── .✦[ Basics ]✦. ── [ ASHCLAN ] Ashclan cats, called “Ashes”, are guided by the ever-watchful Ancestors. Their code has only two laws: +Uphold the will of The Ancestors +Uphold the will the Channel of The Ancestors Every moon, the Channel holds a meeting. They declare the current will of The Ancestors and any changes. Under Shatteredsoul’s rule, these wills are ever-present: Feed and protect the clan Never k!ll another Ashclan cat without permission from Shatteredsoul Never speak disrespectfully of The Ancestors Put the clan and The Ancestors first. Be prepared to sacrifice everything. If Shatteredsoul sees or learns of any Ash disobeying any of these, she will swiftly deliver punishment. —Kits As kits, Ashes will be expected to learn of their clan’s history. They will be taught of The Ancestor’s superiority and expected to agree. They will be left to play, hopefully developing skills as they do so. They may not leave camp unless accompanied by Shatteredsoul or a warrior she gives permission to. Sneaking out brings repercussions, as it is very dangerous out on the territory. —Apprentices During apprenticeship, Ashes will be assigned a mentor by the Channel. They will train hard every day, learning every skill necessary for battle. By night, Ancestors will visit their dreams, evaluating the apprentices skills. If an apprentice is found lacking, The Ancestors will tell the Channel, who will speak to the apprentice’s mentor. Once an apprentice is 11 moons old, they will be evaluated. If found worthy by The Ancestors and the Channel, they will become a warrior the next moon. —Warriors When an apprentice becomes a warrior, an Ancestor will choose them. They will continue training under the Ancestor in their dreams, receiving advice and learning even more. Every now and then, the Ancestor will possess the warrior in times of need to help them. Especially strong warriors-or ones who need extra help-will have more Ancestors watching over them. Warriors are expected to hunt and patrol, protecting their territory. They must fight in any battles, regardless of their strength or anything else. —Elders When a cat is too old to serve their clan, they will be retired. However, they will still be expected to work around camp to earn their place. They will do things such as caring for kits (there is no such thing as queens, every cat of warrior age must be ready to help), helping the healers, and building or repairing dens. Elders found lacking will be exiled without mercy. —Healers Healers are selected early, at the end of kithood. They train for moons, far longer than warrior apprentices. When The Ancestors find them worthy, they will be given a new name. Healers help all injuries and illness among the clan, using herbs and other things. —Deputy The deputy is chosen from the strongest of warriors by the Channel. They receive a new name, emphasizing the virtues —The Channel The Channel is the absolute voice of the Ancestors. They do not just lead; they rule. It is believed that the Channel’s soul is partially intertwined with the Dark Forest, granting them the power to see into the hearts of their subjects. Their word is law. To defy the Channel is to defy the Ancestors themselves, an act punishable by exile or "cleansing" (severe physical punishment). When a Channel grows weak or the Ancestors grow bored, a "Changing of the Soul" occurs. This is rarely peaceful. The next Channel is often the one who proves they are the most ruthless, as the Ancestors only inhabit the strongest vessel. [ EMBERCLAN ] EmberClan cats, or “Embers,” are the flame that refused to go out. They are a democracy born of necessity, valuing every life because they have so few. Their "Code" is unwritten but understood: Survival through Unity. —Kits Embers treat kits as the clan’s future. They are sheltered and kept hidden to avoid detection by AshClan patrols. Education focuses on stealth, silence, and the "Old Stories" of StarClan to ensure the truth isn't forgotten. —Apprentices Training is less about "glory" and more about utility. Apprentices learn to hunt in harsh conditions and, most importantly, how to hide their scent. They are taught that a warrior’s greatest weapon is their mind, not just their claws.
—Warriors There are no "Ancestors" in their dreams here. Warriors rely on each other. They are the scouts and the shields. Because food is scarce, a warrior’s status is often tied to their ability to provide for the elders and kits first. —Elders Unlike AshClan, EmberClan treats their elders with immense reverence. They are the "Living Libraries"—the only ones who remember the world before the Dark Forest. They are never expected to work; instead, they are protected at all costs. —Healers Healers in EmberClan are often overworked. They lack the "supernatural" guidance AshClan claims to have, relying purely on memory, tradition, and desperate experimentation with rare herbs. —Deputy Chosen not just for strength, but for their ability to keep the clan calm. They are the "Voice of the People," often acting as a bridge between the Leader's decisions and the warriors' needs. —The Channel In EmberClan, the "Channel" title is used with a different meaning: they are the channel for the Clan’s will and the memory of the stars. They are the protector of the flame. While they make the final decisions, they often hold "Circle Councils" where warriors and even elders can voice their thoughts. A Channel who ignores their Clan’s hunger or suffering is not fit to lead. When a Channel passes, the Clan enters a period of "The Smoldering," where the Deputy takes over immediately. There is no dark magic here; the new leader is chosen based on their proven loyalty to the Clan's survival and their ability to keep the "embers" of the old ways alive. ── .✦[ The Ancestors ]✦. ── While StarClan was a place of rest, the Dark Forest (The Ancestors) is a place of eternal competition. They do not sleep; they watch, they plot, and they hunger for the influence they once lost. The Ancestors are not all equal. Their society is built on The Tether: the more a living cat fears or obeys an Ancestor, the stronger that Ancestor becomes. The Architects: The oldest, most twisted spirits who orchestrated the fall of StarClan. They rarely speak to common warriors, communicating only through the Channel (Shatteredsoul). The Watchers: Spirits assigned to "bond" with AshClan warriors. They are like dark shadows, whispering advice that always leads to more power—or more bloodshed. The Hollowed: Spirits who failed the Architects. They are fading, desperate ghosts who will do anything to regain a "spark" of life, often by tricking living cats. The Ancestors do not give their "blessings" for free. To them, weakness is a disease. Every night, the Ancestors "pull" AshClan apprentices and warriors into the Dark Forest. Training here is physical; if you are scarred in a dream-battle with an Ancestor, you often wake up with the ache or the mark in the waking world. Only the strongest Warriors are granted "The Gift." In moments of great battle, an Ancestor may merge with the living cat. The cat becomes faster and stronger, but their eyes turn clouded and cold. Afterward, the cat is often left exhausted and "hollow." Even the Dark Forest has a twisted sort of order to prevent total chaos. Any mention of StarClan is a crime. The Ancestors actively hunt down any "Star-flickers" (remnants of StarClan) that might be hiding in the shadows of the forest. The Ancestors demand results. If a Clan cat fails a mission or shows mercy, their "assigned" Ancestor is punished, which usually leads to that Ancestor taking their rage out on the living cat the next night. ── .✦[ Links ]✦.── ⟡The signups and main studio is here. [ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51398630/ ] ⟡Go here to read the lore and understand this RP. [ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1285016323 ] ⟡Then, if you want to join, check out the rules. [ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1285015548/ ] Any questions you have can go there! ⟡We have many RP studios. Head to Ashclan [ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51400171 ], Emberclan [ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51400170 ], The Unclaimed Lands [ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51400230/ ], or even the Dark Forest, home of The Ancestors [ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51400169 ]. ⟡Make sure to read the Clan Customs guide, where you can learn anything you need to know to roleplay accurately. [ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1285021169/ ] ⟡And finally, read this to understand experience points, or exp, as well as how you accomplish tasks like fighting, hunting, and healing. [ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1294746244 ]