Warrior Code & Ceremony Rituals

[Ashheart]

Warrior Code

Just because we don't believe in StarClan doesn't mean we don't follow the code.

1. Defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life. You may have friendships with cats from other Clans, but your loyalty must remain to your Clan, as one day you may meet them in battle.

2. Do not hunt or tresspass 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.

5. A kit must be at least 6 moons old to become an apprentice.

6. Newly appointed warriors will keep silent vigil for one night after recieving 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 the 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 the outside warrior code or it is necessary for self-defense.

15. A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.

Ceremonies
Feel free to add your own words or personalize these slightly.

Appointing a Deputy:
Leader: "I say these words before the body of **previous deputy**, so that his/her spirit may hear and approve my choice. **new deputy** will be the new deputy of **Clan name**."

OR

Leader: "I say these words before all of you so that you may here and approve of my choice. The new deputy of **ClanName** is **Warrior's Name**.



Apprentice Ceremony:
Leader: "By naming apprentices, we show that **Clan name** will survive and remain strong."
Leader: " From this moment on, until he/she has earned his/her Warrior Name, this Apprentice will be known as **kit name+paw**."
Leader: " **Mentor's name**, you are now ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to **Apprentice's name**. ** Mentor's name**, you have shown yourself to be a warrior of ** Virtue #1 ** and ** Virtue #2 **. I'm sure you will pass on all you know to this apprentice."



New Mentor Ceremony:
Leader: " I call upon my warrior ancestors to give this apprentice a new mentor. **Apprentice name**, you have lost your first mentor, so your new mentor will be **new mentor's name** "



Warrior Ceremony:
Leader: **Mentors name**, are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"

Mentor: "Yes, she/he is ready"

Leader: "I (**Leader name**, leader of **clan name**) call upon you all to look upon this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of our noble code, and I commend him/her to you all as a warrior in his/her turn."
Leader: " **Apprentice name**, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Apprentice: " I do "
Leader: " Then by the powers of me as your leader I give you your warrior name. **Apprentice name**, from now on, you will be known as ** Warrior name**. ** Clan name** welcomes you as a full warrior."



Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony"
Medicine Cat: Cats of **ClanName**, 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 (virtue(s)). Your next medicine cat will be (apprentice's name)."
Leader: "(apprentice's name), do you accept the post of apprentice to (medicine cat's name)?"
Apprentice: "Yes, (leader's name).
Medicine Cat: "Then you are now my apprentice."



Medicine Cat Ceremony:
Medicine Cat: "I, (name), medicine cat of **ClanName**, call all of you to look upon my apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he/she will service his/her Clan for many moons to come. (Apprentice name), do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Apprentice: I do"
Medicine Cat: "Then by the power of me as your medicine cat, I give you your true name. (Apprentice's name), you will be known as (New Name). **ClanName** honors you for your (virtue one and two). We welcome you as our full medicine cat."



Warriors to Elders:
Leader: " **Warrior name**, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?
New elder: 'it is'
Leader: " Your clan honors you and all the service you have given us. You are deserving of many seasons of rest."



New Name:
Leader: "As leader I take it upon myself to take away the name of this cat. For it now longer stands for who she/he is. **Cat name**, from now on, you shall be known as **new name**.