To outsiders, SedgeClan cats can have a tendency to come off as ignorant, pretentious and holier-than-thou. With an emphasis on philosophy and peace, cats who are unfamiliar with concepts of open communication and non-violent resolutions can often feel they're being spoken down to or condescended. SedgeClan cats can have a tendency to justify their pacifism with a somewhat contemptuous view of cats who use their claws to solve conflicts which can, at times, lead to more conflict especially with younger cats who don't always have the wisdom to back up the scaffolding of their ideas.
However, for better or for worse, SedgeClan cats are well known for never turning down a cat in need. If a clan is low on herbs or suffering, SedgeClan is usually the first clan to volunteer their aid to others, sometimes even at the cost of themselves. Some of the other clans view SedgeClan as wielding a savior complex, or look at SedgeClan's attempts at administering aid as an attempt to gain leverage over their neighbors. If these sentiments have truth behind them typically depends on the SedgeClan cat behind the actions, but on principle, SedgeClan cats are expected to assist others in need without asking for anything in return.
Their novel views are only furthered by their novel choice of environment. SedgeClan diet and terrain is vastly different from their land-dwelling sister clans, and as a result they are not typically hit by hardships in the same way. Their access to food and water is typically stable year round, as they are primarily pescatarian in nature and live amongst an incredibly reliable water source. This only further supports the accusations levied by other clans that SedgeClan cats are only able to sustain their lofty views due to the ease of their lifestyle.
In a place as bright and sunny as SedgeClan territory, it doesn't shock many to see that the vast majority of SedgeClan's ranks sports light, pale coats as bright as the light that shines on its waters. When the creatures of the depths below look up towards the sky, their coats blend in with the shine of the sun above, allowing quick, easy kills for the cats lucky enough to sport those shimmering coats. White spotting and dramatic colorpoints are commonplace features, where pale, desaturated colorations are incredibly common amongst their ranks.
Most SedgeClan cats are small and lithe, with short fur lengths being an attractive feature so as to prevent mud from mixing in to their coats in their day-to-day lives. Some cats have been noted, too, as having abnormally large paws-- while a bit off-putting, these cats tend to be incredibly strong swimmers and most capable of keeping steady in the wet, unpredictable terrain of the marshland.
To outsiders, SedgeClan cats have a simple, yet regal appearance and can appear almost mighty and pompous to those unfamiliar with the clan. Within the clan itself, their beauty standards tend to pale to the emphasis on personality and personal achievement-- this leads to cats with very minimalist coats.
At the edge of the coastline sits a patch of land that never seems to dry-- the water rises and falls with the seasons, but the seasons themselves never seem to change from endless foggy mornings and blistering midday sun showers. While the mud may cake dry in brief spans as the sun comes out, a SedgeClan cat's paws are never truly dry. The wetland is constantly saturated with dark, muddy waters, overrun by cattails, sedge and rushes. The marshy plants tend to grow high, secluding the cats below in a constant layer of damp shade. So close to the coastline, there isn't much variance in the weather of SedgeClan's terrtitory, though when the occasional bout of storm reaches them, it hits hard and heavy. The ocean tides grow chaotic and ravenous, sending strong tides surging into the typically calm wetland waters. Strong winds threaten to rip the marshland plants apart at their roots, and the pools within their domain rise at alarming rates.
Twoleg intervention is most common within SedgeClan territory, with the warmer seasons bringing in swathes of bumbling tourists and hikers. SedgeClan cats are adept at handling the likes of them, knowing well when to manipulate the creatures and knowing when to avoid them outright. The cats within SedgeClan are as adaptable as their territory, easily moving with the tides and seeking challenge and optimism in each challenge that sets itself at their paws.
The cats of SedgeClan view the world through a clear-cut lens: in this world, there are two opposing forces-- light and darkness. SedgeClan cats are incredibly dualistic, viewing living souls within cats as a war between light and darkness, and everything else in the world as being influences of good and evil. While no one thing itself is inherently good or evil, anything within this world can be taken over by either force. SedgeClan warriors see themselves as champions of the light, dedicating their lives to the pursuit not only of being good, but putting good back in the world, too.
They believe in conditional pacifism, they are against violence wherever it can be avoided and try to resolve all problems with words or any other method that doesn't involve unsheathing their claws. Violence is a tool to only be wielded when there is truly no other option, and it is a necessary tool to prevent loss of life or the spreading of darkness. Needless violence is seen as beneath a SedgeClan warrior, and heavily looked down upon.
SedgeClan cats do not believe in life after death in a traditional sense, and they believe that cats live on through the energy they give to the world. Every act of kindness and good changes the world for the better-- your limited time spent alive is all you get to contribute to the fight for light, so you better take every opportunity you have. Even when you're long gone, your acts of love and kindness will live through as a cascading chain of events, and if you spread enough of this energy, it might come back and metamorphize in ways you wouldn't be able to comprehend.
SedgeClan cats deeply value the concept of light and darkness-- good and evil. They believe in pacifism and harm reduction in all cases, and to slip from this approach to the world and cats around you is to slip into darkness. Transgressions deemed to follow the path of darkness are not taken likely, and to veer too far over this line is to stray from the spiritual pathway of the community. To act with cruelty or mal-intent is the ultimate fault in the eyes of a SedgeClan cat, and anyone who veers from this cause will be treated as a challenger to their cause. They deeply value honesty, communication, and mediation as their core values-- they believe in forging solutions through philosophy, strategy, and open forums.
Religion plays an incredibly important role in the life of SedgeClan cats, and they have many daily rituals dedicated to upholding their beliefs. Warriors are expected to give thanks after every piece of prey caught, clan leaders are regarded as the embodiment of light itself-- their word is law above all else. There is a deep societal pressure to "be the bigger cat," and follow tradition and righteousness.
Instead of a deputy, SedgeClan has advisors. There can be anywhere from one to three at a time, and they are second in command to the leader. Advisors are cats chosen by the leader for their kindness, wisdom, and strong connection to SedgeClan beliefs. Cats go to advisors as confidantes and mediators for high-tension, challenging situations. When a leader dies, if there is more than one advisor, SedgeClan cats seek out an omen or sign to guide them into who to choose for leadership.
SedgeClan has two primary ranks for adults, Warriors and Challengers. Warriors are responsible for catching food, rearing young (with some taking on the Guardian rank if this is their primary role,) and training apprentices. Warriors do not fight aside from instances of self defense-- they seek peaceful solutions and prefer to train their minds rather than their claws. However, if a cat shows themselves unable to maintain the peaceful standards a Warrior must maintain to uphold SedgeClan values, they risk being demoted to the rank of Challenger, instead. Cats are demoted if they are shown to stray from the path of light, and are expected to earn their place back amongst their peers. For some, this demotion is temporary and used as a scare tactic by leaders trying to teach a lesson, but for some cats it is regarded as a relatively permanent placement within SedgeClan, some cats even acting out to receive a demotion on purpose or refusing to make an attempt at promotion once demoted.
Promotion is not an easy task, and typically involves an act of great sacrifice or considerable goodwill. Some cats will receive lighter sentences than others, depending on situation as well as the attitude of the leader responsible for these changes in rank, but it is typically regarded that an act of redemption must be greater than the harm caused by the behavior that led to the demotion in rank in the first place.
Challengers are not upheld to the same standards as Warriors, they are frequently given more menial tasks alongside apprentices and are not permitted to mentor in any official capacity, nor can they permanently raise kits. While Challengers can get married, it's seen as somewhat taboo for a Warrior to marry a Challenger, as it is considered by some to be an endorsement of undesirable behavior. Some SedgeClan cats will go as far as to shun or shame cats who have fallen in rank, though many disagree with that level of treatment towards their clanmates, regardless of rank. Because Challengers are not upheld to Warrior ideals, those not actively seeking a promotion are more inclined to use their claws and disregard the more "uptight" aspects of their clan's culture. Challengers are the cats that typically leap to protect their clanmates when SedgeClan standards fall flat, such as border skirmishes or predator attacks.
SedgeClan has marriages, and they are considered very serious, formal declarations of love. Not every couple will necessarily get married, but those who are certain of their commitment to one another typically will. A marriage ceremony is held among the most important moments in a cats' life, and is celebrated with high levels of enthusiasm amongst the clan. Marriage is not a necessary precursor to starting a family, but is considered to be a good blessing upon any family created after marriage. It is considered clan tradition for a new family to name their kits after the most joyous memories in their parents' lives, with the hope that the love and light of those favorite memories will follow their children through their lives.
Apprentice, Warrior, Healer, Advisor, and Leader ceremonies are all treated as serious religious events-- cats are expected to be mature and polite through these ceremonies, and it is considered poor form to act out during any of these receptions. All cats are expected to take a vow of silence outside of camp after each promotion, prompted to reflect on their actions and goals as they move forward into the next chapter of their life.
In SedgeClan, mentors are chosen for new apprentices in a special ceremony. SedgeClan warriors interested in mentoring an incoming apprentice all choose an item of personal significance and place them in the clearing. The kits due to be promoted are let loose in the clearing and choose an item to bring to the highledge. The warrior who chose that item will step forward, and the two will be united as mentor and apprentice.
SedgeClan celebrates marriages, and these events are considered far more boisterous and celebratory in nature. A marriage is not only a celebration of the love of the cats being united, but a time for all cats within the clan to reflect and show their love for one another. While it is possible to separate from a marriage, it is seen as a social taboo. Depending on the circumstances of the split, a cat who betrays or mistreats their partner may even be punished with demotion.
Like their sister clans, SedgeClan celebrates the Greenleaf Solstice and the Leafbare Solstice. To a SedgeClan cat, the Greenleaf Solstice is seen as a time to spread goodwill and kindness to others, ideally anonymously/without credit and celebrate the path of light-- SedgeClan cats will often prepare gifts for clanmates and friends outside of their clan, gifting flowers, herbs, prey, driftwood, sea-worn stones, seashells, and other tide-washed trinkets. The Leafbare Solstice, in comparison, is a time to reflect on your actions and consider how to grow and mature past the individual you've grown to be in the previous year. Cats will share stories, reflect on cats they've lost and the relationships they've cultivated-- it's common for cats to set aside differences and come together to appreciate the journeys they've been on and go into the new year with a sense of appreciation and camaraderie with their clanmates.
27 moons before opening, a JuniperClan and SedgeClan patrol met at the border. Among others, the patrol included Sleetstar and her son-- a healer named Emberflight, as well as the hotshot long-standing JuniperClan pioneer, Storkstrike. The JuniperClan outnumbered the SedgeClan cats, and they were in the middle of a very harsh leafbare. JuniperClan was hurting in the way of food and demanded SedgeClan give up a piece of their territory where the leafbare hadn't hit as badly. SedgeClan, typically keen to help, refused as they needed access to important herb stores along that stretch of territory. Sleetstar and Emberflight tried to seek out a compromise, but the JuniperClan cats-- starved and brash as ever-- leapt at the SedgeClan patrol in an attempt to take it by force. In the midst of the battle, a horrible cry wrung out and the brawling cats came to a halt. Storkstrike was standing above Emberflight, who was unmoving. Sleetstar retreated and buried her son that day; after that battle, the leader was never as quite the same.