Holy Order of Bast
The Holy Order of Bast is the official, small religious organization dedicated to the Chaotic Neutral goddess of Vengeance, Protection, and Felines. Its mission is to protect the vulnerable and ensure swift punishment for those who violate the sanctity of life.
Tenets of Faith
The theology of Bast is characterized by the fierce, necessary protection of the innocent and the commitment to swift, righteous vengeance. The faith is guided by the sacred Code of Honor which binds all consecrated members.
- The Ferocity of Protection: The highest spiritual duty is the fierce and immediate defense of the innocent, particularly mothers and children. The safety of the home and the sanctity of life must be upheld at all costs.
- The Swiftness of Vengeance: Justice for the oppressed must be swift and absolute, reflecting the speed and precision of the feline. Followers are sanctioned to pursue and eliminate those who willfully prey upon the weak.
- The Inner Discipline of the Wild: While Bast is Chaotic Neutral, her followers must adhere to a strict internal discipline (The Code of Honor) to ensure their vengeance is righteous and focused, never becoming self-serving chaos. They must always maintain integrity, even when serving the wildest of goddesses.
- Mastery of the Shadow: Followers are encouraged to be comfortable in the darkness and to master surveillance, stealth, and discretion in their pursuit of justice. The most effective defense against evil is to uncover it before it strikes.
- Reverence for the Feline: All felines are considered sacred manifestations of the goddess and are to be treated with utmost respect and protection.
Worship
The Order's services are structured to reinforce martial readiness, swift action, and the defense of the vulnerable, often involving nocturnal and disciplined practices.
Everyday Practices (The Rites of Feline Vigilance)
The daily rituals are acts of training and observation, preparing the follower to be a protector and a hunter of evil.
- The Night Watch: A mandatory solitary ritual performed during the nocturnal hours. It involves a period of intense meditation and quiet surveillance of the local area, reinforcing the "Mastery of the Shadow" tenet and training the follower to anticipate threats.
- The Pounce Drill: A daily physical regimen focused on agility, speed, and precision in combat. This training honors the feline nature of the goddess and ensures the warrior is always capable of swift, decisive vengeance.
- The Oath of the Sanctuary: A daily mental vow to protect any space designated as a sanctuary (the home, a local temple, or a safe house) and to prioritize the defense of mothers and children above all else.
Weekly Service (Communal Defense and Intelligence)
The communal gathering is focused on group defense and the sharing of necessary knowledge to preempt threats.
- The Gathering of the Sanctuary: The primary weekly service, which is often held in the local temple or a secure safe house. The service includes communal prayer, the blessing of protective charms, and a crucial exchange of intelligence gathered by the Disciples of the Shadow regarding local threats to the innocent.
Annual Festivals and Sacred Services
The annual calendar celebrates the righteous power of Vengeance and the purification of the Order's mission.
- The Festival of the Whispering Blade: The primary annual holiday, often held under a new moon. It is dedicated to Vengeance and Purification and involves the ritualistic cleansing and consecration of arms and armor. This is a day for publicly swearing to pursue justice against known enemies of the Order, ensuring that all acts of vengeance are sanctioned and righteous.
- The Rite of the Sacred Feline: A solemn annual observance dedicated to honoring all felines, who are seen as the living, physical embodiment of the goddess. All members of the Order dedicate the day to caring for and protecting local felines.
Priesthood
The Holy Order of Bast is defined by its small, focused priesthood and its two powerful, specialized military arms.
I. Priesthood and Governing Structure
| Position | Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Spiritual Leader | High Priestess (The Matriarch of the Nine Lives) | The supreme spiritual and administrative head. (Must be female). |
| Governing Quorum | The Quorum of Five Vigilant Furies | The highest administrative council. (All members must be female). |
| Quorum Rank | Vigilant Fury | The highest earned priestly rank; members sanction punitive missions. |
| Grandmaster Rank | Fury of the Nine Lives | A rare, ultra-elite rank signifying unparalleled mastery of the theological and martial laws of vengeance. This priestess serves as a Master-at-Large, providing specialized counsel to the Quorum on the execution of punitive missions and defensive strategy. |
| High Administrative | Hand of Vengeance | Senior administrators responsible for regional oversight. |
| Presiding Keys (Local Temple) | Warden of the Sanctuary | The specific calling given to a cleric to preside over a local temple, serving as a safe house for women and children. |
| Mid-Level Rank | Comforter of the Cub | The primary clerical rank; specializes in spiritual counseling for mothers and children. |
| Low-Level Rank | Disciple of the Shadow | Entry-level rank; focuses on initial theological study and surveillance. |
II. Administrative Dicastery
| Dicastery | Head Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Dicastery of the Monasteries | The Grand Strategist of the Cloister | Oversees the Warriors of Bast (the Monastic Military) and ensures doctrinal compliance within the cloister. |
III. Military Arms (Dual Structure)
The military now has a secular Chief Paladin who oversees the monastic Wer Calti.
| Military Arm | Position Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Paladin | The Master of the Swift Hunt | The Chief Paladin of the Holy Order. Leads the Order of the Quick Claw and oversees the martial actions of the Wer Calti. |
| The Monastic Elite | Wer Calti (Abbess) | The highest martial authority within the Warriors of Bast monastic order; leads the elite shock troops. |
| The General Force | Order of the Quick Claw | The general Paladin corps; dedicated to public defense and supporting the High Priestess's punitive missions. |
The Order of the Quick Claw (General Paladin Force)
This Paladin Corps is the non-monastic, general military arm of the Holy Order of Bast, dedicated to swift justice, pursuit, and the defense of the vulnerable.
I. Paladin Structure
The ranks reflect the specialized focus on the hunt, speed, and precision required for Bast's punitive missions.
| Military Rank | Title | Role and Function |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Commander | The Master of the Swift Hunt (Chief Paladin) | Leads the entire Paladin Corps (including the Warriors of Bast answers directly to the High Priestess. |
| Presiding Paladin | Captain of the Pounce | The calling given to an officer to preside over the defense and punitive actions of a local temple district. |
| Officer Corps | Master of the Trail | Commands strike teams; specializes in swift pursuit, tracking, and regional enforcement of the law against defilers. |
| Core Warrior | Quick Strike Guard | The fully consecrated warrior rank; executes punitive and protection missions with speed and precision. |
| Novice | Shadow Tracker | Paladin in training; focuses on stealth, surveillance, and tracking skills. |
Ordination & Promotion
I. Priesthood Succession (Clerical Ranks)
The flow of spiritual keys ensures centralized control over the Order's vengeance and protection missions.
| Office/Rank | Appointment Authority | Ordaining Authority |
|---|---|---|
| High Priestess (The Matriarch of the Nine Lives) | Elected by a majority vote of the Quorum of Five Vigilant Furies. | The Quorum of Five Vigilant Furies collectively performs the ordination ceremony. |
| Vigilant Fury (Quorum Rank) | Appointed and called by the High Priestess. | Ordained by the High Priestess. |
| Fury of the Nine Lives (Grandmaster Rank) | The Quorum of Five Vigilant Furies | Vigilant Fury (Quorum Rank) |
| Hand of Vengeance (High Admin Rank) | Promoted upon recommendation from the Warden of the Sanctuary (Presiding Priest) and approval by the Quorum of Five Vigilant Furies. | Ordained by a Vigilant Fury (Quorum Rank) OR by the Warden of the Sanctuary after receiving specific ordination authorization from the Quorum. |
| Warden of the Sanctuary (Presiding Keys) | Called by the High Priestess to preside over a local temple complex. | Ordained by the High Priestess or a Vigilant Fury designated by the High Priestess. |
| Comforter of the Cub (Mid-Level Rank) | Promotion granted after approval from the local Warden of the Sanctuary. | Ordained by a Hand of Vengeance. |
| Disciple of the Shadow (Low-Level Rank) | Promotion granted after approval from the local Warden of the Sanctuary. | Ordained by a Comforter of the Cub. |
II. Paladin Promotion (The Order of the Quick Claw)
The military arm's authority flows directly from the High Priestess, with ordination performed by the highest available ranks.
| Rank/Title | Promotion Requirement | Spiritual Ordaining Authority |
|---|---|---|
| The Master of the Swift Hunt (Chief Paladin) | Appointed by the High Priestess based on merit and tactical skill. | Ordained by the High Priestess. |
| Captain of the Pounce (Presiding Paladin) | Calling: Appointed by the Master of the Swift Hunt. | Ordained by the Master of the Swift Hunt. |
| Master of the Trail (Officer Corps) | Requires documented merit and a recommendation from the Warden of the Sanctuary. Promotion requires Quorum approval. | Ordained by a Vigilant Fury (Quorum Member). |
| Quick Strike Guard (Core Warrior) | Requires successful completion of all training and approval from a Master of the Trail. | Ordained by the Warden of the Sanctuary (Presiding Priest). |
| Shadow Tracker (Novice) | Entry granted after testing and vow of allegiance. | Vow administered by a Comforter of the Cub (Mid-Level Priest). |
Granted Divine Powers
I. Affiliation Score Criteria (AS)
The modifiers reward the defense of the vulnerable and the successful elimination of threats.
| Action/Event | Modifier (AS Change) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| One-Time Modifiers (AS Added Once) | ||
| Take the Code of Honor Vows (Initiation) | +5 | One-Time |
| Character Level | +1/2 Character Level (rounded down) | One-Time |
| Knowledge (Religion) 5 or more ranks | +3 | One-Time |
| Knowledge (Local) 5 or more ranks (reflects intelligence gathering) | +3 | One-Time |
| Possess proficiency with Scimitar or Khopesh | +2 | One-Time |
| Possess 1st level spells of the Protection or Destruction domain | +2 | One-Time |
| Successfully perform a High-Level Ritual for the Quorum | +10 | One-Time |
| Successfully establish a new sanctuary/safe house for mothers/children | +12 | One-Time |
| Stacking Modifiers (AS Added Multiple Times) | ||
| Successfully provide armed defense for a mother or child | +4 | Stacking |
| Successfully execute a sanctioned vengeance mission against a known tyrant | +3 | Stacking |
| Successfully uncover and expose a plot against the innocent | +3 | Stacking |
| Successfully complete a period of silent, nocturnal surveillance | +2 | Stacking |
| Penalty Modifiers (AS Deducted) | ||
| Violation of the Code of Honor (Lying, betrayal, harming a friend) | -15 | Stacking |
| Willfully fail to defend a mother or child in immediate danger | -10 | Stacking |
| Harming a feline (the sacred animal) | -8 | Stacking |
| Engaging in unsanctioned, indiscriminate violence | -6 | Stacking |
II. Cleric/Priesthood Ranks, Benefits, and Duties
This track focuses on administration, intelligence gathering, and granting sanction for punitive missions.
| AS Range | Title/Rank Achieved | Priesthood Office | Primary Duty & Benefit (Game Mechanics) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 5 | Lay Follower | None | No special duties or benefits. |
| 6 - 15 | Disciple of the Shadow | Low-Level Rank | Duty: Theological study; nocturnal surveillance; assist in intelligence gathering. Benefit: +1 bonus to Hide and Move Silently checks. |
| 16 - 30 | Comforter of the Cub | Mid-Level Rank | Duty: Spiritual counseling for mothers and children; local intelligence gathering. Benefit: Gain +2 bonus to all Sense Motive checks. Once per day, may reroll a failed Diplomacy check. |
| 31 - 75 | Hand of Vengeance | High Admin Rank | Duty: Regional oversight; coordinating military deployment; authorize low-level punitive missions. Benefit: Gain Leadership feat (if eligible). +2 bonus to Concentration checks for casting spells with the Protection domain. |
| 76+ | Fury of the Nine Lives | Grandmaster Rank | Duty: Provide Quorum counsel; set doctrine on vengeance and sanctuary policy. Benefit: Gain a +1 bonus to the save DC of all spells of the Protection or Destruction domains. Once per day, may use True Strike as a spell-like ability (CL equal to character level). |
III. Paladin Ranks, Benefits, and Duties (3 Ranks - Order of the Quick Claw)
The ranks now progress through the three specified tiers, focusing on swiftness, precision, and the physical execution of justice.
| AS Range | Title/Rank Achieved | Military Rank | Primary Duty & Benefit (Game Mechanics) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 5 | Lay Follower | None | No special duties or benefits. |
| 6 - 30 | Shadow Tracker | Novice Rank | Duty: Focus on surveillance, stealth, and tracking skills. Benefit: Gain +1 bonus to Initiative when hunting a confirmed target of vengeance. |
| 31 - 60 | Quick Strike Guard | Core Warrior | Duty: Execute protection and punitive missions with speed and precision. Benefit: Gain Weapon Focus (Chosen Weapon). Gain a +1 bonus to all Saving Throws against spells/abilities with the Fear descriptor. |
| 61+ | Master of the Trail | Highest PC Rank | Duty: Command strike teams; specialize in pursuit and regional enforcement. Benefit: Gain Improved Disarm feat (if eligible). May Smite Evil one additional time per day. |
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