Character Creation

001. Character Creation

So, how do you start your first character on Seaside Warriors? Well, first you should finish reading all the threads in this board. But once you've done that, you can go to the 'Character Creation' board and follow the instructions in the sticky thread to get the character creation template. Then simply paste this into a new thread, titling it with your character's name, gender and clan.

If you have your eye on a high position, your character has to be finished and accepted by an admin. Once that's done, you can apply for a high rank if you wish! Should you be fortunate enough to be accepted, just update your character's profile with the new information. (Once accepted, the bio's subject line will be edited to their name, gender and rank, so don't forget to update that part, too! A staff member will sticky your thread in your clan's accepted bios board so that it's easy for your clanmates to find out who their leader, deputy and medicine cat are.)

002. About the Ranks

In the Clans

Kits: must end in the name -kit, for example Leafkit, Molekit, etc.
Kittens become apprentices when they are at least 6 moons old. Every day can count as two days which means in 90 days (3 months) your kit can be apprenticed.

Apprentices: must end in the suffix -paw, for example Leafpaw, Molepaw et cetera. Kin are generally not paired as mentor and apprentice for the obvious reason that the mentor would always seem to be going soft on their apprentice.
These cats are promoted to warriors when they are at least twelve moons old, but promotion is dependant on the agreement of the cat's mentor and the clan leader, as well as the apprentice passing their final assessment to the standard of their mentor. A cat is apprenticed to one warrior by the leader and must obey them. Apprentices, much like kits, cannot leave camp without a warrior's permission and a warrior to accompany them.
A mentor is responsible for their apprentice and must teach them the lay of the territory, how to hunt, how to track, how to fight and the warrior code. Every apprentice is taken to the Moonstream to share tongues with StarClan before they are made a warrior.
An apprentice's final assessment is organised by their mentor and encompasses all the skills they have been taught throughout their apprenticeship, though there is no set order or traditional way to do this. If the apprentice passes, the warrior will inform their leader and a warrior ceremony will be performed, after which the apprentice must sit in silent vigil outside the camp (in place of the usual night guard) all night. Littermates are generally made apprentices and then warriors together.
Medicine cat apprenticeships end slightly differently: once a medicine cat apprentice is ready, they are taken to the Moonstream by their mentor and StarClan will give them their full name. They will still fulfill the roles of a medicine cat apprentice until their mentor dies or (extremely rarely) retires.

Apprenticeship Ceremony

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 (apprentice name). 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 had 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 their new name. The apprentice is then able to go greet their family, or go see to their mentor.

The ceremony must be role-played in full.

Warriors: earn a suffix of their own, which can relate to their personality, appearance or a noticeable trait or event in their lives. Some examples might be Leafpelt, Molefoot, Goldencloud, et cetera. They can train apprentices of their own whenever the leader appoints them. In character, it is very unusual or even frowned on for a warrior to ask to be a mentor as it is up to the clan leader to decide who is ready to train an apprentice.
Out of character: if you are training an apprentice and they are ready to become a warrior, you must let your clan leader know so they can perform the ceremony. If you want to be a mentor, be sure that you (and your apprentice) are active and can keep up with each other.
Warrior Ceremony

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 you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).

Deputies: Any cat who is made deputy must have had at least one apprentice. Deputies take care of the patrols, and help their leader to keep the clan in order. In the event of a deputy's death (or the appointment of a new leader) the new deputy must be announced before the following moonhigh (point of night at which the moon is highest); not to do so is to uncur the wrath of StarClan and is seen as a poor omen. Deputies can give minor punishments to other characters for minor breaks in the warrior code, disobedience and the like. The leader trusts them, often letting them know the priveleged information of how many lives they have left if necessary, and will come to them for advice. Only active members will be allowed to have this rank.

Deputy Announcement

The leader calls a clan meeting.
Leader: I say these words before StarClan, 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).

Leaders: Take on the suffix of the name -star, for example Leafstar, Molestar, etc.
A leader will generally leave the day-to-day organising of patrols to their deputy. The clan leader was deputy under the previous leader who died or otherwise retired. On the same night as the death of the previous leader (though there are exceptions if death is not known for certain or if there are storms/fires, et cetera), the deputy travels to the Moonstream with their medicine cat, having eaten only strengthening herbs, to share tongues with StarClan and receive their nine lives. In character, a leader generally exhibits the greatest values or traits of their clan and must keep their clan in order: if anything happens in your clan that shouldn't, you will be the one to blame. A leader's word is law, but conflicts with the warrior code will not be taken well by the clan. A leader must attend every Gathering and choose a few warriors and apprentices to accompany them.
The words of StarClan to a new leader:

Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of your Clan. Defend it well, care for young and old, honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.

Each of life is then given to the new leader by a deceased cat who was important in their past or whom they may recognise; each life is given with an associated virtue. The process is painful.

Medicine Cat: You are in charge of the physical and spiritual or moral health of your clan. If there is a greencough outbreak, they will be blamed if nothing is done to stop it. A medicine cat generally does not attend Gatherings but instead travels to the Moonstream with their apprentice (if any) at half-moons and meets the other three medicine cats to share tongues with StarClan, and to receive advice or warnings if necessary. The leader will generally come to these cats for advice also.
To role-players: you cannot have dreams from StarClan unless you consult one of the admins. If prophetic dreams are required for a site-wide plot, you'll be the first to know.

Outside the Clans
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Loners: A loner is a cat who generally has a small home territory of their own but does not live in a clan. Clan cats do not see loners very often as they are happy to co-exist and do not tend to come near the clans, as they seem imposing and often frightening to the outsiders who are not as rigorously trained in fighting or hunting.

Rogues: A rogue is generally a nomadic cat and therefore generally causes trouble for the clans. The actual difference between a rogue and a loner is the clans' perspective on them. As such, that anyone who crosses a clan boundary, displays disrespect to the clans or who steals prey is likely to be called a rogue, and anyone who respects the border markings is a loner.

Kittypet / Housepet: Any pet owned by a Twoleg/housefolk. The clans view these cats as soft and weak, and they're not wrong. Such pampered cats have generally been to the cutter (the vet) which mellows them out even more, and tend not to trouble the clans.