Post by InsidiousFlair on Jul 10, 2018 1:50:44 GMT
Steel Skies Clan Ceremonial Traditions
The cats of Steel Skies have ceremonies very similar to those of the books' Clans; however, some have small differences, and several of the ceremonies have additional traditions added onto them.
Kit to Apprentice Ceremony Traditions
When a kit is 6 moons old, barring a physical condition, they will become an apprentice. The suffix of their name changes from -kit to -paw. All who are old enough to catch their own prey are called to the Clan's meeting place. This ceremony for these cats is no different from that of the Warrior Cats series.
Leader: (Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw"). Your mentor will be (name of warrior or medicine cat). I hope (name of warrior or medicine cat) will pass down all he/she knows on to you.
The leader calls up the warrior he/she has chosen as a mentor.
Leader: (Warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice).
The leader calls up the warrior he/she has chosen as a mentor.
Leader: (Warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice).
The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice by calling out their name.
Examples of virtues can be found here.
The ceremony is different for Medicine Cat Apprentices, but at the same age and with the same name changes. In addition to their official ceremony, the leader typically conducts a similar ceremony to the Clan so that they may equally recognize the cat's apprenticeship.
Medicine cat: (Apprentice), is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?
Apprentice: It is.
Medicine cat: Then come forward.
Medicine cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. (He/she) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) Clan in accordance with your will.
The medicine cat apprentice drinks from the pool at the floor of the Mooncave. Then the medicine cat and the apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.
Apprentice: It is.
Medicine cat: Then come forward.
Medicine cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. (He/she) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) Clan in accordance with your will.
The medicine cat apprentice drinks from the pool at the floor of the Mooncave. Then the medicine cat and the apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.
Apprentice to Warrior Ceremony Traditions
When an apprentice is between 12-18 moons, on average, if their mentor is satisfied with their progress and skills, they will tell their leader and the apprentice will be given an assessment. On rare occasions, the assessment is deemed unnecessary if the apprentice has made an important contribution to the Clan. However, this is typically not the case. The assessment of these Clans is broken into two parts. In the first, the apprentice must go on a hunting mission given by their mentor. They are often told to find a specific type of prey, or a category of prey, depending on the rarity. They leave in the early morning, before the sun has risen, and are secretly/not-so-secretly followed by their mentor as he/she judges their work. When they have obtained this prey, they return to the camp. Afterwards, they are expected to perform a task related to their Clan. HazeClan often involves something related to swimming or climbing, RidgeClan often involves something related to speed or scaling rocks, and SageClan often involves something related to stealth or gathering.
Leader: I, (Leader), leader of (Clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend (him/her) to you as a warrior in (his/her) turn.
Leader: (Apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment on you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (1-3 virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
The leader rests their muzzle on the apprentice's head, and the former apprentice licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling them by their new name. The warrior will stand guard in front of the camp that night and scare off or alert the Clan of any dangers, unless that is not possible or if the cat is injured.
Leader: (Apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment on you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (1-3 virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
The leader rests their muzzle on the apprentice's head, and the former apprentice licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling them by their new name. The warrior will stand guard in front of the camp that night and scare off or alert the Clan of any dangers, unless that is not possible or if the cat is injured.
Examples of virtues can be found here.
Warrior to Deputy Ceremony Traditions
After a new leader is officially given to the Clan, or after the death, disappearance, or removal of a previous deputy, the leader must choose a deputy by moonhigh. During this ceremony, the leader will speak the following words, and then, when the ceremony is over, show them a significant object within the leader's den, which will become theirs if they someday become the leader. This can frequently be passed down for generations of leaders, unless a leader or deputy obtains something more significant. This object can be anything, but is often something related to the specific Clan, StarClan, or some other significant belief or good omen. Typically they are of little value practical use but are meaningful to the Clans, quite like a family heirloom.
Leader: I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors (or former deputy name) may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of (Clan) is (warrior's name).
Deputy to Leader Ceremony Traditions
When a leader dies or retires from their position as leader, the deputy and medicine cat must travel to the Mooncave as soon as they are able to grant the deputy their leadership and new lives. This ceremony can be performed for new leaders by staff, with as much or as little assistance as the leader needs. When the new leader returns to their Clan, it is a common tradition for many cats to cheer their new name, give them their congratulations, and even gift them with a piece of prey or well-meaning object, perhaps a good-luck charm or a sign of good omens. The size of this greeting is often based on the new leader's following and popularity, but only in very rare cases does a leader receive no celebration at all.
The new leader goes to the Mooncave with the Clan's medicine cat. After drinking from the Mooncave's pool, the new leader cannot move for a short period of time, because their old life is being ripped away so they can receive nine new ones. Upon awakening, cats of StarClan come down from Silverpelt. Nine cats, normally ones who were significant during the new leader's life, although this is not always the case, give them their nine lives with these words:
Life giver: (Touches nose to the top of the new leader's head) With this life, I give you (gift). Use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).
When all of the lives have been given, normally the previous leader says these words:
Previous leader: I hail you by your new name, [original prefix]star. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of [the Clan they lead]. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride, honor, and dignity.
Often, after all the lives are given, the previous leader usually conducts the coronation for the new leader. However, sometimes the previous leader does not speak at the ceremony, or it is unknown if they are actually present, and another cat will conduct the coronation for the new leader - often the last cat to give them a life, but it also can be performed by the entirety of the amount of StarClan cats known to be present in the ceremony.
Just as the forest-cats would call a warrior by their new name, the StarClan cats acclaim the new leader. After the ceremony, the new leader is not allowed to tell any cat what happened during the ceremony.
Each of the lives normally give the new leader a great deal of pain as a sign to ready them for the hard work it normally will be to lead their Clan. However, certain lives, depending on the gift, such as Spottedleaf's life with the gift of love to Firestar, do not and instead give the warrior a much better feeling.
Getting nine lives does not necessarily mean that a leader will live longer, but they can survive certain accidents or injuries that would claim the life of a cat. However, they cannot survive if they have major injuries.
If a leader no longer wishes to be the leader, they must go to the Moonstone/Moonpool to revoke all but one life, so their deputy may have their full nine lives.
Life giver: (Touches nose to the top of the new leader's head) With this life, I give you (gift). Use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).
When all of the lives have been given, normally the previous leader says these words:
Previous leader: I hail you by your new name, [original prefix]star. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of [the Clan they lead]. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride, honor, and dignity.
Often, after all the lives are given, the previous leader usually conducts the coronation for the new leader. However, sometimes the previous leader does not speak at the ceremony, or it is unknown if they are actually present, and another cat will conduct the coronation for the new leader - often the last cat to give them a life, but it also can be performed by the entirety of the amount of StarClan cats known to be present in the ceremony.
Just as the forest-cats would call a warrior by their new name, the StarClan cats acclaim the new leader. After the ceremony, the new leader is not allowed to tell any cat what happened during the ceremony.
Each of the lives normally give the new leader a great deal of pain as a sign to ready them for the hard work it normally will be to lead their Clan. However, certain lives, depending on the gift, such as Spottedleaf's life with the gift of love to Firestar, do not and instead give the warrior a much better feeling.
Getting nine lives does not necessarily mean that a leader will live longer, but they can survive certain accidents or injuries that would claim the life of a cat. However, they cannot survive if they have major injuries.
If a leader no longer wishes to be the leader, they must go to the Moonstone/Moonpool to revoke all but one life, so their deputy may have their full nine lives.
Examples of lives/virtues can be found here.
Medicine Cat Apprentice to Medicine Cat Ceremony Traditions
When a medicine cat either decides to retire or deems their apprentice ready to be their equal, they will bring the apprentice to the Mooncave to commence their official Medicine Cat ceremony. This can happen at any age for the apprentice after around 12 moons, although they often have their name change later than warriors do. If the medicine cat has died, this can be done either by another medicine cat or the leader. After this ceremony has taken place, the previous/older medicine cat will give the new medicine cat some kind of gift, and the other Clans' medicine cats will often give them a small celebration of congratulations, cheers, advice, and, sometimes, gifts. Upon returning to the camp, the leader will show the new medicine cat the significant object they showed their deputy, so that, in the case of an emergency/the death of both the leader and the deputy, the medicine cat could restore order to the Clan and appoint a new leader.
Once the Clan's medicine cat is satisfied with the apprentice's knowledge, they go to the Mooncave, with the other Clans' medicine cats also present.
Medicine Cat: I, (name), medicine cat of ___Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help (he/she) will serve (his/her) Clan for many moons.
Medicine Cat: ___paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. ___paw, from this moment you will be known as (new name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of (Clan).
The medicine cat rests their muzzle on the apprentice's head, and they lick the mentor's shoulder. The other medicine cats greet them by their new name and give them congratulations, advice, and sometimes gifts.
Medicine Cat: I, (name), medicine cat of ___Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help (he/she) will serve (his/her) Clan for many moons.
Medicine Cat: ___paw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. ___paw, from this moment you will be known as (new name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of (Clan).
The medicine cat rests their muzzle on the apprentice's head, and they lick the mentor's shoulder. The other medicine cats greet them by their new name and give them congratulations, advice, and sometimes gifts.
Examples of virtues can be found here.
Warrior to Elder Ceremony Traditions
When a warrior, queen, or medicine cat has deemed it is time for them to retire, or when a cat is unable to perform their duties, they can request that they are moved to the elder's den.
An aging warrior, queen, or medicine cat may retire as an elder due to own initiative, when they feel they cannot help the Clan efficiently any more. A cat may also retire if they are hindered from serving their Clan through old age, illness, or injury. They report this to the Clan leader, who calls a Clan meeting and addresses the cat.
Leader: (Cat), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Cat: It is.
Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.
The Clan will call out the retired cat's name and then they will go to the elder's den. An elder may receive a completely different name, with a different ceremony, than keeping their warrior name. This ceremony is also used for other reasons.
Usually, an elder ceremony is held only when a cat retires due to old age. If they are forced to retire because of a severe injury (such as Longtail or Stonepelt), there is no ceremony.
Leader: (Cat), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Cat: It is.
Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.
The Clan will call out the retired cat's name and then they will go to the elder's den. An elder may receive a completely different name, with a different ceremony, than keeping their warrior name. This ceremony is also used for other reasons.
Usually, an elder ceremony is held only when a cat retires due to old age. If they are forced to retire because of a severe injury (such as Longtail or Stonepelt), there is no ceremony.