Clans

The Player Clan is the Clan created by the player when they start a new game. The player will always be in control of this Clan's leader, even after their original cat is no longer leading the group and has been succeeded by another Cat. A Clan can only be managed from its Camp.

## Clan Traits

Clan traits are special traits belonging to Clans. Each Clan has **two** traits, which determine what their cats are good at and known for. Recruits whose skills match those of a Clan's traits will thrive; recruits whose skills oppose a Clan's traits are not likely to do well, and may decide to leave the Clan. Cats born within a Clan are more likely to be born with traits that align with the Clan's, regardless of what their parents' traits are. Potential Clan traits are as follows:

* Lion-Hearted
* Stealthy
* Cunning
* Water-Dwelling
* Tree-Dwelling
* Fast

Lionstar's gift to the player, should they choose to accept it, is the trait of undying loyalty and bravery. Lion-hearted cats breed the strongest warriors with the truest hearts. Choosing this Clan trait prevents the player from choosing the Cowardly personality trait later on.

Tigerstar's gift to the player, should they choose to accept it, is the trait of being able to pass without a trace. Stealthy cats silently glide across the ground effortlessly, and with elegance at that.

Leopardstar's gift to the player, should they choose to accept it, is the trait of forethought and wit. Cunning cats have no trouble outsmarting lesser minds. Choosing this trait prevents the player from choosing the Awkward personality trait later on.

> Water-dwellers take no issue with being wet like other cats do, and some may even enjoy it. These cats can take advantage of the bounties of water, such as fish, better than other cats, however they find difficulty hunting with dry paws.
>
> Tooltip about Fishingstar's Gift

Fishingstar's gift to the player, should they choose it, is the trait of being water-resistant.

> Tree-dwellers are most at home off the ground. They are natural-born masters of traveling through and hunting from the trees. The forest is their home, and tree-dwellers take penalties hunting in the open.
>
> Tooltip about Cloudstar's Gift

Cloudstar's gift to the player, should they choose it, is the trait of arboreal prowess.

> Fast cats enjoy the feel of the wind in their fur. They can hunt the fastest of prey and evade the fastest of predators with ease. They prefer open environments where they can run without obstacles, and take penalties hunting under tree cover.
>
> Tooltip about Runningstar's Gift

Runningstar's gift to the player, should they choose it, is the gift of swift paws.

Cats with the Fast trait are also faster at moving than other cats, though only marginally; their travel time is reduced about 25-30%. If multiple cats are traveling together, they will follow the pace of the most experienced cat. However if the "leading" cat is Fast and the others are not, they will slow down to accommodate their compatriots; the whole group will only gain the benefits of the Fast trait if all of them possess it.
## Territory

A Clan may own up to 70 map tiles of territory. These territory tiles are integral to a Clan's survival; only claimed tiles offer full, uninterrupted hunting rights and the safety of a marked border keeping predators and strange cats out.

### Leaders

The position of leader is the highest rank a Clan cat can obtain in their lifetime. A Clan's leader oversees the day-to-day activities of a Clan. The Clan's overall well-being is the leader's responsibility, and as such many of their tasks involve mediating between Clan members, consulting their deputy and senior warriors, and ensuring the Clan is running smoothly. It is also their duty to assign mentors to apprentices, hold warrior ceremonies, call Clan meetings when necessary, and decide whether or not a stranger is invited into the Clan.

Leaders have their own personal den in camp, which they may use to discuss private matters with cats if necessary.

### Deputies

Deputies are the second-in-command of a Clan. A deputy is chosen by the leader to be their successor. Deputies are responsible for organizing daily patrols for the Clan, such as hunting patrols and border patrols, and they will do this autonomously. The deputy will also collect patrol reports from patrol leaders, and report back to the Clan's leader with them at the end of each day.

If for whatever reason, such as sickness, injury, or kit-rearing, the leader cannot perform their duties, the deputy will step in for them.

If a deputy dies or rises to the station of leader, a new deputy must be appointed before moonhigh. In order to be eligible for deputy-ship, a cat must have mentored at least one apprentice in their lifetime

When the leader dies, their current deputy must travel to the Clans' sacred place, escorted by the medicine cat, to commune with StarClan and receive their nine lives.

### Medicine Cats

Medicine cats are members of a Clan who treat diseases and injuries. They also receive and interpret omens and prophecies from StarClan.

Medicine cats are considered somewhat removed from the usual rules warriors are bound to follow. This includes being able to cross territory borders without consequence, as well their ceremonies being presided over by themselves and StarClan instead of their respective Clans' leaders.

Although not strictly forbidden by the warrior code, it is socially unacceptable for medicine cats to take mates and have kits, to prevent favoritism and bias in their healing duties. The punishment for this will be up to the Clan leader, but regardless of their decision, other Clan cats may cause the offending medicine cat shame.

### Warriors

Warriors are adult Clan cats who feed and protect their Clan. Their duties are extremely important to the overall survival of the Clan. They are tasked with going on patrols, guarding the camp and any vulnerable cats within, ensuring that cats who cannot hunt for themselves are fed, eliminating threats on the Clan's territory, and mentoring the next generation of apprentices.

### Apprentices

Apprentices are Clan cats six moons or older, training to be a warrior or medicine cat under a mentor. Tasks of apprentices include training with their mentors, going on hunting and border patrols with other cats of their Clan, and looking after the elders.

### Queens & Kits

A queen is a cat that is expecting or has recently given birth to a litter of kits, or a she-cat who has decided that warrior duties don't suit her as much as kit-rearing duties do and chooses the role permanently. Pregnant she-cats will move to the nursery at some point during their second trimester, roughly halfway through the pregnancy. They will not return to warrior duties until their kits are at least four moons old, though most will remain until the kits are apprenticed.

A kit is a cat under the age of six moons who is still living in the nursery with their mother and littermates. Their sole duty is to grow big and strong enough to become apprentices. Kits will spend their days playing and listening to stories told by the elders. Their games will give them a head start on the **Hunting** and **Fighting** Skills, and observing them play can offer clues as to their stats and personality traits.

### Elders

An elder is a Clan cat that has served their Clan faithfully, but has now retired. Elders have earned the right to do what they want, be that sleep all day or wander around the territory without the burden of duty. They are not required to hunt for themselves, and are cared for by the Clan's warriors and apprentices. An elder's only remaining duties to the Clan are to share the Clan's history with new members, usually the kits that visit them for stories, and to bury the dead.
## History

A Clan's Memories will be known by all members of the Clan that bore witness to the events that transpired. New members will not know at first the Clan's history; it is important to keep a Clan's history alive through word-of-mouth and telling stories. This is the primary role of elders, but if there are no elders in a Clan, it will fall to the Playercat and their senior warriors.