Post by Owl on Jul 29, 2019 8:52:12 GMT -5
Frequently asked questions! Before asking the staff or anyone else a question, take a peek and see if you can find it here. If your question isn't answered, or if you do get an answer but are confused by it, feel free ask about it in the Help board. Hit control + f (command + f on a mac) and type in a keyword to find things fast! If it's mentioned in the FAQs it should show up highlighted.
NOTE: Because our site is so new, we may miss some things in our FAQs! Please don't be afraid to ask questions, or suggest answers that could be added. It helps our staff and members out a lot c:
Cat-egories:
Making a Character Q&A
Litter and Adopt Q&A
Rank and Mentoring Q&A
Other Q&A
Making a Character Q&A:
Q: How do I make a character?
A: Check out the rules to see what things you can and cannot make via application if you haven't already! Also, read through the clan lore thread of whichever clan you're planning to make a character in. Next, copy and paste the Character Application form into a thread. If you are not going to finish it all in one go (aka leave it as a wip for a little while) then make the thread in the WIP Characters board. If you know you will complete it, go ahead and paste it into a thread made in the Completed Characters board. Then fill out the application, and post it! Feel free to pop into the chatbox or discord and ask questions, just be aware that not all information given there may be correct unless it is from a staff member or admin. A staff member or application checker should get to your app as soon as they can (especially as this is your first character, since we know you want to jump into the rp!) We will post with any fixes if anything in your application needs to be changed, or if it is all good to go we'll approve it. After your character is approved, feel free to roleplay with them! If they are not a kit or an apprentice, please post their name to the Used Names list so no one else uses the same name as your cat. Please also post them on the Allegiances & Stats thread as well so we can keep track of everyone!
If you would like to create a cat that already has family and/or a plot, check out the Adopts board where other members will be adopting out relatives of their cats. Don't be shy, everyone loves it when their adopts get claimed and plotting with new people c:
Q: Can I make a kitten without having parents for them?
A: Of course! Though kittens must be born inside the clans, so you must note some kind of parents in their history. You may either adopt parents out to other members in our Adopts board, or just have the parents stay as NPCs. You may also play the parents yourself if you like. In the case of deceased parents/an orphaned kitten, you can also ask for a current queen or another cat to adopt or take care of your character. Post an ad here in our Plots board saying what you would like, and anyone who's interested will reply!
Q: Can I make a rogue or loner character?
A: Yes! Every member gets one free restricted outsider. What does restricted mean? Well this outsider cannot come from the clans and they aren’t allowed to interact with the clans. If you purchase the upgrade from the store you will be able to have this restricted outsider start interacting with clan cats.
Otherwise unless the cat is from clan origin, the Rogue or Loner Cat item must be bought in the Shop to make one. If they were exiled from a clan or left for whatever reason, you may make them for free! You may also make a cat that has been born outside the clans but both parents are from inside the clans for free. This is because the clans are so far away from human interaction and so cats coming from other places may not wonder far enough to interact with the clan cats. It's also very unlikely that outsiders will be accepted into the clans due to their cultures, distinct roles, and religions, so any loner characters may not have much to do unless they are traveling with a friend or a group.
Q: Can my cat be a certain breed?
A: Sadly, no they can not, unless you have bought the Rogue or Loner Cat item in the Shop and the cat is of housecat decent. The cats in the clans have lived in their territories for many generations, and they are quite excluded from any human interactions that would allow purebred cats to be found in the clans. This includes a cat having an ancestor from a certain breed or breeds as well. That being said, you may make characters with certain breed-related traits such as bobbed or Manx tails, folded ears, curled ears, rexed fur, etc. without having them be a purebred. You may also make cats with the Bengal or Toyger pattern, though this should be quite rare. You may not make hairless cats, munchkins (short-legged/"dwarf") cats, lykois, or flat-faced cats regardless of whether you have bought the item in the store. This is due to drawbacks with those certain genes it is very unlikely that a cat will be able to survive very long in the wild, much less be able to travel to where the clans are to interact with the other cats. You may also not make cats that are descended from Savannah cats, Chausies, or other similar breeds that are large and very similar to wild cats due to crossbreeding with them.
Q: Can I make a split-face tortoiseshell or calico?
A: Yes! Split-face has nothing to do with a special gene, it is a random thing that happens with some tortoiseshells. Just because your cat is split-faced does not prove that it is a chimera (some of the cats you think are chimeras because they have split-face aren't actually, though they are still rather rare). You can even make cats with heterochromia (as long as you buy it!) and split-face if you like. Though as this is a random tortie facial marking, it cannot be passed down in litter rolls.
Q: Why can't my cat have white as a base color even if they're mostly white?
A: There is both a genetics answer and a litter rolling answer to this; sit tight. In cat genetics, white works as gene that goes over the other colors on the cat- think of it like white paint. To get a black and white cat, first you have a black cat, then you dip them in white paint. It's not the other way around- you don't have a white cat then paint them with black. So black would be the base color because it came first, even if the cat is mostly white in color. That's just the way white spotting works- it's a marking, not a base (like tabby markings). There's also the way our litter rolling system works: say you have a tom that's a red tabby with lots of white, and he has white listed as his base color. He is mates with a solid black molly, and we roll them some kits. If he's listed as having a white base, they can only have solid black or solid white kittens. If he was listed as red, they could have black kittens, red kittens, tortoiseshell kittens, and some of those kittens would have white like their dad. White can't combine with other colors to make new ones, but colors such as red can (ex: with black to make torties). It makes for more fun and varied litters! If you're confused on this, please ask staff (specifically Owl) and she'll try and explain it in a better way.
Q: Why can't I make a male tortoiseshell or calico?
A: Male tortoiseshells and calicos are extremely rare, and (most) are infertile because of their genetics. A male calico/tortie that is fertile is a chimera (see what are chimeras? below). Infertile male torties can only be rolled in litters or given out as contest prizes, but you can buy a chimera (though it's expensive)! Check out our Shop.
Explanation on male tortie genetics under spoiler:
Q: What are chimeras? And what do they look like?
A: A chimera, as simply as I can put it, is a fused embryo. Two separate embryos got "mixed" together as they formed for whatever reason, and have grown into a cat (this happens in other species too! Including humans c;) This means a chimera has two completely separate types of genes in their body, and a lot of the time those genes express different colors. This means a cat can turn out to be pretty cool looking! A cat can be a mixture of long and short hair, two different tabby types, or even two colors that could never go together in regular genetics: like blue and black, colorpoint and solid, tortoiseshell and dilute tortoiseshell or any other crazy combo you can think of. It's a pretty darn cool mutation, and creates some extremely unique appearances! Check out this site if you want some visuals on feline chimeras or just want some more info.
Chimera photos of specific colors are VERY hard to find, so we will accept art as the main image of a chimera character, as long as the markings and colors are clear. Photos showing examples of the colors/patterns are helpful!
Q: How old or young can I make my cat for each rank?
A: Kittens usually range from 0-6 moons, but certain things may call for older kittens: if the cat has an illness or injury that makes them unable to become an apprentice, if they get in trouble and their punishment if holding their ceremony off, and various other reasons. Apprentices usually range from 6-12 moons (8-14 moons in ChasmClan), but again, certain things may hold them back. If they slack off work, get in trouble, get hurt, etc. they may not receive their warrior name until later. Warriors are 12 moons and up. Your cat is considered a fully grown mature adult when they reach 24 moons, so parents (especially queens) are preferably 24+ moons. Warriors become senior warriors when they reach about 60 moons. A cat may become an elder whenever they see fit, but the oldest elder should not be older than 120 moons (roughly 10 years). It is likely that most elders will die before then, due to health complications that cannot be treated in the wild.
Q: Why can't I make a white cat in DuneClan?
A: DuneClan's religion makes it so white cats are highly chastised. Another real reason is because white cats can suffer from severe sunburn, and can be more prone to skin cancer due to the sun's harmful rays. And in the scorching sun and heat of DuneClan, it's likely that dominant and high-white cats died out long ago and do not exist any longer in the clan's bloodline. This includes colorpoints (as well as mink and sepia) too, unfortunately.
Q: Can I make a transgender or nonbinary character?
A: Unfortunately, you may not. Aside from the fact that clan cats do not have any form of gender roles or differences between the sexes (other than females can biologically bear kits and males cannot), it is also impossible to properly portray the struggles of a person who is trans through a character on this site. Gender dysphoria is a common struggle among people who are trans, but cannot be displayed properly in the cats due to rules that were set up to keep the site and roleplaying PG13 (see: The Rules, rule five states that excessive violence, gore, and sexuality are not allowed.) Characters are not allowed to self-harm, or put themselves at death's door on purpose in anyway shape or form. This makes it harder to accurately show dysphoria in cats. A common effect of dysphoria is a desire to hurt oneself due to physical factors they wish to change, or because the person in question does not feel that their body appropriately suits them. A character on this site physically altering their own bodies is also impossible due to the circumstances, therefore putting characters in a constant state of depression and desire to harm.
Along with this, there's an issue concerning members who may feel that certain characters tend to poorly represent the community, or that sometimes people are disrespectful through their characters. While this isn't always the intention, staff want to make sure everyone on the site feels comfortable and welcome.
Q: Can I make a blind, deaf, missing a limb, etc. character?
A: Unfortunately, defects like this are generally reserved to litter rolls and contest prizes. You may make characters with these defects as long as they gained them from an in-character injury. For example, you can make a character who is blind due to infection of the eyes or a fight where the eyes were injured. You may also make them go blind due to old age, in the case of cataracts. You may not make a character with an amputated limb (as that's hard to do in the wild and cats may lose too much blood) but they may have a limp or lame leg that stems from an injury. If you have any questions about an injury that will be allowed, please do ask staff!
Q: May I make character who is related to a high position?
A: That depends! If the high position is still alive and well, you must talk to the roleplayer of that cat for permission to make a relative. They do not have to say yes to you. Otherwise, if the high position an npc, you may talk to staff about it. Some of the previous high positions are blank slates, others have names and sexes and personalities already chosen for them so anything that would happen in your character's history must adhere to that. We encourage you to make characters who do not need to be related to high positions, as not everyone in the clan can be.
Litter and Adopt Q&A:
Q: What does it mean to adopt a cat? How do I adopt a cat?
A: When members want their characters family or cats involved with one of their plots to be played, they "adopt" them out to other members! You don't have to do much to adopt one (unless the adopter has something you need to write to get the cat), usually you just have to post saying which cat you're interested in to get them! Please follow the terms listed in the adopts thread (if you have any problem with them or think they are unreasonable please contact staff.)
If you do go inactive or your account is deleted, this does mean the person you adopted your character from can re-adopt them out to another person if they so wish. If you have given a warning on why you will be absent, and say that you plan to come back soon, this shouldn't happen unless the absence becomes extremely prolonged.
Q: What happens if the member I adopted a character out to goes inactive and I need them for a plot?
A: You may readopt the character out to another person if they have been marked as inactive or their account has been deleted. If staff are informed that a person is going to go inactive, we will encourage them to find out what is happening with any adopted characters of theirs before leaving. Hopefully, someone should contact you saying that it is okay to adopt any characters they adopted from you. This is only if they explicitly adopted a character from you, and have your adoption thread linked in the cat's application. Otherwise, we will need their clear permission for you to readopt their character. You may state guidelines the adopter should follow in a disclaimer on your adoption thread(s) if you wish.
Q: How do you do litters?
A: A top secret dice-rolling system created by captain c; It follows semi-realistic cat genetics, so there is more color variation in litters and things are more fun.
Q: What happens if I want to name my litter kit something that's not in the parent's theme?
A: Ask nicely and provide a reason! Most parents will let you name the kit whatever you like as long as there's a reason the cats would name their kit that. For example, a black cat named Redkit wouldn't pass, but a black kit named Duskkit would likely be okay, even if the theme is something else! Some characters may prefer to name their kits one thing (such as Rosekit, after their mother), or never name their kits another (such as Foxkit, as a fox killed their mother). Respect the fact that the parents are allowed to veto names. If you believe this power is being used unfairly, message the admins about it. If this becomes a frequent occurrence we may choose to revoke the rule or put a more lenient one in place.
Q: Can medicine cats have mates and/or kits?
A: Yup! Our clans have had no problems with their healers having kittens or mates, as long as they have someone to help them out while caring for the little ones. Preferably they should have an apprentice or another cat who knows things about herbs to aid them, especially if the medicine cat is the one nursing the kits. The kittens of female medicine cats may also have another queen take care of them or nurse them if their mother needs to work. Medicine cats can do their duties and have a family at the same time, as long as they are responsible and careful. They should tell the leader and/or other high positions of the clan in character that they are or are planning to have kits soon, so everyone is aware.
Q: Can two of my own characters have kits together?
A: Sure! You do have to buy the NPC parent in the Shop, and you must include the required number of threads for both cats (combined, not 3 threads each) with 3+ posts from the character, but they can be threads with anyone and your cats do not have to interact in those threads. You do not need to roleplay with yourself, but you can if you would rather do that. We encourage you to plot with other members for litters, it's a lot of fun! Technically, you can even have a double father litter all by yourself, we aren't stopping you.
Rank and Mentoring Q&A:
Q: How are the training systems different in each clan?
A: We've added a bit of flavor to the normal mentor-apprentice duo seen in the books in two of our clans. In DuneClan, they do not use the mentor system and it is instead the trainee's job to find warriors and older trainees to train with and be taught by! They may have an unofficial mentor who they spend the most time training with, but they will not be held down and forced to train with someone. Though you are expected to learn how to pull your own weight; you have to bring back prey before you can eat something yourself. In ChasmClan, the training of a pupil is usually overseen by a family member or a close friend of the family. They may also be taught by multiple family members. For example, a tunneler cat may be taught by their grandfather how to best handle gemstones, while their parents help teach them how to clean and manage collapsing tunnels, and their aunt teaches them how to meditate. GlenClan follows the normal apprentice-mentor system used by the books in canon. They rarely, if at all, assign family members as the mentors of apprentices, and expect the mentor to oversee all of their apprentice's training.
Q: How do I rank up my kitten or apprentice/trainee/pupil character?
A: There is a thread in each of the clan announcements categories labeled "ceremony requests." Fill out the form and post there to make your kit into an apprentice or your apprentice into a warrior. There are the following thread requirements:
Thread Requirements for Kit to Apprentice/Trainee/Pupil:
Thread Requirements for Apprentice/Trainee/Pupil to Warrior:
Q: If my character has been made an apprentice, can I still roleplay them as a kit?
A: Sure! If you need to finish any old threads or want to start any new "flashback" threads, feel free! It is encouraged that you also roleplay the character as their new rank as well. This being said, you may not go forward in time, such as roleplaying a kitten character as a warrior, unless it is in a dream, a (non-canon) testing thread, or similar.
Q: I've made an apprentice character, how do I get a mentor or someone to train them?
A: There are two options for this. The first option is make a thread in the Mentor-Matching board, linking your apprentice's application and giving a little info on what your character's personality is like and what you're looking for in a mentor! This is a good option if you would like to find a mentor that has been with the apprentice since they were made an app (especially if your apprentice is older.)
The second option is if your apprentice's mentor has died, gone missing, or is unable to train their apprentice anymore (whether this happened in character or in history), is to have them ask their leader for a new mentor! This is also an option if (for plot reasons) your apprentice does not like their mentor any longer and would like a new one (it depends on the leader's stance on this, they may or may not give your apprentice a new mentor.) Please pm the roleplayers of the leader(s) to discuss before starting a thread!
Q: How do you choose mentors? Can I control which mentor my kitten will get when they become an apprentice?
A: The roleplayers of the high positions (namely leaders) will discuss the kits and available warriors to mentor, and try to find the best fit by looking at personality, shared events in the history, whether the cats are friends already, skill, etc. This may depend on the leader character's opinions as well, and how much they care about making good pairings. It also depends on the traditions of each clan! Sometimes the leaders may choose to make a thread where their characters discuss mentor-apprentice pairs, but sometimes that doesn't happen. We still put a lot of effort into choosing the right pair!
To the second question: yes you can. If you want a specific mentor for plot reasons or similar, in the ceremony request just say something like: "I would like my kit to have [mentor's name] played by [mentor's rper] as a mentor please!" and during the ceremony your kit will get that mentor. Make sure the roleplayer of the mentor knows and is okay with having your character as an apprentice if you request them.
Q: Can I have my warrior go to the leader(s) and ask for a kit to mentor?
A: Of course! We are always up for the leaders interacting with their clan more. If your warrior wants to mentor a specific kitten, do ask the roleplayer of that kit if the pairing would be okay with them first. If your warrior just wants any kitten to mentor, just have them ask and they should be rewarded one in the next ceremony or two! Please pm the roleplayers of the leader(s) to discuss before starting a thread.
Q: How many apprentices can my warrior mentor at a time?
A: Simple answer: Two. This is so warrior characters don't get overwhelmed with training a bunch of apprentices, and the roleplayers of said warriors don't get overwhelmed with a bunch of training threads. There are plenty of warriors in the clan, and the leader(s) will not just keep assigning apprentices to one warrior. Remember: You can make training threads with a warrior and apprentice without the warrior being the apprentice's mentor. You can even have them be considered an unofficial mentor, but they will not be the cat the leader will look to at an apprentice's ceremony.
Q: Can my own warrior mentor my apprentice?
A: They cannot be the official mentor. You can make a training thread where you play a warrior and apprentice, as long as there is another warrior present that someone else plays, otherwise it will not count towards the apprentice's required training threads. This is to encourage people to roleplay together!
Q: How often are ceremonies held?
A: At the minimum of once a season, and a maximum of once a month. The leader(s) of the clans should hold some kind of open thread with the whole clan every month or so, addressing any issues and doing any ranking up ceremonies needed. Feel free to have your character join in with their opinions, congratulate any new apprentices or warriors, or just chat with the rest of their clanmates! Treat this like a mini gathering, just for the clan.
Q: Can my male cat become a permanent queen?
A: In short: definitely! Toms can have just as much experience and passion for raising kits as mollies can! Toms cannot produce milk, but queens would only produce milk if they had recently had kits themselves, so the average permanent queen wouldn't be helping much with nursing kits. Usually, they just help parents raise the kits and ease the burden of taking care of the little ones by playing with them, fetching water or prey, telling stories, etc. Just have your character go to their leader(s) and ask to be made one; if they have been seen spending time around the nursery helping the queens or have previous experience raising kits it will increase their chances of being told yes. Male queens are often referred to as knights, or less commonly kings, by their clanmates.
Q: In DuneClan, are Duskwalkers and Dawnwalkers considered a role?
A: No, not officially at least. Your character must have either Daywalker or Nightwalker listed as their role, regardless of whether they may be called a Duskwalker or a Dawnwalker. The term is generally used in a derogatory way, and as an insult, so it is not used officially as a role.
Q: In DuneClan, can medicine cats have relationships with Daywalkers and Nightwalkers?
A: Yes! In DuneClan medicine cats are considered in between Daywalkers and Nightwalkers despite their pelt colour or original role. This is because they must treat and interact with both halves of the clan. That means they can take a mate from either side. Although a medicine cat taking a mate beyond their original role is not forbidden it is heavily looked down on by the other members of the clan.
Keep in mind that a relationship between a medicine cat and a cursed is still forbidden.
Other Q&A:
Q: What are the consequences of a DuneClan forbidden relationship?
A: Depending on the relationship we will enforce a minimum level of consequences:
Cursed x Cursed relationship without kits: Any parties involved will be exiled and killed if spotted on clan territory.
Cursed x Cursed relationship with kits: The parents will be killed. The kits will either be exiled or kept as Cursed but their true parentage will be covered up if possible.
Cursed x Nightwalker/Daywalker relationship without kits: Cursed cat will be exiled and the Daywalker/Nightwalker will be demoted to Cursed.
Cursed x Nightwalker/Daywalker relationship with kits: Cursed cat will be killed and the Nightwalker/Daywalker will be exiled. The kits will be kept in the clan as Cursed and their parentage will be covered up if possible.
Daywalker x Nightwalker relationship without kits: Both cats will be demoted to Cursed.
Daywalker x Nightwalker relationship with kits: The parents will be exiled, the kits will be demoted to Cursed and taken away from their parents.
You may suggest your own consequences in a pm to the leaders of DuneClan and the admins. It is up to the leaders and staff to decide if the consequences are about as harsh as the minimum.
For example: I want my Nightwalker to have a forbidden relationship with a Daywalker without kits. Their consequences will be that the Nightwalker dies in childbirth and the Daywalker runs away from the clan and will be consumed by their heartbreak for the rest of their lives.
Q: Can my cat just run away and avoid the consequences of their DuneClan forbidden relationship.
A: Well yes.... But! The clan will send patrols to hunt them down. If a patrol is sent to hunt down your cat, your cat can still escape and run away to live happily forever after. However! You’ll have to do an ‘injury roll’ for each cat involved in the relationship. This is to make sure no cat can get away without consequences <3
The injury roll is a simple dice roll from 1-20
with the roll command.
1 - 4 Minor scrapes. As your cat tried to get away, they got a deep scratch(s). Without a medicine cat, the wound(s) will heal but it will leave a scar. You may decide where the scar(s) ends up.
5-7 Minor twisted paw. Your cat tripped and twisted their paw while being hunted. Without their clan's medicine cats, the wound will heal but it will leave the cat unable to use their paw for a moon.
This may leave the cat with a permanet limp, but this is optional.
8 - 9- Deaf in one ear. Your cat’s ear was injured while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, the ear will get infected and your cat will lose all hearing on one side. You may pick which side they lose hearing in.
10- 12 - One blind eye. Your cat’s eye has been scratched by a claw or a tree branch while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat will loose all sight on one side. You may pick which side they lose eye sight in.
13-14- Deaf. Your cat was hit hard against a rock while being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat will gradually or instantly lose all ability to hear
15-18- Blind. Your cat’s eyes have been scratched by a claw or a tree branch while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat cat will gradually or instantly lose all ability to see.
19 - Broken leg. While running away, your cat tripped and broke their leg. Without their clan's medicine cats, there is no one to properly treat the break. This cat will be permanently disabled and unable to use their leg. You may choose which leg is broken.
20 - Broken leg and roll again. While running away, your cat tripped and broke their leg. Without their clan's medicine cats, there is no one to properly treat the break. This cat will be permanently disabled and unable to use their leg. You may choose which leg is broken. Also you must roll again and take another effect *If you happen to roll two 20s in a row, you do not need to roll again lol*
Regardless of the injury, your cat will not be able to return to DuneClan without facing a punishment. If they ever try to contact a cat in DuneClan or rejoin, they will be faced with intense scrutiny. Even if the current leaders of DuneClan decide to forgive the offense, they will still judge your cat for being a coward and running away.
Q: Can my cat wear accessories?
A: That depends! As long as it is something that is not manmade and the clans can find, and the accessorizing isn't overwhelming. No feather headdresses or anything like that. GlenClan cats commonly stick things like feathers, leaves, or flowers to their pelt and ears during special ceremonies using honey or sap (or whatever sticky things are available to them at the time). The other clans may do the same, but they have less access to these things. ChasmClan cats sometimes dust themselves with stone dust or ground up gemstones during certain ceremonies as well. Cats may not wear items every day, but on special days like anniversaries or ceremonies or if they feel they need to dress up for whatever reason they may!
Q: What does open/tagged/etc. mean in roleplay thread titles?
A: Open threads are threads that anyone may join, and tagged threads are threads in which only the members who are tagged (@ username without the space) may join. Closed and private threads mean the same thing as tagged, depending on the word the user prefers.
Q: How do I know what season it is, and how often do they change?
A: The Current Clan News thread will always have the correct season and all of the events going on in the clan! It also includes a brief description of weather, as well as prey, water, and herb supplies. There should also be a little blurb in the news bar on the main page that tells you what season it is depending on which theme you use. Seasons will change every three real life months, just like a real season. Depending on where you live, the site's season may correspond with yours.
Q: Are there gatherings? How often will they be held?
A: Not yet c;
Q: How do I transfer my money to someone after I commissioned art/etc.?
A: Make a thread in our Money Transfers board and staff will do it for you! Just state the reason, the amount of money you need transferred, and tag the member you need the money given to. It can be something as simple as: "Please give @username $250 for the art they did of my cat Milkpaw!"
Q: How do I privately contact admins/staff?
A: You have two options. The first one is using this site, make a PM and be sure that it has all of the admins (or the whole staff team, depending) as the recipients. If you only PM one staff member, we will ask you to add everyone before addressing your question/problem. The second option is to join our discord server and open up a ticket in the #Tickets channel using the command "-new". Only the staff members will be able to see the channel that opens up, and we'll help you as soon as we can. Never be afraid to contact us about anything, though! It's our job to make sure your roleplay experience on Epiphany is running as smoothly and enjoyably as possible c:
Q: Do the clans know what twolegs, monsters, thunderpaths, kittypets, etc. are?
A: The clans are very far away from human interaction, other than the few landmarks in their territories (such as the mineshaft in ChasmClan and the "Log Den" in GlenClan) so they likely do not have the same names for things as cats do in the canon clans. This is mostly because they do not need these terms. There may be stories of two-legged beasts in a few elder's tales, but many of them have faded due to time and the fact that cats no longer have to fear humans very much. There are other fearsome creatures to warn young cats about that are much more prevalent in their lives than man is. Monsters (clan term for cars) and thunderpaths (clan term for roads) are not part of their vocabulary either. They do not really know the term for kittypet (clan term for a house cat), as few wander this far and they wouldn't feel the need to distinguish between a cat who lived with a human and someone else. Probably because they wouldn't be able to tell the difference, or care very much. They generally refer to cats outside their clan as outsiders (collective term), loners (for more peaceful cats), or rogues (for more aggressive cats).
NOTE: Because our site is so new, we may miss some things in our FAQs! Please don't be afraid to ask questions, or suggest answers that could be added. It helps our staff and members out a lot c:
[hr][b]Q: question[/b]
[b]A:[/b] answer
Cat-egories:
Making a Character Q&A
Litter and Adopt Q&A
Rank and Mentoring Q&A
Other Q&A
Making a Character Q&A:
Q: How do I make a character?
A: Check out the rules to see what things you can and cannot make via application if you haven't already! Also, read through the clan lore thread of whichever clan you're planning to make a character in. Next, copy and paste the Character Application form into a thread. If you are not going to finish it all in one go (aka leave it as a wip for a little while) then make the thread in the WIP Characters board. If you know you will complete it, go ahead and paste it into a thread made in the Completed Characters board. Then fill out the application, and post it! Feel free to pop into the chatbox or discord and ask questions, just be aware that not all information given there may be correct unless it is from a staff member or admin. A staff member or application checker should get to your app as soon as they can (especially as this is your first character, since we know you want to jump into the rp!) We will post with any fixes if anything in your application needs to be changed, or if it is all good to go we'll approve it. After your character is approved, feel free to roleplay with them! If they are not a kit or an apprentice, please post their name to the Used Names list so no one else uses the same name as your cat. Please also post them on the Allegiances & Stats thread as well so we can keep track of everyone!
If you would like to create a cat that already has family and/or a plot, check out the Adopts board where other members will be adopting out relatives of their cats. Don't be shy, everyone loves it when their adopts get claimed and plotting with new people c:
Q: Can I make a kitten without having parents for them?
A: Of course! Though kittens must be born inside the clans, so you must note some kind of parents in their history. You may either adopt parents out to other members in our Adopts board, or just have the parents stay as NPCs. You may also play the parents yourself if you like. In the case of deceased parents/an orphaned kitten, you can also ask for a current queen or another cat to adopt or take care of your character. Post an ad here in our Plots board saying what you would like, and anyone who's interested will reply!
Q: Can I make a rogue or loner character?
A: Yes! Every member gets one free restricted outsider. What does restricted mean? Well this outsider cannot come from the clans and they aren’t allowed to interact with the clans. If you purchase the upgrade from the store you will be able to have this restricted outsider start interacting with clan cats.
Otherwise unless the cat is from clan origin, the Rogue or Loner Cat item must be bought in the Shop to make one. If they were exiled from a clan or left for whatever reason, you may make them for free! You may also make a cat that has been born outside the clans but both parents are from inside the clans for free. This is because the clans are so far away from human interaction and so cats coming from other places may not wonder far enough to interact with the clan cats. It's also very unlikely that outsiders will be accepted into the clans due to their cultures, distinct roles, and religions, so any loner characters may not have much to do unless they are traveling with a friend or a group.
Q: Can my cat be a certain breed?
A: Sadly, no they can not, unless you have bought the Rogue or Loner Cat item in the Shop and the cat is of housecat decent. The cats in the clans have lived in their territories for many generations, and they are quite excluded from any human interactions that would allow purebred cats to be found in the clans. This includes a cat having an ancestor from a certain breed or breeds as well. That being said, you may make characters with certain breed-related traits such as bobbed or Manx tails, folded ears, curled ears, rexed fur, etc. without having them be a purebred. You may also make cats with the Bengal or Toyger pattern, though this should be quite rare. You may not make hairless cats, munchkins (short-legged/"dwarf") cats, lykois, or flat-faced cats regardless of whether you have bought the item in the store. This is due to drawbacks with those certain genes it is very unlikely that a cat will be able to survive very long in the wild, much less be able to travel to where the clans are to interact with the other cats. You may also not make cats that are descended from Savannah cats, Chausies, or other similar breeds that are large and very similar to wild cats due to crossbreeding with them.
Q: Can I make a split-face tortoiseshell or calico?
A: Yes! Split-face has nothing to do with a special gene, it is a random thing that happens with some tortoiseshells. Just because your cat is split-faced does not prove that it is a chimera (some of the cats you think are chimeras because they have split-face aren't actually, though they are still rather rare). You can even make cats with heterochromia (as long as you buy it!) and split-face if you like. Though as this is a random tortie facial marking, it cannot be passed down in litter rolls.
Q: Why can't my cat have white as a base color even if they're mostly white?
A: There is both a genetics answer and a litter rolling answer to this; sit tight. In cat genetics, white works as gene that goes over the other colors on the cat- think of it like white paint. To get a black and white cat, first you have a black cat, then you dip them in white paint. It's not the other way around- you don't have a white cat then paint them with black. So black would be the base color because it came first, even if the cat is mostly white in color. That's just the way white spotting works- it's a marking, not a base (like tabby markings). There's also the way our litter rolling system works: say you have a tom that's a red tabby with lots of white, and he has white listed as his base color. He is mates with a solid black molly, and we roll them some kits. If he's listed as having a white base, they can only have solid black or solid white kittens. If he was listed as red, they could have black kittens, red kittens, tortoiseshell kittens, and some of those kittens would have white like their dad. White can't combine with other colors to make new ones, but colors such as red can (ex: with black to make torties). It makes for more fun and varied litters! If you're confused on this, please ask staff (specifically Owl) and she'll try and explain it in a better way.
Q: Why can't I make a male tortoiseshell or calico?
A: Male tortoiseshells and calicos are extremely rare, and (most) are infertile because of their genetics. A male calico/tortie that is fertile is a chimera (see what are chimeras? below). Infertile male torties can only be rolled in litters or given out as contest prizes, but you can buy a chimera (though it's expensive)! Check out our Shop.
Explanation on male tortie genetics under spoiler:
The tortoiseshell coloration is a mixture of the red and black colorations (there are other colors that can be mixed but the red/black combo is the most commonly seen). The color red is tied to the "X" chromosome; females have 2 and are XX. Males have 1 and are XY. To indicate the red genes, you add either an uppercase or a lowercase "o" after the X. An uppercase "O" means the cat has red. A lowercase "o" means the cat does not have red. A not red (most commonly black) female cat is XoXo, and a not red (most commonly black) male cat is XoY. A red female cat is XOXO and a red male cat is XOY. So how do you get a tortie? Females have two X chromosomes, so you can mix XO and Xo to get a tortie, XOXo (red and black). Males only have one, so they can't look like a tortie unless they get a rare mutation that changes their chromosomes to XXY (XOXoY). This renders them infertile, because of the extra X chromosome.
Q: What are chimeras? And what do they look like?
A: A chimera, as simply as I can put it, is a fused embryo. Two separate embryos got "mixed" together as they formed for whatever reason, and have grown into a cat (this happens in other species too! Including humans c;) This means a chimera has two completely separate types of genes in their body, and a lot of the time those genes express different colors. This means a cat can turn out to be pretty cool looking! A cat can be a mixture of long and short hair, two different tabby types, or even two colors that could never go together in regular genetics: like blue and black, colorpoint and solid, tortoiseshell and dilute tortoiseshell or any other crazy combo you can think of. It's a pretty darn cool mutation, and creates some extremely unique appearances! Check out this site if you want some visuals on feline chimeras or just want some more info.
Chimera photos of specific colors are VERY hard to find, so we will accept art as the main image of a chimera character, as long as the markings and colors are clear. Photos showing examples of the colors/patterns are helpful!
Q: How old or young can I make my cat for each rank?
A: Kittens usually range from 0-6 moons, but certain things may call for older kittens: if the cat has an illness or injury that makes them unable to become an apprentice, if they get in trouble and their punishment if holding their ceremony off, and various other reasons. Apprentices usually range from 6-12 moons (8-14 moons in ChasmClan), but again, certain things may hold them back. If they slack off work, get in trouble, get hurt, etc. they may not receive their warrior name until later. Warriors are 12 moons and up. Your cat is considered a fully grown mature adult when they reach 24 moons, so parents (especially queens) are preferably 24+ moons. Warriors become senior warriors when they reach about 60 moons. A cat may become an elder whenever they see fit, but the oldest elder should not be older than 120 moons (roughly 10 years). It is likely that most elders will die before then, due to health complications that cannot be treated in the wild.
Q: Why can't I make a white cat in DuneClan?
A: DuneClan's religion makes it so white cats are highly chastised. Another real reason is because white cats can suffer from severe sunburn, and can be more prone to skin cancer due to the sun's harmful rays. And in the scorching sun and heat of DuneClan, it's likely that dominant and high-white cats died out long ago and do not exist any longer in the clan's bloodline. This includes colorpoints (as well as mink and sepia) too, unfortunately.
Q: Can I make a transgender or nonbinary character?
A: Unfortunately, you may not. Aside from the fact that clan cats do not have any form of gender roles or differences between the sexes (other than females can biologically bear kits and males cannot), it is also impossible to properly portray the struggles of a person who is trans through a character on this site. Gender dysphoria is a common struggle among people who are trans, but cannot be displayed properly in the cats due to rules that were set up to keep the site and roleplaying PG13 (see: The Rules, rule five states that excessive violence, gore, and sexuality are not allowed.) Characters are not allowed to self-harm, or put themselves at death's door on purpose in anyway shape or form. This makes it harder to accurately show dysphoria in cats. A common effect of dysphoria is a desire to hurt oneself due to physical factors they wish to change, or because the person in question does not feel that their body appropriately suits them. A character on this site physically altering their own bodies is also impossible due to the circumstances, therefore putting characters in a constant state of depression and desire to harm.
Along with this, there's an issue concerning members who may feel that certain characters tend to poorly represent the community, or that sometimes people are disrespectful through their characters. While this isn't always the intention, staff want to make sure everyone on the site feels comfortable and welcome.
Q: Can I make a blind, deaf, missing a limb, etc. character?
A: Unfortunately, defects like this are generally reserved to litter rolls and contest prizes. You may make characters with these defects as long as they gained them from an in-character injury. For example, you can make a character who is blind due to infection of the eyes or a fight where the eyes were injured. You may also make them go blind due to old age, in the case of cataracts. You may not make a character with an amputated limb (as that's hard to do in the wild and cats may lose too much blood) but they may have a limp or lame leg that stems from an injury. If you have any questions about an injury that will be allowed, please do ask staff!
Q: May I make character who is related to a high position?
A: That depends! If the high position is still alive and well, you must talk to the roleplayer of that cat for permission to make a relative. They do not have to say yes to you. Otherwise, if the high position an npc, you may talk to staff about it. Some of the previous high positions are blank slates, others have names and sexes and personalities already chosen for them so anything that would happen in your character's history must adhere to that. We encourage you to make characters who do not need to be related to high positions, as not everyone in the clan can be.
Litter and Adopt Q&A:
Q: What does it mean to adopt a cat? How do I adopt a cat?
A: When members want their characters family or cats involved with one of their plots to be played, they "adopt" them out to other members! You don't have to do much to adopt one (unless the adopter has something you need to write to get the cat), usually you just have to post saying which cat you're interested in to get them! Please follow the terms listed in the adopts thread (if you have any problem with them or think they are unreasonable please contact staff.)
If you do go inactive or your account is deleted, this does mean the person you adopted your character from can re-adopt them out to another person if they so wish. If you have given a warning on why you will be absent, and say that you plan to come back soon, this shouldn't happen unless the absence becomes extremely prolonged.
Q: What happens if the member I adopted a character out to goes inactive and I need them for a plot?
A: You may readopt the character out to another person if they have been marked as inactive or their account has been deleted. If staff are informed that a person is going to go inactive, we will encourage them to find out what is happening with any adopted characters of theirs before leaving. Hopefully, someone should contact you saying that it is okay to adopt any characters they adopted from you. This is only if they explicitly adopted a character from you, and have your adoption thread linked in the cat's application. Otherwise, we will need their clear permission for you to readopt their character. You may state guidelines the adopter should follow in a disclaimer on your adoption thread(s) if you wish.
Q: How do you do litters?
A: A top secret dice-rolling system created by captain c; It follows semi-realistic cat genetics, so there is more color variation in litters and things are more fun.
Q: What happens if I want to name my litter kit something that's not in the parent's theme?
A: Ask nicely and provide a reason! Most parents will let you name the kit whatever you like as long as there's a reason the cats would name their kit that. For example, a black cat named Redkit wouldn't pass, but a black kit named Duskkit would likely be okay, even if the theme is something else! Some characters may prefer to name their kits one thing (such as Rosekit, after their mother), or never name their kits another (such as Foxkit, as a fox killed their mother). Respect the fact that the parents are allowed to veto names. If you believe this power is being used unfairly, message the admins about it. If this becomes a frequent occurrence we may choose to revoke the rule or put a more lenient one in place.
Q: Can medicine cats have mates and/or kits?
A: Yup! Our clans have had no problems with their healers having kittens or mates, as long as they have someone to help them out while caring for the little ones. Preferably they should have an apprentice or another cat who knows things about herbs to aid them, especially if the medicine cat is the one nursing the kits. The kittens of female medicine cats may also have another queen take care of them or nurse them if their mother needs to work. Medicine cats can do their duties and have a family at the same time, as long as they are responsible and careful. They should tell the leader and/or other high positions of the clan in character that they are or are planning to have kits soon, so everyone is aware.
Q: Can two of my own characters have kits together?
A: Sure! You do have to buy the NPC parent in the Shop, and you must include the required number of threads for both cats (combined, not 3 threads each) with 3+ posts from the character, but they can be threads with anyone and your cats do not have to interact in those threads. You do not need to roleplay with yourself, but you can if you would rather do that. We encourage you to plot with other members for litters, it's a lot of fun! Technically, you can even have a double father litter all by yourself, we aren't stopping you.
Rank and Mentoring Q&A:
Q: How are the training systems different in each clan?
A: We've added a bit of flavor to the normal mentor-apprentice duo seen in the books in two of our clans. In DuneClan, they do not use the mentor system and it is instead the trainee's job to find warriors and older trainees to train with and be taught by! They may have an unofficial mentor who they spend the most time training with, but they will not be held down and forced to train with someone. Though you are expected to learn how to pull your own weight; you have to bring back prey before you can eat something yourself. In ChasmClan, the training of a pupil is usually overseen by a family member or a close friend of the family. They may also be taught by multiple family members. For example, a tunneler cat may be taught by their grandfather how to best handle gemstones, while their parents help teach them how to clean and manage collapsing tunnels, and their aunt teaches them how to meditate. GlenClan follows the normal apprentice-mentor system used by the books in canon. They rarely, if at all, assign family members as the mentors of apprentices, and expect the mentor to oversee all of their apprentice's training.
Q: How do I rank up my kitten or apprentice/trainee/pupil character?
A: There is a thread in each of the clan announcements categories labeled "ceremony requests." Fill out the form and post there to make your kit into an apprentice or your apprentice into a warrior. There are the following thread requirements:
Thread Requirements for Kit to Apprentice/Trainee/Pupil:
- 2 threads with at least four posts total and/or two posts from your character. It can be playing with other kits, meeting warriors or apprentices, anything goes here.
Thread Requirements for Apprentice/Trainee/Pupil to Warrior:
- 2 training threads with at least six posts total and/or three posts from your character. The thread must have a warrior in it teaching the apprentice something (the warrior does not have to be the apprentice's mentor.) This includes skills like hunting, fighting, tracking, climbing, patrolling, etc. If you are unsure whether a skill would count as training or not, please ask staff.
Q: If my character has been made an apprentice, can I still roleplay them as a kit?
A: Sure! If you need to finish any old threads or want to start any new "flashback" threads, feel free! It is encouraged that you also roleplay the character as their new rank as well. This being said, you may not go forward in time, such as roleplaying a kitten character as a warrior, unless it is in a dream, a (non-canon) testing thread, or similar.
Q: I've made an apprentice character, how do I get a mentor or someone to train them?
A: There are two options for this. The first option is make a thread in the Mentor-Matching board, linking your apprentice's application and giving a little info on what your character's personality is like and what you're looking for in a mentor! This is a good option if you would like to find a mentor that has been with the apprentice since they were made an app (especially if your apprentice is older.)
The second option is if your apprentice's mentor has died, gone missing, or is unable to train their apprentice anymore (whether this happened in character or in history), is to have them ask their leader for a new mentor! This is also an option if (for plot reasons) your apprentice does not like their mentor any longer and would like a new one (it depends on the leader's stance on this, they may or may not give your apprentice a new mentor.) Please pm the roleplayers of the leader(s) to discuss before starting a thread!
Q: How do you choose mentors? Can I control which mentor my kitten will get when they become an apprentice?
A: The roleplayers of the high positions (namely leaders) will discuss the kits and available warriors to mentor, and try to find the best fit by looking at personality, shared events in the history, whether the cats are friends already, skill, etc. This may depend on the leader character's opinions as well, and how much they care about making good pairings. It also depends on the traditions of each clan! Sometimes the leaders may choose to make a thread where their characters discuss mentor-apprentice pairs, but sometimes that doesn't happen. We still put a lot of effort into choosing the right pair!
To the second question: yes you can. If you want a specific mentor for plot reasons or similar, in the ceremony request just say something like: "I would like my kit to have [mentor's name] played by [mentor's rper] as a mentor please!" and during the ceremony your kit will get that mentor. Make sure the roleplayer of the mentor knows and is okay with having your character as an apprentice if you request them.
Q: Can I have my warrior go to the leader(s) and ask for a kit to mentor?
A: Of course! We are always up for the leaders interacting with their clan more. If your warrior wants to mentor a specific kitten, do ask the roleplayer of that kit if the pairing would be okay with them first. If your warrior just wants any kitten to mentor, just have them ask and they should be rewarded one in the next ceremony or two! Please pm the roleplayers of the leader(s) to discuss before starting a thread.
Q: How many apprentices can my warrior mentor at a time?
A: Simple answer: Two. This is so warrior characters don't get overwhelmed with training a bunch of apprentices, and the roleplayers of said warriors don't get overwhelmed with a bunch of training threads. There are plenty of warriors in the clan, and the leader(s) will not just keep assigning apprentices to one warrior. Remember: You can make training threads with a warrior and apprentice without the warrior being the apprentice's mentor. You can even have them be considered an unofficial mentor, but they will not be the cat the leader will look to at an apprentice's ceremony.
Q: Can my own warrior mentor my apprentice?
A: They cannot be the official mentor. You can make a training thread where you play a warrior and apprentice, as long as there is another warrior present that someone else plays, otherwise it will not count towards the apprentice's required training threads. This is to encourage people to roleplay together!
Q: How often are ceremonies held?
A: At the minimum of once a season, and a maximum of once a month. The leader(s) of the clans should hold some kind of open thread with the whole clan every month or so, addressing any issues and doing any ranking up ceremonies needed. Feel free to have your character join in with their opinions, congratulate any new apprentices or warriors, or just chat with the rest of their clanmates! Treat this like a mini gathering, just for the clan.
Q: Can my male cat become a permanent queen?
A: In short: definitely! Toms can have just as much experience and passion for raising kits as mollies can! Toms cannot produce milk, but queens would only produce milk if they had recently had kits themselves, so the average permanent queen wouldn't be helping much with nursing kits. Usually, they just help parents raise the kits and ease the burden of taking care of the little ones by playing with them, fetching water or prey, telling stories, etc. Just have your character go to their leader(s) and ask to be made one; if they have been seen spending time around the nursery helping the queens or have previous experience raising kits it will increase their chances of being told yes. Male queens are often referred to as knights, or less commonly kings, by their clanmates.
Q: In DuneClan, are Duskwalkers and Dawnwalkers considered a role?
A: No, not officially at least. Your character must have either Daywalker or Nightwalker listed as their role, regardless of whether they may be called a Duskwalker or a Dawnwalker. The term is generally used in a derogatory way, and as an insult, so it is not used officially as a role.
Q: In DuneClan, can medicine cats have relationships with Daywalkers and Nightwalkers?
A: Yes! In DuneClan medicine cats are considered in between Daywalkers and Nightwalkers despite their pelt colour or original role. This is because they must treat and interact with both halves of the clan. That means they can take a mate from either side. Although a medicine cat taking a mate beyond their original role is not forbidden it is heavily looked down on by the other members of the clan.
Keep in mind that a relationship between a medicine cat and a cursed is still forbidden.
Other Q&A:
Q: What are the consequences of a DuneClan forbidden relationship?
A: Depending on the relationship we will enforce a minimum level of consequences:
Cursed x Cursed relationship without kits: Any parties involved will be exiled and killed if spotted on clan territory.
Cursed x Cursed relationship with kits: The parents will be killed. The kits will either be exiled or kept as Cursed but their true parentage will be covered up if possible.
Cursed x Nightwalker/Daywalker relationship without kits: Cursed cat will be exiled and the Daywalker/Nightwalker will be demoted to Cursed.
Cursed x Nightwalker/Daywalker relationship with kits: Cursed cat will be killed and the Nightwalker/Daywalker will be exiled. The kits will be kept in the clan as Cursed and their parentage will be covered up if possible.
Daywalker x Nightwalker relationship without kits: Both cats will be demoted to Cursed.
Daywalker x Nightwalker relationship with kits: The parents will be exiled, the kits will be demoted to Cursed and taken away from their parents.
You may suggest your own consequences in a pm to the leaders of DuneClan and the admins. It is up to the leaders and staff to decide if the consequences are about as harsh as the minimum.
For example: I want my Nightwalker to have a forbidden relationship with a Daywalker without kits. Their consequences will be that the Nightwalker dies in childbirth and the Daywalker runs away from the clan and will be consumed by their heartbreak for the rest of their lives.
Q: Can my cat just run away and avoid the consequences of their DuneClan forbidden relationship.
A: Well yes.... But! The clan will send patrols to hunt them down. If a patrol is sent to hunt down your cat, your cat can still escape and run away to live happily forever after. However! You’ll have to do an ‘injury roll’ for each cat involved in the relationship. This is to make sure no cat can get away without consequences <3
The injury roll is a simple dice roll from 1-20
with the roll command.
1 - 4 Minor scrapes. As your cat tried to get away, they got a deep scratch(s). Without a medicine cat, the wound(s) will heal but it will leave a scar. You may decide where the scar(s) ends up.
5-7 Minor twisted paw. Your cat tripped and twisted their paw while being hunted. Without their clan's medicine cats, the wound will heal but it will leave the cat unable to use their paw for a moon.
This may leave the cat with a permanet limp, but this is optional.
8 - 9- Deaf in one ear. Your cat’s ear was injured while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, the ear will get infected and your cat will lose all hearing on one side. You may pick which side they lose hearing in.
10- 12 - One blind eye. Your cat’s eye has been scratched by a claw or a tree branch while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat will loose all sight on one side. You may pick which side they lose eye sight in.
13-14- Deaf. Your cat was hit hard against a rock while being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat will gradually or instantly lose all ability to hear
15-18- Blind. Your cat’s eyes have been scratched by a claw or a tree branch while they were being hunted down. Without their clan's medicine cats, this cat cat will gradually or instantly lose all ability to see.
19 - Broken leg. While running away, your cat tripped and broke their leg. Without their clan's medicine cats, there is no one to properly treat the break. This cat will be permanently disabled and unable to use their leg. You may choose which leg is broken.
20 - Broken leg and roll again. While running away, your cat tripped and broke their leg. Without their clan's medicine cats, there is no one to properly treat the break. This cat will be permanently disabled and unable to use their leg. You may choose which leg is broken. Also you must roll again and take another effect *If you happen to roll two 20s in a row, you do not need to roll again lol*
Regardless of the injury, your cat will not be able to return to DuneClan without facing a punishment. If they ever try to contact a cat in DuneClan or rejoin, they will be faced with intense scrutiny. Even if the current leaders of DuneClan decide to forgive the offense, they will still judge your cat for being a coward and running away.
Q: Can my cat wear accessories?
A: That depends! As long as it is something that is not manmade and the clans can find, and the accessorizing isn't overwhelming. No feather headdresses or anything like that. GlenClan cats commonly stick things like feathers, leaves, or flowers to their pelt and ears during special ceremonies using honey or sap (or whatever sticky things are available to them at the time). The other clans may do the same, but they have less access to these things. ChasmClan cats sometimes dust themselves with stone dust or ground up gemstones during certain ceremonies as well. Cats may not wear items every day, but on special days like anniversaries or ceremonies or if they feel they need to dress up for whatever reason they may!
Q: What does open/tagged/etc. mean in roleplay thread titles?
A: Open threads are threads that anyone may join, and tagged threads are threads in which only the members who are tagged (@ username without the space) may join. Closed and private threads mean the same thing as tagged, depending on the word the user prefers.
Q: How do I know what season it is, and how often do they change?
A: The Current Clan News thread will always have the correct season and all of the events going on in the clan! It also includes a brief description of weather, as well as prey, water, and herb supplies. There should also be a little blurb in the news bar on the main page that tells you what season it is depending on which theme you use. Seasons will change every three real life months, just like a real season. Depending on where you live, the site's season may correspond with yours.
Q: Are there gatherings? How often will they be held?
A: Not yet c;
Q: How do I transfer my money to someone after I commissioned art/etc.?
A: Make a thread in our Money Transfers board and staff will do it for you! Just state the reason, the amount of money you need transferred, and tag the member you need the money given to. It can be something as simple as: "Please give @username $250 for the art they did of my cat Milkpaw!"
Q: How do I privately contact admins/staff?
A: You have two options. The first one is using this site, make a PM and be sure that it has all of the admins (or the whole staff team, depending) as the recipients. If you only PM one staff member, we will ask you to add everyone before addressing your question/problem. The second option is to join our discord server and open up a ticket in the #Tickets channel using the command "-new". Only the staff members will be able to see the channel that opens up, and we'll help you as soon as we can. Never be afraid to contact us about anything, though! It's our job to make sure your roleplay experience on Epiphany is running as smoothly and enjoyably as possible c:
Q: Do the clans know what twolegs, monsters, thunderpaths, kittypets, etc. are?
A: The clans are very far away from human interaction, other than the few landmarks in their territories (such as the mineshaft in ChasmClan and the "Log Den" in GlenClan) so they likely do not have the same names for things as cats do in the canon clans. This is mostly because they do not need these terms. There may be stories of two-legged beasts in a few elder's tales, but many of them have faded due to time and the fact that cats no longer have to fear humans very much. There are other fearsome creatures to warn young cats about that are much more prevalent in their lives than man is. Monsters (clan term for cars) and thunderpaths (clan term for roads) are not part of their vocabulary either. They do not really know the term for kittypet (clan term for a house cat), as few wander this far and they wouldn't feel the need to distinguish between a cat who lived with a human and someone else. Probably because they wouldn't be able to tell the difference, or care very much. They generally refer to cats outside their clan as outsiders (collective term), loners (for more peaceful cats), or rogues (for more aggressive cats).