by Jason_Dean » Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:39 am
Misc. knowledge
Warrior Code
1. Defend your Clan, even with your life. You may have friendships with cats from the other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you may meet them in battle.
2. Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan's territory.
3. Elders 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.
4. Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to StarClan for its life.
5. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice.
6. Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their
warrior name.
7. A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.
8. The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies or retires.
9. After the death or retirement of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen
before moonhigh.
10. A gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time.
11. Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Challenge all trespassing cats.
12. No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if that kit is from a different Clan.
13. The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.
14. An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defense.
15. A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.
The Glossary
Catspeak : Humanspeak
Crow-food: rotting food
Fox dung: an insult; stronger offense than mouse-brain
Fresh-kill: recently killed prey
Gatherings: a meeting that the Clans hold in peace at every full moon
Greencough: severe chest infection, which can be fatal in elders and young kits
Greenleaf: summer
Greenleaf Twolegplace: a place where humans visit only in the summer (a campsite, resort, etc.)
Halfbridge: a dock
Horseplace: fields and stables near the lake where half-tamed cats live
Housefolk: a house cat's word for its humans
Kittypet: a house cat
Leaf-bare: winter
Leaf-fall: fall/autumn
Loner:cat that lives peacefully on its own in one place but doesn't defend its territory
Monster: usually refers to human machines such as cars and bulldozers
Moonhigh: the time of night when the moon is at its highest--often midnight
Mouse-brained: not very smart
Mouse dung: an insult; stronger than mouse-brain, but less offensive than fox dung
Newleaf: spring
Nofurs: another word for humans
One moon: one month (half-moon = two weeks, quarter-moon = one week)
Rogue: a potentially hostile cat who lives outside the Clans and never spends too long in one place
Sharing tongues: term used to describe cats grooming each other
Silverpelt: the Milky Way
Sun-drown-place: the sea to the west, where the sun sets
Sunhigh: noon
Thunderpath: a road
Tree-eater: bulldozer
Twoleg nest: a human house
Twolegplace: a human town
Twolegs: the Clans' word for humans
Upwalkers: another word for humans
Whitecough: mild chest infection
The Herb List
Alder bark- Toothaches. Eat.
Alfalfa- used to prevent tooth decay.
Aloe Vera- Use the gel inside of leaves to cure skin problems or burns.
Ash (Tree) - New shoots are to be eaten, and chewed and applied to the bite of an Adder or Viper to stave off the effects of its poisoned bite.
Blessed Thistle - increases circulation of blood
Borage Leaves - used to treat fevers and helps nursing mothers with their milk supply. Borage should never be used dried, only green.
Bramble Twigs - Chew this into a fine syrup. It helps to sleep.
Rosemary Blossoms (broken) - used to heal eye infection or to cover up wounds around the eyes or eyelids.
Broom - helps broken legs and other serious wounds
Burdock Root - When the dug up root has been washed, it can be chewed into a pulp which is good for all cuts and scrapes, especially rat bites, even if they're infected.
Burnet - Used in traveling herbs. Helps wounds heal faster.
Catch Weed - Burrs can be used to help hold treatment onto a cat.
Catmint - used to treat whitecough and greencough; can help to relax a cat
Celandine - used to treat ailments of the eyes. Used to strengthen weak eyes.
Chamomile - used to calm a cat. Leaves and Flowers may be consumed to sooth a cat and add to their physical strength.
Chervil - used to treat bellyache. The juices of the leaves are used for infected wounds, and chewing the roots helps with bellyache.
Chickweed - used to help treat greencough. If there is no catmint around, it is a good substitute to counter greencough.
Cobwebs - used to stop bleeding. Generally only used with wounds that risk bleeding heavily as they can cause increased risk of infection.
Coltsfoot - This flowering herb is effective against kittencough, and the leaves can be chewed into a pulp which can be eaten to help shortness of breath
Comfrey - used to treat broken bones
Daisy Leaves - If chewed into a paste it can be a useful remedy for aching joints.
Dandelion Leaves - used to calm a cat
Deadly Nightshade - small dark purple berries that are just as poisonous as deathberries
Deathberries - (known to Twolegs as yew) are so poisonous that a single berry can kill a young cat. Extremely deadly
Dock - Good for making a cat's coat as slippery as a fish, the leaf can also be chewed up and applied to soothe scratches. (Chew it up and spit it out to make a cat's coat slippery.)
Dried Oak Leaf - Used to stop infections.
Echinacea - Used to ease infection.
Ragwort - Even though ragwort is used for medicinal uses, it is highly poisonous, as it often gets cows and horses very sick. Use yarrow right away. Juniper also helps afterward. Don't eat!!!
Ferns - Used to clean out wounds.
Feverfew - used to cool feverish cats and treat head pain. Leaves can be used to reduce fever, in addition to being consumed to aid against colds and stomach ailments.
Foxglove - Seeds are used to help the heart, but they can EASILY cause paralysis and heart failure. The leaves are used on deep wounds to stop bleeding quickly. ALMOST ALWAYS KILLS! USE AS A LAST RESORT (IF EVER)!
Ginger - used for asthma and coughs
Goldenrod - A poultice of goldenrod is great for healing wounds, and can also help aching joints and stiffness.
Grass - use to treat bellyache
Gumweed - Helps seal wounds from infection and helps to heal the wound quicker
Hawthorn Berries - Used for indigestion
Hedgehog Buds - Used to treat/cure runny noses
Holly Berries - POISONOUS! While not as dangerous as deathberries, they are still a danger to kits.
Honey - used to treat sore throats. Particularly good for smoke inhalation.
Horsetail - The leaves of this tall plant can be used to treat infected wounds, usually by being chewed up for a poultice. The sap can also be used in combination with cobwebs to stop heavy bleeding
Iris - Used to stimulate breathing during the birthing process; can also be used for kit's sore throats. Everything but the petals is poisonous.
Ivy - Used to help calm a cat and help heal small scrapes. Also used for coughs, if nothing else is available.
Juniper Berries - used to treat bellyache. Berries ease the stomach and can serve as a counter poison. Leaves are used to ease coughs and other respiratory problems. Also used to help treat shock.
Lamb's Ear - used to give a cat strength
Lavender - Leaves & flowers are particularly good when eaten for easing pains in head and throat, and curing fever. Inhaling the scent of fresh flowers can also calm the nerves.
Lotus - Used as an energizer to help keep you awake.
Mallow - Used to treat bellyaches.
Marigold - The petals or leaves can be chewed into a pulp for a poultice to wounds, as well as stopping infections. One of the best herbs for cracked paw pads. If eaten can make a cat expel poisons from the body by vomiting.
Milkweed - Use to treat sores or burns. Do not use around ears or eyes. Poisonous when eaten.
Moss - Makes good bedding
Mouse bile - used to remove ticks from a cat's coat. Press on ticks. Soon they'll drop off. Warning! Do NOT eat mouse bile or you'll have that horrible taste in your mouth for days! To carry around, put mouse bile in a big leaf and wrap up the leaf and you can carry. Be sure to wash your paws when done. In a stream of course!!!!
Narcissus - Soothes a cat when she is having contractions
Nettle (leaves) - The leaves are applied to reduce swelling
Nettle (seeds) - used to counter poison. The seeds are swallowed
Parsley - Used to stop the flow of a queen's milk.
Pawpaw - Used to treat kittencough
Poppy Seeds - The best herb there is to numb pain, distress, and shock and ensure a good night's sleep
Ragweed - used to give a cat strength *similar to Lamb's Ear
Ragwort -use alongside juniper berries in a poultice to treat aching joints
Raspberry - An herb used in kitting, It could be a painkiller, or to help stop bleeding during the kitting.
Rosinweed - Used to clean out the system when poisons have been digested
Rush - Used to bind broken bones
Sage Roots - Use for cracked pads, use with poppy seeds
Skullcap Seeds - Used to give a cat extra strength
Snakeroot - used to counter poison
Sorrel - used to soothe scratches
Stinging nettle - The leaves are used to reduce swelling. The seeds are used to counter poison by inducing vomiting.
Tansy - used to treat coughs. Leaves may be chewed to relive joint aches. Flowers should be consumed to remove coughs. Pregnant queens should NEVER be given Tansy, because it causes miscarriages.
Thyme - Should be consumed to calm the anxious cat, or to aid in brining restful sleep.
Water mint - The best cure for bellyaches. Eat. Has a really good minty taste, you'll know when you eat it.
Wild Garlic - rolling in this can help to keep out infection. If you're got lots of cuts and scrapes, especially from rat bites, make sure you roll in some wild garlic to keep out infection.
Willow Tree - Water from beneath the bark of the flowering willow may be dripped into the eyes to help clear blurriness of vision. It may also be applied to dry patches of skin to sooth itches. Small amounts of Willow Bark may be consumed to ease pain, act against inflammation, and to ease diarrhea or fevers.
Windflower - Used to treat stomach cramps, such as when a she-cat becomes pregnant
Witch Hazel - Used to give you an extra boost, this will wake you up (energizer)
Yarrow - used to make a cat vomit and expel poisons from the body. Entire plant should be consumed to induce vomiting. Entire plant should be chewed and applied to wounds to relive pain and prevent infection. Only give it to cats that ate something poisonous. Sometimes when cats are really sick yarrow is used to make the patient vomit out the sickness. That only works sometimes. This herb can also be used as an ointment, used to soften paw pads
Yew (Deathberries) (Night Seeds) - POISONOUS! Roots & leaves may be chewed together and applied to sore places. If a cat eats them (most likely a kit), then scoop all the berry leftovers out of their mouth. Then force them to swallow yarrow. The victim will vomit out most of the poison, but not all of it. They will be very sick for the next few days.
Diseases and Injuries
Chest Infections
Whitecough and greencough are the most common chest infections known to the Clan cats. Whitecough is the milder form, but if untreated, it can develop into the much more severe greencough. Cats usually catch it during leaf-fall and leaf-bare, and sometimes it develops into large-scale epidemics. It can be fatal for elders and kits, and it has claimed the lives of several cats. It spreads quickly and is highly contagious.Medicine cats treat it using catmint. If fevers accompany the cough, tansy or borage is used as well.
Blackcough symptoms are such as expelling blood, high fever, and coughing.
Poisoning
Eating deathberries.
Eating poisoned or rotten prey .
Drinking tainted water.
Inhaling too much smoke from a fire.
Being bitten by a venomous animal such as a snake.
If only a small quantity of poison is ingested, the cat usually just receives a bellyache, but larger amounts can cause death. Medicine cats treat these bellyaches with yarrow or nettle leaves, while mild bellyaches can be treated with juniper or watermint. If a cat has been severely poisoned (as in eating deathberries) he/she may become unconscious for a length of time.
Rat-Borne Infections
Burdock root is used to stop infection from rat bites.
Loss of Sensory Perception
A cat may lose his or her eyesight or hearing due to old age or from accidents and infections, or birth defects. These conditions usually end their career as a warrior, as they cannot hunt or fight efficiently, and must retire as elders. Kits born with defects usually die young, unless they have special skills compensating it. Kits that are white with blue eyes have a higher chance of being born deaf.
Joint Aches
A condition usually associated with elders, the joints gradually degenerating with age, causing pain and difficulty to move. Damp environments can cause the appearance of this condition, so apprentices must make sure that the moss they gather for bedding is completely dry. It is usually treated using daisy or ragwort poultices.
Toothache
A toothache is caused by a cracked tooth, cavities, or an infection in the mouth. Alder bark is used to soothe the pain.
Fever
Fever is an abnormally high temperature of the body. It is not a disease in itself, but it usually signs the presence of an infection, such as greencough or an infected wound. If needed, it can be treated with feverfew, borage, or lavender.
Chill
Chills are mostly associated with cold weather or being submerged in cold water for a long period of time. Kits and elders are more at risk of dying when they get a chill. Licking a cat's fur the wrong way gets the blood flowing again. A poultice of lavender, catmint and feverfew is also a good remedy.
Wounds
Wounds are injuries when the skin and the muscles beneath are torn, cut, or punctured. They may put a cat's life in danger due to blood loss, infections, or the damage of the organs. Wounds are the most common injuries, due to the cats always fighting enemy Clans, badgers, or foxes.
Minor wounds heal on their own in no time, but severe wounds must be treated by a medicine cat. This treatment includes cleaning it thoroughly with the tongue, stopping the bleeding by pressing cobwebs on it, and applying poultices to prevent infection and help it to heal. Herbs used in the poultices include goldenrod, marigold, burdock root or (in the case of rat bites) wild garlic. If the wound becomes infected, chervil or horsetail is used as well. The pain can be eased with poppy seeds or willow bark.
Sprains
Sprains are injuries to ligaments of a joint, caused by being stretched beyond their normal capacity and possibly torn. It causes severe pain and decreased ability to move the joint. The cat must rest for several days.
Joint Dislocation
Joint dislocation is the displacement of a bone from its normal joint. Medicine cats treat this condition by first feeding the patient poppy seeds to make them sleepy so they don't feel it as much, and then forcing the limb back into the joint.
Cracked Pads
The paw pads may crack while walking long distances on hard surfaces, or due to cold weather. Elders are especially prone to this condition. It is treated with a poultice of coltsfoot or yarrow. Dock leaf poultices are also used to cool cracked pads.
Broken Bones
A broken bone is usually the result of an accident, such as falling down from a high place, or being hit by a monster. Cats most often break their legs, and while medicine cats try to bind the bone with cobwebs, the injury usually results in the cat remaining crippled for the rest of his or her life. A more severe injury is when a cat breaks his or her backbone. This results in the cat being unable to feel or move parts of his or her body. If the break is bad enough the cat will be killed on or shortly after impact.
Ceremonies:
LEADER
Nine cats, normally ones who were significant during the new leader's life, although this is not always the case, give them their nine lives with these words:
Life-Giver: (Touches nose to the top of the new leader's head) With this life I give you (gift). Use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).
When all of the lives have been given, the previous leader says these words:
Previous Leader: I hail you by your new name, _____star. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ____Clan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.
Warrior
Leader: I, (Leader), leader of (Clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (He/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend (him/her) to you as a warrior in (his/her) turn.
Leader: (Apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?
Apprentice: I do.
Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. (Apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new warrior name). StarClan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (Clan).
The leader rests his or her muzzle on the apprentice's head, and he or she licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new warrior by calling him or her by their new name. The warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night, except if that is not possible (such as Squirrelflight's ceremony, when the Clan did not have a camp, and the task of exploring the lake was assigned).
Virtues
During the apprentice's warrior ceremony, two major virtues of the apprentice are listed; the first is usually (but not always) courage. Some examples of virtues (and the warriors they described):
Bravery, Courage, Cleverness, Determination, Energy, Enterprise, Enthusiasm, Fighting, Skill, Forethought, Honesty, Independence, Initiative, Intelligence, Kindness, Loyalty, Patience, Skill, Skill in Battle, Speed, Spirit, Strength, Thoughtfulness, Warmth, Wisdom.
Name changing
The leader calls a Clan Meeting, and performs the change with the following words:
"Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on he/she will be known as (new name), for (description of the reason)."
Elder
Leader: (Warrior), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?
Warrior: It is.
Leader: Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.
Deputy
A Deputy Ceremony is when a Clan Leader names the Clan's new deputy. This happens when the previous deputy dies, retires, is exiled, or is promoted to leader. According to the Warrior Code, a new deputy must be appointed before moonhigh that day.
Leader: I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors (or former deputy name) may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of (Clan) is (warrior's name).
Apprentice
The Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting to appoint a new apprentice and assign a mentor to him/her. The following words are used, by tradition:
Leader: (Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw"). Your mentor will be (name of warrior or medicine cat). I hope (name of warrior or medicine cat) will pass down all he/she knows on to you.
The leader calls up the warrior he/she has chosen as a mentor.
Leader: (Warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice).
The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice by calling out his/her name. After this, the apprentice will usually go greet their family, or go see to their mentor.
The leader calls a Clan meeting, after the Clan's medicine cat announces that he or she wishes to mentor an apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:
Medicine Cat: Cats of (Clan), as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown (virtues). Your next medicine cat will be (apprentice).
Leader: (Apprentice), do you accept the post of apprentice to (medicine cat)?
Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonstone/Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats.
Leader: The good wishes of all (Clan) will go with you.
The mentor touches noses with the apprentice, and the Clan greets the new apprentice.
At the Moonstone/Moonpool
At the next half moon, the medicine cat goes with the apprentice to the Clans' sacred place to present him or her to the warrior ancestors, where the apprentice confirms his or her wish to be a medicine cat. The following words are used, by tradition:
Medicine Cat: (Apprentice), is it your wish to enter the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?
Apprentice: It is.
Medicine Cat: Then come forward.
Medicine Cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present you with this apprentice. (He/she) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) Clan in accordance with your will.
The medicine cat apprentice touches his/her nose to the Moonstone or drinks from the Moonpool. Then the medicine cat and the apprentice lay down and have a dream from StarClan.
Last edited by
Jason_Dean on Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
[The extreme always seems
to make an impression.]
[Chaos is great!
Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling.]
)