\\ OTS will be done at the end of each season //
Post by Abyss on Dec 8, 2022 1:54:54 GMT -5
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SUMMITCLAN
Soldiers of the snowy mountains, Summitclan are bold and fearless cats who call the cold and often treacherous mountains their home. Known for their big bodies, thick coats, and even thicker heads, these cats pride themselves on their strength, their durability, and their ability to traverse the fallen snow.
Their paws are large for balancing along steep cliffs and pushing through snow, their pelts are long and thick to withstand the cold, and their eyesight is accustomed to both the brightness of snow and the darkness of caves. But with these advantages come the problem of overheating during the harsher Greenleafs and not being quite as good with open flat spaces.
Summitclan cats have a reputation for being stubborn, prideful, and hot-headed with a healthy dose of a superiority complex. Because their clan has ruled the harsh mountains for so many generations and have grown the skills to thrive within them, as well as their size, these cats often believe themselves stronger and overall better than the other clans, as they endure more than the others nearly all year round. They are not the sort to ever back down from a challenge and do not appreciate any form of disrespect or criticism, constructive or otherwise.Territory
A mountainous, tundra-like territory that snows in all seasons except for Greenleaf. The terrain primarily consists of cliffs, hillsides, and snowy banks, but there are also lightly-forested snowy hills near the Pineclan border and more open snowy plains along the Tideclan border.
- Crystal Falls: A big waterfall in the mountains not too far from the home cave, one of 2 main sources for the valley's river
- Echoing Tunnels: Big cave system back in the mountains with a bunch of entrances, does not lead to the home cave or connect to it
- Shallow Pools: Some swampy moorland to the bottom right of their territory, not really "swamp" exactly but a bunch of tiny shallow ponds grouped together
- Rock Maze: A large collection of giant stones and boulders in the fields that are good for prey but also a good place to hide for predators
The Summitclan camp is a large cavern in the side of the mountain, hard to find unless you know exactly where you are going. There is a small pool in the center of the cavern where water/melting snow drips down from a hole in the ceiling, allowing a little bit of light to come in to the camp.
The Medicine Cat Den is off to the right, the entrance surrounded by vines that use the falling ceiling water to grow on the wall and form a sort of curtain into the den. The den is split in two portions: the front half where the sick and injured stay, and the back half where herbs are stored and the Meddies sleep.
The Leader’s den is directly across from the camp entrance, a large somewhat sloped stone being where announcements are made and a small cave entrance next to it that serves as the Leader den. The inside of the den is pretty spacious, as is the nest.
The Nursery is to the left of the Leader’s den, a large mini-cavern with a moss floor and plenty of nests. Often times you can find small snowballs here that are brought in for the kits to play with until they melt.
The Elders den is to the left of the nursery and is similar in appearance, with a moss floor and large nests, only slightly smaller.
The Warriors den is to the right of the camp entrance, a large and spacious cave with some slightly raised platforms of rock and some lowered. There are lots of nests in here at varying heights, depending on where one prefers to sleep. The nests in this den are quite large, as it is common for multiple cats to share one nest.
The Apprentice den is to the left of the camp entrance, and while it is very similar to the Warriors, it is smaller. But, in the same vein, the nests found in this den are on the bigger side to fit multiple cats.Culture
The life of Summitclan cats tends to be a little bit harsher than that of the other clans, for strength is their number one value. The snowy mountains they call home, the nearly constant cold weather, and the predators that dwell around them are all unforgiving; a cat must have the body and willpower to live in Summitclan. So patrols, hunting, and training tend to be more strict.
Though, as sturdy and hard-headed as Summitclan may be, some would be surprised to find that these cats actually put a lot of value in physical contact, more often to lay two cats in a nest together than singles for the sake of warmth. They are also a tad more paranoid than the other clans think, constantly alert for predators, changes in the mountains, harsher snows, and keeping their own within the camp when things look rough. In addition to their physical views, SC is also the least concerned of the clans on the belief in Starclan or the Dark Forest. It has become accepted within the clan that the only cats required to hold such beliefs are Leaders, Deputies, and Medicine Cats, as their roles within the clan require such connections. Beyond them, anyone is free to belief in whatever they wish. If they do believe, so be it. If they don't believe, so be it. If they have their own unique beliefs, so be it.
Snow hare
Rats
Stoats
Small birds
Snow leopards
Mountain goats
Lynx
WolfAttitudes
Pineclan: Tense Tideclan: Neutral Outsiders: Wary
Summitclan has always held a belief that any stretch of land that is nearly always covered in snow should be theirs, as such terrain is what they are built for. As the Winding Stones are nearly always bound in snow, Summit and Pine are constantly at odds over their border. Meanwhile, Summit is neutral towards Tide, acknowledging that the weak sea cats know not to mess with the strong mountain cats.Traditions
"Let those old enough to conquer the summit snow gather to hear my words."
Apprenticeship // It is typical that when Apprentices are given their final tests, it will be all on the same day and the Apprentices will have to win a battle, hunt three pieces of prey, and be able to go up the mountain and back down without fail. If they fail any of these, even if they only fail one, they will likely be trained for another moon to perfect whatever skills they lack in.
The Season // On the spectrum of most to least traditional in terms of Warriors culture, Summitclan would be right in the middle. Overall, SC values power, strength, and health, and those values extend to reproduction. Of the three, SC is the only clan that holds a "breeding season" in Leafbare, during which the young-adult cats in the clan seek out mating pairs. The season's primary purpose is for healthy (and young, but that is optional) cats to mingle with one another and seek out partners who have what they feel is the most genetic potential to pass on to their offspring. There are some more sentimental cats who use the season to seek out an actual partner rather than just a mate, but love and connection are not required or expected during the season. Because of their focus on healthy reproduction and passing on family lines, cats who either can't reproduce or choose not to are sometimes looked down on.
-- Because of their views, Summitclan isn't picky on who has kits, including Leaders, Deputies, and Medicine Cats. If you are a healthy cat who wants to produce healthy offspring for the clan, rank doesn't matter.
Monarchy // Over a very long time, the culture within Summitclan has shifted a tad from the traditional ways of Warriors. When it comes to power and expectation, the position of Leader is typically passed down through lineage. Normally, if the current Deputy (who is likely a child or relative of the current Leader) does not have kits themselves and they become Leader, it is expected that the Deputy they choose be somehow related to them, though children are often preferred. For this reason, Leaders and Deputies usually have the silent expectation hanging over their head that they must, at some point, bear children, even if they do not take a mate.
Of course, it is possible for the current lineage of Leaders to be broken. These traditions first began during the reign of Wolfstar and have stuck ever since, thus all of the Leaders who have served Summitclan since then have been Wolfstar descendants. The clan has not yet seen or experienced what would happen should the chain be broken, should someone not of Wolfstar's line hold power within the clan.Mountain Climbers //A rank unique to Summitclan, Mountain Climbers, or just Climbers, are cats within the clan who most typically take on a more literal role of 'Warrior", as they primarily focus on the safety of the clan and territory. They have been trained on how to specifically scale the more steep and harsh portions of the mountain and keep track of the state of their territory. They are trained to watch for avalanches and rock falls, keep track of and sometimes clear when paths within the mountain have been blocked off by fallen stones or high snow, and they are the ones sent out when clanmates get caught in snow or are stuck in a difficult area to traverse and can't get down. They are also usually the front-line of defense and the first called to action when there is a predator to be chased out or a fight against another clan.
As Climbers are a specialized rank with a job that can at times be dangerous, Apprentices who wish to become Climbers must have an extra 3 moons of training. The minimum age an Apprentice can become a Climber is 15 Moons.
If an Apprentice should wish to become a Climber, they must inform their Leader, either before they become an Apprentice so they can be assigned a Climber mentor, or during their Apprenticeship so that a Climber may step forward and either take over or assist in their training.
