Tattoo Guide

[Intro]

In the world of Havensake, tattoos are a blessing from the Spirits as a gift. A gift of power and the ability to wield magic based upon the element of their Spirit. These tattoos come in a unique variety of designs, sizes, and colors.

Tattoos designs are allowed to be explored as you please, as long as they follow the rules on Tribe, placement, design, and color. If you are unsure if your tattoo design fits the requirements for the tribe, overlaps into another tribe's themes or placements, or is too much / too little, you're free to note the group or ask the admin of the tribe if it is an acceptable tattoo!

[Rules & Colors]

[Rules]

1. Tribe cats, wanderers, and exiles are the only characters who will have tattoos. The color parameters can be found in the section below. Loners and cats younger than 3 moons of age will not have tattoos.
2. Tattoo themes should stay within the general element of their respective Tribe, with some lenience allowed.
3. When a kitten gains their tattoo, or a tattoo design is changed, the following form should be sent via note to check the legality of the tattoo:

Username:
Character:
Tribe:
Old Tattoo: (if applicable)
New Tattoo:
Imagery Used: basic description of tattoo themes (stars, sparks, flames, swans, spiders, swirls)
Other:

[Colors]

A cat's tattoo color is based on three factors: age, branch, and rank.

In terms of age, the following is true:
• Kits and apprentices aged 3-12 moons will have solid white tattoos.
• Adolescents aged 12-18 moons will have half-white tattoos, with the other half being their adult color.
• Adults aged 18+ moons will have full-color tattoos.

In terms of branch, the following is true:
• Primary-powered cats will have tattoos that are some variation of orange, red, or pink.
• Secondary-powered cats will have tattoos that are some variation of blue, green, or purple.

In terms of rank, the following is true:
• Tribe cats of ordinary or head ranks will have tattoos in accordance with their age and branch.
• Deputies will have tattoos that are some variation of gold.
• Leaders will have tattoos that are some variation of silver.
• Loners will not have tattoos.
• Wanderers will have tattoos that are some variation of medium-dark grey, not to be confused with silver or black. Their tattoo may glow partially in favor of the cat's normal tattoo color, based on age/branch.
• Exiles will have tattoos that are black.

For all tattooed cats, the following is true:
• While cats may be #FFFFFF or #000000 on their refs, this isn't going to be true in the reality of the IC world. No tattoo is invisible, regardless of the proximity in color to the cat's pelt. A solid white apprentice will still have a visible tattoo, and the same is true of a wanderer with grey patches.
• To get around this, it is possible for a cat to cover their tattoo with an accessory or clothing- ie. eyepatch, cloak, hat, etc.
• Tattoos will always be visible, and can only be covered by clothing, not destroyed or manipulated. For example, the chameleon starstone will not hide a true tattoo.
• All active tattoos will touch either one or both eyes, depending on Tribe/placement. Whatever eye is touched must also glow to some degree when the tattoo is active. (Air- both; Earth- right eye; Fire- either; Light- left eye; Shadow- both; Void- both; Water- left eye)
• When scars overlap with tattoos, it is the player's choice whether the scar partially covers the tattoo, or the tattoo is fully visible over the scar. However, if the entire area where the tattoo should be is entirely scarred or missing, the tattoo will be fully visible regardless- it cannot be fully removed, even by injury.
• Scarring a tattoo will not interfere with a cat's powers- it is cosmetic only.

[Design]

A cat's tattoo design and them is entirely dependent on their Tribe, regardless of their rank or place in or out of the Tribe.

[Air-Tribe]

The Air-Spirit blessed the cats of Air-Tribe with wing like tattoos, located on their back. The inactive tattoos cover a large area of their shoulders and back.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches up the neck, over the forehead and pauses at the eyes. Both eyes will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: Wing-like shape.

What the Active Tattoo can contain: Active tattoo consists of wings, feathers and/or lightning bolts.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS at the back.

[Earth-Tribe]

The Earth-Spirit blessed the cats of Earth-Tribe with plant like tattoos, located on their right shoulder. The inactive tattoos cover only a part of their shoulder.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches both up the neck, towards the side of the face, and travels down along their right limb right to their paw. The right eye will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: Either a flower, plant, animal (land animals only!), or some sort of rock like shape.

What the Active Tattoo can contain: Active tattoo consists of flowers, roots. rocks, vines and anything found in nature.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS on the right shoulder.

[Fire-Tribe]

The Fire-Spirit blessed the cats of Fire-Tribe with fire like tattoos, located on either their left eye or right eye. The inactive tattoos extend from around the eye, inching upwards towards their ears.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches around the head, reaching up past the forehead and even onto the back of the ear. One of the eyes will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: Flame like shape.

What the Active Tattoo can contain: Flames, specks of fire, trails of smoke, wispy lines, fire birds/dragons.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is EITHER on the left or right eye.

[Light-Tribe]

The Light-Spirit blessed the cats of Light-Tribe with star like tattoos, located both on their forehead and on their chest The inactive tattoos cover directly in the middle of the forehead, as well as having a tattoo placed over the heart of the cat.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches up from the chest, to the neck and past the eye. The left eye will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: There must be a tattoo on the forehead and the left (viewer's right) side of the chest. The shape can be something vague (lines, dots), just a general shape (like a circle or triangle), or anything that represents light, life, magic, or the general theme of "chivalry"- ie. stars, constellations, suns, moons, diamonds, hearts, rainbows, swords, crosses, anatomical structures (like organs). Bones, clouds, wings, planets, crystals/ice, insects, and flowers may be accepted in moderation, but will be double-checked with the other admin(s). This list is not exhaustive- if you're unsure, ask!

What the active tattoo can contain: The active will connect both halves of the inactive tattoo. It can and should match the themes listed above- however, you may "slide by" with other objects/animals/etc IF they are represented in a constellation. The only animals currently permitted on their own without being in a constellation form are rabbits (previous Tatl form), owls (current Tatl form), cats, and unicorns, but the tattoo design should still be on theme.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS on the forehead and left side of the chest where the heart is.

[Shadow-Tribe]

The Shadow-Spirit blessed the cats of Shadow-Tribe with grinning tattoos, located on their face. The inactive tattoos can either be a small marking under the eye ranging to a full on grin.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reveals the smile (if it hasn't already) and covers up most of the cat's face. Both eyes will glow when active.

Please note that Shadow-Tribe tattoos must have, at minimum, 80% symmetry.

Minimum for the inactive: Either simple eye markings or a smile.

What the Tattoo can contain: Active tattoo consists of a smile with eye markings, alongside anything else creepy you desire.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS on the face.

[Void-Tribe]

The Void-Spirit blessed the cats of Void-Tribe with astronomical-esque tattoos, located on the back of head. The inactive tattoo rests on the back of the head, with a line that arcs over the forehead, above the eyebrows.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches past the backside of the head, revealing beautifully calculated astronomical and geometrical tattoos that reach around the head like a helmet, and a halo that projects outwards into the third dimension. Both eyes will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: Circle with a line over the head.

What the Tattoo can contain: Active tattoo consists of circles, lines, curves, and spirals. They can include things like stars, planets, and the sun.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS at the back of the head.

Guide for the face markings:

Guide for the projection:

[Water-Tribe]

The Water-Spirit blessed the cats of Water-Tribe with wispy like tattoos, located on their left shoulder. The inactive tattoos cover a large area of their shoulders and back.

While active, more of the tattoo begins to reveal itself. These markings that can only be seen in the active state alongside the base tattoo. The rest of the tattoo reaches from the shoulder up to the neck, past over their left check and stops at the eye. Left eye will glow when active.

Minimum for the inactive: Wave or Aquatic like shape.

What the Tattoo can contain: Active tattoo consists of water like markings, fluid lines, bubbles, wisps, and aquatic animals.

Location of Tattoo: Tattoo is ALWAYS on the left shoulder.

[Nulls]

The Null-Spirit only has the ability to hack existing tattoos, not make their own- for this reason, all tattoos worn by Nulls will be the same as the Tribes they originally got their powers from, however, they will be black, and may have new distinguishing features.

Minimum for the inactive: Same as original Tribe

What the Tattoo can contain: Same as original Tribe, but may have rough/jagged lines, eye shapes, become “drippy,” etc

Location of Tattoo: Same as original Tribe

Color: Black. May “glow” color of original tattoo/power when active