wickedcatsofthewest

Clans of the West

Welcome to the lore carrd for the Clans from the Wicked Cats of the West tumblr blog.Here you will find any and all important lore related to the four clans as a whole. If you have any questions, inquiries, or curiosities; please contact Pondskipper on the blog for assistance.Enjoy your tour of the clans and please tread carefully.

Viperclan
Boulderclan
Moorclan
Lakeclan
Collective Information

over arching information

Some information, roles, and areas are not exclusive to one individual clan.
Below you will find information and terms used in the other tabs that may be foreign to you at first glance.

Terms & Roles

Soothsayer: A twist on the role of "medicine cat" that focus more of perceiving prophecies and offering spiritual guidance. These cats are considered to be the closest to Starclan and the ancestors.
The term "soothsayer" refers to someone who predicts the future by divine means and who interprets signs and events.Seer: An alternative term to soothsayer used by the clans. Considered interchangeable.Apothecary: The clans equivalent term for a "medicine cat".Mender: An alternative term to apothecary. Considered interchangeable.

Phrases

As cold as a wolf's howl: A Viperclan phrase referring to the chills one experiences when hearing the howls of a wolf pack.Burning blazes: An exclamation of bewilderment or astonishment by cats of Boulderclan and Lakeclan. This refers to the forest fire generations ago.Lights on water: A phrase used by Moorclan cats. May be used to describe the beauty of something, or in a way similar to "water under the bridge". Refers to the lights on the water of the lake at the edge of their territory.Cave-dweller: A term used by the other clans to refer to Boulderclan cats. Can be used playfully or derogatorily depending on the context.

Locations

Shapeless Lights: A phenomenon of various shaped and tinted lights on the surface of the waters on the lake near Moorclan's borders. Is caused by the lights of boats and a lighthouse.The Wolves Den: Further north of the territories is a wolf pack territory. The howls are most often heard within the northern reaches of Viperclan's territory.Vast Peaks: The mountains east of Boulderclan territory.Whispering Tunnels: A system of underground tunnels and caves at the edge of Boulderclan territory. It is the location where Soothsayers meet to speak with Starclan on the half-moon.Withered Trees: A twisted mass of large, dead, trees at the four corners of the clan territories. The push mostly into Lakeclan's borders. This is where all four clans meet for their gatherings and is the remnants of a forest fire.

Two-Leg Locations

Baylor Lighthouse: A lighthouse past the northern Moorclan border. Is the cause of the "Shapeless Lights"Baylor: A two-leg place to the north east of Moorclan and Lakeclan's territories.Inasburn: A small two-leg place between Lakeclan and Boulderclan. Has a small population of local farmers.Sunwaki Mountains: The two-leg name for the "Vast Peaks"Keewood: A large two-leg place near Viperclan.The Homestead: An Amish community north of Keewood.

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Viperclan

"Do you hear it? The crackling of bark and whispers on the wind? It's the cackling of Viperclan's ancestors coming to torment the rest of us...
Those cats are crazy you know. We've all heard the stories, how their founder lost his mind. So power hungry that he went crazy in the midst of an all out war, killing as many cats as he could get his claws on before finally being put down by his own clanmates. I heard that they never fully recovered, as if his demons are embedded in the very hearts of every new cat born.
They're dangerous. Even in recent moons their leaders are as ruthless as ever. There's blood on the paws of every cat in that clan..."

Viperclan resides at the beginnings of a tundra larch forest, just out of the gales and harsh cold across the waters. The forest is dense and full of fallen and burned logs that the Earth has begun to reclaim. Scars of past disasters that still remain, something the medicine cats have described as "poetic" given the nature of their history.Other clans often will tell stories of Viperclan to scare their kits and apprentices. Claims of the tundra winds forming ice around their hearts or that they live alongside wolves.
While such stories has little basis in reality, Viperclan is a force to be reckon with. Being the largest clan on the peninsula and the most known for a bloodthirsty nature, they are the last cats one wants to face in battle.

The current leader of the clan is Wolfstar, a tom who encompasses exactly what Viperclan is expected to be. He comes from a lineage of past leaders, inheriting the position from deputy after his father, Adderstar's, untimely death. Rumors are that the blood of the very first leader runs through their families veins. In his own eyes he has large shoes to fill, and in turn so do his kits as it is expected for his eldest son (the current deputy) to take his place once he dies.
And so the cycle continues...

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Viperclan

an unconventional culture

Culture
Exclusive Practices
Notable Locations

"I worry about those cats on the tundra. Most of them look to be more scar than cat... I pray Starclan reaches them and puts a stop to such abuse."

Outsiders

Viperclan has gathered it's high numbers from one thing: their surprisingly tolerant nature towards loners, rogues, and abandoned cats or kits.You often can tell a cat is not full Viperclan by simply looking at their coat. Full blooded Viperclan cats are known for their dark and diluted coat colors and warm toned eyes.
Due to their ruthless and act first mind set, it is also common to see these cats with a multitude of scars or severe injuries. Many will have received injuries in the same situations as each cat would give their own life for their clanmates. These scars are not met with despair or apologies either. Scars in Viperclan are a sign of the strongest and loyalist cats, something to be worn with pride. The more plentiful or larger the scar(s) the more respect the cat has earned. Some younger cats may even find themselves being treated with more respect and gratitude than those who outrank them in they have lived to show off their wounds. In some cases they are even considered to mark a cat as being more attractive.

Naming

Naming traditions within the clan are often considered "unconventional" or lack luster. It is most common for queen's to name their kits, and leader's their warriors, after predatory animals, dangerous and poisonous plants, insects, natural disasters, and other uncommon or strange things.

Death

Viperclan is often described as having the most traditional view when it comes to death and mourning.
It is not uncommon to find an entire lineage or even the whole clan amidst a silent vigil for a deceased clanmate.Death is not something the clan fears, while they do not celebrate it they do respect it. To them they are not truly losing their clanmates, they simply have just moved to the next phase in life. Death is simply a fact of life and it is normalized from a very young age. The life you live is a precious one so live it well.It's been suggested that Viperclan seer's have the capability to predict a cat's last moments as a result of their clanmates walking hand in hand with death itself.

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Viperclan

Unique practices, ranks, and activities

Culture
Exclusive Practices
Notable Locations

"Some of us were talking about heading down to The Run today! The dawn patrol said the juvenile hawks are finally leaving their nests, it's the perfect time to try our luck before leaf-bare!"

Roles

Viperclan has two subcategories of their warriors, Guards and Hunters. Due to their unique and diverse population of cats, the clan does not often bother with training warriors in a wide range of skills. Instead they specialize in more specific duties and while some apprentices may choose to continue a diverse training regimen, the majority will split off into specialized training.
Those cats will then be trained under a warrior with the specific title that they have shown promise in. Others will have a designated mentor who oversees their training as a whole but will usually pass off their apprentice to take part in specialized lessons as well.

Guard

The first sub classification the clan has. Viewed highly for their selfless nature and the risks that they take to protect their clanmates, these cats are considered the clan's immovable walls
The most important attributes are their fighting spirits and unwillingness to back down in the face of a threat. If it came down to it, a guard would sacrifice their own life if it meant saving another.
At least one is expected to be on every patrol.

Hunter

The second classification of cats who take up the never ending task of feeding the clan.
The smaller, lean, cats tend to make up the majority in this position as well as cats with darker pelts. This is due to the territory being crowded with fallen trees and unbrush as well as the clan's more nocturnal nature when it comes to hunting.
Hunters must navigate the odd and crowded terrain of Viperclan's forest territory and are praised for their resourcefulness and eye for details.

"The Run"

Both the name of a practice and location in Viperclan, "The Run" is a game played by mostly the apprentices and youngest warriors.Due to the clans view on scars and wounds, this is a common game and many have stories of it from their youth. Groups of young cats will meet near the edge of the forest and test their speed and strength as they run the length of the terrain. The rules of the game are simple: out speed and out maneuver the other apprentices without wiping out...and don't get caught by a hawk.While the game may appear to be an act of suicide, the danger of being carried way is incredibly low most of the year. During seasons where young raptors are learning to hunt, most cannot be bothered to waste the energy on a fight with the clan's unruly apprentices.It is incredibly popular amongst hunter apprentices and something their mentors greatly encourage taking part in due to the rough terrain. Speed is key for a hunter and many attribute their skills to what they learned each time they played.

The death vigil

Mentioned previously, Viperclan has an extremely traditional view on death.
While other clans may hold vigils out of respect for a night, Viperclan may due this for multiple days to a week depending on the cat that had passed away.Inside the camp there is expected to be total silence. If a cat must speak they must do so quietly in hushed whispers. This practice is so that the clan may share one last thing with the deceased, a quiet presence with each other.It is also common to have the body remain in the camp for an entire day so that family and friends have an extended period of time to mourn and say their final goodbyes. After this first day, the body is taken by the deceased's closest family and friends to be buried in a bramble thicket used as a gravesite. The grave will then be covered with thick blankets of moss and a decoratively carved stone made by the seer. Family may add to these markers with items associated with the deceased.

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Viperclan

Important locations

Culture
Exclusive Practices
Notable Locations

"Hey! Come help fetch some more moss for the Guard's den. They keep complaining about rain leaking through the rocks, I'm hoping another blanket will patch it up before the whole den decides it's going to flood."

Viperclan Camp

Nestled on the slopes between two hills, Viperclan's camp utilizes the various jutting rocks and moss blankets to build their outer dens. A few fallen larch trees provide extra coverage and support for the more intricate structures; dens that have been created by digging into the hill sides.
The apothecaries are nestled beneath one of these fallen logs, taking advantage of broken branches and foliage to create curtains to protect the herb stores from the weather.
Near the back of the camp is an extra path that deviates to a makeshift resting place so the clan can be close to their ancestors.

Where death walks

Following the path from camp will take you to where death walks: a burial site for the ancestors of Viperclan cats. A mess of boulders and stones, the path diverges like the roots of a tree into smaller branched off sections of the forest. Each grave is blanketed in heavy moss with a variety of stones either piled on top of, or around the blanket covering the body.
Specially carved stones mark each one, something carved only by a Seer. Each stone has a unique rune etched onto the surface as a memorial to the deceased. Family and close friends will often add plants, fauna, and bones, as well for an extra personal touch.

the training grotto

The grotto is a large cave opening with plenty of natural obstacles that apprentices use for practice as they learn to utilize high spaces for battle. Since the majority of trees in the larch forest do not have many lower branches, training by bouncing off of or climbing up the slick rocks prepares them for high vantage points.While not typically used for anything other than training, Hunters will often delve deeper into the cave to catch lizards and snakes. Other times they may be escorting an Apothecary to gather materials or rare herbs.
It is strictly forbidden to delve into the depths of the grotto unaccompanied by an experienced Hunter or, at the very least, another cat.

Keewood / Two-Leg place

Near the edge of Viperclan's south west border lies a medium sized two-leg place. The settlement is mostly farmland and barns, many raising cattle and sheep. The clan keeps close relations with a handful of the barn cats in the area, this often comes in handy with an exchange of goods and services. Come time to shear, a Viperclan patrol may take leftover wool for their nests or send an Apothecary to help treat more serious wounds and illnesses (if the clan has the herbs to spare).
A handful of cats within the clan were former barn cats from the area or abandoned kits left in their care.

silverkeep / the homestead

Silverkeep is an Old Order Amish community north of Keewood.
Feral cats native to the area are often described as having a bit of an odd way of speaking. Every now and again one will find their way to Keewood to settle down which is how Viperclan is even somewhat aware of its existence.It is unlikely one would ever have to travel so far unless Starclan were to will it.

the wolves den

The territory of the northern wolf pack is far past the borders of Viperclan, but it is still an area in which cats must remain alert and cautious. While it is not common for the pack to travel south of their own borders, Viperclan must upkeep their scent markers to deter any potential lone wolves from straying too close.
The further north in the territory, the more likely one is to hear the packs low, melodic, howls in the night.Elders and senior warriors often tell stories and legends of cats battling wolves or being raised amongst them. All merely tall tales to entertain apprentices and to warn kits of the dangers of wandering beyond the camp.

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BOULDERclan

The resourceful and proud

Culture
Exclusive Practices
Notable Locations

"Want to know a secret? I heard that Hazelstar's ancestors weren't even clanborn and that he's trying to make up for it by being a thorn in the side of every cat who isn't full Boulderclan. Yet, the new apprentices at the gathering look nothing like the rest of the clan, they look like kittypets! Seems a little odd for a clan who claims to turn away every outsider...hypocrites."

Being the southern most clan, Boulderclan makes it's home in the lower regions of a mountain range. Due to the difficult terrain, these cats are often quite agile and able to traverse complicated slopes and cliffs.
Boulderclan cats are exceptionally proud, bordering on arrogant, when it comes to their clan. While every clan is proud of where they came from, Boulderclan takes it to the next level. It can be hard to get a word in and a majority of them are unopen to criticism about the way their clan functions and behaves.
Hard headed and stubborn, these cats will insist on getting their way one way or another.As negative of a trait as that can be, they are incredibly resourceful in their somewhat limited environment. Given that the majority of their territory is rocky with less flora as the other territories, Boulderclan has needed to come up with creative solutions to a variety of challenges.

The current leader, Hazelstar, has an ongoing "Napoleon Complex". Being a small and easily unassuming threat, he makes himself and the strength of his clan known with rash and brazen decisions. He always needs to have the last word and one up the other leaders at gatherings. Love or hate him, one has to admire his dedication to the act and the ability to follow through on his promises.In the act of trying to portray Boulderclan as superior and favorable, Hazelstar has become more and more strict over the years. Code breakers are meant with harsh punishment and outsiders are nearly always turned away, all in an effort to show that outside influences are unnecessary.

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BOULDERclan

a culture of secrets and cave dwellers

Culture
Exclusive Practices
Notable Locations

selective generousity and hypocrisy

Boulderclan is infamously known for its hostility towards outsiders, clan cat or otherwise. Nobody is quite sure when this first started but it is simply a fact of life for them.
The most likely reason for this view is often credited to the fact that for generations, Boulderclan was always the smallest clan of the four. Instead of seeking out potentially new warriors and new bloodlines, leaders of past instead doubled down, even extending this same view point to other matters such as herbs and territory discussions. They would not be viewed as a clan to be pitied or a clan to be taken advantage of. With every new leader these feelings rooted themselves deeper and deeper in the new generations.Despite all the work that would go into maintaining the image of a clan who needed the help of no one, there would always be a day where finally they would be forced to concede. It is rare, but Boulderclan has had instances of taking in abandoned kits, rogues, or accepting the help of another clan. To them it is a last resort when fate has been too cruel and has forced a leader to humble themselves if only for a moment.

GROUP TRAINING

In Boulderclan, apprentices do not have a singular mentor and instead take part in group training. The entire clan is responsible for training and teaching in order to best fit the needs of the apprentices.
No two cat learns the same way and they've found it works best to let the apprentices experience different ways of learning to find what teaching style will work best for them. There are no specialty roles and skills designated to them, only general training to round out their entire skill set. Boulderclan allows little room for error and wishes to see all new warriors excel in a variety of roles.

cliff climbing

Due to the sparse vegetation and mountainous terrain, Boulderclan cats must become extremely familiar with navigating uneven, unstable, and rocky ground. It is never easy at first but callouses form rather quickly and strength can be built up to where traversing the environment becomes second nature.
Through rigorous training, Boulderclan warriors gain incredibly strong back and front legs, allowing them to climb cliff and mountainsides.
Having observed the likes of goats and other cliff dwelling animals, they've learned the best ways to walk up steep walls. Over generations the most used paths have etched themselves into the rocky surfaces, offering a guide of the path of least resistance.

tunneling

With their powerful legs, creating a maze of tunnels is simply just another task every warrior is capable of. Using the mouths of small caverns as markers and guides, the loose soil beneath has been excavated to connect into an intricate system. This allows patrols to safely avoid large predators above on their way to borders etc.It's important for young cats to learn where each system opens up to, as not all of them are connected, and a handful have the tendency to flood when storms persist in new-leaf.

Naming

The most common form of naming in Boulderclan is legacy naming. Whether it is naming a kit or a new warrior, the majority of cats will have their name tied to a deceased loved one, a mentor, sibling, etc. It is a small but meaningful way of expressing gratitude to the ones they care about.
This once lead to an overlap in similar names but recently new mothers have either changed to giving a variety of either new or vaguely similar prefixes instead of directly