#warrior code

[redux-iterum]

The Warrior Code, Section V: Leaders

(This entry may be amended or added to over time.)

A leader is the foremost and default authority a Clan looks to at all times. The leader’s word takes priority over the deputy’s, seer’s, matriarch’s or elders’ in times of crisis.

Leaders may be ousted from their position by majority vote. Reasonable cause must be present, including:

Tyrannical behavior by the leader.

Age or senility affecting the leader’s ability to make decisions.

Severe law breaking by the leader.

The leader committing a crime that is worthy of intense punishment. (This will also be decided by majority vote.)

Dangerous levels of incompetence.

When a leader retires for whatever reason, they must give up the -star suffix and return to their original warrior name. Passing on -star is much more important than any former leader’s sense of superiority.

Leaders may be of any age, but must have completed their warrior training and have trained at least one apprentice.

In a crisis, a leader or deputy may be near completion of their first apprentice’s training.

Leaders may veto any decision their deputy makes, such as temporary replacements for the deputy’s role or orders that go against the leader’s will, and by default they will be obeyed. However, if the majority of the Clan agrees with the deputy, the leader may be ignored.

[salt-clangen]

How the codekeeper role works exactly? Sorry if it was already answered it, but i had searched and couldn't find it.

No worries! So codekeepers were created by @rippleclan but they’re comfortable letting others use the concept. You can read their description of it here.

In simple terms codekeepers are the justice system of the clans, they spend majority of the time as standard warriors; hunting, patrolling, skirmishes etc. They don’t differ from regular warriors much until a possible crime- or ‘code break’- occurs, then they are instructed by the Leader/Deputy/Clerics to investigate the allegations. These crimes are basically anything that goes against the warrior code- I also have a different warrior code than canon srry. Examples can be anything from murder to treason to trespassing and more. It can be very nuanced, the code keepers (also called ‘keepers or ‘guards’ in my story) are supposed to look for evidence and witnesses to the crime, once that’s completed there’s a trial. Codekeepers are allowed to cross clan borders and question other clan’s cats to complete this task (within reason).

Depending on the crime, the evidence, and the leaders involved the time between allegations and a trial could be anywhere between a few days to a moon. A trial must be done in a timely manner but the codes are a lil loose with the definition of ‘timely’ so some leaders will prolong the investigatory period to multiple moons but this isn’t common.

During the trial there are two key code keepers, one argues against the accused cat and the other argues for the accused. Similar to American courts of law and lawyers (I’m from America I don’t really know how courts work in other countries just to clarify). These codekeepers take turn calling witnesses, presenting evidence, and making arguments. This all takes place before the leader and the clan (who must remain orderly and quiet). Once both sides have made their arguments and all the evidence is presented the leader will confer with their deputy and cleric (usually the lead cleric but not always) before they make a ruling. Punishments can be varied and are usually tied to the crime in some way, the more severe the crime the more severe the punishment. Punishment can be restriction of leaving camp, doing unwanted jobs, social exile (shunning), dishonor titles (like Burnpaw’s). Severe punishments include exile (either temporary or permanent) and even execution in the most extreme cases.

Codekeepers aren’t enforcers of the code, every clan member is expected to uphold the warrior code and hold others to that standard, keepers are just the ones who help keep it fair if an allegation is made and let the leader remain as unbiased as possible to make a decision.

Now this is where the similarities end with me and rippleclan’s use of codekeepers, I really liked the concept of this being an official role but I wanted to kinda push it a little further.

In my clangen, codekeepers are the warriors that want to be the most warriors that ever warriored. Basically these are the cats that want to not just study the code and defend it, they want to excel in every aspect of the warrior role. These cats are like Warriors Plus, y’know.

To be a codekeeper isn’t easy, you have to have a great memory, critical thinking skills, strong morals, objectivity, endurance, public speaking, and debating. A lot of cats can’t perform in this role, the leader and mentors will hold small mock trials to see if a codekeeper apprentice can graduate into a full warrior. If they fail, they may try again in a moon or, if they passed their other assessments, they can graduate as a regular warrior.

Codekeepers have a lot in common with other roles that are non combative, such as mediators and historians. While historians and mediators often hunt and patrol with regular warriors to provide for the clan, they aren’t used in fights or wars (Ashenstep being a notable exception and is an excellent fighter). Like mediators they have to maintain a level of objectivity and demonstrate emotional intelligence, these are their clan mates and loved ones they might be investigating. Though the leader will usually pick keepers who aren’t related or too close to the accused. And like historians they have to memorize and understand the code on many levels, this is without a formal writing system too.

Codekeepers are also called Guards because they are often sent with patrols made up of non combative cats/clerics as a sort of security. In Honeyclan keepers are also in charge of watching the fields while patrols are out of camp bc the land is so flat and so close to the boating place, sometimes humans go out into the fields to see the flowers or dogs get loose and can cross the territory quickly. There’s very few places to hide in the fields.

Duskclan has the most keepers, Oakclan the second most, and Honeyclan the third. Saltclan obv has none (technically Wolfstar, but she never actually took the bar exam lol)

Sorry this was long but I encourage you to check out the rippleclan post about codekeepers as well.

[shadowsofcrystals]

The Crystal Codex

AKA the Warrior Code, but with slight changes

1.: Defend all the Clans, even with your life. Your first loyalty is to your Clan, but all cats who follow the Codex are your allies. Each Clan must ensure that no other Clan falls.

2.: Nevertheless, each Clan is proud and independent, with traditions that must always be respected.

3.: Your own Clan must be your first priority, but you are allowed to have friends or a mate in another Clan. Cross-Clan relationships must be respected, and the kits born from these have the right to choose a Clan to live in once they reach warriorhood.

4.: Elders, queens, sick or injured cats 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.

5.: Prey is killed only to be eaten. Give thanks to CrystalClan for its life. Anyone who is caught wasting prey will face severe consequences.

6.: No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan.

7.: A kit must be atleast 6 moons old to become an apprentice.

8.: The deputy will become Clan leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled.

9.: After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.

10.: The leader's word is law, unless it endangers the safety or independence of their Clan. In this case, the Clan is allowed to rise up against their leader, and demand CrystalClan to take back their remaining lives.

11.: A cat cannot be made deputy without having mentored at least one apprentice.

12.: Newly appointed warriors will keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name.

13.: Boundaries must be checked and marked daily. Trespassing cats must be cautiously escorted until they leave territory.

14.: An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the code, or it is necessary for self-defense.

15.: Gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night.

16.: A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet.

[softwing-wc]

Me when i do a silly little spreadsheet for all the NAMED leaders in wc

(Besides the TigerClan, LionClan, etc ones)

Theoretically there would be a few more probably, particularly filling the space between before and after the 4 that outcasted SkyClan as surely not All of the ones before couldve made the code

and there should be at least some more time before the Clans forget abt SkyClan, even if we presume those 4 lived till they lost their last life to old age.

And theoretically we Could presume that any deputy specifically named as serving a leader most recent in the past could have also become leader but

This is only about named leaders.

Uncolored slots are ones mentioned to have existed *previously* or *become one* shortly prior to or after a specific code/event but arent directly involved in any.

Flower was appointed leader as a result of the must choose deputy Fast(tm) rule, Fly was mentioned by Cloudstar to have died to an unknown illness in passing,

Robin was mentioned to have been the same one that was Hawkstar's deputy, Dewstar was mentioned via a Gathering Hawkstar and Reedstar were at to have lost their last life in a SkyClan and RiverClan battle,

Splash was heavily implied to have become leader after Darkstar I and enact a new code, and RC Dove was mentioned as suggesting a specific rule that did Not end up being added (about always listening to StarClan essentially, which is why I put them after Reedstar as the event Reedstar was present at was where StarClan essentially punished Ripplestar for fighting at the gathering and thus a Formal truce rule was enacted)

*a truce is shown to exist in Mothflight's vision. It may not have been a formal rule in the code per say then tho, and maybe it drifted away for a bit before being officially in the warrior code. After all, it only started Properly being 'written' once Duststar was leader

[grobyna]

Has warriors ever given us like an actual warriors code, that hasn't been mentioned in FOREVER, like what specifically are the rules of this society

You can't introduce the constitution and not write down our rights. We know medicine cats can't have kits. We know cats of different clans can't mate with eachother... Is that it??

[def-not-hecky]

hi all!!! decided to do this after reading most of ASC!!! poor frostpaw, shes seen the horrors

[warmerfiresau]

The Code

The Act of Domain- Do not hunt or trespass on another Clan’s territory, boundaries may be challenge and it's a warriors honor and duty to defend it.

The Act of Honor- an honorable warrior does not need kill in order to win their battles, unless it is necessary for self-defense.

The Act of Loyalty- defend your Clan, even with 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

The Act of Privilege- Elders, queens, kits and the sick or injured are to be fed first. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the Clan first

The Act of Apprenticeship- a kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice

The Act of Command- After the death, retirement. promotion to Leader status or worse, exile of a deputy, a new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh. They must have at least trained one apprentice completely, and they will become Leader when the leader before them dies.

Shadowclan: the Deputy must be direct Kin of the Leader. If the Leader’s kits are too young, then some other cat may be chosen but once the kits are grown and have trained an apprentice, the Deputy must step down and the Leader chooses one of their kits to be Deputy

Riverclan: The Clan chooses the Deputy. The Leader and Cleric call out their choices and using the Casting of the Stones, chooses on who they think will lead them best

Windclan: the leader and deputy must be Foundingkin, descendants of Windstar and Gorsestar

Thunderclan: when a new leader chooses their deputy, its best its some cat older than them so they can rely on them until they get a hang of things. When they have a few remaining lives, they chose a younger deputy, to start training them to be leader one day

The Act of Truce- At the night of a full moon, a Gathering shall be held where all four Clans shall meet at Fourtrees. There will be a true that night, where there shall be no fighting among the Clans. If clouds are covering the sky, then there shall be no gathering.

The Act of Expedition- Before an Apprentices gets their Full name, they must journey to the Moonstone, where they shall show guidance by their Ancestors and be bless by The Great Three.

The Act of Silence- when a warrior is given their full name, they must keep a silent vigil for one night.

The Act of Obedience- The word of the Clan Leader is the word of The Great Three, for they are bless with nine lives. Going against your Leader is going against the Gods.

The Right of Challenge- Created after the Mapleshade incident. If a Clan believes that their leader is no longer leading with honor, then the Cleric must pray to Starclan to remove the nine lives from them

The Act of Protection- A law created after the Mapleshade incident, no clan cat can neglect a kit in pain or danger even if the kit is from a different clan or even outside the clans. It also gives the Queens the right to not name the sire of their litter in order to protect them.

The Act of Rejection- a clan cat rejects the soft life of a kittypet

[sillspore]

Rippling Pawsteps Warrior Code

Not written in order of importance, but in the order they came in my head as i was writing <3

Law of Loyalty. Defend your clan, even with your life. Friendships with other clans are permitted as long as you can still face them in battle. Having a mate in another clan is forbidden. 

Law of the Land. Do not hunt or trespass on another clan’s territory. All borders must be clearly marked, and all trespassers must be challenged. 

Elder’s Prerogative. Elders, queens, and kits must be fed before warriors. Apprentices may not eat until they have hunted for their elders. 

StarClan’s Gift. Prey is only killed to be eaten, giving thanks to Starclan for its life. 

Littlepaw’s Law. A kit must be six moons or older to become an apprentice. 

StarClan’s Blessing. New warriors must sit their first night in silent vigil, guarding the clan. They must, within their first moon, make the journey to the Moonstone/Moonpool to commune with StarClan. No  one is ever allowed to stop a leader, healer, or warrior on their first journey from visiting the Moonstone/Moonpool. 

Deputy’s Rights. A cat may not become a deputy until they have had at least one graduated apprentice. The deputy will become leader once the leader dies or retires. 

Night of Peace. On the full moon, all clans will come together in peace to mingle and share news. The clans shall not fight with one another during this time. 

Kit’s Right. No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from another clan, a loner, rogue, or kittypet. 

Leader’s Law. The clan must listen to their leader, their word is the word of the warrior code. 

Warrior’s Honor. A warrior may only kill in self defense. 

Clan’s Rights. If a leader is using their position to hurt members of the clan or breaking the warrior code, the clan may come together and strip the leader of their position. The current deputy will become the next leader, unless the deputy is also declared inept. In this case, the spirit guide will appoint the next leader. 

Kittypet Code. A warrior rejects living a life outside the clans, such as becoming a loner or kittypet. 

Healer’s Vow. A healer may not disclose any information they have learned about other cats from their healer duties (such as a queen’s pregnancy) without the other cat’s express permission. 

Silverpelt’s Chosen. A healer is the conduit of Silverpelt, and shall put StarClan above all others. A healer may not have kits without taking a leave from their duties, and thus must have a fully trained apprentice ready to take care of things in their absence. 

Guard’s Law. Every healer must be appointed a guard to protect them, as healers are not permitted to fight. 

Lilysong’s Law. A queen is not required to tell her clan the origin of her kits as long as the kits are to be raised under the warrior code. The crime remains between her and StarClan. 

StarClan’s Will. In times of great need, the clans must come together to help one another survive. 

Bristlefrost’s Law. A cat may change allegiances by passing the desired clan’s trials.  

[wcphasesofthemoon]

If you have made new laws for the Warrior Code in your AUs, rb this if you'd like and tell me what they are! Here is what I'm working with now:

1. A medicine cat may take a mate and have kits only if they have an apprentice or fellow medicine cat. Furthermore, a medicine cat is not permitted to treat their mate or kits unless there is no other choice.

2. If a cat has any sort of disability such as blindness or lameness, they may become a medicine cat by their consent alone. Otherwise, they may choose to serve their Clan as a warrior to thr best of their ability.

3. A cat may not be named for a disability or permanent injury, as a warrior name is sacred and cruel names are a mockery to StarClan.

[blorboclaw]

it makes me unreasonnably angry that the Erins wrote a society divided in four clans (and more) and then put in it a cat asking why it was divided instead of united against common ennemies (the cold, the hunger...) then put the bad guy in charge of explaining, not the reasons why it's a good system but why you should never question it, then have everyone for like... 40 books never question it unless they were, themselves, evil and vile people.

when there's a very, very simple explanation.

the territories are too big to hunt or patrol all of it in one day (going from Thunderclan camp to the High Stones takes about a half day, so it's not a stretch to say going from the Thunderclan/Twolegs' Place border to the Windclan/WIndover Farm border would take the same amount of time, and that's in a straight line, not by following the Shadowclan and Riverclan outer borders). So it makes sense to divide the cats in smaller groups, put in different areas, to control those areas.

same goes for hunting. you don't want to overhunt in one quarter of the forest. So again, divide the very big group into smaller group, each patrolling one quarter of the outer border and hunting in their quarter of the territory.

And by having the same cats always next to the river and the same cats always in the moor, etc., you ensure that the food sources are varied without having to teach all four (swamp, forest, river, moor) hunting/fishing techniques to every single cat. Likewise, specializing in one area for patrolling, herbs gathering, hunting, etc, saves a lot of time and trouble when teaching younglings.

and finally, why put inner borders?

for the same overhunting reasons. if you don't delimit inner borders, it's impossible to ensure that Shadowclan and Riverclan won't both hunt on Windclan territory at the same time because they just sent patrols north the same day, depriving Windclan cats from their own preys.

The reasonning is not perfect. Heck, there would probably be ways to coordinate themselves between the four groups to avoid all hunting in the same area at the same time. There could be an arrangement or at least there could even be no need for fighting over the inner borders unless prey theft was recurrent.

But the Erins chose to just say "haha no that's a dumb tradition we know but we made it a tenant of their faith and culture so we're just going to spend 40 books saying how great it is while showing how bad of an idea it is/how badly they are managing it"

[aspenhearrt]

obviously parts of the warrior code like medicine cats not being able to have kits are deeply silly and bad. however, have you considered: the DRAMA

[redux-iterum]

The Warrior Code: Section VI: Deputies

Candidates for the position must have trained at least one apprentice.

An apprentice who is still in training, but shows excellent progress in their learning and is close to earning their warrior name can have their mentor count as a candidate in times of crisis.

When the leader passes on, retires or is otherwise giving up their position and -star suffix, the deputy succeeds them by default. Deputies are not considered leaders until they’ve gone to the Mother and received their -star suffix.

Deputies are second in line in the hierarchy of authority, preceded only by leaders.

If the leader’s decisions and choices are not satisfactory to the Clan, or even if they’re outright dangerous, deputies may overrule their leader, as decided by majority vote or assent when the idea is suggested by either the deputy or a supporter.

Deputies may be both willingly and forcibly retired, as decreed by the leader.

The reasons for retirement must be considered by the majority of the Clan to be valid, such as age, disability that conflicts with their ability to perform their role, bad behavior, dangerous beliefs and decisions, or incompetence.

Having not completed their first apprentice’s training, even if considered previously acceptable, can count as a reason to be retired. It is suggested to have multiple reasons adding to this, but not mandatory.

Once a deputy has retired, they may apply for the position again and be either denied or approved by their leader. Until they are back in the role, though, they have lost their legal authority and are not considered as one step below a leader.

In the event that a deputy cannot perform their role but will return to it, such as raising kits or being severely injured or ill and needing time to recover, they themselves may choose their replacement independent of the leader. The leader is allowed to veto their decision, but the majority vote of the Clan will defer judgement to one or the other.

[salt-clangen]

Decorum in the clan headcannons, not all of these are laws in the warrior code but they’re a universally taught manners across the clans (to various degrees):

Seasoned warriors should enter first into an uncertain situation, like two patrols passing by, letting apprentices, queens, and clerics stay back a bit to avoid surprise attacks (This comes from the tale of Heathertail and Fallenpaw but isn’t a code)

When meeting someone new while in a patrol/group it’s polite to introduce the highest rank first then go in descending order until you finally introduce yourself. (Ex: hello this is Mousefoot our cleric, Archstar leader of Oakclan, and Robinwing our deputy. I’m Onebranch an artisan.) Non clan cats think this is super long winded and kind of annoying. This applies no matter who you are with exception of clerics they may introduce themselves first

Clerics outrank the leader in a sense, yes leaders have the final say but if the clerics disagree then that sociallly and spiritually pressures them. If the leader still tries to go against them it could very easily end in a coup from the clan and either the deputy becoming leader or clerics picking a new one through starclan. (This comes from Hareleaf and Brightstar’s story in clan lore, but is not an official rule in the warrior code)

If a warrior and an apprentice are in battle the warrior is expected to not fatally or excessively wound the apprentice, it’s not necessarily mercy but a show of restraint and will power (known as Smallpaw’s Rule in the warrior code)

Obviously don’t harm kits, no matter where they’re from, and don’t allow harm to come to them through inaction (known as Crowfood’s Law in the warrior code)

A pregnant cat (always called a queen no matter the gender) should be given extreme preference, first to eat, breaks on request, more room to speak in discussions. This applies to non clan cats too

Clan meetings are less formal and allow for cats to comment or ask questions freely, within reason, but Gatherings are much more formal and if a cat wishes to object or question they must first stand up, make eye contact with their leader, go to their deputy, and allow the deputy to call for attention. Once the leaders acknowledge the cat then they may ask a question or raise an objection. Speaking out of term at Gatherings can lead to minor punishments like less desirable patrols or being last to eat etc. leaders don’t technically have to acknowledge the cat and therefore not allow them to speak, but this is uncommon as it’s seen as petty (known as Jaypelt’s Tale in clan lore, but is not an official code/law)

If a deputy/warrior is larger in size to a cleric or leader, it’s expected for them to crouch down to appear shorter when standing next to the cleric/leader. This only applies when the leader/cleric is speaking and during non-combat moments, so during gatherings and meetings but not in a confrontation or if there’s a threat.

Each clan is a little different when it comes to how closely they follow these rules, Duskclan is obviously pretty strict about it and disregarding the rules is considered a personal slight. Honeyclan is surprisingly very strict about decorum, but only when it involves other clans as they try to give very little info away. Oakclan is the most lax for most of these rules, excluding the introductions and warriors taking on the most risk in any given situation.

[lovezacblr]

An honorable death like I was denied - first by Adam, then by Dai lo😒🔪♊♒

[ergodyke]

Lesbian Subaru ads from the mid 90s/early 2000s

[mauve-stingers]

grayfire divorce arc makes me sad so I drew them sharing freshkill at the border