed and the traveler's urge. Unknown to most Bastet, these sleek and subtle creature hide a spiritual power few other werecats can match

Khara
The First Twins' cubs, the Khara Sabretooths of North America are long gone. Their legacy lives on, however, as the primal bridge between modern cats and their human aspects. They may have been the first Tribe, or may not. Since they were killed by an Ice Age, that may never be known.

Totems
Bastet do not follow Totems in the manner of the Garou. Bastet claim they were created by Selene (Luna). Bastet, as individuals or as Prides, do take spirit allies called Jamaks rather than accept the patronage of a Totem.

Tribal Home
Like their feline Kin, Bagheera range from Africa to southeast Asia. The greatest number of the tribe, which may claim as many as 500 members worldwide, settle in the jungles and cities of India. Before they reach pourra, however most panthers move widely, gathering gossip for later in life.

Culture and Kinfolk
Raised among many religions: Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists, tribal cultures and Catholics, most Bagheera have very strict ideals of honor. A youngster is expected to be a little wild, but there are rules, even for Bastet. The Litany is taken very seriously by Bagheera elders, and cats who spit on it are punished quickly and without mercy.
This sense of justice marks relations between the panthers and their Kin. Humans across India and Africa still go into the jungles at night to find werecat lovers, and they revere the children as gifts from Heaven Four great societies --- the Ambari Macho, Chui Mal, Beral Meye and Leopard Men of Chupa – worship the panther and leopard as deities. Many Bagheera Kinfolk come from these societies, although modern Folk choose lovers from across the world.
In the wild, leopards are just the most common wild cats alive; between the zoos, preserves, jungles and plains, Bagheera have no trouble finding feline mates. Thus, the tribe enjoys a healthy mix of homids and felines, with almost no metis members.

Organization
Bagheera remain very loose; most lower-ranking panthers remain in touch with their elders, and often respect any advice or command they may give. Other than that, the cats are left to their own devices unless a war cry sounds. This summons often conveyed by spirits or through Kinfolk networks, calls a war party together. The Bagheera of highest Rank leads the group, judges the accused and deices the punishment. Such calls once took weeks to assemble, but modern communications allow most elders to call a hunt in a day or so. A Bagheera who responds to a war cry agrees to do as they are told; they may sometimes dispute a judgment, but most cases favor the elder. After disastrous fights with Black Tooth, Pentex and the Nagda-Rackburn Khan, the tribe has put a moratorium on large-scale cries unless some disaster threatens. The tribe has lost too many members in recent years to risk more one-sided battles.

Secrets Sought
Bagheera prefer learning cultural lore, supernatural puzzles, languages and political gossip. Their innate sense of honor keeps most away from forbidden occult research, although some Bagheera cultivate darker secrets.

Yava
Bagheera sleep deeply during the New Moon. Once they slumber, nothing short of violence can awaken them.
Make a trail of salt; a panther will follow it from beginning to end without stopping.
Blessing a leopard's prey with Aabhaya (a hand gesture meaning “protection”) will force the cat to flee unless their rage is just.

Balam
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Balam are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after the jaguars of South America. These Central American cats favor their ancient heritage, though some of the more modern take to firearms to wipe their foes of the earth. The embodiments of wrath, Balam are temperamental, hardy and quite xenophobic. If they don't like it, they attack, and they don't like much. Khan may be the chosen warriors of Seline, but the Balam certainly by far the most aggressive of the Nine Tribes.
Among the region's native people, the Balam hold an ancient place in folklore and religion. Legends claim the single tribe extends from two ancestral families.
The Olioiuqui who were spiritual travelers, winged werecats who stepped into the spirit worlds and granted visions to those who obeyed the gods. These jaguars taught Olmecs, Aztecs, and Maya the ways of war, and accepted bloody sacrifices in return.
And the stealthy Hovitl Qua. Cousins to the Olioiuqui, they cultivated the ways of invisibility and purification. Patrons of the jungle night, these mystical cats could dim the sun and awaken the forest with their arts. To the people of the rain forest tribes, they offered hunting lore and trips into the spirit world.
Both tribes claimed the right of sacrifice from their followers, and both got what they wanted. Warriors among the preconquest peoples dedicated their hears and heads of the their enemies to the jaguar gods, who assumed grand places in their pantheons. The Olioinqui themselves walked as gods in the streets of Tenochtitàn, Xicalango and lost Atloxrlia, calling rain and culling the lawless. The Hovitl Qua wandered along, calling mystics and hunters to play deadly games in the night. Those who returned were considered touched by divinity, as very few did so.
Then the Spaniards came, bringing diseases, new spirits, conquering wizards and the worst of all, Garou. Rash Olioiuqui died by the hundreds, and their descendants fled into the jungles. There, they mingled with their Hovitl Qua cousins, who had their own problems. Sickness raced through the forests, poisoning the night cats' people and killing the cat-gods themselves. Wolves came from the north and east -- Silver Fangs, Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, and Uktena --- and began a new War of Rage in the jungles which had escaped the first. The jaguars, never social to begin with, turned on their siblings, and both tribes were virtually extinct by 1600.
The survivors were wiser than their parents had been. Establishing a new tribe, the Balam, they recalled the old Litanies, retreated into the jungles, and created a coded called the Flore Ki Wenca --- "the Blood of Two Hearts." This convent declared an end to the old tribal rivalries, set up new territories, and promised that the Balam would always aid each other when in need. Two Balam, the warchief Six Birds and the healer Blue Morning Skies, called on the great totem Night Jaguar to bless the tribe. This partnership of two shattered tribes is remembered in the werejaguar honorific "Two Hearts," a title they claim alone. To this day, the tribes' descendants resent the white invaders -- whom they call " Rotted-Hearts" -- for forcing two to become one.
Once the Flore was sealed in a blood rite, the Balam scattered and set up new Den-Realms. For several centuries, no one disturbed them. This peace ended as human settlements and firms began cutting through the rain forests. The jaguars have not been amused by this. Today, the Balam fight a war on two fronts; in the cities of Central America, they struggle with the corruption that has come with the newcomers' ways. In the rain forests, they war upon Pentex and other agents of destruction. Despite their impressive magics and war savvy, the jaguars are losing. They're too few, too fractious and too independent to organize as a tribe, and so they fall. The invaders-- human, spirit and Garou alike -- are too numerous to be driven away by a single Balam or a small war party. Fierce as they are, the jaguars are outgunned, outnumbered and just plain out classed.
The saddest thing about this siege mentality is that the Balam have a beautiful culture underneath the sheen of blood. Their rites, often practiced alone, involve melodic songs, devoted prayers and the ancestors and hallucinogenic visionquests. In their Den-Realms, the Balam recall their rich heritage in elaborate artwork that only Umbral travelers can see. Those werejaguars who've established such homes offer sanctuary to other Balam in need, and always wear some bit of jewelry that ties into the designs they have "at home." These tokens represent the tie between the jaguar, their land and their ancestors. In many ways, they're symbols of the jaguar's soul. The fact that many Garou and Pentex Fomori in the Amazon War take Balam jewelry as trophies infuriates surviving jaguars, who make sure to reclaim Two-hearts honor in Rotted-Heart blood.

Bubasti
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Bubasti are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after the Kyphur cats of north Africa; however because of the slaughter of these felines, the tribe has had to make due with servals and caracals to keep the feline breed alive. The results are less than promising. Despite these things making the tribe rarer now than even before the War of Rage, they have a reputation as sorcerers and conspirators. And it isn't undeserved -- the Bubasti pass mysteries to each other in deep vaults and underground chambers. The magic they practice tends to center on spirits, the elements and souls, and occasionally involves sacrifices of ..."lesser" beasts --- such as humans.
For almost 5000 years, they've been a part of the Nile Kingdoms. As the war between vampire elders ripped those kingdoms apart, the fortunes of the tribe suffered as well. The harshest penalty of that fight, however, may well have been one that the shadowcats themselves brought on: the curse of eternal hunger.
These werecats are always lean and hungry; starved for food and drink, ravenous for knowledge. They literally can't get enough of either. By the time one reaches middle age, a Bubasti has most likely acquired an enormous library, a host of enemies and a mortgaged soul. Their power is often vast -- these cats are masters of Shadow Craft and even far darker arts; but it is never enough for to satisfy a Bubasti. The average shadowcat cat eat a table's worth of food in one sitting and not gain a single pound of weight. this curse gives them an endless appetite, and they pursue it with abandon.
There is a certain .. glamour to their condition. Most shadowcats are eerily compelling, and most humans find them irresistible. They can argue anything from history to quantum physics, and carry an almost physical aura of command. Those sensitive to the touch of Cahlash (the Wyrm) grow uneasy around them however, but people with a morbid sense of style flock to them. This fascination may be one of the things that has kept the race alive. It hasn't been their feline Kin after all.
Long ago, the Egyptians worshipped the cats of Kyphur, a huge breed of wild cat that flourished along the lower Nile. These cats became the casualties of the tribe's long war with the vampiric Followers of Set. Most Kyphur cats were simply killed, but several of them were captured, Blood Bound and preserved as servants of the vampires. Aside from these gruesome relics, the breed has been extinct for 2000 some years. In the deepest chambers below Cairo, Memphis and the tombs of Giza, the Followers of Set keep captive Kyphurs for their own entertainment. These ghoulish beasts, now swollen to the size of panthers, live blind in filthy pens. Sometimes, for a favor, the Setites let a Bubasti see on of its ancestors. Maybe, one might even be allowed to mate with it.
This insult has not gone unrewareded. A bitter if one-sided war has crept quietly along for as long as the Kyphur cats were taken. The shadowcats remain on the losing side, sadly, but the manage to bloody the noses of the Kindred every so often. This war has taught the Bubasti patience; hungry as they are, they learn how to delay a strike for years or even decades. Hidden between the cracks of some of the world's most ancient and overcrowded cities, a shadowcat or two reaches out every so often to tweak some vampires' nose before disappearing into the crowd again. Their archives are filled with tomes and scrolls looted from the holdings of Set's children, and those cats who survive their forays grow clever and wise.
From birth, the Bubasti tend to be very quiet children. Books and questions are their passion, and they eat like there's no tomorrow. Most shadow cats are born to rich, scholarly families, but a growing number have come from the gutters. Until recently, they were a sickly tribe, mentally impressive but physically frail from their 2000 years of inbreeding. The millennia of Egyptian blood was given a shot to the arm when, in the 1800s, Napoleon's troops came through; the English and German occupations added another ethnic mix to the tribe's stagnant genes. The result has been a boon for the tribe; the Bubasti, whose birthrates and health had declined since the Ptolemaic Dynasty, were estatic over the surge in vitality. More shadowcats have been born in the last century than there had been in ages past, and they've been stronger than their predecessors. The vampires may receive an unpleasant surprise in the coming decades.

Ceilican
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Ceilican are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who seem to be modeled after housecats. However when it comes down to it, they were originally based on the European Cave Lions. But because of the history, and nature of these Bastet, time has forced them to breed with a mulitude of different felines.
Legends claim that this tribe died out in the great witch-purges of the 1500-1600s. As usual, legends lie; they didn't die, they simply went underground. A mercurial breed, these faerie cats danced with the Good Folk and demons alike, and led humans along for the festivities. Their wild ways caught up with them; faerie lords enslaved them and witch-hunters burned them. By the time the tribe's survivors sailed to the New World, they were but a handful. Common wisdom calls them dead, and the Ceilican won't dispute the claim.
The Ceilican are a hidden tribe, a fact that is driven through a Tekhmet's head during their fostering. There is no telling how many of the old secrets still work, and they're still in circulation. A new-changed kit often feels like the only one of their kind; by the time they've appraised otherwise, their family's secret has become obvious, Ceilican pretend to be members of other tribes and keep in tought through an arcane network called "the Silent Way." The name is a paradox: The Silent Way is actually a musical code. In the old days, bards bore messages between the cats; now, demo cds or concerts carry the tunes. Messages are hidden in the lyrics and chord structures. Most Ceilican consider it a special treat when a Silent Way message actually gets airplay --- particularly when it's an insult directed at another tribe.
Still, these cats take their secrecy seriously. There is no telling when the old weaknesses might undercut the tribe one last time. They believe Arcadia fell, but claim that a "false faerieland" called Doirionn Blair still exists. Within this "Storm Plain," the Unseelie lord Samhach and his allies covet the survivors of the Ceilican. Better to say quiet and live free, they reason, than to risk eternity in a fae lord's castle.
Of all the tribes, the Ceilican have adopted best to the modern world. Most of them favor sports, music, mass media and, frighteningly enough, psychology. Passion intoxicates these Folk; anything that stirs up emotions draws them like ants to sugar, and they're not shy about whipping up a few frenzies now and then just to keep things interesting. Most Ceilican have a narutal aptitude for technology, too; no other tribe is as comfortable with computers and mechanical devices as the ring dancers. All varieties of Ceilican favor blades over guns; blades just simply have more style. Most Ceilican dabble in magic as well. There's a definite cunning bent to this tribe, a mischievous spark that ignites either playful games or malicious villainy. More than often both.
The Ceilican curse manifests in a divided nature. While most Bastet affect a Pryio, or moon-favor, which indicates their overall personality, the Ceilican shift Pryrio unpredictably. A friendly dancing cat my become sullen and conspiratorial without warning, which makes friendships with them difficult. Even most freewheeling Ceilican have a manic, unstable air; add this to their extreme deep-cover antics and you get an enigmatic and volatile tribe.

Khan
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Khan are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after tigers. These noble and honorable warriors stunning examples Garou Philodox should be, and what their Ahroun should be. "I am darkness and light, the shadow hunter and king of the sun. My claws hold the earth, my tongue tastes the sky. I am steadfast and strong, compassionate and caring. I am tiger, and my words are pure."
With this oath, a Tekhmet joins the ranks of the Bright Kings. The ranks of the Khan, a proud breed whose pedigree reaches to the beginning of time.
The Simba may declare themselves nobility, but the weretigers fit the title. Regal hunters and warriors, these Bastet evoke the respect the lions demand. From the snowy mountains of Asia to the cities of India, the weretigers hunt the spawn of Asura and defend the last of their Kin. They are solid, dependable, smart and strong. Their weaknesses, such as they are, come from being too trusting or too sure of themselves. Khan are straightforward and action-oriented, not clever schemers. Whatever one of these Bastet do, they do it with full-tilt vigor. Wither it be fighting, romancing, hunting, studying, even contemplating. They throw themselves into all tasks with a mighty passion, and their bodies, in any from, bristle with vitality.
Most Khan love company; but the tigers' territorial nature comes out if another Khan is around for long. But they do often enjoy companions. And who would deny a tiger's friendship? It is said that they were brought forth to battle demons, and many of them take that charge literally. Vampires, Asura and fomori have few enemies as relentless as a tiger. Perhaps that is why the Khan have been brought to the verge of extinction; They made too many of the wrong kind of enemies.
In the mountains of Tibet, Siberia and China, they learned subtle magicks and martial arts; many a mountain tiger can quote Taoist philosophy at length. Shapeshifters as passionate as the Khan, the idea of harmony through nonaction is an appealing one (that, for them, works better in theory than in practice). Technology is a wonder that Khan strive to understand, and despite this, some become quite good with computer programming and heavy equipment operation. Still, the majority of the surviving weretigers prefer an archaic existence, favoring clothing, weapons, and behavior that is best suited from a more romantic time period.
In ages past, the tiger tribe wandered through emperors' courts and hermits' caves. They walked mountain roads with Buddhist monks and peasant girls, and chased the ghosts from temple ruins. Most preferred to remain in their powerful cat forms, but spoke with the tongues of sages. The powers of the elements burned in their paws, and they kept the hated werewolves at bay. The Silver Fangs and Shadow Lords struck pacts with the sultans, but no such deals kept the tigers and vampires apart. That hatred, which simmered for 5000 years, proved the Khan's undoing.
Once, the Khan enforced the Impergium with glee. Time, however, showed what wonders the people offered. Khan left the jungles, entered the cities, and were ensnared by their own curiosity. The glories of India, China, Tibet and Korea called the tigers out of hiding, and the Khan were amazed. Soon Bright Kings studied philosophy, learned wu shu, guarded wizards and knelt before monks. Some traveled with the Mongols and brought back stories of the West. In time, the West came to them, and the tribe's decline began.
A warrior's rage is his curse. That curse has nearly undone the Khan four times, and the most recent was nearly the last. Four great wars between Khan kings have decimated the race:

The Marudikleh War of Prehistory.
The Tàg War between Mongol and Hindu tigers.
The bloody Clouster's Purge of the 1800s.
The near-fatal Nagda-Rackbur Feud of the 1950s.
The last conflict, between an English lord and the former Sultan Amir Nagda, turned into a bloodbath, when both sides fell to darkness. Lord Rackbur enlisted hundreds Kindred allies while the sultan courted evil spirits. Both sides rallied the Khan and Bagheera, then slaughtered their opponents through battles and assassinations. The end came when the treacherous sultan took advantage of the Sun Sleep Yava. While the Khan slumbered, Nagda's agents hunted them down. By the time a massive Bagheera war band hilled both rivals, less than twenty Khan remained. Their numbers have not grown much since then, and sultanate has been dissolved forever.
The slaughter of the true tigers hasn't helped matters. Human hunters killed them in such numbers that the great cats themselves court extinction. Between the loss of their Kinfolk and the wars with the vampires, Asura and their own kind, the Khan are an endangered breed. To avoid further risks, most weretigers scattered themselves around the world. Moving targets are harder to kill. After the fall of the ancient sultanate, the Khan have no true leaders, so each fends for themselves. It's a whole new world for the ancient tribe, and the tigers seem to be peacefully enjoying the view. For now..

Pumonca
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Pumonca are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after North American mountain lions also known as puma. Loners, wanderers, secretive hermits who watch the world around them and occasionally push things back into place, these are the traditional roles of the Pumonca werecat. A Pumonca is a longer among loners, whose travels take them across --- but rarely out of -- the North American continent.
Pumonca share a common tie with their land of birth. Some tales say that a cougar will die if they leave their home. From the southern swamps to the western plains and the eastern forests and hills, these wandering cats can be comfortable anywhere. While most hail from Native American ancestry, a number of their kind breed with settlers and trappers in times past. Cajuns, mountain folk and hobos added to the gene pool, and have left their mark on the whole. Today, bikers, hippies, storm-chasers and drifters of many races wander the United States and Canada, often sticking to the wilderness until some secret or crisis draws them out into the open. For a moment anyway. They never stay out for long.
In all forms, the so-called Storm Walkers are sturdy, wiry and tough. Their feet or paws are callused from endless wandering, and they tend to wear little in the way of clothing or carry many belongings. Even the harshest weather seems to slide right past them, and their temperament tends to be laconic and even -- until something defiles the land, or the beings on it. The Pumonca's rage is a frightening thing, as deep and solid as the werecats themselves. What they can't change by strength, a Pumonca will alter by stealth; these cats excel at earth-sense, and they know the land around them even if they'd only just arrived. Their bond with the elements, as old as the breath of the Thunderbird, runs very deep.
The tribe traces their roots to Mother Earth and Father Sky in all their many forms. Thunderbird, guardian of Purity, swept the tribe into being and he flies beside them wherever they go. All Pumonca, even though without official Jamak, revere the Thunderbird for his honor, wisdom and ferocity. His charge to defend the sacred land almost led to the tribe's extinction, but they follow that command gladly, even now.
In the oldest of days, Pumonca were like bogeymen. Any village that grew too careless or prosperous felt the touch of the Storm Warlker, the cat that came in the night to punish the foolish and the bad. Some cougars sat at Wendigo fire and fought beside the Croatan when the Wyrmcomers came. As the white men drove the pure folk from their homes, Storm Walkers loomed out of the night and took revenge.
Soon, they crossed claws with the Garou from across the sea, who began a new War of Rage against the native shapechangers. That war didn't end until both wolves and cats joined forces to battle the Storm Eater in the late 1800s. by that time, the Storm Walkers, never numerous to begin with were whilttled to a ragged few.
In older days, the Pumonca relied more on their physical prowess than cat magic. It wasn't enough: faced with the mystic power of the white wolves, the Storm walkers fell like rain. It was Old Stone Face, a Comanche shaman, who renewed old bargains with the element spirits and bought the Pumonca a measure of power for their fights. Invoking kinship and offering favors, Old Stone Face learned many secrets, then passed them to his siblings. These Gifts, combined with others taught by the Wendigo and Uktena, bolstered the Pumonca's power. Modern pumas still prefer to rely on their own abilities; still, the Gifts didn't hurt though. Given the tribes small numbers and solitary nature, any assistance is welcomed help.
After the war for the West, Old Stone Face called his remaining cousins together. He acknowledged the ruin The Wyrmcomers had brought to the land, but counseled peace and renewal. Old Stone Face had survived many years, and had learn that many whites were worthy folk. Old Stone Face suggested that Pumonca choose the bravest and most honorable Kinfolk they could find. Race was not something to be nit-picked over. Most pumas heeded his words; and as such modern Pumonca are a diverse lot, unified by their respect for the land and their self-reliant ways.
These days, a Pumonca travels alone. Any trail shared with one will be a short one. They still maintain a bond to the land, and consider it a sacred tast to hunt corruption. The elements are a Pumonca's kin, the road the tribe's home. A Storm Walker still, follows the wind.

Qualmi
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Qualmi are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after the lynxes of North America. And just like their feline Kin's coat chances to match the season: the Qualmi werelynx adapts to their surroundings. Enigmatic masters of animals and disguise, these Native American Bastet cloak their secrets in misdirection. Riddles fascinate them, and few of their kid offer straight answers to any question. For anyone with a literal mind, dealing with these Riddle Dancers can be a fruitless and infuriating effort. No wonder they live alone!
unlike the wandering Pumonca, this tribe remains largely at home in the wildernesses of Ganada, Alaska and the northern United STates. Solitary by nature, Qualmi often surround themselves with animal companions but shun the company of other people. They attend raghairms occasionally, but more out of curiosity and manners than of obligation. In spite of their hermetic tendencies, Qualmi are generous Folk; a chance encounter may be taken home, fed and given presents if the Riddle dancer likes them. A person or animal in need will be sheltered and fed for months at a time if necessary. This generosity may be a tribal trait, or it might stem from the customs of the northwest native peoples. Either way, it's common to all Qualmi.
The price of such hospitality is the werecat's riddling nature. Guests will be asked endless questions which seem to make no sense, and will be given equally nonsensical answers to their own queries, and have to endure long periods of empty silence. Most of these questions have deeper meanings, but quite a few of them are just asked for the Bastet's amusement. As a rule, a lynx loves to see what kind of answer their guest replies with. And then judges them accordingly. Cleaver people are valued companions, while dolts who must be spoon-fed are quickly driven out the door. A Qualmi enforces solitude in subtle but relentless ways. Soorner or later, a guest moves on, if only out of sheer frustration.
Puzzling out the "history" of the werelynxes is impossible, even for the cats themselves. Their calih are convoluted affairs, with not real points of reference. Ever Qualmi tells their tribe's story differently; some point to a human tribe called the Snoqualmie who hunted and fished along the coasts, while others claim to have been born from the mating of a pine cone, a salmon and a burst of sunlight.Some ancestors figure prominently in many tales; Strange Owl Woman, who fought the Wyrmcomers in the Old West; Weeping Skunk, who fooled Coyote himself into giving up his Gift of shapingchanging; Glowing Bundle Leap, who swam to the bottom of the sea to feed her children with shellfish, and may others whose legends seem fantastical to literal thinkers. Qualmi lore has the feeling of a large joke with a serious punchline, but very few outsiders have the patience to puzzle it out.
Un like most Bastet, Qualmi enjoy the company of wolves. The cats' friendship with the Uktena reaches back before either tribe can recall. Many Ridder Dancers hold positions of honor in northern cearns, and trade secrets with the spirit masters. The Wendigo remain more distant; the Qualmi have never been warlike enough for their tastes. While most werewolves find a lynx's riddling ways infuriating, Theurges and Philodoxes enjoy trying to puzzle out the werecat's true meaning. Many of these riddles find their way into Garou Gamecraft.
To lessen their solitude, Qualmi have made friends with the animals. Like the Garou, Qualmi associate themselves with beast spirits and often receive guidance from Gafflings of Salmon, Eagle, Whale or Elk.
"There's wisdom in a hawk's cry and serenity in moos turds," sums up a lynx's out look. Animals, at least, are more honest than people.
Beyond appearances, they loath hypocrisy, and most can see right through deceptions, then are quick to punish lairs with tricks of their own. These Bastet are slow to anger, and their rage takes a slower path than simple violence. Qualmi punish slights by setting up magical traps and spirit lures. Gold prospectors in the 1800s often found themselves buried alive in shimmering dust, or were tricked into shooting each other by phantom voices and paranoid dreams. When forced to fight, a lynx explodes into a flurry of claws and teeth, then flees as soon as possible.
Tales portray the Qualmi as master magicians, but that may just be more misdirection. They certainly seem more enigmatic than powerful, but then again ... it is difficult to tell. They just might be showing off. The magicks they do demonstrate often involve shapeshifting into many different forms . Perhaps they gather their riddles by watching things from a hundred different perspectives. Maybe Qualmi only appear to be solitary -- when you can change forms, you recognize and appreciate the many different shapes that life comes in. Qualmi often depend on these associates for information, and sometimes for protection; in return, they offer a never-ending stream of food, gifts and quizzical company.

Simba
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Simba are are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled after the lions of Africa.
The simba represent the best Gaia has to offer, in that they are regal, proud, and powerful beyond compare. However, they are also arrogant, domineering, and malicious, even under the best of circumstances. Before the rein of Black Tooth and his Endless Storm, they were known as "The Lords of Sunlight." Like the blazing mane around the heads of the Kings, werelions liken themselves to the sun. All things have a place and an order and rebels must be reminded of this fact. The real fact, at the time, was that the other tribes dislike the lions; the Simba may have called themselves "Lords of Sunlight," but other cats had many .. other names for them; Such as "The Dark Kings," an unflattering comparison to the Khan. The Simba aren't villains; they are magnificent lords, slayers of demons. They are simply out of order. When the balance is restored, when the humans know their place and when cities become graveyards, the lions will be proven right. The demons of the modern age can be traced to the end of Impergium and the laxity of the Changing Breeds, in the Simba's mind. And they intend to put thing in the right order, if that requires bloodshed, so be it. Warfare is the sport of kings.
The Simba blame feline independence on the sins of the early tribes. The Bastet govered the true cats, when the lions called watua-"children." each tribe had its place, and the lions were born to rule. When the lion prince was slain, the other tribes slunk away in disgrace. Their purposses have been forgotten in their shame.
n the chaos following the prince's death, three brothers, Amadu, Abuja and Mayi, warred to lead the remaining Simba. Amadu won the first battle, and took the fiercest Kin and cousins with him. Mayi defeated Abuja, and gathered up the most of the smartest of those who survived. The third brother took the rest and went north. There, he founded another branch of the family, the Mor Grian. This sub-tribe, smaller and less aggressive than thier cousins, melded with (or became, history is fuzzy here) the Ceilican. The African Simba consider Abuja's whole line a joke, and call their departed cousins nihili bogga--"dead little sisters". No Simba will admit kinship with the Ceilican, and they take such inquiries as insults.
Maryi's clan wandered into the deserts and plains, in time, they learned the ways of Mantis and made peace with the bushmen. No Impergium was necessary here, after all, humans respected the rightful powers. In time, the Mayi'o put aside their rage and attuned themselves to nature. They would hunt, but no longer killed for sport.
Amadu's clan was another matter. They never gave up on the Impergium; when white invaders threw the lands out of balance, these Simba began a war, one that blew up in their faces. Cat-Kinfolk perished by the hundreds, and the humans were dragged away. Some Simba made the crossing into the Slave Worlds, but they were few and far between. Most fought to the death, and in the end, they fought it.
Many kings came and went, most dying at the hands of hunters or herders who no longer feared the Lords of Sunlight. The Amadu'o became a dozen scattered prides, who bred with the lions but avoided the humans. Other Bastet claim the Amadu'o are too feral for their own good. They rage without any purpose, and have become more murderous than lions and humans put together.
The greatest Simba Chieftian. Black Tooth was a prime example of this. A huge descendant of Amadu himself, he was a scourge upon the Changing Breeds of Africa. With his pride, the Endless Storm, he ravaged the land from the Sahara to South Africa. Other Simba would ally with him least die; Bagheera fought him, and but were quick to lose. The Swara simply ran away (but when don't they?). The Ajaba suffered the worst of Black Tooth's wrath, however. With help from vampire allies and dark magic, he turned the Hyena King's court into a slaughterhouse. Most younger abattoir revered this lion king: He was at once an inspiration and an embarrassment to his tribe. All will not argue that he was a monster, however they aren't quick to point out that he was successful monster in what he did.
The Mayi'o kept to themselves for the longest time Black Tooth and the Endless Storm forced that to change. He and his Pride magnified all the worse traits the Simba are known for thousandfold, and in the process blackened the Simba's reputation almost beyond repair. But when the Mayi'o came to help the beleaguered warriors fighting to crush the Endless Storm's tyranny, Gaia's defenders couldn't help but forgive the Simba for their failings. Lord Hakimu proved that, whatever their faults, many Simba were clearly on the side of Gaia, and they were planning to stay there for the long haul. The most social of the Bastet, the Simba are showing that they once again can be symbols of strength, unity, and perseverance for all of Gaia's children. Just as the Silver Fangs serve to inspire and lead the Garou, the Simba can similarly serve as a tallying point to unify and direct all the Changing Breeds of Africa. This role, ordained by Gaia, still gives the Simba gigantic egos, and as a result few are content to follow the dictates of others.

Swara
From World Of Darkness Wiki

The Swara are one of the nine remaining tribes of the Bastet who are modeled cheetahs. It is very easy to dismiss these Bastet; they aren't really tough, large, magical, or even attractive. They are, however, fast, and amazingly dexterous. More importantly, they possess a tribal secret that puts them on a level few of their tribe mates even understand -- a more spiritual level.
The Swara can step sideways, a rare talent among the Bastet. It isn't a Gift that they can teach, but a natural ability they learn as they mature. This affinity with the spirit world (a secret they guard from other werecats, who would 'kill them if they knew) has created a spiritual yet isolated culture. While other werecats are distracted by the earthly enigmas, the Swara concentrate on the worlds beyond this one. Thus, they often grasp signs and subtleties others may miss.
Of all the Bastet, the Swara understand how vital the war against the Unmaker (the Wyrm) has be come. They understand Gaia's sickness, and go out of their way to defend Her. They're also extremely paranoid. And in the World of Darkness, who can blame them? Their tales are full of betrayals, reverses of fortune and massacres. To them, everyone in the world is corrupt or getting that way.
Like the Pumonca, Swara are loners and wanderers: their territory, however, extends across the whole world, and beyond. This well-traveled outlook tends to feed their cultured paranoia rather than dispel it, and they make only superficial ties outside their tribe. Only animals and spirits are worthy enough companions for a cheetah; Bastet, Killi, and humans beings wear too may masks to be trusted. The lesson, driven home by a year of dark tales and a lifetime of isolation, is that the world is going to hell, and has been for quite some time. Despite this, the Swara aren't gloomy Folk; they're just acquiescent. More isolationists than nihilists, they live the best they can with what they can.
All Swara revere the Moon. To them, Seline is the savior, and her handmaidens the Lunes are trusted friends. Swara call themselves "the Silver Folk" in her honor. Cheetah lore recounts what may have been the first journey to the Moon. Ayio Bon Parr, a Swara (not some human named Neil Armstrong) made the trip in the days of the Impergium. According to them, Seline herself called for the end to both the War of Rage and the culling of the human flocks, choosing Ayio to send this plea. This did not make the Swara heroine very welcome in the Simbas' dens, but they listened well enough when Ayio brought them to the Moon's Court herself. To this day, the cheetahs teach their kits to sleep outside when the moon is full and to give their thanks to her each night.
In the name of the Moon Mother, the cheetahs try to keep the sacred places clean of taint. Many cearns and glens throughout Africa have a Swara or two standing guardian to them. It is a thankless job, but one that the Silver Folk handle with grace -- even humor, if that can be believed. The Silver Folk, caliah prophesies that Seline will call Her most devoted followers home as the Apocalypse starts into swing. From there, they'll watch the end of the old corrupt world and see the rebirth of a new fresh one.
Although they still call the Triat and other spirits by Bastet names, the Silver Folk know almost as much spirit lore as the Garou themselves. Even so, they loathe the wolves (rightfully so too!) with a passion that boarders on frenzy. Few Swara will even speak civilly with a werewolf, let alone walk beside the wretched dogs. There are of course exceptions to any rule, but in general the cheetahs watch the Garou from a distance and learn all they can. Wisdom is not poisoned by eyes or ears, but by the heart.

КОРОТКО ПО ГУРАЛЯМ
--------------------------
Gurahl
From World Of Darkness Wiki

Many Garou believe the werebears are extinct. They are great healers and kept the secret of life and death. Of course when they would not tell this secret to the Garou, the werewolves tried to kill them all. But once roused, bears are not so gentle...
The werebears are tied to Gaia to an extent experienced by none of the other Changing Breeds. Gurahl cannot easily pass into the Umbra, and must learn a special rite to do so.

Auspices
While Gurahl do posses Auspices, theirs are based on age and maturity. These Auspices are listed below in chronological order.

ARE-kus (ARE-kus)-Ragabash
Uzmati -Ahroun
Kojubat (KOY-yu-baht)-Galliard
Kieh (KEE-yuh)-Theurge
Rishi (REE-SHEE)-Philodox.

Tribes
Whiles Garou tribes can center around almost anything from pure breeding, to being chosen by a spirit; Gurahl tribes are a tad more fluid. Whiles most of the tribes come from different forms of regional bear, many (an oxymoron here) Gurahl tends to go where they are needed the most.
But the four Gurahl tribes roughly conform to the ecosystem they have chosen to protect.

Forest Walkers
At home in the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest and southern woodlands of the US as well as the forests of Europe and the rainforests of South America, these born storytellers are among the most outgoing of the Gurahl.

Ice Stalkers
Natives of the arctic and sub-arctic regions, these Gurahl encourage artistic ability and possess an insatiable curiosity.

Mountain Guardians
Primarily associated with the grizzly bear of the American northwest, these strongest of the Gurahl seek to expand their Kinfolk base.

River Keepers
Originating near the great rivers of the world, these water-loving Gurahl are superb athletes and dedicated conservationists.

Code of Ursa
Cherish the Cubs
Protect the Land
Heal the Sick
Nurture the Needy
Teach the Supplicant
Breed Wisely
Cleanse the Tainted
Guard the Secrets
Rights of the Elder
Remember Your History
Avenge Wrongful Slaying