temperament
foresthall, the castle-city of the autumn court, is a place known for its beauty, vibrant scenery, and grandeur. it's sometimes called by outsiders as "the court of foxes" for good reason. the cats have a deadly, alluring charisma. they're impeccably mannered, coming across as benevolent and harmless. but don't be fooled, for their beauty can hide a truly deadly opponent. just like the foxes for which they were named, the environment of foresthall is highly competitive, with every cat, especially those of royal blood, intent on the throne. as a result, the cats are cunning; skilled in manipulation and deception. given the right incentive, these cats can be the first to stab you in the back, often without warning. daggers hide in men's smiles. you can never truly trust one of them unless you absolutely know them through and through, which is nearly impossible. they're the first to smile, but they work on an agenda and conceal their ulterior motives from prying eyes. the cats of foresthall often spend their days in reclusion. they are not very open to outsiders and stick to themselves. foresthall cats are known for being quite stubborn and set in their ways, preferring to follow tradition instead of embracing new ideas. whenever they do have to come out of their shell, it's not usually good. a cat's political standing can influence a great many things in the clan, from public reputation to blood-right and inheritance to even their right to compete for the throne. cats of foresthall are fiery and quick to their temper. they are not above utilizing callous and cutthroat tactics to achieve victory, and sometimes it seems like they're loyalty is only to themselves. like a fire out of control, these cats have a ferocious temper when provoked and won't back down until their opponent has either fled or died. flaws and fears of an individual are hidden away or at least conquered. in the end, however, these tactics ensure the strength of the clan as a whole, since it ensures only the strongest of them survive.
worship
the autumn court worship one central heavenly molly called the mother. the mother is she who created all life in the court. because of this, she-cats tend to have a more dominant role in the clan - occupying higher positions and having more power. (e.g. the monarch and the king consort). when a cat dies, presuming they have lived a life of virtue and duty, their spirit meets the mother, who takes them into heaven. cats of foresthall often recite a funeral prayer for the dead blessing their soul and wishing them safe passage into the afterlife: mother hold you. may you pass through the gates, and smell that immortal land of milk and honey. may you fear no evil. feel no pain. may you go, and enter eternity.
hierarchy
the hierarchy of foresthall is vastly different from those of other clans, and is somewhat reminiscent of an ancient, mediaeval kingdom. the clan is ruled by a she-cat with the title: autumn monarch. unlike in most clans where a monarch may enter office through bloodlines or through deputyship, the monarch is selected through political strength and her leadership skills. she does not gain the nine lives as per usual. the monarch's name, honoring the undying fire of foresthall, ends in -flame. the mate of the monarch is usually referred to as the "lord of autumn" or more commonly, "king consort." however, the king consort actually has little power compared to the queen. together, they are the ruling pair of foresthall. their kits are referred to as "scions." while scions have great social standing within foresthall and usually take on high-blooded roles in the court, they are not immediately guaranteed the throne due to the way the monarch is selected. the monarch has an advisor who keeps her counsel on court matters. the advisor has similar duties to a deputy (e.g. managing patrol, assigning mentors, delivering letters from members of the clan to the monarch, etc.) the court healer and their apprentice of foresthall is called the "soothsayer" and the "soothsayer's courier' respectively. the military of the autumn court is collectively called the bane who are commanded by the general. the general's squire is essentially his second in command, who accompanies him into battle. after the general dies, the squire ascends to the general's rank and selects a new general in their place. the hunters, scouts, and messengers, are collectively referred to as the "redwings." redwings technically speaking rank below the bane. apprentices in foresthall are referred to as initiates. queens are called "mothers" and kits are called "saplings." the elderly are called "veterans." however, these cats are unusually sparse. they're chased off from patrol, as they are deemed unfit for court life. only those with great military distinction retire in peace.
territory
the territory of foresthall is mostly a dense taiga / spruce forest at the crest of a mountain range. the leaves of the trees are a bedazzling latticework of various shades of red, orange, and gold, making it seem as if the court is stuck permanently in autumn. it is from here that foresthall gets its renowned beauty. the air is laced with a sweet autumnal fragrance, like ripe apples and roasted chestnuts. the climate is rather cold here in the court, and there are rumors that it is this frigidness that led to the icy demeanor of the foresthall cats.
physiology
the cats of foresthall are as beautiful as their court, and move with easy, confident grace. all cats tend to sport long, thick, pelts that help to combat the cold. the females tend to be svelte and graceful, while the males are generally more muscular. while the cats of foresthall have pelts that come in all colors of the rainbow (metaphorically speaking) lighter dappled pelts, such as bengals, tabbies, calicos, or tortoiseshells, are more common so as to help blend into the foliage.
