The Clans

Hierarchy

At the helm sits the monarch, a leader fated to carry the burden of their clan’s legacy. All monarchs share a common bond, and that is their lineage, which traces back to the founding leaders of their respective clans. These leaders were selected by the gods themselves, establishing the throne as the divine right of their descendants. The firstborn child of the monarch is trained from birth to assume the position of leadership upon the death or retirement of their parent; if the monarch dies without having any children, then other relatives can be considered for the role.

Clan Ranks

Monarch

The monarch holds the highest level of authority and responsibility. Their primary role is to make critical decisions that ensure the safety, prosperity, and well-being of their clan. This includes strategizing defense and territorial expansion. They also conduct significant ceremonies, such as naming new warriors and trainees, and appointing overseers.

Overseer

Second-in-command— serves as the leader if the monarch is unavailable. Individuals chosen for this role are typically drawn from the ranks of the clan's most elite warriors. It is their duty to ensure that the clan is fed, and that the borders are marked. When a monarch dies, it is common for their overseer to remain in their role in order to facilitate a smoother transition of leadership in the clan.

Oracle

The bridge between the gods and mortals; oracles are tasked with interpreting signs and guiding the clan as its spiritual leader and main healer. Only one oracle exists in a clan at a time. Their successor will always be the attendant who’s spent the longest time within their role.

Attendant

Those whose paths have guided them toward the practice of healing. They are less involved with spiritual affairs, instead prioritizing their responsibilities as the clan's doctors. Attendants in learning can spend a longer time as a ‘paw than their warrior trainee peers, and most will spend their entire life without ever becoming the clan’s oracle.

Attendants-to-be are called attendant trainees. They are taught by all healers, but most of the responsibility falls on the full attendant with the least experience.

Elder

An elder is a clan cat that has served their Clan faithfully, but has now retired.

Guardian

Guardians choose to stay in the nursery to care for kits rather than tend to warrior duties. They dedicate their lives to raising and nurturing the Clan's youth, and provide support to parents. They also teach kits fundamental skills specific to their Clan, such as climbing in Cliffclan or swimming in Oceanclan, along with passing down their Clan's history and beliefs. When there are no kits to take care of, or just a few kits and multiple Guardians, they are expected to hunt for the Clan and perform other warrior duties. Cats can only take on the role of Guardian after serving as a warrior for at least two years, or 24 moons.

About "Queens"
It is important to keep in mind that characters who are temporarily in the nursery to take care of their young are not called guardians nor queens. They keep their current title and take a respite to raise offspring. When the kittens do not rely on them for warmth and nourishment, it is common for the parent-- and encouraged --to take part in some border and hunting patrols, though never battle patrols.

Warrior

Warriors are a central role within the Clans. They are responsible for hunting to provide food, patrolling borders to mark territory and spot threats, and defending the Clan from enemies. They also mentor trainees, guiding them in skills and the Warrior Code.

Trainee

Trainees are cats who are six moons or older, in training to be a warrior or a attendant, and each young cat is assigned a mentor. All trainees' names end with the suffix "-paw", which symbolizes the path their paws are on, until they receive their warrior name. A trainee becomes a warrior, or full attendant, once their mentor or Clan leader thinks they have learned enough or proved they are capable enough and do not need further tutelage.

Kit

A kit is a cat under the age of six moons who is still living in the nursery with a parent and littermates.

Learn how the Monarchy works

The Codes

The Warrior Code

Defend your Clan with your life.
Protect your kin, your territory, and your traditions from all threats, even at the cost of your own life.
The vulnerable are to be cared for first.
Elders, kits, and those unable to hunt for themselves must be fed before trainees and warriors. Trainees must hunt to provide for the vulnerable before eating unless granted permission otherwise.
Prey is a sacred gift from the gods.
Prey is killed only to be eaten. Always offer thanks to the gods for its life before consuming it.
A kit must be at least six moons old to become a trainee.
Kits are not permitted to train before this age due to the many dangers of the world. They must wait until they are strong enough to face the challenges of training and the harsh realities of clan life.
New warriors will keep a silent vigil under the stars.
Newly appointed warriors must keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name, honoring the gods and their ancestors.
An Overseer must be experienced.
A cat cannot be made Overseer without having mentored at least one trainee, proving their leadership and teaching capabilities.
The Heir will ascend to leadership upon the Monarch’s death or retirement.
The succession of power is sacred and must be respected to maintain the clan’s stability.
The Overseer’s succession is urgent.
After the death or retirement of the Overseer, a new Overseer must be chosen before moonhigh to ensure the Monarch is properly supported and the clan's leadership remains strong and unified.
The clans meet under the new season's first full moon in a truce.
A gathering of the clans is held during the first full moon of the season under a sacred truce that lasts for the night. No fighting shall occur during this time of unity.
Defend your borders vigilantly.
Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. All trespassers should be challenged to protect your clan’s land and honor.
Guardians must be experienced warriors and skilled caretakers.
Only warriors who have served for at least 24 moons may take on the role of Guardian. Caring for kits is a demanding and rigorous job with few breaks; Guardians must remain constantly attentive and ready to handle the challenges of raising the next generation. While their primary focus is on the care of kits, Guardians are still expected to contribute to hunting duties regularly. When there are few or no kits to care for, they take on additional warrior responsibilities, such as patrols and defense, ensuring they remain active and valuable members of the clan at all times.
Protect all kits, regardless of clan.
No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if that kit belongs to another clan. The lives of the young are without blame.
The word of the Monarch is the law.
The Monarch’s word is final and must be obeyed, for they are seen as divinely chosen to lead.

The Healer's Code

Do No Harm
A healer’s foremost duty is to avoid causing harm. All treatments and actions must be carefully considered to ensure they do not worsen the patient’s condition or lead to unnecessary suffering.
Respect for Life and Death
Healers must respect the natural cycle of life and death, understanding that not every ailment can be healed. They must honor the gods' will and avoid interfering with the natural end of life when it is deemed inevitable.
Patient Autonomy
Healers must respect the wishes of those they treat. While they may guide and advise, they should honor a patient’s decisions, even if it goes against their recommendations, as long as it does not endanger others.
Confidentiality
Healers are entrusted with the secrets of those they treat, including physical ailments and spiritual concerns. This information must be kept private, shared only when necessary for the safety of the clan or when guided by the gods.
Act in the Clan’s Best Interest
A healer’s actions should always reflect the needs of the clan as a whole, providing care that strengthens the community. This includes prioritizing the well-being of those who serve crucial roles, such as warriors, overseers, and monarchs.
Honesty and Integrity
Healers must act with honesty, admitting when they do not know how to treat an ailment or when they have made a mistake. They must strive to be transparent in their practice and learn from every experience.
Reverence for the Gods
Healers must respect the gods, offering thanks and sacrifices for guidance in healing. Their actions should reflect the spiritual beliefs of the clans, acknowledging that their knowledge for healing is a gift from Adderstar.
Duty to Serve
Healers are bound to serve their clanmates in times of need, regardless of personal risk or hardship. Whether in battle, during a plague, or in dangerous weather, they must be ready to act when called upon.
Avoid Conflicts of Interest
Healers must avoid letting personal feelings, biases, or relationships interfere with their duty to heal. They must provide care fairly, without favoritism or neglect.
Guidance of the Stars
Healers must look to the stars, omens, and signs from the gods for guidance in their healing practices, trusting that divine wisdom will aid them in making the right decisions for their patients and the clan.

Shared Beliefs

Asphodel is not a good afterlife to end up in as a warrior.

It is believed that if a warrior ended up in Asphodel, they lived their life doing absolutely nothing and left no mark or memory.

Respect is earned throughout your life.

Although elders are never neglected and are all fed and cared for equally, the clans have a better disposition with elders who proved themselves good warriors and strong mentors throughout their warriorhood.

Embracing Fate

Fate is seen as a current that guides their lives, but while they embrace the flow of destiny, there is a strong belief in willpower as well.

Shared Traditions

Arranged mateships.
- Please keep in mind that characters cannot be forced into a relationship.

Oceanclan

- - In Oceanclan, arranged pairings were historically more common, especially among the royal family and high-ranking warriors. Marriages were often arranged to strengthen alliances within the clan, increase status, or preserve a family’s reputation. This practice has faded somewhat, but in the royal family, it has remained. Parents may still arrange their offspring’s pairing as a way to ensure the family remains influential and successful.

However, even outside the royal family, some cats choose to follow this old tradition, either to honor their ancestors or out of a belief that their parents, who are more experienced and connected, will choose a suitable match. For the royal family and high-ranking warriors, it’s also seen as a way to ensure that only the best traits—strong, intelligent, fast—continue to flow through the bloodline.

Cliffclan

- - In Cliffclan, arranged pairings were more common in the distant past when survival was tougher, and families sought to ensure their lineage would endure through strong or advantageous unions. Over time, the practice has mostly died out, seen as an outdated custom that limits personal freedom. However, some families, particularly older or more traditional ones, still maintain the option.

In these cases, it’s more about ensuring a stable future for their kits. Parents may encourage arranged pairings with skilled warriors or cats with desirable traits (especially strength), seeing it as a way to ensure the survival and prosperity of their offspring. Some Cliffclan cats still embrace this, especially those who value tradition or find comfort in their parents' wisdom guiding their future.

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