Post by Ren on Oct 3, 2005 14:39:51 GMT -5
Other References
(Currently this part is under construction).
The Warrior Code(this site)
alleysecrets.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=whattodo&action=display&n=1&thread=5&page=1
Warriors Glossary(this site)
alleysecrets.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=help&action=display&n=1&thread=50
x_Mysia_x's Guide to Warrior RP's
petpages.neopets.com/~_Leafheart_
...If you've got a guide and would like me to put it up, just say so in the Advertise section, or on the Help. I'm trying to make as large a list as possible, mostly because this one is so incredibly long and I would like to have some shorter references. I'll also be making a glossary of terms type thing.
About the Books
Warriors roleplay is based on the books by Erin Hunter. Please note right here and now that while individual plots/characters/variations belong to creators and rp'ers, we DO NOT hold any rights to the original series/characters/places or any of that. So, say, while the writing for Darknessstar's traits and history belongs to me, the credit for style of name and Clan she leads goes (mostly) to the writer. I just wanted to make all that clear, because I hate it myself when people take something I worked hard on, and don't want to get in trouble for copyrights and all that.
Anyway. There are currently eight books to be read. There's the original series, Warriors, which includes: Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, and The Darkest Hour. Then, recently a second series has come out, named, Warriors: The New Prophecy. It takes place about a generation or so after the first series. So far there are two books: Midnight and Moonrise. I'm not sure if Moonrise is being sold in paperback yet or whatever; it just came out this August. Now, the third book will be called Dawn, and (correct me if I'm wrong) will most likely come out this December. I'm sure all readers are curious as to who'll narrate this one, and impatient to hear what'll happen next.
Warriors: From Birth to Death
Now, then. This will take you more or less through a warrior's life; I'll make it a she-cat, to explain about queens, and then later on a deputy and leader. Just a note to new Warriors rp'ers, I'd reccomend you start out with a kit yourself, so you can learn it all along with your character.
So...it starts out in the nursery. There's on average two or three queens--mothers or expecting mothers--in the nursery at a time with a healthy Clan, I'd estimate, and usually have between one and four kits--kittens; again, this'll depend on the overall health of Clan and territory. So, the kits are born, and each is given a name by the leader. Let's have this one be Berrykit. The name's pretty simple, you see, the first part more or less stating who they are--Berrykit's color or personality would likely fit her name well, although irony or sometimes just plain pointless names are used--and the second part their rank in the Clan. She's a kit, you see?
So, time passes. Berrykit learns how to see, then walk, then finally eat the fresh-kill--prey--her Clanmates catch for her. By then, she's around six moons, and ready to be apprenticed.
There's a formal ceremony for this. The leader will call a Clan meeting--"All cats old enough to catch their own prey come to the Highrock for a Clan meeting." The queen will bring her kit(s)--let's safely assume that Berrykit is the only one in this litter--to it, for the first time.
The leader will call the kits to the Highrock, telling them to come forward. There is no specific speech for the apprentice ceremony; the leader simply gives the kit her apprentice name--Berry like before, paw to name her as being trained to be a warrior--then names her mentor, stating the reasons (s)he has done so.
Her mentor is a full warrior--I'll get to that later, when Berrypaw herself becomes one. But, to become a warrior, Berrypaw must first learn how to hunt, fight, and follow the warrior code.
First day out, the mentor would show Berrypaw the borders of her home and the different important landmarks--the Twolegs' Thunderpath, a good stand of trees or meadow to hunt in, places like other predators' dens to keep away from, at least until the Clan can get rid of such problems. Berrypaw has to learn these places by heart.
Hunting and fighting are taught in 'training sessions.' As to hunting, an apprentice must learn how to stalk different creatures and how to properly pounce--that a rabbit will hear you before it sees you or smells you, if you're properly downwind, that a mouse feels your paws through the ground before any of the above, that you must run lightly and quickly if you want to catch a bird before it flies away, that squirrels and chipmunks are fast but voles and shrews are bigger and slow. Quite a lot to keep in mind, eh? But it's not too much, once you've trained an apprentice or two.
I'm getting tired of calling Berrypaw's mentor "the warrior" and "the mentor," so let's call him Emberstone from now on.
As for fighting, the most often tactic used by mentors is the simple, "Attack me." Warrior and apprentice will have a mock-fight, until one defeats the other by pinning it down or causing it to surrender, upon which Emberstone tells Berrypaw what she did well, and what she needs to improve on--generally advising her on what things to use to her advantage, and some clever schemes to turn the tables in a battle, as well as having Berrypaw work some of it out herself. This is mostly the only way rp'ers mentor, since it's pretty much the only way described in the books and we're too lazy/uncreative to think up our own methods. xP
Finally, there are no classes so boring and set-out as our own, thankfully. A.K.A No lectures on the warrior code. Kits grow up with it hammered into their minds, and almost every session hints at one of the rules while the apprentices learn. However, for those of you who don't care to memorize it yourself, I've got one by Tigerlily of...gah, just read it, and will soon link it above.
Berrypaw will also probably be invited to the first Gathering there is after her apprentice ceremony. Gatherings are held once a moon--month-- when the moon is full, at a spot where all four Clan territories meet, where the Clans can discuss all that has happened since they last met. Gatherings must, must, must be held under a truce, as said in the code.
Each of the four Clan leaders will tell what has happened: how the prey is, Twoleg activity, what members have changed rank. In this case, Berrypaw's leader will announce her to be an apprentice, and her mother out of the nursery. Gatherings are also a great time for the different cats to get to know each other and exchange gossip.
Finally, Berrypaw will be almost ready to become a warrior. There's just one thing left: to go to the Monstone. (Note: This is called the Twilightstone in our rp, and glows at evening with a purple light, just to provide a bit of variation. It is a purple diamond; yes, such things exist, and they are very rare--hence the Twolegs' theft.)
Berrypaw will go with an older cat--likely her mentor or leader--to a cave at least half a day's travel away. Cats on the way to Moonstone may NOT be attacked, even if they are on hostile territory. Before too long, the two--or however many come along--will reach the cave, called Highstones in the books. Inside is a large, white stone, which makes the cave light up with a glow when the moon shines on it in a certain point, through a hole in the roof. The leader--it is usually the leader, or medicine cat, now that it comes to that--will press his/her nose against the stone, and share dreams with StarClan, the warrior anscestors (will be explained farther down). Meanwhile, Berrypaw will either guard the entrance or watch. When the leader awakes, the two will rest and hunt--the leader is not allowed to eat anything for the journey there, although Berrypaw was allowed to get some traveling herbs from the medicine cat. When they get back home, life continues as normal unless the leader recieved an urgent dream from StarClan, or a prophecy. Except for one thing: Berrypaw's ceremony is drawing near.
Normally, the mentor also tests her hunting and fighting skills once or twice before it, then reports to his leader; she should have been apprenticed for at least two, normally four or five, moons.
Then the ceremony. Berrypaw's leader--let's say Silverstar--calls the now familiar summons. She has Berrypaw approach. There is an official speech for this: "I, Silverstar, leader of (whichever Clan she's in), call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She had trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in turn.
"Berrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The apprentice answers yes, of course.
"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Berrypaw, from this day on you will be known as Berrydew. StarClan honors your (two traits—courage and strength, cunning and bravery, etc, etc)." I believe that in the books it was always "courage and strength" for that last, but since sometimes there are traits that better fit the new warrior, I make it much more flexible.
Berrydew is a warrior now. This means exactly as stated above, that she is charged to care for her Clan--her family, her friends, her home--strong and weak, young and old, close or only an accquaintance. It also means she will follow the warrior code. Really, it's a bit like being knighted, if you enjoy reading medieval books, except it happens to almost everycat.
Now, the name. For warriors, the ending can be anything. Berrydew, Eveningstorm, Ashstream, Garnetfur, Starredmyst...(those last four names are actually my characters'--please don't use them xD). However, "kit," "paw," and "star" are off-limits, for reasons that ought to be--or soon will be--evident.
So, Berrydew becomes a warrior. More time passes. She mentors an apprentice--by now, the process ought to be known to you, and you understand what a 'warrior' is. Yes, in case it hasn't been made entirely clear to you yet, she-cats can be warriors as well as toms. xD
Because she has mentored a cat, now Berrydew is officially eligible to be a deputy--the second-in-command. However, the current deputy still lives, and Silverstar has two lives left. And in any case, we've got one more thing to cover before that.
Berrydew is a she-cat, obviously, and before long she find herself in the nursery. (I'm going to make a note right here: DO NOT be graphic with scenes like kitting and fighting. A little description is good, but no gory stuff, and also, don't just say, 'it happened'.) Her kits are healthy, three of them, and she stays in the nursery at all times, except for getting some food from the freshkill pile. Soon her kits' eyes are open, and they're walking about camp, pouncing on one another and fooling around with the other young cats as they get to know the world around them and practice skills given to them from birth. Berrydew keeps a close eye on them--no leaving camp for these ones, not until Silverstar's say-so!
But, quickly enough, Berrydew's little ones aren't so little anymore, and her friends are training them, just as Emberstone did she.
Then it happens: the deputy is killed, and Silverstar loses a life in a rogue attack. The warrior code says that despite her grief, Silverstar must name her new deputy before moonhigh. Can you guess who it is? Yes, Berrydew. Having experience in almost any area, being at least average, if not better in the hunting and fighting arts, and being nearly 3 season-cycles old, there's no question that she's fit for the job. Berrydew's new duties include organizing everyday things, like border and hunting patrols, and handling the Clan when Silverstar is unable to.
More time passes. Silverstar is getting older, though I don't believe it's possible for a leader to die of age. However, her immunities and natural resistance is failing, just enough, and unfortunately it is no surprise when she does not survive one especially strong bout of whitecough(aka blackcough).
Berrydew is now leader.
To recieve her nine lives and get her "star" name, she must visit Moonstone, as she did with Silverstar so long ago. She selects two of the older apprentices and the cat that is next experienced after her deputy--the latter must stay back to guard camp--and sets off.
Once she gets there and falls into her dream, eight cats she knows to have died approach, each giving her a life based around one trait or another(I'm not going into much detail here). Then she awakes, now bearing the name "Berrystar," and returns to her home.
As a leader, in addition to her former duties, Berrystar leads the Clan, through good times and hardship; she councils and teaches the different cats as she was once taught; she selects mentors for apprentices and names the cats. She will continue her job until all nine lives are lost.
Now, there are two--three--types of Clan cats you never end up being, with this lifestyle. First is a medicine cat. They are the healers of the Clan; they know all types of herblore and various ways to care for a cat. Their duties include healing sick or wounded cats, keeping the supply of herbs full, supplying strengthening herbs for Clan cats traveling far, and overseeing kitting.
Second is medicine cat apprentice, second-in-command to medicine cat and learning the arts. No medicine cat (apprentice) is trained as a warrior under most circumstances, although it is not unknown for a young warrior to find the medicine cat job more appealing than their own.
Finally, there's the elders. Leaders do not become elders, as they do not age nearly as fast as most cats. An elder is just that: a cat too old to be a warrior or queen any longer. Elders are highly respected--and well-known for their tales of "way back when I was your age, kit..."
Non-Clan Cats
There are several types of cats not part of a Clan. I'm not going to go through them in too much detail, since it's more or less self-explanatory.
Loners: Loners are cats that have never been in a Clan; they do not have warrior names. However, they are not pets, more of the "alley cat" but often in a more feral setting.
Rogues: Rogues are Clan cats that have left/been thrown out of their Clan. They are generally viewed as dangerous, and do have the double-name(not necessarily a warrior name, if they were apprentices). Keep in mind the difference between a loner and a rogue.
Kittypet: Kittypets are just that, pets to Twolegs--humans. No Clan name; they are looked upon with scorn by Clan cats.
..And I'm finally done rambling! I'm currently working on a list of useful references up at the top, there; I'd reccomend you take a look at some of them, if you've got the time.
(Currently this part is under construction).
The Warrior Code(this site)
alleysecrets.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=whattodo&action=display&n=1&thread=5&page=1
Warriors Glossary(this site)
alleysecrets.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=help&action=display&n=1&thread=50
x_Mysia_x's Guide to Warrior RP's
petpages.neopets.com/~_Leafheart_
...If you've got a guide and would like me to put it up, just say so in the Advertise section, or on the Help. I'm trying to make as large a list as possible, mostly because this one is so incredibly long and I would like to have some shorter references. I'll also be making a glossary of terms type thing.
About the Books
Warriors roleplay is based on the books by Erin Hunter. Please note right here and now that while individual plots/characters/variations belong to creators and rp'ers, we DO NOT hold any rights to the original series/characters/places or any of that. So, say, while the writing for Darknessstar's traits and history belongs to me, the credit for style of name and Clan she leads goes (mostly) to the writer. I just wanted to make all that clear, because I hate it myself when people take something I worked hard on, and don't want to get in trouble for copyrights and all that.
Anyway. There are currently eight books to be read. There's the original series, Warriors, which includes: Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, and The Darkest Hour. Then, recently a second series has come out, named, Warriors: The New Prophecy. It takes place about a generation or so after the first series. So far there are two books: Midnight and Moonrise. I'm not sure if Moonrise is being sold in paperback yet or whatever; it just came out this August. Now, the third book will be called Dawn, and (correct me if I'm wrong) will most likely come out this December. I'm sure all readers are curious as to who'll narrate this one, and impatient to hear what'll happen next.
Warriors: From Birth to Death
Now, then. This will take you more or less through a warrior's life; I'll make it a she-cat, to explain about queens, and then later on a deputy and leader. Just a note to new Warriors rp'ers, I'd reccomend you start out with a kit yourself, so you can learn it all along with your character.
So...it starts out in the nursery. There's on average two or three queens--mothers or expecting mothers--in the nursery at a time with a healthy Clan, I'd estimate, and usually have between one and four kits--kittens; again, this'll depend on the overall health of Clan and territory. So, the kits are born, and each is given a name by the leader. Let's have this one be Berrykit. The name's pretty simple, you see, the first part more or less stating who they are--Berrykit's color or personality would likely fit her name well, although irony or sometimes just plain pointless names are used--and the second part their rank in the Clan. She's a kit, you see?
So, time passes. Berrykit learns how to see, then walk, then finally eat the fresh-kill--prey--her Clanmates catch for her. By then, she's around six moons, and ready to be apprenticed.
There's a formal ceremony for this. The leader will call a Clan meeting--"All cats old enough to catch their own prey come to the Highrock for a Clan meeting." The queen will bring her kit(s)--let's safely assume that Berrykit is the only one in this litter--to it, for the first time.
The leader will call the kits to the Highrock, telling them to come forward. There is no specific speech for the apprentice ceremony; the leader simply gives the kit her apprentice name--Berry like before, paw to name her as being trained to be a warrior--then names her mentor, stating the reasons (s)he has done so.
Her mentor is a full warrior--I'll get to that later, when Berrypaw herself becomes one. But, to become a warrior, Berrypaw must first learn how to hunt, fight, and follow the warrior code.
First day out, the mentor would show Berrypaw the borders of her home and the different important landmarks--the Twolegs' Thunderpath, a good stand of trees or meadow to hunt in, places like other predators' dens to keep away from, at least until the Clan can get rid of such problems. Berrypaw has to learn these places by heart.
Hunting and fighting are taught in 'training sessions.' As to hunting, an apprentice must learn how to stalk different creatures and how to properly pounce--that a rabbit will hear you before it sees you or smells you, if you're properly downwind, that a mouse feels your paws through the ground before any of the above, that you must run lightly and quickly if you want to catch a bird before it flies away, that squirrels and chipmunks are fast but voles and shrews are bigger and slow. Quite a lot to keep in mind, eh? But it's not too much, once you've trained an apprentice or two.
I'm getting tired of calling Berrypaw's mentor "the warrior" and "the mentor," so let's call him Emberstone from now on.
As for fighting, the most often tactic used by mentors is the simple, "Attack me." Warrior and apprentice will have a mock-fight, until one defeats the other by pinning it down or causing it to surrender, upon which Emberstone tells Berrypaw what she did well, and what she needs to improve on--generally advising her on what things to use to her advantage, and some clever schemes to turn the tables in a battle, as well as having Berrypaw work some of it out herself. This is mostly the only way rp'ers mentor, since it's pretty much the only way described in the books and we're too lazy/uncreative to think up our own methods. xP
Finally, there are no classes so boring and set-out as our own, thankfully. A.K.A No lectures on the warrior code. Kits grow up with it hammered into their minds, and almost every session hints at one of the rules while the apprentices learn. However, for those of you who don't care to memorize it yourself, I've got one by Tigerlily of...gah, just read it, and will soon link it above.
Berrypaw will also probably be invited to the first Gathering there is after her apprentice ceremony. Gatherings are held once a moon--month-- when the moon is full, at a spot where all four Clan territories meet, where the Clans can discuss all that has happened since they last met. Gatherings must, must, must be held under a truce, as said in the code.
Each of the four Clan leaders will tell what has happened: how the prey is, Twoleg activity, what members have changed rank. In this case, Berrypaw's leader will announce her to be an apprentice, and her mother out of the nursery. Gatherings are also a great time for the different cats to get to know each other and exchange gossip.
Finally, Berrypaw will be almost ready to become a warrior. There's just one thing left: to go to the Monstone. (Note: This is called the Twilightstone in our rp, and glows at evening with a purple light, just to provide a bit of variation. It is a purple diamond; yes, such things exist, and they are very rare--hence the Twolegs' theft.)
Berrypaw will go with an older cat--likely her mentor or leader--to a cave at least half a day's travel away. Cats on the way to Moonstone may NOT be attacked, even if they are on hostile territory. Before too long, the two--or however many come along--will reach the cave, called Highstones in the books. Inside is a large, white stone, which makes the cave light up with a glow when the moon shines on it in a certain point, through a hole in the roof. The leader--it is usually the leader, or medicine cat, now that it comes to that--will press his/her nose against the stone, and share dreams with StarClan, the warrior anscestors (will be explained farther down). Meanwhile, Berrypaw will either guard the entrance or watch. When the leader awakes, the two will rest and hunt--the leader is not allowed to eat anything for the journey there, although Berrypaw was allowed to get some traveling herbs from the medicine cat. When they get back home, life continues as normal unless the leader recieved an urgent dream from StarClan, or a prophecy. Except for one thing: Berrypaw's ceremony is drawing near.
Normally, the mentor also tests her hunting and fighting skills once or twice before it, then reports to his leader; she should have been apprenticed for at least two, normally four or five, moons.
Then the ceremony. Berrypaw's leader--let's say Silverstar--calls the now familiar summons. She has Berrypaw approach. There is an official speech for this: "I, Silverstar, leader of (whichever Clan she's in), call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She had trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in turn.
"Berrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" The apprentice answers yes, of course.
"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Berrypaw, from this day on you will be known as Berrydew. StarClan honors your (two traits—courage and strength, cunning and bravery, etc, etc)." I believe that in the books it was always "courage and strength" for that last, but since sometimes there are traits that better fit the new warrior, I make it much more flexible.
Berrydew is a warrior now. This means exactly as stated above, that she is charged to care for her Clan--her family, her friends, her home--strong and weak, young and old, close or only an accquaintance. It also means she will follow the warrior code. Really, it's a bit like being knighted, if you enjoy reading medieval books, except it happens to almost everycat.
Now, the name. For warriors, the ending can be anything. Berrydew, Eveningstorm, Ashstream, Garnetfur, Starredmyst...(those last four names are actually my characters'--please don't use them xD). However, "kit," "paw," and "star" are off-limits, for reasons that ought to be--or soon will be--evident.
So, Berrydew becomes a warrior. More time passes. She mentors an apprentice--by now, the process ought to be known to you, and you understand what a 'warrior' is. Yes, in case it hasn't been made entirely clear to you yet, she-cats can be warriors as well as toms. xD
Because she has mentored a cat, now Berrydew is officially eligible to be a deputy--the second-in-command. However, the current deputy still lives, and Silverstar has two lives left. And in any case, we've got one more thing to cover before that.
Berrydew is a she-cat, obviously, and before long she find herself in the nursery. (I'm going to make a note right here: DO NOT be graphic with scenes like kitting and fighting. A little description is good, but no gory stuff, and also, don't just say, 'it happened'.) Her kits are healthy, three of them, and she stays in the nursery at all times, except for getting some food from the freshkill pile. Soon her kits' eyes are open, and they're walking about camp, pouncing on one another and fooling around with the other young cats as they get to know the world around them and practice skills given to them from birth. Berrydew keeps a close eye on them--no leaving camp for these ones, not until Silverstar's say-so!
But, quickly enough, Berrydew's little ones aren't so little anymore, and her friends are training them, just as Emberstone did she.
Then it happens: the deputy is killed, and Silverstar loses a life in a rogue attack. The warrior code says that despite her grief, Silverstar must name her new deputy before moonhigh. Can you guess who it is? Yes, Berrydew. Having experience in almost any area, being at least average, if not better in the hunting and fighting arts, and being nearly 3 season-cycles old, there's no question that she's fit for the job. Berrydew's new duties include organizing everyday things, like border and hunting patrols, and handling the Clan when Silverstar is unable to.
More time passes. Silverstar is getting older, though I don't believe it's possible for a leader to die of age. However, her immunities and natural resistance is failing, just enough, and unfortunately it is no surprise when she does not survive one especially strong bout of whitecough(aka blackcough).
Berrydew is now leader.
To recieve her nine lives and get her "star" name, she must visit Moonstone, as she did with Silverstar so long ago. She selects two of the older apprentices and the cat that is next experienced after her deputy--the latter must stay back to guard camp--and sets off.
Once she gets there and falls into her dream, eight cats she knows to have died approach, each giving her a life based around one trait or another(I'm not going into much detail here). Then she awakes, now bearing the name "Berrystar," and returns to her home.
As a leader, in addition to her former duties, Berrystar leads the Clan, through good times and hardship; she councils and teaches the different cats as she was once taught; she selects mentors for apprentices and names the cats. She will continue her job until all nine lives are lost.
Now, there are two--three--types of Clan cats you never end up being, with this lifestyle. First is a medicine cat. They are the healers of the Clan; they know all types of herblore and various ways to care for a cat. Their duties include healing sick or wounded cats, keeping the supply of herbs full, supplying strengthening herbs for Clan cats traveling far, and overseeing kitting.
Second is medicine cat apprentice, second-in-command to medicine cat and learning the arts. No medicine cat (apprentice) is trained as a warrior under most circumstances, although it is not unknown for a young warrior to find the medicine cat job more appealing than their own.
Finally, there's the elders. Leaders do not become elders, as they do not age nearly as fast as most cats. An elder is just that: a cat too old to be a warrior or queen any longer. Elders are highly respected--and well-known for their tales of "way back when I was your age, kit..."
Non-Clan Cats
There are several types of cats not part of a Clan. I'm not going to go through them in too much detail, since it's more or less self-explanatory.
Loners: Loners are cats that have never been in a Clan; they do not have warrior names. However, they are not pets, more of the "alley cat" but often in a more feral setting.
Rogues: Rogues are Clan cats that have left/been thrown out of their Clan. They are generally viewed as dangerous, and do have the double-name(not necessarily a warrior name, if they were apprentices). Keep in mind the difference between a loner and a rogue.
Kittypet: Kittypets are just that, pets to Twolegs--humans. No Clan name; they are looked upon with scorn by Clan cats.
..And I'm finally done rambling! I'm currently working on a list of useful references up at the top, there; I'd reccomend you take a look at some of them, if you've got the time.