MeeT The Clowders
The word "clowder" is used to describe the large groups of cats that inhabit the world of Vagrant Stars. Each clowder claims territory that encompasses hundreds of miles of land. (Think of states or small countries for comparison!) Within each clowder, smaller communities similar to cities and towns are formed. Amongst these communities is the "heart community," which is usually the most populated group within a clowder and functions like a capital city. These are where the political leaders and diplomats normally reside.
It is important to note that within the clowders, family and community is important. It is rare for a cat to move far away from their home community for any reason. Even for love. While clowder cats can date cats from other communities or even other clowders, it is rare for them to do so since quite often they feel a sense of comfort within their own community and will usually seek out someone from there.
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There are five clowders in total: Deepwoods, Dullpines, Green Forest, Blue Lake and Redblood. Each clowder has a rich history and culture that is wise to study before trying to join them.
Deepwoods
Current Primaries: Eggs-In-A-Nest, Falling-Rain
Population: ~1 Million
Territory: Massive Oak Forest
Common Foods: Rabbit Stew, Venison Stew, Baked Potato
Common Pelt Colors: Browns, Reds, and Grays
Common Dangers: Falling From Trees, Disease, Monsters
Elite Class: The Sages
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To Oma, we pray. In the Deepwoods, we are strong.
General
Deepwoods is the oldest of the clowders, being the original clowder that Oma herself started in the dark days. Deepwoods takes great pride in their status, and often boasts of their long history and rich culture. They view the other clowders as 'less civilized' versions of themselves and will often make this known to other clowder cats (making them quite unpopular during festivals). However, though they may be regarded as obnoxiously snooty by the other clowders, their claims are not baseless. Deepwoods has over 1000 years of history and several rituals and traditions as a result. No matter where one goes, they are likely to find some ancient historical site of a grand battle or movement.
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One of the biggest focuses of Deepwoods cats is status. There is a large emphasis on one's economical and social status, and cats often judge each other based upon it. Consequentially, even the lowest soft paw in Deepwoods acts like nobility. Deepwoods cats will always hold their heads high and take each step like they own the world.
Living In Deepwoods
Deepwoods territory is extremely beautiful with massive trees that stretch up to the clouds and are several cat lengths in width. Most who visit Deepwoods from other clowders will stop and ogle at the trees, almost unable to believe their eyes. Between these trees are several winding paths leading to different communities in Deepwoods (of which there are many).
Where there is not tree or path, there are often patches of multi-colored flowers dotting the landscape. These often are most abundant by the many streams and ponds that run through Deepwoods territory. It is often said that if one is lost, follow the flowers. This is due to flowers leading to streams, which in turn will often lead to communities.
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Because of the giant trees, Deepwoods territory is very expansive and can take weeks to get across. Many cats will often stay in their hometown as a result, since moving from one community to another is quite tedious. Most newsrunners will actually charge extra for delivering mail around Deepwoods as well, ironically causing Deepwoods cats to be the most uninformed about current events.
Because Deepwoods cats rarely move away from their home clowder, many feel a deep connection to their families and local communities. These cats quite often come from generations of cats in that area, and will be happy to give you an in depth essay of their entire family history (best not to ask if you don't want to spend all day with them).
Nobility
Deepwoods without a doubt has the largest number of noble families out of any clowder. In every community, there is at least one noble family. Though, unlike most clowders, many of these families are quite old, ranging back to the beginning of the clowders. Quite a few of them boast of their ancestors being close with Oma herself. Of all the noble families in Deepwoods though, none are quite so prestigious as the Frost Bloods.
The Frost Bloods
The Frost Bloods are the oldest noble family in all the clowders. They are extremely famous and are known across all territories. They are direct descendants of Oma, and have been carefully preserving their family for generations. Other noble families compete with each other to have a chance at marrying into the Frost Bloods.
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Besides their unmistakable family tattoo, Frost Bloods are also identifiable through looks alone. All of them sport black pelts with spots of white and are massive in size. This family very often has a cat with an active Frost Fang gene, however those without it are quite big anyways, still towering over the average cat.
Snow-Carried-On-The-Wind is the current patriarch of the Frost Bloods. Though he does not have the active Frost Fang gene, he is still quite intimidating with his tall stature and permanently dour expression.
The Frost Blood tattoo is unmistakable to any cat, no matter what clowder they're in!
The Sages
The Sages are the elites of Deepwoods. They reside in their own community within trees that were hollowed out over the centuries. You can find out more about the specifics of the Sages and what they do on the Jobs and Skills page.
Sages are the only cats in all the clowders that know how to read and write (having invented the written language themselves). They guard the knowledge doggedly and will often stay their whole lives reading the tomes and slates from centuries past. Their reclusive nature and elitist attitude has made them unpopular amongst other clowder cats, and they are often the butt of cruel jokes from non-Sages.They're considered to be lazy, fat old people who couldn't tell the difference between a mouse and a squirrel, however should cat's meet them in person they show the utmost respect to them. After all, Sages take up the task of documenting the history of the entire clowders, a job that takes more than one lifetime to complete.
Dullpines
Current Primaries: Rapids, Spots-Of-Sunlight
Population: ~1 Million
Territory: Dark Foggy Forest
Common Foods: Fried Toad, Dried Leaves, Elk
Common Pelt Colors: Dark Grays, Black, White
Common Dangers: "Disappearing", Wild Hogs and Boars, Sinking in the marshes, Mist Craze
Elite Class: The Spirits
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The darkness brings strength.
General
Dullpines is the second oldest clowder, started by the infamously ditsy tom Branches-Waving. Dullpines cats are well known for being quite mysterious and reclusive, rarely moving from Dullpines to any other clowder. Because their territory is so dark and foggy, many often have a very high sensitivity to light and will complain about how bright the sun is whenever they leave Dullpines.
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Dullpines cats, like Deepwoods, are quite elitist. However, unlike Deepwoods, this elitism is far more internal, with cats competing with each other rather than lording their prestige over other clowders. Physical appearance is quite important to cats in this clowder. They favor cats of dark pelts, casting out light and colored cats as "ugly." This attitude was unintentionally set by the Spirits, who only accept black and dark gray cats into their ranks.
Living In Dullpines
Dullpines territory is endlessly dark and foggy. Described by poets of old as the "dream forest" for it's strange, almost unreal qualities, the forests of Dullpines sport tall trees that block out the sun and marshy land. Besides the cats themselves, several strange creatures and vaguely disturbing creatures have made their homes in the marshes. They are often described by foreigners as lizard-like and uncomfortably wet, but not the common frogs and toads seen all across the clowders. They make strangled chirping sounds and skitter out of sight if one approaches.
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Because of the soft ground, Dullpines homes are often built on large wooden platforms that jut out of the very trees. These platforms are connected through various bridges and ropes to form houses and even small neighborhoods. The richer one is, the higher up on the tree they will live. Nobles often live in the top branches of the trees, with all their servants and staff living below.
Mist Craze
Mist Craze is often argued about among historians. Some claim that it's an illness that spreads through cats at an alarming rate and causes them to go crazy. Others conclude that it's simply cases of mass paranoia caused by the creepy nature of Dullpines forests. It does not help that eye-witness accounts of Mist Crazed cats differ wildly. Some say that those afflicted with Mist Craze have symptoms similar to rabies with foaming mouths and aggression towards their peers. Others claim that these poor cats simply began to act crazily, becoming more paranoid of the cats around them until they simply snapped.
Despite the different opinions, there are a few consistencies with all accounts of Mist Craze. Mist Crazed cats always become stronger than should be possible, and they always believe everyone is out to get them. They will become highly aggressive to anyone who approaches to the point of attacking and even killing those around them. Finally, if they are not killed by someone else, they will die of dehydration after around a week.
Mist Craze is extremely dangerous in Dullpines, especially in smaller communities. It is never a singular case, often spreading quickly throughout communities and wiping them away if not carefully handled. There are several ghost towns in Dullpines where Mist Craze caused the entire community to perish. Some say you can still hear the fervent whispers of those who were afflicted.
The Spirits
Without a doubt, the Spirits are one of the largest parts of Dullpines culture. The began way back during the baby stages of Dullpines' development as a clowder. Threatened by the bitter Deepwoods for separating, Dullpines (then quite small), needed a set of a elite fighters to guard their borders and prevent Deepwoods from wiping them off the map. Their prayers were answered by a mysterious black figure who even now no one knows the name is. Most just called them The Shadow. The Shadow, through stealth and genius guerrilla warfare tactics was able to keep Deepwoods at bay and allowed Dullpines to safely grow for generations.
Though the Shadow disappeared one day, their fighters continued on, calling themselves the Spirits.
The Spirits have had a massive effect on Dullpines. They are considered heroes, and it is always a huge honor to meet one in person. Because they only accept dark cats into their ranks, Dullpines families always aim to have the darkest children in hopes of having the high honor of the Spirits taking one or more of their children in. Families who consistently have children taken by the Spirits are almost always noble families who hold high political positions within the clowder.
A-Cracked-Soul is the current leader of the Spirits. Despite his rather intimidating appearance, he is known for being quite amiable to other cats.
Green Forest
Current Primaries: Mouse-With-Big-Ears, -
Population: ~1.5 Million
Territory: Luscious Forests
Common Foods: Deer, Cow, Boar, Hawk, Rootsnake Berries
Common Pelt Colors: Various Shades of Brown and Orange
Common Dangers: Getting killed while hunting, Disease
Elite Class: The Paladins
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We trust in the light to guide us.
General
Green Forest is known as the honor-bound clowder. Because of the Hollow of Atonement, being lawful and good is ingrained in every cat's head. To be evil is to be the demise of everyone. There is a joke that if one wants a safe place to store their stobs, simply place them somewhere in Green Forest. They'll never be stolen.
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Green Forest cats are bigger and more bulky than the average feline. Their tradition of hunting massive prey has made them quite sturdy, and they can take more than a few punches. Though their size is intimidating, cats of this clowder are often gentle giants, hating to hurt even a fly.
Living In Green Forest
Green Forest boasts the largest territory in all the clowders. They live in a forest made up of large and leafy trees that provide constant shade throughout summer and spring. Poets of old described the territory as the closest one could be to Kelnekij, which many find ironic because the Hollow is the most famous landmark of Green Forest.
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Resources are bountiful in Green Forest, and they tend to live large. They build their homes up from twine and straw, with richer cats having homes of logs. They tend to live in ways similar to human society, with several houses built close to each other to form neighborhoods. Green Forest homes also tend to have a special area in the middle for cooking large game. It's common for entire neighborhoods to come together to share a large meal that one family is cooking.
Green Forest Clerics
Because of the nature of Green Forest and The Hollow, the worship of Oma is prominent in every cat's life. There are always multiple clerics in every community to remind the common folk the importance of Oma. However, they are very different than clerics in other clowders.
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The clerics in Green Forest, while they do emphasize the importance of Oma in one's life, tend to focus on the betterment of self. They preach that being good and kind to all those around you brings you closer to Oma spiritually and better protects you from evil spirits.
There is no better example of a Green Forest cleric than Paw-Shaped-Cloud. Cloud has been around longer than most cats and though his vision is long gone, it is said he is able to see into a cat's very soul. He's extremely wise and determined to dedicate his remaining years to helping cats reach spiritual peace. Those who meet him claim he's very amiable and good-humored, able to calm even the most nervous cat.
The Hollow of Atonement
NOTE: The Hollow of Atonement is NOT freely available for player use. Please only include the Hollow in your stories and roleplays if you have received explicit permission from a mod.
Long ago, the cats of Green Forest lost faith in Great Oma. They became a menace to the other territories, slaughtering and pillaging the other clowders for nothing more than their own amusement. Their incredible power and lack of morals made them nearly unstoppable. Oma, horrified by what the clowder had become lifted her protection over them. It was not long before the forces of Enkel realized the opening and quickly moved in. They tore open a portal between the two realms and began to ravage Green Forest. Thousands of lives were lost, and those who survived lived in constant terror. The horror was only stopped when a group of young cats summoned Oma in order to atone for the wrongdoings of Green Forest. With the help of their god, they were able to fight back the evil spirits and Great Oma herself closed the portal. But it was not over. Though Oma place her protection back over Green Forest, she warned them that should their hearts ever become dark again, the portal would reopen on its own, and Green Forest would be lost to the forces of Enkel. This portal became known as the Hollow of Atonement. The young cats who'd originally brought Green Forest back to Oma's protection formed a faction to protect it known as Paladins.
The Hollow of Atonement is forever a symbol of darkness and destruction for Green Forest. Around it, the forest is dead and no animal is able to live. The only cats allowed near it are the Paladins. If a non-Paladin is caught near it, they will be detained and questioned thoroughly for signs of corruption.
The Paladins
The Paladins are the only elite rank that works with not just their own clowder, but the good of all the clowders in mind. They work tirelessly to monitor and the Hollow and ensure its corruption does not spread to Green Forest. They are highly respected by cats in every clowder.
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The Paladins work as almost a more intense version of fighters. They recruit young cats who apply and train them vigorously to deal with the dangers of the Hollow. They are far more picky than fighters though, giving a brutal entrance exam for all their newbies to pass that is so dangerous that it is not uncommon for cats to become extremely injured and even permanently disfigured from it.
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Though they may seem harsh, the Paladins do this from necessity. They need to be in peak physical condition and of the clearest mind, for they are always in a struggle against the evil spirits of the Hollow.
Blue Lake
Current Primaries: Tiny-Fish, Lightning-Storm
Population: ~500,000
Territory: Meadows and Marsh
Common Foods: Various Types of Fish, Water Pops, Tiu-Tiu Berries
Common Pelt Colors: Grays and Browns
Common Dangers: Drowning, Heat Exhaustion, Poisonous Fish
Elite Class: The Crabbers
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In the grimmest moments, our joy remains.
General
Blue Lake is regarded by other clowders the same way we do hillbillies. They are rude and rough, considered by those not in Blue Lake to be stupid. The cats of Blue Lake have a very simplistic view of the world, opting to do whatever it takes to enjoy themselves in any situation, and looking down upon those who choose to remain miserable.
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Blue Lake has the most varied diet out of any clowder. Cooks are treasured and they love preparing a variety of meals from the foods they can collect. To a Blue Lake cat, simply cooking and eating fish is considered the greatest disrespect to both the fish and the cat who caught it.
Living In Blue Lake
Though Blue Lake's physical territory is expansive, the amount of it that is livable is very small. Most of Blue Lake's population lives on an island in the middle of the lake, making it the heart community. Those that don't live on the island live on the fringes of the lake. In times of emergency, these folks will actually take ferries to the island, for most dangers cannot reach this part of Blue Lake.
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Most of the land that Blue Lake cats inhabit is vast meadows and marshy areas. They have no forested places, leaving them exposed to the sun most of the time. Because their land constantly floods, Blue Lake houses are made from cheap materials like straw and twine so that they may easily be rebuilt. Some of the more expensive houses are even build to float!
There has been a recent trend of cats who have been linking several boats together and building their houses on top of them. These are called floating communities, and they live their entire life on the waters of the lake! This has become an increasingly popular way to live because of slight overpopulation on the island. The only downside to these communities is that they must dock during October in order to avoid the Lake Lights.
Blue Lake Parties
Blue Lake is very well known for being the biggest party animals. They love to throw parties and will find any excuse to have one. A birthday? Sure! Just graduated? Heck yeah let's party! Caught a cool fish and wanna show it off? Throw a party to celebrate you catching it! Parties are the heart of Blue Lake culture, with even their original founder throwing several during his lifetime. It is how they bond with the cats around them.
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Often times, one of the main points of a party is to share in the food. Hosts will always spend quite a while ensuring that the best dishes are prepared in great quantities so everyone can have a taste! It is also always important to provide tiu-tiu berries for the children and their alcoholic counterparts anta berries for the adults.
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The second priority of parties is the music. Bards in Blue Lake are able to live quite well off their craft alone by performing at parties. Richer hosts tend to hire entire acting troupes to perform plays and/or musicals throughout entirety of the party.
The Crabbers
The Crabbers can barely be considered an 'elite rank,' being more of a guild than anything. They are a set of highly skilled hunters/cooks. They are well known for catching crabs and harvesting their meat to make various dishes that are incredibly delicious. However, they are capable of more than just crabs. They are famous for their technique for fermenting anta berries. Though there are other cats in other clowders who can make anta berries, it is universally agreed that no brand is quite as good and smooth as the Crabbers. The process they use has been kept secret for generations.
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Besides this, Crabbers are known to hold the biggest and wildest parties. In Blue Lake, it is a tradition to go to a Crabber party at least once in one's life simply for the experience. Crabber parties come complete with a whole set of cooks constantly preparing food, catnip, berries, several full scale productions of various plays and musicals, comedic performances, and doctors. They always last at the very least a week, and many describe it as the wildest time of their life. Because of their experience with hosting parties, Crabbers often help with setting up the Summer Festival.
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When it comes to their relationship with the clowder, Crabbers are often seen as mini celebrities. It always pays to be friends with them, and cats always want to know what they're up to.
Redblood
Current Primaries: Wren-Flying, One-Dark-Cloud-Against-Bright-Sky
Population: ~300,000
Territory: Mixed Forest and Hilly Region
Common Foods: Elk, Mice, Squirrels, Various Insects
Common Pelt Colors: Grays, White, and Oranges
Common Dangers: Outsiders, Disease, Other Clowders
Elite Class: The Adventurer's Guild
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The same red blood runs through all our veins.
General
Redblood is the youngest clowder of all, so new that some older cats can still remember its very beginnings. To some, they are not able to be considered a clowder, rather they are simply a bunch of rebellious hooligans. Despite this, Redblood continue to defiantly stand their ground, adopting the ideology that every cat is equal no matter background or bloodline.
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Redblood cats believe in working together and supporting each other. They encourage loyalty not to one's family, but to the clowder itself. They formed in the face of prejudice and elitism, seeking to create a place where all cats have an equal chance at a happy and successful life.
Living In Redblood
Redblood territory is a mix of forest and hills, bordering right up against the mountains to the north. They are nestled directly between Dullpines and Deepwoods, and arrange their communities defensively in case either of their neighbors decide to invade. Their houses are built to last, many of them being partially underground and able to be sealed should the surface parts be raided.
The most unique part of living in Redblood is the circumstance of the cats who reside there. While there are native born Redblood cats, a majority have moved there from other clowders, primarily Deepwoods and Dullpines. They are usually escaping from the deep-rooted elitism that plagues their original homes and seeking to start a new life in a place where they have a better chance at happiness.
Nobility in Redblood
There is no nobility in Redblood. Because of their "everyone is equal" policy, nobles are downright banned. If a cat attempts to register as a noble, they will be laughed off and told to go back to whatever clowder they came from. Redblood does not tolerate the elitism that nobles usually bring.
The Redblood Military
Redblood is constantly in danger because of its two powerful neighbors. As a result, Redblood cats are required to serve as fighters for at least a year before they can work any other job. They are also able to be called to battle even after their time is served should the need arise.
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Every Redblood cat is able to hold their own in a fight. If they were born there, they were raised learning how to battle. If they moved, they were taught by other cats who were experienced in the field. If they are serving their one year period, they have a temporary red stripe tattooed onto them that will eventually fade away.
The Adventurers Guild
The Adventurers Guild is a group started to assist the common folk in Redblood. They do things like defeat monsters, scout out and bless new territory, and the occasional odd jobs from civilians. They are regarded as genuine heroes in Redblood, the heart that keeps the blood pumping. Any and all cats can join the Adventurers Guild and are welcome to travel around the clowder helping out where they're needed.
