- 4
- #1
(map to come soon)
- 1435
- #2
Camp: A large cave that acts as the community nest/den for all members of the colony. This large space has many tunnels which lead deeper into the mountain through narrower, natural holes that Twolegs are too large/clumsy to get through. These tunnels lead deeper into the cave and have pockets that are used in case of emergencies, or for expecting mothers to have their kits and keep an eye on them better. Tom cats are generally not allowed in the smaller dens, unless they are visiting their mate during or after the kitting. A mountain river somehow bubbles up and through the rock, before flowing gently back out along one edge of the cavern they call home. This provides them with constant access to water, even during harsh winters.
Territory Features: Mountainous, much like MountainClan. Rocky, windy, sloping. There are no plains to be had here, and the trees are often not clumped together like a forest, instead peeking out of the side of the mountain. Small even spots can be found, of course, but they are not wide expanses of grass or level land. A river flows through the mountain, and no cat really understands how the water goes up, but it comes through the rock of the mountain and flows into their cavernous home.
Primary Prey Types: Rodents (groundhogs, shrews, voles, bats), Birds of prey (much harder to hunt, but not impossible, though often hunted when they are expected to be asleep)
Primary Hunting Types and Techniques: Cliff Scaling, wherein they scale the harsh rock surfaces to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Claw Grab, aka Crag Hunting, where one stretches their leg deep into a narrow crack to hold themselves in place while grabbing a particularly hard to reach prey item with their claws.
Primary Predators: Black bears, Foxes, Coyotes/Wolves (whichever is more prevalent)
Attitude: The attitude of the Storm Born is actually pretty straight forward. Survival of the fittest, at all costs. If you cannot live up to that, then no one will stay behind to help you. Even the elder cats are still required to hunt and participate in the colony life, though they are not treated disrespectfully in this aspect. But they are also not pampered and given the best or softest nests, and apprentices are not required to hunt for them or clear their nests. They respect brains just as much as brawn, if not more in a majority of cases, so however you see fit to survive is fine by them. Tom cats (and occasionally big bulky she-cats) are relied upon as the Thunder Guards. They are expected to swiftly defeat the enemies they might face (such as mountain lions, raptors, Twoleg mountaineers). She-cats are the ones who would be using their intelligence on how to run the colony. Healers are always she-cats (or tom cats incapable of the physical strength required to become a Thunder Guard, though this is culturally frowned upon). It is one of the highest honors for a Storm Born tom to grow into a Thunder Guard when he's old enough, and to be unable to take on the rank is a disgrace to the tom and his parents. Tom cats who cannot become Thunder Guard are allowed two options: Prove themselves worthy of the colony by becoming an apprentice healer, or leave the colony forever. Healers are expected to accompany the Thunder Guards when they go out hunting or patrolling the grounds because mountain life is dangerous.
Kits are held very near and dear to their hearts, no matter the gender. They are raised with the utmost care and guidance, so that they can be the absolute best they can be in their respective positions when they are older. After all, they are the next generation. This is where the "survival of the fittest" can become a wee bit loose, as they won't sacrifice a kit to the elements or predators. However, they will use near death experiences as teaching moments, and help the kits to learn how to get themselves out of such situations going forward.
Practices: If a tom cat proves inept or unable to become a Thunder Guard, and they choose not to become a Healer (or are inept at that job too), the entire colony will come together to see them off. The colony cannot afford to be weak, so they will send these weak links away. Together, they hold a funeral-esque ceremony for the tom cat they are sending off, typically with words of wisdom to help them carry on in the wilderness. The colony and the cat who are leaving both have the understanding that they are effectively being sent to their death, but it is "the punishment of the mountain", and the funeral-esque ceremony is held to mourn the idea of what the cat could have become. It is very rare that a she-cat will be sent away, as they are already given the highest honor of being a Healer, though they CAN become Thunder Guard if they want to. Either way, they are not looked down upon in the same manner as tom cats are who cannot fulfill their duties.
A special hunting event called The Feast takes place once every year, which takes place in the middle of the winter season when prey is scarce. Bats will often come to hibernate in the community cave when it's cold and while there's some disgruntlement about the smell and droppings, the bats provide such a necessary winter food source to the colony that the smell is generally forgotten about once the event begins. One cat is nominated to be the First Jumper. They stealthily scale the walls of the community den until they reach the highest point and then they push off the wall and jump high into the air, raking their claws against the ceiling, yowling and making a giant commotion. Bonus points if they're able to catch a bat as prey on their way down onto the prepped soft floor (feathers, animal fur etc. is laid down to limit the harsh fall.) All the bats will take flight and move in a large screaming flock to the only exit where the community den opens up. All cats are gathered in the community den and jump up to grab bats out of the air or to smack them down to the floor where others (usually younger cats) can kill them. These bats will serve the clan and keep them fed through the rest of winter (or greatly aid in this task) and it's generally a time of merriment. Cats in the colony have been known to be competitive in how many bats they can catch over others and it's an anticipated event. Worry not, the bats will come back next year to roost in the cold seasons again
Beliefs: The Storm Born believe in life after death only for those who have proved themselves exceptional during their life in the colony. Cats will perform funeral rites (or equivalent) for their fallen, but because burying cats is something you can do only when you have ground to bury them, the Thunder Guard will be sent out with the bodies of the fallen and place them on far away, high cliffs. If their lives were lived to the fullest, strongest, smartest, what-have-you, extent, then it's expected that they'll rise into the sky and the next thunderstorm their voice will roar alongside that of their other honored kin. Their body will be left to feed the scavengers (coyotes, foxes, raptors) of the cliffs, because they have no need of it and the colony doesn't wish for the smell of death to attract them into the community den.
View on Others: Dislikes Twolegs, especially ones from the settlement who rarely try to climb up the mountain into their cave. Adventurous Twolegs that stray far from their dens rarely make it back down the mountain again. Unaware of Clans - may change if they meet any of them, potential drama for meeting MountainClan? Lost kits will be taken in, but they'll be expected to prove themselves like any other Storm Born cat. Kittypets are beneath the colony - there's no such thing as a smart or strong kittypet. Loners may join the colony if they are a she-cat or a physically strong tomcat. They turn away weak looking/frail tomcats.
Strengths: Strength! Strength of body and strength of mind. Very good at surviving in harsh conditions and are very resilient and hardy in general.
Weaknesses: Unwilling to change their policies. Very harsh when it comes to sexist practices. Isolated from other communities.
Territory Features: Mountainous, much like MountainClan. Rocky, windy, sloping. There are no plains to be had here, and the trees are often not clumped together like a forest, instead peeking out of the side of the mountain. Small even spots can be found, of course, but they are not wide expanses of grass or level land. A river flows through the mountain, and no cat really understands how the water goes up, but it comes through the rock of the mountain and flows into their cavernous home.
Primary Prey Types: Rodents (groundhogs, shrews, voles, bats), Birds of prey (much harder to hunt, but not impossible, though often hunted when they are expected to be asleep)
Primary Hunting Types and Techniques: Cliff Scaling, wherein they scale the harsh rock surfaces to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Claw Grab, aka Crag Hunting, where one stretches their leg deep into a narrow crack to hold themselves in place while grabbing a particularly hard to reach prey item with their claws.
Primary Predators: Black bears, Foxes, Coyotes/Wolves (whichever is more prevalent)
Attitude: The attitude of the Storm Born is actually pretty straight forward. Survival of the fittest, at all costs. If you cannot live up to that, then no one will stay behind to help you. Even the elder cats are still required to hunt and participate in the colony life, though they are not treated disrespectfully in this aspect. But they are also not pampered and given the best or softest nests, and apprentices are not required to hunt for them or clear their nests. They respect brains just as much as brawn, if not more in a majority of cases, so however you see fit to survive is fine by them. Tom cats (and occasionally big bulky she-cats) are relied upon as the Thunder Guards. They are expected to swiftly defeat the enemies they might face (such as mountain lions, raptors, Twoleg mountaineers). She-cats are the ones who would be using their intelligence on how to run the colony. Healers are always she-cats (or tom cats incapable of the physical strength required to become a Thunder Guard, though this is culturally frowned upon). It is one of the highest honors for a Storm Born tom to grow into a Thunder Guard when he's old enough, and to be unable to take on the rank is a disgrace to the tom and his parents. Tom cats who cannot become Thunder Guard are allowed two options: Prove themselves worthy of the colony by becoming an apprentice healer, or leave the colony forever. Healers are expected to accompany the Thunder Guards when they go out hunting or patrolling the grounds because mountain life is dangerous.
Kits are held very near and dear to their hearts, no matter the gender. They are raised with the utmost care and guidance, so that they can be the absolute best they can be in their respective positions when they are older. After all, they are the next generation. This is where the "survival of the fittest" can become a wee bit loose, as they won't sacrifice a kit to the elements or predators. However, they will use near death experiences as teaching moments, and help the kits to learn how to get themselves out of such situations going forward.
Practices: If a tom cat proves inept or unable to become a Thunder Guard, and they choose not to become a Healer (or are inept at that job too), the entire colony will come together to see them off. The colony cannot afford to be weak, so they will send these weak links away. Together, they hold a funeral-esque ceremony for the tom cat they are sending off, typically with words of wisdom to help them carry on in the wilderness. The colony and the cat who are leaving both have the understanding that they are effectively being sent to their death, but it is "the punishment of the mountain", and the funeral-esque ceremony is held to mourn the idea of what the cat could have become. It is very rare that a she-cat will be sent away, as they are already given the highest honor of being a Healer, though they CAN become Thunder Guard if they want to. Either way, they are not looked down upon in the same manner as tom cats are who cannot fulfill their duties.
A special hunting event called The Feast takes place once every year, which takes place in the middle of the winter season when prey is scarce. Bats will often come to hibernate in the community cave when it's cold and while there's some disgruntlement about the smell and droppings, the bats provide such a necessary winter food source to the colony that the smell is generally forgotten about once the event begins. One cat is nominated to be the First Jumper. They stealthily scale the walls of the community den until they reach the highest point and then they push off the wall and jump high into the air, raking their claws against the ceiling, yowling and making a giant commotion. Bonus points if they're able to catch a bat as prey on their way down onto the prepped soft floor (feathers, animal fur etc. is laid down to limit the harsh fall.) All the bats will take flight and move in a large screaming flock to the only exit where the community den opens up. All cats are gathered in the community den and jump up to grab bats out of the air or to smack them down to the floor where others (usually younger cats) can kill them. These bats will serve the clan and keep them fed through the rest of winter (or greatly aid in this task) and it's generally a time of merriment. Cats in the colony have been known to be competitive in how many bats they can catch over others and it's an anticipated event. Worry not, the bats will come back next year to roost in the cold seasons again
Beliefs: The Storm Born believe in life after death only for those who have proved themselves exceptional during their life in the colony. Cats will perform funeral rites (or equivalent) for their fallen, but because burying cats is something you can do only when you have ground to bury them, the Thunder Guard will be sent out with the bodies of the fallen and place them on far away, high cliffs. If their lives were lived to the fullest, strongest, smartest, what-have-you, extent, then it's expected that they'll rise into the sky and the next thunderstorm their voice will roar alongside that of their other honored kin. Their body will be left to feed the scavengers (coyotes, foxes, raptors) of the cliffs, because they have no need of it and the colony doesn't wish for the smell of death to attract them into the community den.
View on Others: Dislikes Twolegs, especially ones from the settlement who rarely try to climb up the mountain into their cave. Adventurous Twolegs that stray far from their dens rarely make it back down the mountain again. Unaware of Clans - may change if they meet any of them, potential drama for meeting MountainClan? Lost kits will be taken in, but they'll be expected to prove themselves like any other Storm Born cat. Kittypets are beneath the colony - there's no such thing as a smart or strong kittypet. Loners may join the colony if they are a she-cat or a physically strong tomcat. They turn away weak looking/frail tomcats.
Strengths: Strength! Strength of body and strength of mind. Very good at surviving in harsh conditions and are very resilient and hardy in general.
Weaknesses: Unwilling to change their policies. Very harsh when it comes to sexist practices. Isolated from other communities.
- 174
- #3
Roles
There are two primary roles within the colony. Each cat has their duty to tend to, and is only expected to have one specific role in the colony. However, all cats are promoted to hunt for themselves.
Guardian: This is the leader role. The cat who takes up the general maintenance of the colony all on themselves. They are the one who makes sure that the colony is running smoothly. The Guardian's word is final.
Healers: All she-cats are effectively automatically assumed to become, and tom cats rarely are. Healers are literally the healers, though they can defend themselves too. Apprentice healers are like a sub-role, as there are very very few in the colony at any given time. These are the tom cats who couldn't make it as Thunder Guard and decided to remain with the colony to try to regain their honor.
Thunder Guard: This is where the tom cats are typically put, though particularly large and strong she-cats can also join. Thunder Guard are seen as warriors, hunters, and protectors.
There are two primary roles within the colony. Each cat has their duty to tend to, and is only expected to have one specific role in the colony. However, all cats are promoted to hunt for themselves.
Guardian: This is the leader role. The cat who takes up the general maintenance of the colony all on themselves. They are the one who makes sure that the colony is running smoothly. The Guardian's word is final.
Healers: All she-cats are effectively automatically assumed to become, and tom cats rarely are. Healers are literally the healers, though they can defend themselves too. Apprentice healers are like a sub-role, as there are very very few in the colony at any given time. These are the tom cats who couldn't make it as Thunder Guard and decided to remain with the colony to try to regain their honor.
Thunder Guard: This is where the tom cats are typically put, though particularly large and strong she-cats can also join. Thunder Guard are seen as warriors, hunters, and protectors.