The Warrior Code etc

## Warrior Code

***The Warrior Code*** is essentially the in-character legal system. This is copied directly from the source material in the books, and while there is no out-of-character penalties for breaking the Code, please be aware that doing so may incur ramifications for your *character* if you have them break the code. In the site's history the alternate factions were not bound by these laws, but now all six factions follow them.
### The Modern Warrior Code

1. Defend all the Clans, even with your life. Your first loyalty is to your Clan, but all cats who follow the warrior code are your allies. Each Clan must ensure that no other Clan falls. (*reworded*)
2. Nevertheless, each Clan is proud and independent, with traditions that must always be respected. (*reworded; formerly Rule 16*)
3. An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the code, or it is necessary for self-defense. (*formerly Rule 14*)
4. Elders, queens, sick or injured cats and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders. (*formerly Rule 3*)
5. A Gathering of all five Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. (*formerly Rule 10*)
6. No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan. (*formerly Rule 12*)
7. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice. (*formerly Rule 5*)
8. The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.
9. After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.
10. If a Clan member believes that their leader is no longer leading with honor and integrity, they can challenge them. Three-quarters of the Clan members, including their medicine cats, must agree. Their objections will then be presented to the leaders of the other Clans. If the other leaders agree, all medicine cats will request that StarClan remove the leader's remaining lives and give them to the deputy. These objections cannot be raised by the deputy, and may be set aside if it is discovered the deputy has seeded discontent.
11. A warrior or medicine cat may switch their allegiance from one Clan to another but must meet a set of conditions. The cat wishing to change Clans must perform a task of their intended Clan’s choosing. If they succeed, it will be deemed StarClan’s will that they change Clans, and their request will be granted.
12. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life. (*formerly Rule 4*)
13. Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name. (*formerly Rule 6*)
14. A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice. (*formerly Rule 7*)
15. A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet. (*formerly Rule 15*)
16. Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats—but a warrior must always remember that all their neighbours follow the warrior code and should be respected as equals.

### Exceptions

1. Cats on their way to the Moonpool are allowed to cross the Clans' territories to get to their destination - the Mystics, Tribe and Colony are welcome allies even though their way of life is different.
2. Cats may travel on other Clan territories if they have something to report or to ask for help.
3. The code is flexible about leadership challenges. Cats may challenge a weak or cruel leader if their Clan is in danger, and if their leadership threatens the Clan, the code expects a warrior to challenge their leader.
4. There is a specific process if a cat wishes to change Clans, or join an alt-faction, to be with their mate. Both parties must agree and announce their intentions at a Gathering, and their new Clan or faction will set them a task to complete before they may formally join. The task must be fair, it must be possible for the cat intending to join to complete it - setting a blind cat a task that relies on sight would be unlawful. Second choices are only available if abuse or coercion within the relationship is discovered and proven.
5. There is discussion in this specific Warriors universe of abandoning the rule that bars medicine cats from having mates or kits. They are expected to care for each Clanmate equally, but they already have kin within their faction they will feel greater fear for and the rule is unfairly easier to exercise against she-cats and others who bear kits than most toms and others who serve the other role in reproduction. Consider it at a stall for now.

## Non-Code Rules

1. Cats may be disciplined with punishment tasks for rule-breaking, but it is not permitted to set tasks that endanger them. No cat may be sent out alone, unaccompanied by any adult cats, to a known area of danger or at night for a punishment task, and any punishment must be possible for the cat/s being punished to complete - nothing that takes advantage of their weaknesses.
2. Warriors may not pursue relationships with apprentices unless the relationship began while they were *both* apprentices.
3. A cat expecting or nursing kits is not an acceptable reason to pass them over for a leadership role if they are the best candidate. They deserve the same opportunities as everybody else.
4. Many kittypets, loners and rogues carry Clan or faction blood, and all cats have the right to lead this life if they wish to. An adult kittypet, loner or rogue who wishes to join the Clan or faction may be asked to undertake an apprenticeship, probationary period or trial task the same way as a cat wishing to change factions to be with a mate. No kit may be subjected to this, however - as per rule 6 of the Warrior Code all kits must be protected regardless of their origin, and this may include taking them into the Clan or faction.
5. Every Clan or faction deserves a leader who treats them fairly and genuinely wishes to take the responsibility. As such, a Clan leader may retire and return their remaining lives to StarClan if they have lost the will to lead, and under rule 10 of the Warrior Code they may be deposed if they are abusing their position.
6. Attacking the camp of another Clan or faction endangers innocents. It is permitted only when rogues or a dangerous leader must be driven out.
7. Medicine cat matters may not be dragged into Clan rivalry - herbs and medical aid may not be withheld to barter for territory or hunting rights, medicine cats may not be targeted in battle or kidnapped and so on. Medicine cats must stand apart from Clan rivalry and so must their business. However, this does not mean medicine cats should not learn to fight - not all opponents are honourable, and as such there is no dishonour in a medicine cat knowing how to defend themselves.

## Faction Roles

Each Clan and faction has a number of different roles with for cats to fill. All Clans share the same roles, while each alternate faction has a system of its' own.
### Clans

**Leader**: Each Clan has one leader who has been given nine lives by StarClan and in the case of SplashClan, the spirits of the Whispering Tides. As the name suggests, their job is to lead their Clan in both battle and peacetime, and their warrior suffix is replaced by -star to indicate their role.
**Deputy**: Every Clan has one deputy. When the leader dies, the deputy fills their place and while still a deputy they take charge of most day to day organisation of the Clan. If the deputy dies, a new deputy must be chosen by moonhigh.
**Medicine Cat**: Each Clan must have at least one medicine cat, though they may have more. Medicine cats are chosen by both aptitude and a sign from the ancestors, and their role is both to take care of their Clan's health and to interpret signs from the ancestors. Medicine cats are not bound by every rule of the Warrior Code and are expected to remain apart from Clan rivalries, and may cross borders more freely to gather herbs and share information. Their code prohibits them from taking a mate or having kits, as they are expected to care for the whole Clan equally, though that rule is most easily enforceable against she-cats than toms and as such is gradually being retired.
**Medicine Cat Apprentice**: The medicine cat apprentice is in training to be a medicine cat. Cats are chosen for this position by both aptitude and ancestral guidance. There is typically only one medicine cat apprentice at a time.
**Mediator**: The position of Mediator is a new one, but each Clan needs at least one. They should show an aptitude for the position to be chosen, and most are also chosen by ancestral indication. Their role is to settle disagreements within the Clan and to help ease relations across Clan lines. Like medicine cats, they are expected to avoid participating in Clan rivalry and may more easily cross borders. The role of Mediator is a fairly new one, begun in the reigns of Divestar, Moonstar and Rosestar and inherited from the traditions of the Mystics and Tribe.
**Mediator Apprentice**: A mediator in training. Many serve as warrior or medicine cat apprentices before they find their position.
**Warrior**: Warriors form the heart of the Clan. It is a generic role but an important one, a Clan needs its warriors. Warriors are responsible for hunting, defence and marking borders.
**Apprentice**: Apprentices are warriors in training, six moons of age or older. Each is assigned a mentor to train them, that mentor should not be a parent but may be kin. They are held to the same rules as warriors, and are not usually permitted outside of camp without an adult for safety.
**Queens**: Queens are pregnant or nursing kits, and some remain in the nursery permanently to suport the younger queens with their kits, rather than return to warrior duties. Occasionally the kits' other parent may fill this role instead and stay in the nursery while the bearing parent returns to normal duties.
**Kits**: Kits are the new generation of the Clan, and remain at this rank until they are apprenticed at six moons of age. They are not permitted to leave the camp.
**Elders**: Elders have retired from their regular duties due to age or injury. The Clan is required to care for them well in return for their moons of service, and they often help take care of the kits and apprentices.
### The Mystics

**Monarch**: The Monarch fills much the same role as a Clan leader and also has nine lives, given to them by the spirits of the Earth and Tide.
**Chancellor**: The Chancellor's role is roughly equal to that of a Clan deputy. There is only ever one.
**Physician**: The Physician is roughly equal to a medicine cat, but unlike the Clans their role is strictly healing. There is always at least one but may be more. Unlike Clan cats there are no rules about mates or kits.
**Physician's Apprentice**: The Physician's Apprentice is in training to become a Physician of the faction.
**Emissary**: The Emissary's job is to interpret and advise upon signs from the Spirits and the Ancestors, the other half of a Clan medicine cat's role. There is always at least one but may be more.
**Emissary Trainee**: An emissary in training.
**Diplomat**: Roughly equivalent to Clan mediators. There is usually at least one, but may be more.
**Diplomat Trainee**: A cat in training to serve as a diplomat.
**Knights**: Knights are roughly akin to Clan warriors, they feed and defend the faction.
**Squires**: Squires are Knights-in-training, they have to be at least six moons old.
**Queens**: Like in the Clans, these are cats expecting or nursing kits as well as some who remain in the nursery permanently to assist younger queens with their kits.
**Kits**: Self explanatory. They are not permitted out of camp and may not train in any role until they are six moons old.
**Raconteurs**: The name means storytellers, they are much the same as Clan elders - cats who have retired from regular duties due to age or ill health. As the name suggests, they are the storytellers of the Mystics, retelling history so that others might learn from it.
### The Sundown Colony

**Leader**: Like in the Clans, the Leader is in charge of the Colony. They have nine lives gifted by the Tribe of Endless Hunting.
**Second**: The second is equivalent to a Clan deputy and always takes the leader's place when they die.
**Healer**: The healer is responsible for the health of the Colony like a Clan medicine cat, but more akin to the Mystics' physicians - their duties do not include spiritual matters. There is always at least one but may be more. Unlike Clan cats there are no rules about kits or mates.
**Softpaw Healer**: The trainee of the full healer or healers.
**Skywatcher**: The Skywatcher is responsible for spiritual matters of the Colony, the other half of a Clan medicine cat's duties similar to the role the Emissaries fill in the Mystics.
**Softpaw Skywatcher**: A Skywatcher in training.
**Mediator**: Just like Clan mediators, they are responsible for keeping peace within the Colony and with other factions across the borders. The role of Mediator is a new one, brought to the Colony in the reign of Wandering Spider and inherited from the traditions of the Tribe and the Mystics.
**Softpaw Mediator**: A mediator in training.
**Sharpclaw**: Much the same role as a Clan warrior or Mystic Knight, they are responsible for feeding and defending the Clan.
**Softpaw**: A sharpclaw in training.
**Kit-Mother**: Queens, they are usually expecting or nursing kits though a few stay in the nursery to care for younger queens and their kits if they are not suited to other duties.
**Kits**: Self explanatory.
**Elders**: The same as Clan elders.
### The Tribe of Mountain Flame

**Stoneteller**: The leader of the Tribe, also responsible for medical and spiritual matters. They are sometimes also known as the Healer. Unlike other leaders, they do not have nine lives - instead they have an increased life span and greater wisdom than most.
**Stoneteller To-Be**: The next Stoneteller, chosen with advice from the Tribe of Endless Hunting. A Stoneteller only chooses a to-be near the end of their life.
**Advisor**: Like Clan mediators and the Mystics' diplomats, the advisor is responsible for settling disputes within the Tribe and across borders. They also work closely alongside the Stoneteller to interpret signs and act as a conduit between the often-distant leader and the rest of the Tribe.
**Advisor To-Be**: An advisor in training.
**Border-Guards**: Regular Tribe members, their responsibility is to patrol the Tribe's borders and defend against enemies who cross over them. They also accompany prey-hunter patrols to protect them from predators.
**Cave-Guards**: Regular Tribe members, they are responsible for guarding the Tribe's cave camp from enemy cats and predators.
**Prey-Hunters**: Regular Tribe members, they are responsible for hunting and feeding the Tribe.
**To-Bes**: Roughly equivalent to Clan apprentices. They are in training to be Border-Guards, Cave-Guards or Prey-Hunters, and have mentors much like Clan apprentices do.
**Kit-Mothers**: Expectant or nursing queens, and occasionally older queens who remain in the nursery to look after younger ones and their kits.
**Kits**: Self explanatory.
**Elders**: Cats who have retired from their duties due to age, injury or ill health. The Tribe looks after them and they retell the history to the younger generators.