Ranks

⋆ Leaders

A Leader is a Guardian who is highest ranking in the Clan hierarchy. The Leader is responsible for everything that goes on in a Clan, and is responsible for making sure the Clan runs smoothly, whatever that may entail. The word of the Clan Leader is law, proclaimed by the Guardian code, and all other cats in the Clan must obey them regardless of their own personal feelings. They have their own den, and are assisted by a Deputy in their tasks. Each Clan has one Leader, and their names all end with the same suffix -star. In order for a cat to become Leader, they must be Deputy first, and the old Leader must die, be banished, or willingly retire. The to-be Leader then must Travel to the Moon Pools to receive their four lives from The Garden of Stars, escorted by the Clan’s Healers and the current Leader, if they are retiring. Each Clan Leader looks physically different from the rest of their Clan, so make sure to check out ⭐-clan-info to see what these differences are for their respective Clans. A Leader is required to be the most active out of any of the other ranks, due to the amount of duties they have. If a Leader for some reason cannot carry out one of these tasks, the Deputy steps in for them. A Leader has various tasks that they are in charge of, including but not limited to: 

⋆ Deputies

A Deputy is a Guardian who is second in command to the Leader, aiding them in their tasks and replacing them immediately after their death or retirement, and also the designated Leader of the Captains. Also, when the Leader is ill, injured, or unable to perform their duties for another reason, the Deputy will take the Leader's place until they recover, and they will take their place at Gatherings if the Leader is absent and cannot attend. There can only be one Deputy per Clan, and they are no different physically than other Clan members, as Leaders are the only ones who have changed features. A Deputy is required to be somewhat active, as they have their own duties and are expected to fill in when the Leaders cannot. Their tasks are, but aren’t limited to:

➢ Assisting the Leader in their tasks.

➢ Assigning border patrols, listening to their reports, and assigning hunting patrols. When assigning a patrol, please elect a patrol leader!

➢ Organizing Guardian trainings to keep up their skills.

➢ Making reports to the Clan Leader.

➢ Substituting for the Clan Leader at Gatherings and in battles if they are unavailable.

➢ As a Deputy is also a Guardian, they are expected to carry out Guardian tasks as well (patrolling, hunting, mentoring etc.). They do not have a den of their own, but sleep with the other Guardians.

➢ If the Deputy is unavailable for a span of time, the Senior Guardians will distribute the Deputy's duties between them.

⋆ Healers

In this server, Healers replace the role of a ‘medicine cat’, and are essentially the same thing but with a different name. Healers are members of a Clan who treat diseases and injuries. They also receive and interpret omens and prophecies from The Garden of Stars or the Divines. They are highly respected by all the Clans. While it is not official, they have authority over any cat, including Leaders, because they know what is best for their health. There can be up to four total in a Clan, two full Healers and their Apprentices. While Apprentices CAN get their full names, they cannot take on an Apprentice of their own until one of the other Healers retires or perishes.  Healers are also some of the few cats to have elaborate cross-body bags and baskets, which are painstakingly crafted over the course of their apprenticeship. Healers also have sharp blades, either made for them or passed down to them from their mentors for trimming herbs, foliage, or cutting of a wound.

Some of their tasks include:

➢ Knowing all of the herbs and store a supply of them in their den. (Can be found using the herb guide).

➢ Following the Healer's Code. (Slight differences from books, so check this out!)

➢ Treating wounded and sick cats.

➢ Mediating and caring for the Clan’s mental wellbeing.

➢ Assisting Caretakers while they are pregnant with Kits, giving birth, or nursing them.

➢ Check up regularly on the health of Clan cats, (especially caretakers, elders, and kits).

➢ Visiting the Moon Pools at every half-moon to seek guidance from The Garden of Stars.

➢ Interpreting prophecies and omens and sharing them with the Clan Leader.

➢ Upon the death or retirement of the Clan Leader, accompany the Deputy and retiring Leader (if applicable) to the Moon Pools to be appointed as the new Leader.

➢Training an Apprentice as the Clan's next Healer.
➢ Bearing the knowledge of basic battle training in case they need them.

➢ Visiting their ancestors when in a crisis that requires direct communication with the Garden of Stars.

➢ Teaching Apprentices the basic herbs, should they need them.

⋆ Mediators

Mediators are cats that act as… well, mediators! They ‘float’ between Clans, not having their loyalties lie in a single one. They are unbiased parties that can allow cats to be more open about others. For the sake of equality, each Clan will have one Mediator (i.e, a Verdure-born Mediator, a Cavern-born Mediator, etc). A Mediator switches Clans every season. They choose an apprentice from their born-Clan and train them to become a Mediator. When they graduate, instead of gaining a new suffix, they completely drop their suffix.

Some of their tasks include:

➢Acts as a mediator within the Clan they currently reside in, attempting to solve petty disputes between Clanmates.

➢Acts as a spokesperson for the benefit of all Clans, and therefore can speak out against a Leader’s word if they feel it goes against the code or could harm all Clans.

➢Does not participate in any battles.

➢Mediates between Clans during disputes.

➢Convene with other Clan mediators during Gatherings to keep each other updated.

➢Follow the Mediator's Code.

⋆ Specialty Role Captains

Specialty Role Captains (aka SR Captains) are typically the best cat in a specialty role position. These Captains are meant to lead their team (be it Diver, Miner, etc.) and send out their own patrols. These cats are typically better at their kinesis than most, and use these skills to help aid their clan in different ways. Gardener Captains might send a patrol to tend to the gardens, scare off pests, pick weeds, harvest crops, etc! Aviator Captains might send a scouting patrol to survey the land, making note of where packs of predators/prey are, making sure there are no smoke clouds, and putting out any fires that might be nearby! They also might go on group hunting patrols to take down large flying prey! Miner Captains might send patrols to dig new tunnels, reinforce current ones, clean tunnels, map out the existing ones, and escort regular Guardians through! And lastly, Diver Captains might send out scouting patrols to survey the reef, making note of where predators and prey are, as well as exploring deeper waters for supplies, herbs, and prey! They also go on group hunting patrols to take down bigger pieces of prey and monitor seaweed and oyster farms! However, it is expected for specialty role Captains to send Guardian Apprentices on these patrols too sometimes, for the sake of letting the Apprentice experience the specialty role duties before the Field Day. Their tasks are as follows, but are not limited to just these:

➢ Sending out their own specialty patrols.
➢ SR Captains will regularly host Field Days for Apprentices, to oversee their progress and see which ones might be better suited in the specialty roles (Divers, Miners, Aviators, and Gardeners) based on their skillset. 

➢ Sitting council with the Deputy if the Leader needs advice.

➢ Making reports to the Deputy (about patrols, apprentices, etc). 

⋆ Miners

Miners are a rank specific to CavernClan. As of right now, there is a limit of ten per Clan. Miners are not above Guardians on the ranking scale, but are equals, though it is a more respected position. Being a Miner requires a different skill set than a Guardian. They’re stronger, but use their strength in digging tunnels. They physically are no different than a Guardian. Some of Miner responsibilities include: 

⋆ Gardeners

Gardeners are a rank specific to VerdureClan. As of right now, there is a limit of ten per Clan. Gardeners are not above Guardians on the ranking scale, but are equals, though it is a more respected position, especially in VerdureClan, since they are the providers of food. Being a Gardener requires a different skill set than a Guardian. They have stronger chlorokinetic abilities, but use their abilities in growing plants. They physically are no different than a Guardian. Some of Gardener responsibilities include: 

⋆ Aviators

Aviators are a rank specific to CoveyClan. As of right now, there is a limit of ten per Clan. Aviators are not above Guardians on the ranking scale, but are equals, though it is a more respected position. Being an Aviator requires a different skill set than a Guardian. They are stronger fliers, but use their abilities surveying the lands. They physically are no different than a Guardian, except maybe more muscular. Some of Aviator responsibilities include:

⋆ Divers

Divers are a role specific to TideClan. As of right now, there is a limit of ten per Clan. Divers are not above Guardians on the ranking scale, but are equals, though it is a more respected position. Being a Diver requires a different skill set than a Guardian. They are stronger swimmers, but use their abilities in exploration. They physically are no different than a Guardian, but might be more muscular. Some of Diver responsibilities include:

⋆ Senior Guardians

Senior Guardians replace the 'senior warrior' role in Warriors, and act largely the same. However, they have their own set of tasks as they are considered the most experienced and elite of the Guardians. These cats hold an amount of authority over the younger Guardians, and are often chosen to lead and organize patrols. Senior Guardians are all members of the greater Council, and meet with the Leader, Deputy, Speciality Role Captains, and Healers to discuss large changes within the Clan or outward threats to them. They are also able to assess any apprentice for guardianship when a Mentor is unavailable. A Senior Guardian may fill in the for the Leader, if, under any circumstances, there is no Leader or Deputy to attend meetings or gatherings. Guardians are moved up to Senior Guardians once they have reached the age of 40 moons, but may request to continue regular Guardian duties. Their tasks are as follows:

➢ Leading the patrols the Deputies assign.
➢ Filling in for the Deputy when they are not available, and sometimes the Leader if both the Leader and Deputy are unavailable.
➢ As a Senior Guardian is also a Guardian, they are expected to carry out Guardian tasks as well (patrolling, hunting, mentoring etc.). They do not have a den of their own, but sleep with the other Guardians, generally in the middle of the den, where it’s warmest. 

➢ Senior Guardians are able to organize Guardian Assessments for any Apprentice when their mentor is otherwise unavailable, and are able to give them a pass into Guardianship.

➢ Sitting council with the Deputy if the Leader needs advice.

⋆ Guardians

Guardians are adult Clan cats who feed and protect their Clan. Guardians have been trained in the ways of fighting and hunting in addition to the ways of the Guardian code. Guardians make up most of a Clan: each cat is, was, or will be a Guardian (except Healers and specialty roles), unless they die before they become a Guardian. When a cat expects or nurses kits, they temporarily give up their Guardian duties and become Caretakers, but take them up again when their kits are apprenticed. Their duties are extremely important to the overall survival of the Clan, and some of those duties include:

➢ Providing defense and security through border patrols, protecting the Clan in the event of an attack from another Clan or outside forces, and guarding the camp.

➢ Providing food for the Clan in the form of fresh-kill, except for in VerdureClan.

➢ Serving in offensive operations, such as attacking other Clans or threats.

➢ Mentoring Guardian Apprentices. 

⋆ Apprentices

Apprentices are Clan cats four moons or older, training to be a Guardian or Healer, under a mentor. All Apprentices' names end with the suffix -paw. At least once during their apprenticeship, they attend a sort of ‘Field Day’ hosted by the Captains, where they test their skills with the specialty ranks (Divers, Aviators, Miners, and Gardeners), to see if their skill set might be better suited for one of those positions. An Apprentice becomes a Guardian once their mentor or Clan leader thinks they have learned enough or proved they are worthy of becoming Guardians/Healers. Apprentices cannot leave the camp without the permission of their mentor or another warrior, and they cannot eat until the Elders and nursing Caretaker eat, unless they have special permission. They have their own den where they sleep, but once they earn their full name, they move to the Guardian den. Some of their duties include:

⋆ Caretakers

A Caretaker is a cat that is expecting or has recently given birth to a litter of kits. They move to the nursery about a moon before giving birth, surrendering their past duties. They return to these duties once their Kits are Apprenticed, but some prefer to stay in the nursery even longer, or forever. Some cats may choose to care for kittens without bearing any of their own. These are also referred to as Permaqueens or Den-Dads. These cats assist other Caretakers in raising their kits or raise orphaned kits. Caretakers have a vital role in continuing the Clans' survival as they give birth to the next generation of Guardians. A Caretaker's only duty is to raise and care for their Kits to the best of their ability. 

⋆Kits

A Kit is a cat under the age of four moons who is still living in the nursery with their parent and littermates. All Kits’ names end with the suffix -kit. While in the nursery, Kits gradually learn about their Clanmates, Clan ways, traditions, rivals, and about the Guardian code as they age. Their parent, the other Caretakers in the nursery, and the elders, will tell them stories of great battles, journeys, and cats. The care of the Kits is shared by all of the Caretakers. Kits are not allowed out of the nursery until their mother feels the time is right. After that, they can go around the camp, though never far from their mother. A Kit cannot leave the Clan camp without being escorted by a Guardian or Captain. Once reaching the age of four moons, they become Apprentices, and the last part of their name is changed from "kit" to "paw". They will either go on the path of a Healer or a Guardian, and their mentor will teach them the ways of the path they choose. 

⋆ Elder

An Elder is a Clan cat that has served their Clan faithfully, but has now retired. They are wise and are held in high respect by the other cats; their counsel and knowledge is sought several times, even by Clan Leaders and Captains. They do not have to catch their own food, nor do hunting patrols or fight, except to defend if necessary. Elders have very minimal tasks, as they are retired, but the ones they do have are simple: