Post by KingHarry on Mar 27, 2018 20:56:27 GMT
Written by Ringtail
To start with, this is not a clan; it's a tribe. You of course already know that but it is important to note that there is a difference. The Tribe of Ancient Roots has different traditions and ways of life to the clans. As well as this, there are different traditions to the canon tribe. While we wanted to keep it as similar as we could, the new setting mean that some things had to change.
The cats in the Tribe of Ancient Roots have more simple lives than those in the clans. Their group ranks are:
To start with, this is not a clan; it's a tribe. You of course already know that but it is important to note that there is a difference. The Tribe of Ancient Roots has different traditions and ways of life to the clans. As well as this, there are different traditions to the canon tribe. While we wanted to keep it as similar as we could, the new setting mean that some things had to change.
The cats in the Tribe of Ancient Roots have more simple lives than those in the clans. Their group ranks are:
⦁ Healer
⦁ Home-guards
⦁ Prey-hunters
⦁ To-be
⦁ Kit-mothers
⦁ Kits
⦁ Elders
The Healer: The healer acts as both leader and medicine cat towards the tribe, using herbs to cure wounds and illnesses. They do not have a deputy and they do not dream of the Tribe of Endless Hunting (the tribe version of StarClan). Instead of dreams, they use rock, leaf and water to interpret signs from the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Every Healer changes their name to Firstspeaker or Speaker of the First Cats.They believe that the Ancestor Statue - a physical representation of the first tribe cat - is the conduit between the Tribe of Ancient Roots and the Tribe of Endless Hunting.
The healer does not leave the ruin that the Tribe has made its home in as they only have one life, not nine. At some point in their life, they pick a healer to-be who then becomes healer once they pass on. The to-be is allowed to turn down this role, but most do not.
The healer does not leave the ruin that the Tribe has made its home in as they only have one life, not nine. At some point in their life, they pick a healer to-be who then becomes healer once they pass on. The to-be is allowed to turn down this role, but most do not.
Home-Guards: When kits are born, they are either chosen to be home-guards or prey hunters. Home-guards are responsible for defending the Tribe's home and members from predators and other enemies. They also accompany prey-hunting as spotters when hunting for larger prey (such as birds of prey). They use mud to hide their scent and blend in with their surroundings.
Prey-Hunters: Cats that are not home-guards are prey-hunters. As the name suggests, these cats provide food for the tribe. They use stealth and surprise (plus camouflage from time to time) to catch all sorts of prey - from mice to eagles.
To-Bes: At eight moons, a kit becomes a to-be. They are assigned a mentor that teaches them either to be a home-guard or a prey-hunter. Their training is usually complete when they are around 14 moons old.
Kit-Mothers: These are she-cats who are to have or are nursing kits. They are too far along in the pregnancies to continue their duties and will remain kit-mothers for the time to wean the kits. They normally name kits after the first thing they see, which is an ancient tradition to do so.
Kits: These cats are not yet to-bes. At their birth, it is foretold by the healer whether they will either become a prey-hunter, home-guard, or the future Firstspeaker.
Elders: These cats are the oldest and weakest of cats. They are retired from their previous duties and are sometimes consulted when difficult times have arrived.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Tribe Terminology
Beetle-brain : Friendly insult; similar to mouse-brain.
Caught-prey: A dead prey animal caught for the purpose of consumption; similar to fresh-kill.
Time of Freed Water: The season of spring, known to the forest Clans as newleaf.
Time of Frozen Water : The season of winter, known to the forest Clans as leaf-bare.
Tribe of Endless Hunting : Similar to StarClan, these are the Tribe's ancestors.
Giving of close comfort: Act of cats grooming each other; similar to sharing tongues.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Religious Beliefs
The Tribe of Endless Hunting is mostly comprised of the spiritual ancestors that were born into the tribe. They give signs and omens to the healer, as well as telling the future roles of new kits. Tribes contact their ancestors during the full moon at a ceremony called the Telling. During this, they meet in front of the Ancestor Statue and the healer interprets the signs he has seen over the past moon.
