Clan Traditions

By definition, a tradition is "a belief or behaviour (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. ... Tradition is used to indicate the quality of a piece of information being discussed." Having a tradition to follow within the Clans, Tribes and even outside of the clan system altogether (i.e Loners and Rogues) allows cats to have a sense of purpose and identity. It gives them something to look forward to in moments where they appear to have nothing going for them.

Though these traditions may all follow the same route and lead to the same sense of self worth, each one is unique to the group of cats performing them. They were put in place in order to inspire an apprentice and bring humbleness to a new warrior. The history of where these traditions came from is unknown, but one thing is certain: they are now ingrained in the lifestyle of the Clans.

It is important to note that a thread with a minimum of a hundred words is required whenever your character becomes an apprentice or a warrior. It can be a a short thread, a short story or mentioned in passing (so long as it meets a hundred words) going into detail about your new apprentice or your new warrior partaking in one of these traditions. Once you have created it, please link it to a staff member. This is a mandatory thread that must be created. Your character's rank will not be updated until you send us this post.

MOSSCLAN TRADITIONS 


Warrior Ceremony: 
This ceremony is all about bursting any egos and quelling any arrogance that may come with becoming a warrior. A newly named defender of the clan is to spend the day collecting new moss, fresh and dry, in order to clean out the nursery and elders' nests. The reasoning behind this is to remind a warrior that, before bloodshed and gnashing teeth, comes a bone-deep loyalty that mandates a weaker clanmate be provided for and protected first.



********************************************

MEADOWCLAN TRADITIONS

Warrior Ceremony:
In a celebration of flowers and good will, this ceremony is about friends and family rejoicing the fact that their clanmate has reached the age of warriorhood. In a complicated act that leaves a cat's fur littered with flowers, one must climb to the top of the large ruin that looms over the camp. Once that has been achieved, the cat in question is to pull a single flower out of their pelt and place it firmly amongst the old bricks - essentially leaving their mark of warriorhood for the world to see. 



********************************************

GORSECLAN TRADITIONS


Warrior Ceremony:
In order to properly display their skills and understanding of their land, Gorseclan warriors set out to navigate through the tunnels, find a 'lost' cat, and guide them back to the surface. Though this is not timed, a warrior is expected to be able to only use half of the day in order to perform this act. The aim of this is to teach a new warrior the effort that must be put in when helping a fellow cat in need. Alongside their mentor, a senior warrior with their scent masked will be playing the part of the 'lost cat' in order to ensure that the young warrior does not become lost or trapped in the tunnels. 



********************************************

COVECLAN TRADITIONS

Warrior Ceremony:
Splash-filled fun comes with the duty of watching over young apprentices. Once a warrior has been named, it is up to them to watch over any new apprentices having their first swim in the choppy sea. This will strengthen the understanding that a warrior watches over not only themselves, but others as well. Sharp hearing, narrowed eyes, and a quick mind is everything a warrior needs and, in a simple way of showing off these skills, their duty is to ensure no young lives are lost to the unforgiving surf. 



********************************************

In a show of their strength and resilience, both new water-waders and range-guards must stand under and shoulder the force of one of the Tribe's waterfalls for a set duration of time. While the two groups have different duties, being used to the slippery cliffs of their territory is equally important to both, and withstanding the waterfall is a reminder of nature's strength. This is typically done during a full moon, when the night is brightest and the young cat is both watched over by and presented to the ancestors.