Post by Cosmic Kitties on May 12, 2023 23:26:25 GMT -6
[smear:#be819d]CLAN HIERARCHY[/smear:#97be80:0]
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Each of the four Clans shares the same basic ranking system, consisting of nine (9) distinct ranks.
Any text such as Strike-through indicates a part of the ranking system that has not yet been enforced or introduced into the Roleplay.
[/smear:#97be80:0]Leader
- A Clan leader is charged with the responsibility to watch over and manage an entire Clan, maintaining discipline, order, and protection. Leaders are normally granted nine lives and a new name with the ending "-star" in a ceremony where AstralClan cats come to them in a dream at the Glowing Pool.
However, a leader may not receive all nine lives if the previous leader of his or her Clan is still alive; in this instance, a leader will have a life taken off the original total of nine for every life the previous leader still possesses.Sometimes Astralclan will not accept a leader, if this happens then the Clan is usually thrown into turmoil.
Deputy
- The deputy is the second-in-command to the leader and may be considered an apprentice in the art of leading the Clan. They serve in the leader's place in situations where the leader is unable to fulfill their duties. They are in charge of organizing patrols, and they are often called on by the leader for advice, but other than that, they retain the normal duties of a warrior.
To become a deputy, a cat must have trained at least one apprentice, though sometimes there are some exceptions.Upon the leader's death, they become the leader and go to the Glowing Pool, so AstralClan can grant them nine lives. Deputies may also retire and give up their rank if they wish, or step down and continue as a normal warrior.
Medicine cat
- The medicine cat serves the Clan as their healer. In addition to their responsibilities to their Clan, they have responsibilities to one another and Astralclan.
They carry out their responsibilities to Astralclan once every half-moon, meeting together to discuss matters privately and share dreams with AstralClan.Clan leaders often rely on them to carry messages from Astralclan, as medicine cats have a link no other cat has to their ancestors. In their role as spiritual leaders,they teach the code,interpret omens and prophecies, and generally serve the Clan as a conduit between the earthly cats and their ghostly counterparts.
- As a healer, they gather herbs and dispense them as needed. They handle the diagnosis and treatment of both illness and injury for all the cats in the Clan.
Medicine cats also exist outside of typical Clan rivalries in order to treat all cats fairly.
- Medicine cats serve as the third-most powerful member in the Clan hierarchy, falling behind the leader and deputy. As such, if the aforementioned individuals are unavailable, the medicine cat serves as the acting leadership figure for the Clan until a suitable replacement is found.
Warrior
- A warrior is an adult cat trained in the arts of fighting and hunting. Warriors make up the bulk of a Clan and provide that Clan with the protection and food supply that keeps it safe and well-fed.
Typically, a cat is made a warrior at or over the age of twelve moons.In their oath to become a warrior, they promise to "uphold the warrior codeand protect and defend their Clan, even at the cost of their life." Clan kits dream of being the best warriors they can to defend their Clan.
There are also senior warriors—older, highly respected warriors, typically mentioned to have a good bond with the Clan's leader but have not decided to retire yet. They are often trusted with leading patrols or on occasion, speaking on the leader's behalf in specific situations. Senior warriors also assist with Clan affairs such as taking temporary positions in the Clan hierarchy, or unofficially filling in for the leader or deputy should they be absent.
Apprentice
- An apprentice is a cat in training to become a warrior. Their names end in the word "-paw" to signify the "path their paws are now on."
Most are usually at or over the age of six moons per the warrior code.They have a mentor appointed to them at their ceremony and most days are taken out battle training or hunting. They are also given the task of cleaning out bedding and removing elders' ticks and fleas. Typically, apprentices must pass their warrior assessment, each clan having different tasks to complete, before being promoted to warriors.
Medicine cat apprentice
- A medicine cat apprentice is a cat that is being trained to follow in the pawsteps of the medicine cat. They learn healing and spiritual lore from the medicine cat. Medicine cat apprentices must be accepted by Astralclan in order to be trained. The apprentices may also accompany their mentors on their visit to the Glowing Pool every half-moon to receive dreams from Astralclan. Unlike warrior training, training to become a medicine cat may take longer than a warrior apprenticeship.
- A medicine cat apprentice who has full training will be given a full name similar to warriors; however, medicine cat apprentices remain apprentices, even when fully trained, so long as the current medicine cat is still practicing the arts. When the apprentice becomes a full medicine cat, they can then have an apprentice of their own. At the time the old medicine cat either dies or retires, the medicine cat apprentice becomes a full medicine cat, similar to a leader/deputy relationship. However, medicine cats do not always retire when their apprentices become full medicine cats. Each of these medicine cats continues to serve and share responsibilities with their former apprentices.
Queen
- A queen is a she-cat nursing or expecting kits. Their primary task during this time is the raising of their kits. Some queens stay in the nursery after they have kits to help the nursing or inexperienced queens. Some queens do not feel suited for Clanlife aside from helping the other queens. They most often help other queens when no milk is available, or when the mother is ill or deceased. Queens usually stay in the nursery until their kits become apprentices, then they return to their warrior duties.
Kit
- A kit is a cat that is between zero and six moons old and has not been made an apprentice yet. Their names always end in "-kit". Most often, they are under the age of six moons, though sometimes they are held back from being an apprentice for a certain amount of time, sometimes due to injury or misbehaving. Kits stay in the camp and are forbidden to leave it, unless accompanied by an older cat, such as a warrior, a medicine cat, or any kind of apprentice. Kits are protected by all members of the Clan,
and to be protected by all Clan cats,regardless of Clan,since they are the future of the Clan.
Elder
- An elder is a retired Clan cat who is too old or not in suitable shape to continue with their duties. Elders are taken care of by the whole Clan and are given respect for the time they have served as part of the Clan. It is usually the apprentices' job to hunt and care for the elders.
They are responsible for taking the body of a dead cat out to be buried.Some cats don't become an elder only because of old age; if there is ever a condition that prevents the cat from fulfilling their duties to their Clan, it usually leads to the cat's decision of retiring. Though at times they may appear grumpy, elders offer their wisdom to all Clan cats, including the Clan leader.
