Baphomet
By Anders SandbergBaphomet, also known as the Sabbath Goat, The Great God Pan, Abraxas, Thanateros or the Horned God, is not, strictly speaking, a real being. It is a personification of the Life Force of every being, the sum of all life on Earth. It is a force which can be summoned by mages, but it cannot be easily controlled. Some groups of Verbena invoke this being, to strengthen the link between them and Life.
Baphomet is Pangenitor and Panphage, All-begetter and All-devourer. It is both man, animal and plant. It is ever changing, ever growing and dying. It is mindless, only filled with a dionysian will to grow, feed, mate, survive and die, again and again. It is filled with the ecstatic joy of life and death, and it exists inside every living being. The purpose of the invocations the Verbena do is to awaken this force and set it free.
Baphomet is often depicted as a goat, or a man with horns and goat-legs. Since it is a mix between all life on Earth, it can look like everything. It can be seen as a hermaphroditic mix between human, reptile, insect, plant, mammal, bacteria and all other life. Parts of it are rotting or dead, since it also encompasses the death and decay that is necessary for the survival of life. It is often crowned by great horns signifying its power, and often changes shape as parts grow, change into new permutations, start to rot away and reform. It is filled with intense vitality and will stimulate it in others.
A symbol often associated with Baphomet is the inverted pentagram. In its upright form, the pentagram symbolizes the control over nature Man wields with his intellect and power. It can be thought of as an upright man, with imperiously outstretched arms and legs, ruling the elements with his head. This is the form the Order of Hermes uses. The inverted pentagram symbolizes the power nature wields over Man and his intellect. It can be thought of as the head of a goat. The elements rule the head of Man.
The worship of Baphomet has survived since time immemorial. The cult of Mendes in Egypt worshipped it. The bacchants of ancient Greece worshipped it. According to the myth, Queen Parsifae gave birth to the Minotaur after falling in love with a bull, which could have been a manifestation of Baphomet. The worship survived in some mystery cults during the classic era, and well into the Middle Ages. Some of the myths about the witches Sabbaths may well be distorted legends about the cult of Baphomet. The Knights Templar were accused of worshipping it (of course, it is hard not to name any perversion or heresy of which the Templars have not been accused). Today, some Verbena and a few members of the Cult of Ecstasy are actively worshipping it.
Why do the Verbena covens invoke Baphomet? One reason is to strengthen their link to Life. By invoking and worshipping Baphomet, they may gain insight into the secrets of Life, and feel its power. Baphomet is the sum of all life and knows all its secrets and desires. While it may be mindless, it is sometimes possible to divine what the Lifeforce wants from its actions. By invoking Baphomet, a mage may learn secrets few other beings possess about the living world (perhaps he or she will gain study points in Life). Baphomet can also be invoked for the sheer pleasure of it, to return to that blessed state before civilization and technology and their dubious benefits. It will make people recognize their primitive parts and accept them, at least during the rite.
Most mages outside of Verbena find the summoning of Baphomet distasteful, especially the Order of Hermes and Virtual Adepts, who want the human mind to rule nature, not the other way around. Many mages think Baphomet smacks of Marauders, and point to the deeds of the bacchants. The Technocracy, to the extent they know about the worship of Baphomet, are extremely opposed to it, even more than against normal magick. Baphomet embodies all that the Technocracy hates and it is a deadly risk to their static reality. Unlike most other manifestations, Baphomet is somewhat resistant to static reality, and can even Awaken Sleepers. As soon as the Technocracy learns about an attempted summoning, they set all their forces against it.
Invocation of Baphomet (Life 1, Spirit 2)
This rite is most often done by an entire coven of Verbena. The high priest or priestess performs the actual magick, while the other participants chant and concentrate their power. The mage chants and visualizes himself as Baphomet, while other participants anoint him with blood and draws the seal of Baphomet on the forehead of the mage. As the rite progresses, the mage becomes possessed by Baphomet and his own mind becomes submerged in the raw life of It.
Invoke Baphomet Physically (Life 3, Spirit 2)
This rote is similar to the above rote but the mage lets Baphomet take full control over his whole body. Baphomet will be able to take on whatever form it wants, but unlike the effect "Avatar" described below, the mage will return to his or her normal form after the ritual has ended.
Manifest Baphomet (Life 5, Prime 2, Spirit 2)
Sometimes the coven does not want to invoke Baphomet, but try to evoke it instead. The coven chants and sings, and they concentrate their power and lifeforce in the blood in the cauldron. When Baphomet appears, it will rise from the blood in its true shape.
When Baphomet has arrived, the ritual often turns into a bacchanalian orgy, where planning and order are scattered by the primal urges. It has happened that Baphomet and his followers, both human and animal, have rampaged across the country spreading death, chaos and fertility in their wake. Compare this to the Greek myths about the meneads. However, sometimes Baphomet seems to be content to stay where it is, and simply accept worship. In some cases it will turn into a fearsome force nothing can resist, and engulf the participants and anybody in the vicinity. Invoking Baphomet can be dangerous.
Each success in the ritual will make the invoked aspect of Baphomet stronger. Below are sample effects the manifest being can do. The invoked aspect of Baphomet can use all powers below the level it has been invoked to. It will not necessarily use all its available powers but it often uses many of them.
Presence of Baphomet
Baphomet possesses the invoker and will act through him. Generally, Baphomet will not be very intelligible. The invoker will live out the urges of Baphomet, which can be dangerous for the mage. Often some Acolytes are around to try to restrain Baphomet if it gets out of hand. All living beings will recognize the presence of Baphomet, even if they do not understand what it is. The invoker will appear as something far more than just another human being, and many will feel an instinctive urge to worship.
Blessing of Baphomet (Life 2)
All kinds of life in the vicinity of Baphomet start to grow and multiply faster. Flowers bloom, crops become bountiful, all female beings become fertile. A place where Baphomet has appeared sometimes looks like a jungle, filled with vines and insects.
Primal Urges (Mind 2)
In the presence of Baphomet the inhibitions of civilization melt away, and all the repressed urges and desires of life become primary. All humans and domestic animals in the vicinity throw off the veneer of behavior they normally wear, and start to act like the animals they are.
Pure Emotion (Mind 2)
Baphomet can project the primal emotions of fear, pleasure, rage, hunger, thirst or lust. The emotions are much more pure and powerful than "civilized" emotions and will take precedence over them.
The Noble Savage (Mind 3)
Baphomet awakens primal memories and makes everyone return to the state of innocence before thought and logic. Every human knows, deep down, that this is how life really should be. This effect has an interesting side effect: paradox is minimized. The affected Sleepers have become primitive savages, and will not care whether something is possible or not.
Every affected Sleeper will count as Awakened in regard to paradox, at least Life magick.
Avatar (Life 3)
Baphomet starts to reshape the body of the invoker into its own image. Generally, the change is humanoid. Antlers sprout, the face becomes animal with great teeth, claws emerge or fur grows. The changes are quite distinct, but do not really change the body completely. The Avatar has a great aura of primal force around itself, and will make most beings feel a stirring urge to worship it.
Instant Growth (Life 3, Prime 2)
Baphomet can make plants (and sometimes animals) grow at impossible rates. From seed to fully grown tree in seconds. Around it flowers bloom in winter, vines entrap people and fill their mouths with grapes, trees grow up and impale people and children grow up in seconds.
Meld (Life 4)
Baphomet exists in all living beings, and can be awakened. When anyone touches Baphomet, his flesh will meld with the changeable flesh of it and stick. It is impossible to get loose unless the limb is cut of or Baphomet releases the victim. Embracing Baphomet is not recommended. Sometimes Baphomet chooses to absorb the victim completely.
Change Others (Life 4)
Baphomet sometimes changes people in its vicinity, for apparently no reason at all. It may be punishment, a reward or just randomly. It may give them horns, tails, donkey ears or other animal features. Sometimes Baphomet changes blood into intoxicating wine, or vice versa.
Strike Madness (Mind 4)
Baphomet can turn anyone, human or animal, into a raving madman or beast. The victim will be totally controlled by the urges of Baphomet. The effect can last long after Baphomet has left.
Children of Baphomet (Life 4)
It is not uncommon for Baphomet to sire children with humans, animals and plants. The children of weaker manifestations will not survive, or will be stillborn, but at this level they may survive. These children will look like a mix between human and animal. Some have animal heads and human bodies (like the minotaur or the Egyptian gods), others look like satyrs, centaurs or other beings from myth. Many are completely impossible to classify. A few look almost completely like humans or an animal with just a few strange features. All have some of the mentality of their father/mother, and will be filled with a wanton lust for life and survival. Their intelligence can range from almost normal to pure animal instincts, or even vary. Since these beings are actually genetically and biologically correct (after all, they could be strange mutations), they will not gain paradox as long as they stay out of sight.
Turn Into Animal (Life 5)
Baphomet can turn people into animals and animals into people. The human minds are not really changed, but due to their new body and brains, they will behave much more animalistic. And since Baphomet often has used the lower level mind effects already, the difference between human and animal will already be blurred. Animal turned into humans will also have problems, since they gain intelligence but do not understand it.
The Moving God (Mind 5)
Baphomet moves from one body to another, or exist in both bodies. In this way, it can avoid being banished by someone killing its body. It is not uncommon for it to use the body of its attacker(s). Sometimes it possesses a large group of people or animals and behaves as a pack.
True Form (Life 5)
Baphomet emerges in his true form, as an amalgamation of all life. The invoker's body burst forth limbs, heads, trunks and organs in an ever changing mass. There is no logic or plan in the shape Baphomet takes, only fluid chaos. This form can't be hurt by normal damage, since all wounds simply melt away in the reforming flesh. Only Aggravated damage will persist.
Baphomet
Baphomet does not have any real traits, since it is a personified force. When possessing someone, physical attributes and charisma will rise a few points while intelligence and manipulation disappear. When appearing in its "true" form, it will have about 5 or more in all attributes except intelligence, appearance and manipulation. It cannot be influenced by Mind, since it is totally mindless, and it is quite resistent to all Life and Entropy magick.
Story Ideas
A group of Verbena and Garou are united by their Worship of Baphomet. This could be used to create a crossover chronicle.
A Verbena mage has invoked Baphomet several times, and has become too good at it. She will automatically succeed in invoking Baphomet if she concentrates, and she has started to accidentally awaken it when she uses Life magick. Sometimes she becomes possessed in her dreams. She has realized that she is slowly losing control to it, and soon she will start to manifest Baphomet whenever she uses magick or loses control.
Baphomet is aware of a great threat to life somewhere, but since it is mindless, it cannot explain it. Mages seeing it will understand that it is disturbed, but they must follow its actions to see what is going on. This could turn out to be very dangerous, since Baphomet is hardly the most safe guide there is. And what force is threatening life on such a scale that Baphomet has reacted?
A Son of Ether or Progenitor has heard of Baphomet and wants to obtain cell samples. The theory is that these cells can be bred in vitro and produce life-force or perhaps even mini-Baphomets.
A coven of Verbena has become a band of rampaging bacchants, controlled by a manifestation of Baphomet. They storm isolated villages and generally spread mayhem and chaos. The Technocracy is extremely irate, and is about to start to use really heavy artillery to stop the band before they reach a larger city (where they could cause enormous harm to static reality and Sleepers). This could lead to a moral dilemma for Tradition mages. While they detest Marauders and want to protect Sleepers, this is a chance to cause much harm to the Technocracy if they can help the bacchants reach civilization before they are stopped.