09.30.2019 → There has been some exciting changes on CD lately! We've added a new monarchy to the groups of cats on the islands, as well as restructured the boards a bit to allow for some space - thus, redrawing the map! We've also promoted Nifty to Global Mod! There are some auditions open right now for JungleClan Deputy as well as for all of the new Kingdom of Mokuhau high ranks - Artemis
09.12.2019 → Unfortunately Elaedria is stepping down as administrator due to life being too busy to keep up! The site will be going through some restructuring in high ranks as well due to this. Effective immediately, the word count is now 100 minimum. Some more changes will be coming in the future - members have been emailed a survey to help us figure out what to change and how to get better. Thanks for your patience! - Artemis
WEATHER
Year 55, Scorching Sands 09.05.2019 → The temperatures of the islands are a steady 98° F on land/ high 80s in water. There is almost no breeze, the sun is uncomfortably warm.
Prey during the day is pretty scarce due to the heat, however is quite active after the sun goes down.
Lost in the dense jungles of scattered islands, facing perils unimagined by their ancestors, are three warrior groups - The traditional JungleClan, descendants of the original clans carried aboard a twoleg contraption from their home long ago and breaking new ground on old beliefs. Second, the curious TidalClan, made up of kittypets who chose to abandon their long since passed twoleg civilization ways for those of true felines. Lastly, the mysterious Tribe of Twisted Roots, hidden in the mist from others with their strange ways and a deeper knowledge of the land around them. Together they must learn how to take their fate into their own paws if they wish to survive this land of erupting mountains and roaring waters.
Join our crew and dive into an island-based Warriors roleplay - a twist on the original series by Erin Hunter. We are a semi-literate site with a minimum of 100 words per post.
Drawing alongside the she-cat within a few heartbeats, the tom seemed both surprised and slightly amused at the Navigator's response. Nothing to talk about? It was her Swabbie trial! One of the Tribe's most sacred traditions, the true recognition that their birth dictated in the stars had not placed them in seas too choppy for survival. Swimming out to the lonely island shrouded in mist was a testament to both the cat's skill and dedication, as well as the promise to themselves and those around them that they would give their all to prove themselves worthy.
Of course, not everyone seemed to believe that, nor held themselves to such a standard. What category Dragonfly placed herself in, he didn't know. Perhaps it was high time he found out.
"Were you disappointed with what you found?" Giving her another glance as his own gaze drifted towards both memories and the landmass that seemed so much closer than it had when he was young, Tempest found himself interested in what her reply could possibly be. Had she wanted more from the experience? Had it perhaps not challenged her enough? Had her thoughts been on her littermates and fellow swabbies, wondering if they would survive the night? There were a million possibilities, but only one answer. "They do. Would it be worth doing if we all didn't learn something new from each?"
There's a bit of an age gap, but I feel like Flicker could relate to Jasmine's wish to want to settle down and have a family. It's what she herself has sort of done, after all! She'd probably want to help Jasmine or at the very least provide advice on what to do with those eventual balls of fluff, and perhaps Jasmine could remind her of the kind of cat she used to be. I think the pair of them could get along pretty well!
I couldn't help but notice that Tempest and Ember are quite close in age. Their training and nursery days would've run alongside each other, so it makes sense that they'd have some sort of friendship/working relationship for quite some time now. But seeing as Ember isn't a fan of Monarch and Tempest chose him to be Quartermaster, I think there could be some fun tension between these two. Either a strained friendship or just outright broken camaraderie - There's a few options!
Such an obvious display of scorn had a wave of irritation roll through the she-cat's mind before she stifled it with the reminder that Bleakpaw was new; He had yet to meet these cats who had seen fit to leave the relative safety of the beach and grass for the unknown dark tangle of leafy undergrowth and mysterious sounds. The fledgling hadn't been given the chance to make a judgment for himself on whether he thought they were right in their assumptions that exploration and risking lives meant more than protecting what one had. She couldn't be the one to crush that. Not yet.
Still, what she'd been told by her own parents echoed back now, causing her fur to itch and paws to grow restless. "It was. Not even the oldest members in our clan were there when it happened. But their parents were, and they passed down stories of the arguments. Peace and cooperation wasn't an option at that point." She was quiet a moment before adding, "Besides, we have more than enough prey, and they did too back then. Why risk everything for land that might not have much? Or if it does, you have to fight everything else on the island for it? What they wanted didn't make any sense."
Still, despite their discussion, the fighter could keep in mind that this was a training session and, as such, found herself perking her own ears to listen closely to both the tom and the symphony around them. For her, these were old hat; she'd patrolled this border so many times she had the path memorized. The sounds were nothing new either, and she found herself nodding in approval at the answer. "Good job! You're right - and the screeching is probably what JungleClan calls a monkey. Some kind of creature that lives in the trees." She'd heard tales from the border, of animals with long tails and the ability to swing from branch to branch with ease. What exactly a cat was supposed to do with the creatures, she didn't know, but the notion was still unusual enough to catch attention.
The near cough brought her back to her senses though, and the she-cat gave a faint smile before leading the way further in along the damp path. "More earthy? Less...sharp?"
The crew did fantastic this month! We have the results for this month's OTM Nominations. We would like to thank everyone for participating (your shells for voting will be applied after this post goes up)!
This is a great community and we are so thankful for all of you (especially during these last few difficult months), as well as the supportiveness and the creativity that each and every one of you brings to the site. Keep being awesome, and start thinking about who you can nominate next month!
→ Member of the month nifty ! You've been stellar both in and out of character, and your fellow crew members noticed! Congrats!
→ Character of the month Barracudabite (Artemis )! He's our character of the month, and it's no question as to why! The nominations have rated him "sassy", "kind", and "overall hilarious". What more could you want?
→ Pair of the month This month's pair of the month was voted Ivystar (Jinn ) and Iguanagaze (shelby )! These lovebirds on the beach would melt any heart!
→ Rivalry of the month Talk about a fight! Ospreystrike (diesel ) and Cranefeather (@sovereign ) were voted rivals of this month. A heated battle between these two has already occurred, and as for how bad things will get...only time will tell.
For just a few heartbeats, Taropetal found herself cursing her loose tongue. Her confession had been all too loud in her own ears, more so when it bounced into the swaying grass around them. The words had been coated with hesitation and a tinge of embarrassment, and it took everything the fighter had not to flatten her ears after she'd spoken. Emotions had never been the easiest thing for the she-cat to deal with and now, in the ocean of too many at once, she floundered.
It seemed that Coconuttuft's heart was large enough to not take pity on her or bring to attention her possible failings with her first fledgling. If anything he seemed intrigued, questioning about the younger tom under her care. It was enough to have the tabby give a tiny sigh of relief before a thoughtful frown crossed her maw. How exactly could she explain the headstrong tom without seeming too lost or hopeless herself?
"He's confident, but they all seem to be at first. A bit too much - Honestly, I wonder if he even listens to me or thinks I know a single thing about the clan that he hasn't already figured out." She found her words once more, flickering her tail in slight exasperation at the thought of how Bleakpaw had watched her as they took to the borders. That had been impatience flickering in his eyes, something that had the fighter (who could be more patient than the ocean swelling against the rocks for centuries in their attempt to burst through) on edge. "I don't want him to think being hasty is the way to becoming a fighter...it'll only have him running off into danger before he's ready. Any ideas?"
This is the complete history of Tribe of Twisted Roots. This post will tell you how they came to be, a bit about their background and where it all fits in with the site's timeline.
General Tribe of Twisted Roots History
Year 1, Shrieking Storms A ship of pirates wrecks on the islands. Year 15, Scorching Sands The volcano erupts, wiping out the twoleg survivors. Year 16, Soothing Skies The Island Gods introduce themselves to the cats, leading to the creation of the Tribe of Twisted Roots. Year 19, Scorching SandsThe first leader of the Tribe, Sunrise over Treetops, passes away. Year 23, Soothing Skies The Trial to become a Navigator is created. Year 30, Soothing Skies New ships and cats arrive to the island, and the Tribe is ordered to stay away from them. Year 32, Screeching Storms Wind howling in Cavern breaks tradition and seizes control of the Tribe, bringing a halt to many of their traditions. Year 37, Scorching Sands Wind is overthrown. Year 50, Scorching Sands The volcano erupts again, enveloping the islands in thick ash. Year 53, Soothing Skies Tempest Rages at Night ascends to Commander of the Tribe of Twisted Roots.
The first of the cats arrived abord a ship that had found no luck navigating the choppy waters near the island. Crewed by pirates, the survivors of the crash soon developed a society that was nothing short of harsh and unforgiving. Ruthless, cunning, resourceful - All traits that the cats who'd been aboard the ship as rat chasers picked up from their twoleg counterparts. For fifteen years they survived, never alone, never together - An uneasy sort of existence.
The society's days were numbered. The dark mountain on the island of black rock came to life, spewing hot steam and ash into the air. Where the twoleg survivors of the shipwreck could not withstand the heat, the cats found shelter beneath the mangrove forests in the network of roots.
When the felines emerged into the altered environment, they were greeted by the ancient Island Gods who had presided over the larger felines for moons. With their guidance, the Tribe of Twisted Roots (named for the plants that had sheltered them) formed, taking Sunrise over Treetops, who received her lives after scaling Firebelly Mountain and peering into its depths, as their first commander.
After many moons of peace, Sunrise left the world and passed power onto Fish Leaping from Waves. To keep matters fair, Fish offered others the chance to take power, marking the first instance of the challenge tradition being utilized as a way to choose a new leader.
As the Tribe grew, so did its traditions. Their exploration of the islands had yielded one of dangers that would soon become an important part of each young cat's life. This Island of Shadows, so called for the nightmarish beings that lurked there, became a place for swabbies to prove themselves worthy of becoming navigators.
Life for the Tribe continued, though soon enough they would not be alone. History repeated itself as another ship came to the island. Carrying strange cats with ways unlike their own, the Tribe left them to their own devices, ceasing their adventures to the largest island to prevent any intermingling.
Already troubled by the presence of more cats, the Tribe would soon enter their darkest days. For the first time in the Tribe's long history, power was passed unfairly. A cruel navigator by the name of Wind howling in Cavern seized control by murdering the frail commander and elderly quartermaster. In an attempt to make his mark on the Tribe, he ordered that several of their time-honored rituals, such as keeping of the history and passing of commander through the challenge, were abandoned. As a result, several moons of history were forgotten, and the Tribe cats drifted far from their celebrated Island Gods.
After several moons of this tyranny, a navigator by the name of Heron standing in Moonlight led a coup in an attempt to save the Tribe and their culture. They succeeded; Wind was removed from power and exiled to the Island of Shadows while Heron took over. His moons would bring peace and stability back to the Tribe, returning them to the power they once were.
It was only through the strength of their numbers and faith that they survived the next eruption. Firebelly Mountain, silent for countless moons, brought forth bellows of smoke once more. It coated the island in thick fog and clouds for days on end, though there was one advantage - The Tribe's territory was truly hidden at last from that of the strange cats who seemed to not only survive but thrive on the larger island.
Not long after the smoke started to clear the Tribe's current leader, Tempest Rages at Night, ascended. Though he had been challenged for his spot as quartermaster and subsequent right to leadership, he had prevailed, earning the right to climb Firebelly Mountain and claim his lives.
Each group is run differently and are shaped by their leaders. The leader in the Tribe of Twisted Roots is called a Commander. Below are the current decrees of the Commander which act as the "code" for the clan since The Tribe does not have a Warrior Code. Tempest Rages at Night is the current Commander of the Tribe. Her second in command is called a Quartermaster. The current Quartermaster is Monarch that Migrates North. The Tribe's Witch is the cat who cares for the clan as well as advises the other High Ranks. The current Healer is Sand Where Stingray Hides. Below is all of their views on important matters.
Belief Level: Tempest is the kind of cat that sees the Gods in everything he and his Tribe does. He puts great faith in the beings that have guided them for generations and endless moons, and will not be pleased if any of those following his leadership reject them. As for StarClan...He is aware of their existence due to the Island God's explanation of them yet believes much as his ancestors did - That the dead are just that and carry no power here. Relation with Gods: In Tempest's opinion, the Gods are vital to the Tribe's continued survival. They are to be revered and obeyed, respected and only challenged to prove oneself such as with the Swabbie Trial. Though there are no offerings to be presented, worship and observation of traditions pertaining to the Gods must be upheld no matter the situation. Relation with Ancestors: Ancestors are an interesting thing where Tempest is concerned. While they were important in life and their opinions to be valued, death is a finality that can not be ignored. After all, how can the cats of the past know the current struggles without living them themselves? What is the worth of advice if it's outdated or held back by the past? As far as he's concerned, each cat should be allowed to live his or her life as they choose, without worrying about the judgment of felines who have no power upon life itself. They are to be respected and remembered should they have lived well...but not obeyed without question. General Observation of Morals/Tenants: Though each cat is allowed to make his or her own decisions about certain things in life, one thing must be remembered - Tempest's word as Commander, much as those who came before him, must be heeded. According to tradition, the time for challenges has passed and he deemed worthy; thus, breaking any of his rules will certainly result in harsh punishment. Cats belonging to the Tribe must prove themselves and remember that the weakest link amongst them will define the entire Tribe. Thus training and remaining in high form is highly encouraged while laziness and a general reluctance to better yourself will be looked down upon. This extends into battle and protection of one's self. Should a cat behave bravely and fall in battle, they will be given the proper respects. However, if they are cowardly (such as running, hiding, etc.) and do not meet death with courage, they will be scorned and left for the scavengers. Another action that will label one as weak-willed is a forbidden romance. As the Tribe cats have been told for generations to avoid the large island cats, any romance with one would cause the offender to be exiled immediately. Should they be expecting kits/give birth to the kits before being discovered, they will be shown mercy and sent to the large island. If they are not, exile to the Island of Shadows is the traditional punishment. Kits themselves regarded as bad luck if born of a sour union and though they will be protected as they are delivered to the other half of the offending pair, they will not be welcome within the Tribe itself. As for borders, Tempest's understanding is loose at best. He sees the Tribe's refusal to visit the large island as a matter of mere convenience - The waters between them are choppy and often too dangerous to cross. It would not be reasonable most days to make the journey. However, should he become interested in the idea of expansion, he would not hesitate to cross over into another's territory. As a result, trespassers are more regarded as a curiosity than a threat...at least until they steal something that the Tribe considers their own such as prey. That is worth defending and, according to Tempest, extreme measures are allowed. Killing a fellow cat is not seen as a sin or against the rules if done in battle - Squirmishes, arguments, defending one's honor...all are acceptable situations in which death is allowed. Underhanded tactics are accepted as well - though less impressive should you be caught in the act (after all, how cunning can one really be if their secret plans can be brought to light?). The last matter that Tempest feels strongly on is the treatment of the very young or very old. Both must be protected - the young have yet to have a chance to prove themselves and are innocent while the elderly have earned respect and admiration due to the Tribe's aggressive nature making old age something of a prize that only the most skilled amongst them achieve. Relation with Other Groups: As of this moment, the Tribe has no connection with either Tidal or JungleClan, nor does Tempest have any interest in forging one. He and his Tribe are not even aware of the groups existing as two separate entities; they just know the main island belongs to cats other than themselves and, for the moment, it will remain that way. Extra Info: Though he rules a Tribe that, at times, seems to thrive on chaos due to their tendency to take risks and fight amongst themselves, Tempest is by no means weak. Having taken leadership at a young age has hardened this tom against much of the world and, when ruled by ambition, aggression, and experience, is not a cat to be taken lightly.
Tribe Quartermaster's View
Monarch that Migrates North - @sovereign
Belief Level: Monarch loathes to believe too much but fears in believing too little. He respects the Witch and will take their word but puts far more faith in the Tribe than any deities. As far as he is concerned, the world of the supernatural is one for the Witches; his job is the Tribe at hand. Relation with Gods: Monarch himself has never been visited by the Gods, and thus he remains skeptical of their power. He believes in the Gods, but deep down has never truly felt connected to them. To this day, he searches for the godly presence that most other cats piously believe in, and fears that the Gods have rejected him. Relation with Ancestors: Monarch looks up to the cats of the past far more than the Gods. He believes the Tribe should be decisive in their ways and uphold their way of life, even when interacting with outsiders. He often uses anecdotes and insists on consulting the Guides. However, like Tempest, he does not believe in an afterlife and believes death is a finality. His reverence to ancestors is merely anecdotal and he strives to one day be a name the Guides pass on in their stories. Ancestors do not return, but there is much to be learned from the past. General Observation of Morals/Tenants: Education and respect are two things that Monarch holds very high on his moral tenants. He spends much time ensuring the training of the next generation and also making sure all cats know their place in the Tribe. He loves the way the Tribe thrives on chaos and sees nothing wrong with the violent and difficult lives they lead. Young cats must be trained to face this harsh reality, else they are simply not worthy. Killing or injuring other cats are simply a display of dominance, as nature’s order should be. He has equal respect for cunning tactics as he does strength ones. Thus, Monarch does not hesitate to kill those who cross him. A death, even in defeat, is an honorable one. Being young, Monarch has little to say on romance. He would be extremely judgmental regarding romance. He likely would not tolerate it, and simply exile the cat. He is not interested in raising the kits of a half-blood pair, and he would rather exile the offending cat and tell the family to reunite elsewhere away from the Tribe. Monarch dislikes the idea of territory lines. Land is land. He believes the Tribe should be allowed to explore and expand as far as they want. Monarch thinks that the Tribe is the oldest and most sophisticated group on the island and thus should not need to respect the borders of other groups. He thinks that the other cats on the island are stupid to not adopt the Tribe’s way of life, or even join them, because the Tribe’s customs are simply superior. Relation with Other Groups: When it comes to other cultures, he approaches most interactions diplomatically but hesitates to forge friendships. His attitude toward the Clan cats nearby is not hostility, but intrigue and wariness toward their unfamiliar customs. Monarch still believes that the Tribe’s way of life is superior and would hate to compromise it in any way. He sees no reason to interact with them more than absolutely necessary. Extra info: None
Tribe Witch's View
Sand where Stingray Hides - dove Belief Level: xtremely devout. After all, Stingray sort of has to be. He sees the Gods in everything he does.
Relation with Gods: Stingray is exceptionally close with all of the Gods, but he will be the first to admit that the God of Water is his favorite. The Goddess of Death brings pain, and so does the God of Fire. The God of Water only brings suffering to fools who test him.
Relation with Ancestors: Strained. Stingray is very much not fond of being given seizures every time the mainlanders's ancestors decide that he needs to be spoken to. He recognizes that they exist, but he'd rather not talk to cats who usually only appear to him as distant voices at the end of a strange cave.
General Observation of Morals/Tenants: Stingray has a slightly different moral code from the rest of his tribemates, but regardless, he holds himself to a high standard. He cares for his tribemates, but he is unafraid to challenge the words of navigators who think they can talk over him. He is not the war-monger most of his tribemates are -- he always considers peace an option -- but he also knows that pacifism can get cats killed.
Relation with Other Groups: Strained. Stingray would reluctantly admit that he sees the Tribe as being more... resilient. While he does not hate the outsiders, he strongly disapproves of their blood mixing with his. Stingray believes firmly that the hardships of his ancestors are in his blood, and any cat who has not looked the God of Water in the eye, defied him, and survived is someone whom he considers in some way unworthy.
Extra info: Stingray holds a strong distaste for anyone who openly does not believe in his gods. While he would never dream of harming anyone, it would not be a stretch for him to prioritize those he prefers when it came to treatment.
♀ Strike of Coiled Mamba ∙ 6 moons ∙ Jinn A small grey she-cat with thick black stripes/splotches and pale green eyes ↳ Navigator: Dragonfly Hovers Over Pond
The Guides
♀ Character Name ∙ Age ∙ @username Description sentence goes here
The Caretakers
♀ Character Name ∙ Age ∙ @username Description sentence goes here
The Tenderfoots
♀ Character Name ∙ Age ∙ @username Description sentence goes here
The Clan Statistics
♂ Tom Cats
♀ She-Cats
○ Non-Binary
Grand Total
5
7
0
12
Allegiances Registration Code
Please use the code below to register your character on the allegiances for the Tribe of Twisted Roots! Copy and paste it into a reply on this thread.
Congratulations doe! Your character has been approved! Please be sure to sign your character up to the TAKEN NAMES AND CLAIM and add your character to TIDALCLAN'S ALLEGIANCES before making your first in-character post!
Congratulations shelby! Your character has been approved! Please be sure to sign your character up to the TAKEN NAMES AND CLAIM and add your character to TIDALCLAN'S ALLEGIANCES before making your first in-character post!