Posted by STRAY on Oct 5, 2023 0:19:02 GMT
THE WARRIOR CODE
Windsong’s warrior code has been expanded upon from the canon code. Unspoken rules have instead been translated directly into law, so a lot of this should already be familiar to you! There are also some additional rules added or altered to best suit the three Clans and their cultures. After all, healers have had a bit of an overhaul, and there’s an entirely new rank.
Every Clan cat lives and dies by the warrior code. It is these laws that, if nothing else, tie the three Clans together. These laws have been expanded over many years and are NOT ordered by importance. An average cat will probably know only the most important or relevant parts of the code, as some of the laws are ambiguous or obscure, but highly intelligent warriors and figures of authority will know each and every law by heart. A cat will be punished in some way for breaking any part of the code—depending on the severity, they may face a simple scolding, or they may be punished with exile or death. Other punishments include but are not limited to flea and tick duty, temporary demotion, fasting, confinement to camp, and isolation.
As the code has been vastly expanded, the laws will be separated into sections for easier reading.
GENERAL LAWS - LOYALTY & THE CODE
HUNTING & TERRITORY
WARFARE & DIPLOMACY
RANK-SPECIFIC
RANK-SPECIFIC - HEALERS
Healers can generally ignore many parts of the warrior code, seeing as they are not even taught to fight. They do have their own section of laws, mostly added to by healers that have come before them. There are a couple that apply to warriors, too, though.
UNSPOKEN RULES & EXPECTATIONS
The code is law, but the Clan cats also have the expectations of their culture to live by. For example, cats should generally have only one litter to avoid one family line dominating the rest, and it’s a poorly-kept secret that sometimes queens will go beyond the borders to have loners sire their litter. Though the Clans are too prideful to admit it, they're rather okay with this. Fresh blood dilutes family lines and combats inbreeding. The rule that allows queens to keep the sire of their litters secret is the perfect loophole anyway. Now, if the father is from one of the other two Clans… that’ll be super obvious because of how the Clans have evolved to look different from each other. There’ll be a lot more scorn involved ("now that tom’s Clan has a reason to pick a fight with us," or "now that molly’s kits—your kits—will grow up to be our enemies," etc).
Regarding the “healers and kits” rule, note that it isn’t strictly forbidden. A Clan will generally be much more forgiving if an older healer ends up having a litter after their apprentice has earned their full name. It’s still heavily discouraged, though. A healer’s not going to get away with having a litter without bearing a great amount of shame, either because they simply hate that they can’t live the same life as their Clanmates can, or because they feel they have given into worldly desires and failed their Clan.
Apprentices usually train for a minimum of two seasons before they’re considered for examination, but an apprentice needing more time is not uncommon. Apprentices being named early has happened before, but it’s very rare. Kin is usually not assigned to mentor kin, and asking for a specific mentor or apprentice is not illegal but looked down upon, except in, again, special cases (ex: Fireheart training Cloudpaw in order to prove themselves to the Clan).
Windsong’s warrior code has been expanded upon from the canon code. Unspoken rules have instead been translated directly into law, so a lot of this should already be familiar to you! There are also some additional rules added or altered to best suit the three Clans and their cultures. After all, healers have had a bit of an overhaul, and there’s an entirely new rank.
Every Clan cat lives and dies by the warrior code. It is these laws that, if nothing else, tie the three Clans together. These laws have been expanded over many years and are NOT ordered by importance. An average cat will probably know only the most important or relevant parts of the code, as some of the laws are ambiguous or obscure, but highly intelligent warriors and figures of authority will know each and every law by heart. A cat will be punished in some way for breaking any part of the code—depending on the severity, they may face a simple scolding, or they may be punished with exile or death. Other punishments include but are not limited to flea and tick duty, temporary demotion, fasting, confinement to camp, and isolation.
As the code has been vastly expanded, the laws will be separated into sections for easier reading.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
GENERAL LAWS - LOYALTY & THE CODE
1. A warrior’s first loyalty is to their Clan. They must put their Clanmates before themselves.
2. Having a mate outside of the Clan, such as an outsider or member of a neighboring Clan, is forbidden, as they could meet in battle. Friendships are acceptable as long as they are made with this in mind.
3. In the event that a cat wants to switch their allegiance from one Clan to another, the same loyalty is expected from their new community.
4. A warrior rejects the kittypet way of life. There are some exceptions, such as when a Clanmate in mortal danger is to be sent to humans for treatment, or when the Clans must steal food from humans out of necessity. Kits, queens, and elders will continue to receive food first as usual.
5. The code may be changed or added to at any time, provided the changes or additions benefit the Clans and are deemed morally just and appropriate. At a Gathering, these must be decided by a majority vote.
6. Honor and respect the word of figures of authority, but do not be blindly loyal to it. If they say or do something that is morally wrong or against the warrior code, individuals have a right to protest.
7. Abide by the code for as long as it is sensible.
HUNTING & TERRITORY
1. Prey is killed only to be eaten.
2. A warrior should only hunt for the amount of prey that the Clan requires in a day, since the Clans as a whole are expected to preserve prey for their future existence.
3. Elders, queens, kits, the sick, and the injured must be fed first before a warrior may have their meal.
4. A warrior may only hunt on their native territory or in neutral grounds. Stealing from another Clan is forbidden. Furthermore, all Clan cats are allowed to hunt any kind of prey, and no Clan may claim exclusivity to a particular kind of prey or hunting technique.
5. If prey is chased over the border, the hunter has four (the number of paws a cat has) body-lengths past the border to catch it before they have to surrender the prey as belonging to the other Clan. The hunter must then promptly return to their own borders, lest they be taken as intruding.
6. Intrusion on a territory (going past four body-lengths with no prey in sight) can and must be challenged. Any non-lethal method that deters further invasion is permitted by a Clan's right to defend its territory. Violence is to be used as a last resort. Trespassing is permitted only when the purpose is for travel to the Mothermouth.
7. Territory claims and disputes should be discussed at Gatherings, where the third Clan can provide input and act as a mediator. Battles are a last resort.
WARFARE & DIPLOMACY
1. Wars are to be avoided wherever possible. In the event two Clans are warring, they must avoid bringing in the third Clan. At the same time, the third Clan is expected to provide assistance if the survival of one of the other Clans is in jeopardy.
2. Killing an opponent is only acceptable for self-defense.
3. Queens and matriarchs are expected to and will instinctively attempt to kill an opponent they feel is dangerous. If there are kits to be protected, they will be exempt from punishment.
4. All Clans will do their utmost to keep warfare situated along the borders and avoid bringing it to camp for the above reason: queens will make a fight lethal.
5. Gatherings must proceed as usual even if all three Clans are warring. Negotiations should consistently occur, and the Clans must make every attempt to resolve the conflict peacefully. Usual Gathering rules apply: no fights are to take place on the island.
RANK-SPECIFIC
1. The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.
2. After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before the next moonhigh.
3. A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
4. Apprentices are to be accompanied by a warrior when outside of camp.
5. An apprentice is required to visit the Moonpool at least once before they are named a warrior.
6. All kits are to be protected and cared for, regardless of their origin.
7. Kits are to remain in camp. They are permitted outside within four body-lengths of the camp entrance if they are accompanied by at least one warrior with their parents’ knowledge.
8. Kits may only be apprenticed when they have reached two seasons in age.
9. A queen is not required to share the name of her litter’s sire or where he comes from. Harassing her for this information is grounds for punishment.
10. The mother’s Clan has a claim to her litter. Avoid separating siblings and mothers from kits.
11. In the event a queen, of Clan or Clanless origins, seeks shelter, she and her kits are to be provided care.
RANK-SPECIFIC - HEALERS
Healers can generally ignore many parts of the warrior code, seeing as they are not even taught to fight. They do have their own section of laws, mostly added to by healers that have come before them. There are a couple that apply to warriors, too, though.
1. A healer’s loyalty is to their Clan first, but they live outside of Clan rivalries and are duty-bound to support another healer if they believe that Clan is in danger.
2. A healer must help any cat in need, Clan or Clanless.
3. In the event a Clan is without a healer, the healers of the other two Clans will provide assistance and train that Clan’s next healer.
4. A healer must avoid taking a mate and especially having kits. They should be available to interpret signs and provide care at any given time.
5. Healers must never be harmed. Attempting to/murdering a healer is one of the few crimes punishable by death.
6. In the event a healer proves to be dangerous to their Clan, they may be stripped of their rank, exiled, or punished by death, depending on the severity of their crimes. (As an OOC note, usually, evil healers don’t… happen. StarClan obviously never makes a mistake… ever.)
7. Healers are permitted to ignore borders, though it is preferable that they wait for a patrol to escort them so that the Clan is made aware of their presence on their territory.
8. Dreams, signs, and omens should generally be shared with the other figures of authority, but healers may share them with other warriors, and they are not to be punished if they keep visions to themselves in good faith.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
UNSPOKEN RULES & EXPECTATIONS
The code is law, but the Clan cats also have the expectations of their culture to live by. For example, cats should generally have only one litter to avoid one family line dominating the rest, and it’s a poorly-kept secret that sometimes queens will go beyond the borders to have loners sire their litter. Though the Clans are too prideful to admit it, they're rather okay with this. Fresh blood dilutes family lines and combats inbreeding. The rule that allows queens to keep the sire of their litters secret is the perfect loophole anyway. Now, if the father is from one of the other two Clans… that’ll be super obvious because of how the Clans have evolved to look different from each other. There’ll be a lot more scorn involved ("now that tom’s Clan has a reason to pick a fight with us," or "now that molly’s kits—your kits—will grow up to be our enemies," etc).
Regarding the “healers and kits” rule, note that it isn’t strictly forbidden. A Clan will generally be much more forgiving if an older healer ends up having a litter after their apprentice has earned their full name. It’s still heavily discouraged, though. A healer’s not going to get away with having a litter without bearing a great amount of shame, either because they simply hate that they can’t live the same life as their Clanmates can, or because they feel they have given into worldly desires and failed their Clan.
Apprentices usually train for a minimum of two seasons before they’re considered for examination, but an apprentice needing more time is not uncommon. Apprentices being named early has happened before, but it’s very rare. Kin is usually not assigned to mentor kin, and asking for a specific mentor or apprentice is not illegal but looked down upon, except in, again, special cases (ex: Fireheart training Cloudpaw in order to prove themselves to the Clan).