peaty, sandy soil grits under-toe, wafting an alkaline and petrichor scent that is so familiar to the wetland-dwelling clan... the territory sprawls with dense shrubbery and short trees with which to prowl through. little earth is exposed to the rays of sun, thousands of leaves reaching towards the rain-heavy skies as they take refuge amongst clustered greenery and bramble walls. the damp earth beneath their feet proves an excellent aid in dulling their scent, making the potency of border markings all the more alarming...
plodding through the soggy terrain often leaves shadowclan cats littered in raindrops and mud, caking around their ankles and underbelly where they're most likely to sink into the murky ground. grooming is a disgusting affair, given the constant taste of dirt, so shadowclan has grown to appreciate grooming before eating so they might wash the foul taste out with a hearty meal.
the typical shadowclanner adorns pelts that mimic the shade with which their hide; black, chocolates and blues are more common colorings and it's thought that smokes tend to blend in with the shifting lights better. because of this, cats with dark eyes and darker pelts are considered conventionally attractive while cinnamons, fawns, and high white are more rare.
damp soil and pond pines fill the peatlands known as shadowclan's territory. white cedars stand in clusters around the many ponds and run-off streams from these bodies of water. the shrubbery demands dexterity and teaches a love for stealth and mastering the darkness as their greatest camouflage. those with boisterous natures are liabilities and will find themselves in hot water quickly.
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shadowclan's meetings are held at the moons highest peak, bathing in the light of each waxing and waning phase. the shadows are where the clan will find its core strength, as such their leaders word will be wrought in the night's power. ceremonies will not be held any earlier, and those who do not keep awake to attend may be looked upon with suspicion.
WARRIORS . . . are individuals who have achieved completing their final trainings under the approval of their mentor and leader. to reward this, they are given their warrior name and given the freedom to attend border patrols, hunts, and make their own decisions when leading these events. warriors are able to take command of any apprentice not accompanied by their mentor to ensure they are meeting their training requirements. senior warriors, although not an official rank in name, are well respected for their long tenures working for the clans longevity and catering to it's needs. cats of this caliber hold great amounts of respect from their peers, and are more likely to be sought by their leader for assistance.
by default all cats are warriors and warriors are expected to fight and defend their clan, but a warrior can opt to instead take on a specialized role unique to ShadowClan:
THIEF . . . are those trained in stealth and the ability to move almost undetected, a poacher that forgoes hunting to instead steal food from the neighboring junkyard and attached twolegplace instead. they'll often sneak in and grab anything sparkling and shining as well to add to a growing collection.
TRAPPER . . . a group of hunters specializing in moving through the pocosin's peatlands, a silent watcher that uses these abilities to spy and utilize the element of surprise. with sharpened claws and glinting fangs, these cats are dangerous against an unsuspecting victim in battle. they may also hold special use for spywork, should the need ever arrive.
NIGHT GUARD . . . are the chosen advisors of the current leader. these may be replaced under each new leader or may persist through multiple leaderships. they're often responsible for overseeing mass trainings, leading patrols, and offering counsel to the leader. -
camp (1)
a natural decline sat within a bundle of pond pines, shadowclans camp is surprisingly exposed but hard to find between the abundance of shrubbery and muck to drag them down. the earth is often damp or muddy, and so the descent into camp is marked safely by padded nettles and dotted stones so a poor soul doesn't slip through the mud. a stunted white cedar stands at the camps center, a previous flood having swept the mud underneath to expose it's roots. this marks as the leaders den, it's entrance protected by an overgrown buttonbush. a half uprooted cedar makes for a rather sizable den, it's gnarled roots providing decent shelter against the elements. much of the scattered brush has been tactfully gutted to make into a cozy nesting, while others have taken to digging out hollows in the dryer portions of the walls to squeeze into. a pair of boulders stack against each other in a stalemate, giving a perfect shadowy hideaway.
bottomless pit (2)
center of the barrens sits an abyss that no cat should test the limits of. it appears as though the earth gave out beneath itself, long before any cat you know stepped a single paw into these lands. it is guarded with the same dry soil that covers the rest of the barrens, however lacking any attraction to nearby prey. now there sits a chasm, its depths reflecting a starless sky. some have tried to calculate the intensity of the drop by tossing stones, but no sound marks it has reached the end.
burnt sycamore (3)
an ancient tree that has outlived every tragedy that occurred in it's forest, and observed every moment of triumph and success as a ghostly reminder that it will continue to outlive the creatures around it. there are countless theories and kitten tales about the history behind this sycamore, but none can be for certain. this area has made for a hotspot in training apprentices, as the area provides a wide clearing with enough coverage to practice hunting and perfecting a noiseless stalk.
the barrens (4)
an abandoned attempt to farm lumber. this patch of cedars and pines were cut mercilessly, leaving behind withering stumps in their wake, remnants of the forest that used to stand here. the soil here is the driest in shadowclans peatlands as dense shrubbery have overtaken this area. thankfully it provides in an abundance of ground nesting birds such as quail or killdeer.
monster tree (5)
much like it's eerie counterpart, this tree is far different from the rest of shadowclans forest. an oak awkwardly sits not far from the flat plains beyond the thunderpath. it appears as though a monster had grown wings and flew itself straight into the embrace of the oaks heavy branches, as the tree continued to grow and wrap itself around and through the beastly machine. not many enjoy to linger here, however the shade it produces is crucial in the heat.
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generally noted for having heavy rainfall through most seasons, except summer which struggles to maintain precipitation. summer seasons almost never exceed 90*F, averaging closer to 84*F through these hotter months. winters tend to be moderate as well, only dropping as low as 30*F in the dead of night while the sun-blessed hours average closer to 59*F. transitional seasons (spring and autumn) tend to hover around 65*F, accentuated by constant rains this territory expects roughly 60 inches of rainfall each year. while these are not hard and fast rules for roleplay, it should summarize the general climate of our area!
general territory is describes as a pocosin
a real life locational mimic is pocosin lakes, north carolina
BIRDS
PREY
[difficult] swan, duck, gull, woodpecker, kestrel, cormorant, grebe, merlin
[moderate] bittern, killdeer, quail, crow, grackle, dove, flicker
[easy] sandpiper, blackbird, sparrow, pipit, hummingbird, titmouse, waxwing, cardinal, thrush, swift, plover, wren, cuckoo, flycatcher, pewee, jay, catbird, lark, snipe, finch, tern, swallow, bittern, junco, warbler, mockingbird, towhee, tanager, chickadee, martin, kinglet, phoebe, bluebird, nuthatch, siskin, starling, thrasher, robin, vireo, nighthawk
DANGEROUS*
various hawks, goshawk, various geese, eagle, various egrets, various herons, various owls, various vultures, ibis, peregrine, turkey, stork, pelican
MAMMALS
PREY
[difficult] turtle, nutria
[moderate] frog, toad, salamander, squirrel, rabbit
[easy] muskrat, mink, anole, skink
DANGEROUS*
various wolves, river otter, bobcat, various snake, alligator, coyote, deer, bear, opossum, raccoon, beaver
FISH
sunfish, slickhead, bullhead, eel, perch, flier, pickerel, killifish, mosquitofish, clams, mudminnow [not yet organized]
PLANTS*
red maple, foxtail, alligatorweed, moss, thicket shadbush, bushy bluestem, beardgrass, devils walkingstick, small cane, pawpaw, spleenwort, ladyfern, groundseltree, herb-of-grace, crossvine, false nettle, creeper, sedge, buttonbush, cedar, hemlock, clematis, summersweet, mistflower, dogwood, marsh parley, wild yam, persimmon, fennel, bedstraw, holly, iris, rush, mushrooms, poplar, sweetgum, honeysuckle, myrtle, fern, ivy, mistletoe, pine, chokecherry, azalea, willow, greenbrier, sphagnum, chickweed, cypress, cattail, elm, blueberry -
THUNDERCLAN
"dishonorable and disdainful"
interactions with thunderclan have proven to be complex as a number of shadowclans rank share blood with an enemy. they hold tightly onto their arrogance and false righteousness, leaving tensions between them unwavering still despite the losses from conflict. shadowclans unwillingness to bend to their whims remains to frustrate thunderclan.
credits to tieirlys for formatting and gonkpilled for content
last updated 10.30
last updated 10.30
Last edited by a moderator:
