Woodland Information
Oct 21, 2015 17:37:14 GMT -6
Post by ➤centipeetle ✿ on Oct 21, 2015 17:37:14 GMT -6
GENERAL INFO
-The loners and rogues living in the dense, dry forests past TreeClan territory call themselves the woodland cats, and they have a general, though much less in-depth, hierarchy and group system just as the Clans do.
-Their territory is mostly dense, tall forests with mostly hardwood trees and pines, and with dry, often pine-needle covered ground. The whole forest is so dense that most woodland cats do not see much sun - the thick canopy of leaves overhead simply doesn't provide much in the way of light.
-They generally hunt squirrels, birds, mice, shrews and voles.
-They are used to hunting among extremely dense woodland and climbing trees, and have mastered the skill of moving around in the dark, silently and stealthily. Woodland cats are like shadows, and their personalities are often similar - mysterious and often skittish cats who shy away from strangers and keep mostly to their own woods.
CULTURAL STRUCTURE
- On the whole, the woodland cats place a strong emphasis on the importance of bloodlines, but also a chosen family. Any form of stable group which forms is bound to be smaller and often contain a lot of the same kin, but also be tighter knit.
-All of the smaller groups do generally tend to get along, though - usually, at least. They all have a basic understanding of each other, and typically don't seem to consider other woodland cats enemies unless a real conflict is to arise.
- They have a less strict naming system than the clans, but they do have one, generally; woodland cats believe that the name you give a kitten metaphorically 'predicts' the destiny they will have, so many names are more abstract (Eagle's Flight, Setting Sun, et cetera.) You can read more on their names here.
- They are skittish and sometimes even hostile towards those who are not from the woodland, though they generally are more accepting of their TreeClan neighbors, as their ways of life are very similar.
HIERARCHY AND RANKS
-Every cat's ranking in the woodland is based only upon the respect they command from other cats. For the most part, there are no formal ranks - everyone is simply a "woodland cat" just like everyone else - but their social standing depends upon their reputation.
-Reputation, for them, is important. Cats who treat others poorly or in some way are known to not deserve respect will not be shown it, simply.
-Leaders - and there may be 1-3 in a group - are based upon this system of respect, but also upon general opinion. If enough cats respect someone and consider them either intimidating enough or well-meaning enough, often there will be an unspoken agreement that this cat is the leader - though sometimes expressed aloud, too.
-There are no former healer ranks, but cats who do know of herbs are generally much more respected than those who do not, as they can help out if something is ever to go wrong.
GENERAL RULES
There is no set code for woodland cats like there is for the Clan cats - but there is a general set of three significant moral rules that, if broken, can make a cat much more outcast or even lead to them being driven out of the forest.
1. Do not harm another woodland cat who has not offended you in some way.
2. Share prey. If another woodland cat from your group asks for some, you give it.
3. Protect the young of any group. Any attempt to harm a young one will result in exile from the woods.
The woodland cats also believe that the voices of cats long since gone can be heard when one is to scale to the top of the mountains near their territory. As such, no cat is to scale them unless they intend to have their ears open to their ancestors, and they hold the mountains sacred.
Woodland cats may also attend the Gathering held every full moon at the lake, as it is open to all feline visitors.
-The loners and rogues living in the dense, dry forests past TreeClan territory call themselves the woodland cats, and they have a general, though much less in-depth, hierarchy and group system just as the Clans do.
-Their territory is mostly dense, tall forests with mostly hardwood trees and pines, and with dry, often pine-needle covered ground. The whole forest is so dense that most woodland cats do not see much sun - the thick canopy of leaves overhead simply doesn't provide much in the way of light.
-They generally hunt squirrels, birds, mice, shrews and voles.
-They are used to hunting among extremely dense woodland and climbing trees, and have mastered the skill of moving around in the dark, silently and stealthily. Woodland cats are like shadows, and their personalities are often similar - mysterious and often skittish cats who shy away from strangers and keep mostly to their own woods.
CULTURAL STRUCTURE
- On the whole, the woodland cats place a strong emphasis on the importance of bloodlines, but also a chosen family. Any form of stable group which forms is bound to be smaller and often contain a lot of the same kin, but also be tighter knit.
-All of the smaller groups do generally tend to get along, though - usually, at least. They all have a basic understanding of each other, and typically don't seem to consider other woodland cats enemies unless a real conflict is to arise.
- They have a less strict naming system than the clans, but they do have one, generally; woodland cats believe that the name you give a kitten metaphorically 'predicts' the destiny they will have, so many names are more abstract (Eagle's Flight, Setting Sun, et cetera.) You can read more on their names here.
- They are skittish and sometimes even hostile towards those who are not from the woodland, though they generally are more accepting of their TreeClan neighbors, as their ways of life are very similar.
HIERARCHY AND RANKS
-Every cat's ranking in the woodland is based only upon the respect they command from other cats. For the most part, there are no formal ranks - everyone is simply a "woodland cat" just like everyone else - but their social standing depends upon their reputation.
-Reputation, for them, is important. Cats who treat others poorly or in some way are known to not deserve respect will not be shown it, simply.
-Leaders - and there may be 1-3 in a group - are based upon this system of respect, but also upon general opinion. If enough cats respect someone and consider them either intimidating enough or well-meaning enough, often there will be an unspoken agreement that this cat is the leader - though sometimes expressed aloud, too.
-There are no former healer ranks, but cats who do know of herbs are generally much more respected than those who do not, as they can help out if something is ever to go wrong.
GENERAL RULES
There is no set code for woodland cats like there is for the Clan cats - but there is a general set of three significant moral rules that, if broken, can make a cat much more outcast or even lead to them being driven out of the forest.
1. Do not harm another woodland cat who has not offended you in some way.
2. Share prey. If another woodland cat from your group asks for some, you give it.
3. Protect the young of any group. Any attempt to harm a young one will result in exile from the woods.
The woodland cats also believe that the voices of cats long since gone can be heard when one is to scale to the top of the mountains near their territory. As such, no cat is to scale them unless they intend to have their ears open to their ancestors, and they hold the mountains sacred.
Woodland cats may also attend the Gathering held every full moon at the lake, as it is open to all feline visitors.