Bastet still wasn’t meeting his eyes.
“The magic of the Oases had stopped being used to sustain and create life. They were being used for darker purposes, to twist and corrupt. Even I know not what killed the great trees as they were long gone when I was born in this world, but as I came into power, I felt the magic was bleeding away. Faster and faster, building up momentum like an avalanche. I could only contain it to stop the hemorrhage.”
To Oskar’s surprise, Touwon spoke, and Fox translated his question.
“Touwon asked what happened to Gumbridge. Well… they beat her severely and drowned her in bulb water.”
Oskar’s eyes widened, and he started to speak, but Fox held up a clawed, purple hand, “No, not the Kobolds… her own people. To punish her both for sparking the incident and for allowing Luth to keep the kitten… Oh, I mean Bastet… my apologies.” Fox bowed her head respectfully at Bastet, who nodded for her to continue, unoffended. “The Crocos executed her for allowing Luth to keep Bastet to begin with. It was… awful.”
“What are you asking of us, exactly?” Erik asked after a quiet moment.
The sound of Erik’s voice threw Oskar momentarily, and he felt a lump in his throat at the unexpected sound. It was a good question. It was the question, really. Learning the history of Baster, Luth, and the Kobold people was just the beginning.
“For now, my friend, I only ask for patience. I have gifts for you all that do not rely on your acceptance of my Gambit.”
Penny poked her head up hopefully, likely hoping for food. She was not used to being awake this long without snacking, but she tilted her head when Bastet spoke again.
“Yes, little one. I even have a gift for you.”
Bastet looked fondly at Erik and answered, “But first, healer, a few things.”
Erik’s face contorted at the word healer. Somewhere between frustration and anger, and as Erik looked down at his frail, white knuckled fist, Oskar realized it wasn’t the cat, but himself.
“You are a healer, Erik. And a protector. I can see your heart.”
Man, big mysterious cats can just say anything. If I said something like that, you’d all laugh at me and never let me live it down.
// Oh, absolutely. I’d make up a poem and everything. Oh! We need a bard! //
No bards. I’ve played D&D, they just try to seduce everything.
// Everything? You mean everyone? //
I said what I said.
Erik was looking back up at Bastet, now. His face was calmer, but with the addition of a glowing blue eye, his gaze was more intense than he even knew. Bastet met the gaze easily, though, and then continued speaking to the entire group.
“You have the memories, but I wish to explain a few things. Historically, when the Crocodilian people do well, they suppress every other race they can based solely on physical subjugation. It was not so much a problem until water became scarce and they had something to consolidate power.”
She yawned and smiled at them, and Oskar couldn’t help but smile back. Penny watched him for a moment, and then turned to look at Bastet with her own imitation of a smile. It was so goofy that it was cute, and Bastet chuckled, leaning down and bumping the Pangolor’s head with her own, gently. Fox let out a small, “Aww,” followed by a gasp as she realized she’d said it out loud, which made Oskar and Touwon laugh.
Still grinning, Bastet went on, “As you can imagine, the Crocos responded poorly to the loss of the Oases. They had long survived off the backs of those they conquered. The Djinn are likely extinct. Never ones to seek conquest, the Hyena-people are resilient and resourceful, and with the help of Luth and the Kobolds, they quickly learned to survive. The Drakon people have more wits about them and even now, remember the old ways of magic. Take special care around them, they are dangerous. They are a physically and mentally formidable people, if much fewer in population than the other races. Yet the Crocos…”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Bastet sighed and spoke again, “You see, the Crocos, especially Biggums, the son of the old Chief, never forgot the insult of having been at the mercy of the Kobolds, especially Luth. The harsh reminder that they were a people that only had one thing going for them. Their tough bodies. And I suppose to an extent, their constant ambition. Not to be great…” she sighed, “But only better than others.”
Pausing as Penny rolled over and snuggled against her, Bastet then said, “You see, Biggums was only alive because of Luth and the knowledge taught to him. His campaign against Luth, staged from a base that Luth- mind you- had helped him establish… well, the campaign was wrought with more embarrassment and humility for the Crocos as Luth was more than a match for the fool in every way.”
“So, he just couldn’t let the embarrassment go? What, then?” Oskar asked.
“Even I underestimated Luth,” Bastet smiled. “I am weary, and cannot tell you all that transpired. Fox may be able to later fill in the details, but suffice it to say, Luth remained completely unharmed throughout the next three years. Eventually, Biggums lost the heart and resources to continue the campaign.”
Fox was smiling and shaking her head, eyes alight with obvious mirth. Bastet chuckled, a throaty low sound that turned into a soft purr as Penny snuggled into her fur further.
Penny does not care in the least that she’s snuggled up to a god cat.
“I will tell you the two main things that transpired that finally taught Biggums that lesson,” Bastet said.
“First, Luth drew Biggums and his entourage through a gauntlet of traps the Crocos themselves had set up against him, decimating much of the Crocodilian leadership. Second, and this is the story that is both the backbone of Kobold children’s tales involving the two fated foes,” she said, gently shaking her head, “and a story I would not believe if I had not been partially present for, but Luth somehow tricked the entire Crocodilian force into ambushing itself during a sandstorm.”
This set the entire group laughing until even the strangely musical laugh of Bastet filled the glass cavern. Grinning, Oskar said, “We sure could use some of Luth’s expertise and knowledge against Valla. He seemed like a real powerhouse.”
Bastet seemed to glow with amusement as she turned to Fox and nodded.
“As it so happens… when I woke up from the vision, I brought something back with me,” Fox said, proudly.
Confused, Oskar gave Fox a once over, and seeing nothing amiss, he tilted his head in question like Penny.
“My new class, stupid pink,” she said, laughing. “My class has evolved to a legendary class, based off of Luth’s unique class. I am now a Child of Bast.”
Oskar was about to scan her to see if he could learn more, but she somehow sent Oskar a quick description of her class, which he then read out loud to the group.
***
Class: Child of Bast
Children of Bast are a class that thrives in the desert. Blessed by the feline grace and agility of Bastet herself, they are formidable opponents and excellent leaders. In combat, they employ the Sandstrike Technique, leveraging the desert’s unpredictable nature to gain an edge.
A Child of Bast is one with the sand, and as such, can blend with the desert better than anyone else.
Fade and Blur- Kobolds, despite their natural affinity for this type of ability, have only touched the surface of a lake of knowledge, long undisturbed and forgotten.
Under the effects of Fade and Blur, a Child can Fade from sight completely if initiated while not in direct sight of a foe, or Blur if in direct sight or active combat with their enemy. Blur makes it harder to focus on you directly. It is difficult for an opponent to discern your movement in combat for up to 5 seconds, plus 5 seconds for each tier of Spirit you have over your foe. The effectiveness of this skill is dependent on the comparison between your Spirit Rank and your opponent’s Spirit Rank, and if you are outmatched, the effect could be shortened or fail altogether. For example, if you have a C Rank Spirit stat, you could Blur in direct sight from a D Rank Spirit enemy, or disappear for only a second or fail altogether if the inverse is true.
Sandstrike Technique- When under the effects of Fade or Blur, this attack offers the element of surprise- allowing the Child of Bast to strike her opponents and automatically activate Fade or Blur… If you successfully Fade following the attack, you may follow up with a second Sandstrike, which will trigger Fade or Blur again as well.
This ability has a 10% chance to ignore armor if you are not within direct sight of an enemy when you strike with this ability, have a high chance to Fade into your environment: drawing less attention and possibly even disappearing to their senses completely. If you use this ability in direct sight, you will attempt to Blur instead.
In times of dire need, A Child can call upon the divine favor of Bastet. This blessing enhances her combat abilities, granting her increased strength, speed, and an aura that instills fear in her adversaries. But afterwards, the power slumbers for a time.
Besides their connection with Bast, the children of Bast possess the extraordinary gift of conversing with the desert itself, granting them knowledge of its past, present, and an innate ability to sense impending danger. This mystical connection allows her to make informed decisions and anticipate dangers before they arise.
***
“Holy crap,” Oskar said, smiling. “I’m guessing those abilities are rare? They seem rare.”
Fox gave him a proud nod, and then it turned to puzzlement as she asked, “What is a lake?”
“You wouldn’t believe m-“
“Tell me a truth, dry-boned pink man, and not that again,” she said with a smirk, but there was no heat in it as Oskar laughed and then tried to explain to the Kobold that a single lake could contain more water than she’d ever seen.
I hope I’m not the one who ends up trying to explain oceans to her…