Encyclopedia

Many things have changed from the time of the Clans, including many terms the cats use to refer to various things, while other terms remain the same. From living in such close proximity with humans for so long now, the cats have adopted many human terms for things they once had their own words for.

The seasons are now known by their human terms: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
The term "twoleg" has not been used for a very long time, and the cats refer to humans as simply humans now.
They know what cars, trains, roads, glass, metal, and most other human items are.

Moon still means month, however, No Moon means New Moon, and Half Moon means Quarter Moon.

Human swears can be used by cats, or you can choose to use the traditional Warriors swears with your cat, or a mix of both, whichever you prefer.


General Terms

Gang
A large group of cats living and working together for survival, with a unique set of ideologies guiding their way of life. The equivalent of a Clan.

Base
The main living area of a Gang, generally all cats in a Gang return here to sleep and socialize with their Gangmates. The equivalent of a Clan's camp.

Trade Meeting
Held the day after the Full Moon, Trade Meetings are when all the Gangs come together at the Industrial Park to trade supplies and knowledge. A truce is enacted, as some Gangs have easy access to supplies that other Gangs don't and trade is therefore very important to survival. Gangs that break the truce are placed under a No-Trade Agreement by all the other Gangs until they have earned their way back into the others' good graces (usually by giving gifts of apology).

Mentor
This is a cat who is training an apprentice, either a warrior or a healer. Warrior Mentors must be at least 15 moons old while Healer Mentors must be at least 25 moons old.

Ranks

Boss
The Boss is the leader of a Gang. They make all major decisions for the Gang, with or without input from their Gangmates, depending on the cat in question. Unlike the leaders of old, Bosses have only a single life. Other cats usually refer to their Boss simply as 'Boss', out of respect, and calling their Boss by their name is generally seen as disrespectful.

Underboss
The equivalent of a deputy, the Underboss is the Gang's second in command. In most Gangs, should the Boss die, the Underboss will ascend to the rank of Boss. The Underboss is usually chosen by the Boss. See the Gang Profiles for information on how the position differs in the various Gangs. As with the Boss position, most cats in a Gang refer to their Underboss simply as 'Underboss' out of respect and calling them by their name is generally seen as disrespectful.

Healer
The Gang version of a medicine cat, Healers specialize in knowledge of herbs, illnesses, and how to heal wounds and sickness. Unlike medicine cats, however, Healers have no special connection to their ancestors and don't receive dreams, omens, or prophecies. All Healers must first train as Warriors and pass their Warrior Test before they may begin training as a Healer. Also unlike medicine cats, there are always two fully trained Healers in a Gang, sometimes three for short periods of time, after an apprentice has been fully trained in anticipation of one of the previous Healers retiring. Healers are not forbidden from having a mate or kits, though it is generally understood that if both a Gang's Healers are female, they are not to be pregnant and nursing kits at the same time.

Warrior
The majority of cats in Gangs are Warriors. They generally perform the same tasks as the warriors of old.

Apprentice
Young cats being trained as Warriors (or cats being trained as Healers) are known as Apprentices. Unless they are training to be a Healer, Apprentices are normally no more than 15 moons old. The age at which a kit becomes an apprentice differs depending on the Gang. Additionally, the Scavengers have two groups of apprentices separated by age that have different duties.

Queen
Queens are she-cats that are pregnant or nursing kits. They are given time off from the duties of their normal rank in order to care for their kits until they become Apprentices, though some she-cats choose to allow other Queens to care for their kits and return to their normal duties before that.

Kit
Kits are all cats too young to be Apprentices.

Elder
Elders are cats that have become too old or crippled to perform their normal duties. They are treated differently depending on the Gang, and some Gangs do not even have Elders. Unless the cat is retiring early due to injury, Elders are 90 moons or older.

Rogue
A Rogue is a Loner who was once part of a Gang, but either left of their own accord or was exiled.

Loner
A Loner is a feral cat that was born outside of the Gangs, but does not depend on humans for survival. They usually live alone or with their mate, but can also live in small groups.

Kittypet
A Kittypet is a cat that lives with humans and depends on them for shelter, medical care, and sometimes food.

Gang Specific Ranks

Heir - Marauders
The Heir is a kit of the current Boss, chosen to become the next Boss. They are trained by the Boss themselves and groomed for leadership. The Heir ranks just beneath the Underboss until they take over as Boss.

Consort - Marauders
The Boss's (official) mate. Only the Consort's kits can be named as Heir, even if the Boss has kits with another cat. The Consort ranks beneath the Heir and Underboss and holds power and authority in the Gang.

Captain - Marauders
There are three Captains in the Marauders, all of equal rank, falling below the Consort. Captains are the cats who plan and lead raids, in conjunction with the Boss, Underboss, Heir, and Consort. The position is earned by challenging a current Captain for their position and besting them in a series of challenges.

Scout - Marauders
Scouts are a small branch of warriors with the Marauders specializing in stealth and reconnaissance. These cats are usually small and quick to get in and out of an area without being noticed. It is their job to locate the best places to raid and give detailed reports to the Captains so that the ranking members of the Gang can plan successful raids. They usually work in pairs.

Councilor- Renegades
There are three Councilors in the Renegades, all of equal rank, just below the Underboss. Like the Boss and Underboss, they are elected to their positions, and it's their job to keep in contact with all the other Gang members and report anything that needs to be addressed to the Boss and Underboss, as well as advising them on all Gang matters.

Senior Warrior - Guardians
Senior Warriors are any Warrior over 60 moons. Senior Warriors are in general more respected by their Gangmates and the Boss may ask their advice on important matters. They are more often entrusted with training Apprentices and leading patrols than younger Warriors. There is no ceremony or appointment to the rank, a cat simply becomes one after reaching the age of 60 moons.

Seeker - Guardians
Apprentices that have left the Gang on their Warrior Test are referred to as Seekers, for they are seeking answers in the depths of their hearts, seeking their devotion to the Warrior Code. It is generally a short stage in between apprentice and warrior, but it is also one that some never return from.

Advisor - Scavengers
Advisors consist of up to three of the Boss's closest and most trusted followers. The rest of the Gang has no idea who they are as there is no formal announcement when cats ascend to the position. They are given their rank in private, and only the Boss, and maybe the Underboss, know who they are. They don't even know who each other are. They are tasked with being the Boss's eyes and ears in the Gang. In other words, they spy on their Gangmates for the Boss and report anything suspicious to them. In return, they are given favors and leniency.

Junior Apprentice - Scavengers
Junior Apprentices are between 4 and 9 moons. Junior Apprentices cannot leave the tunnels and do not participate in battle training. They are tasked with maintaining the camp (using bedding materials brought back by Senior Apprentices to keep up everyone's nests) and helping Healers around camp. Their main training focus is in exploring and learning the subway tunnels, and also learning hunting techniques and proper behavior in preparation for leaving the tunnels.

Junior Apprentices only become Senior Apprentices after an assessment by the General (or the Boss if the apprentice's mentor is the General) on how their knowledge of the tunnels is progressing and proper etiquette for interacting with cats outside the Gang. If the Junior Apprentice cannot pass the assessment by the time they reach 9 moons, they are either banished from the Gang for their incompetence or, if they have a parent in another Gang, they are traded to that Gang instead.

Senior Apprentice - Scavengers
Senior Apprentices are 6 moons and older. Battle training begins when an Apprentice becomes a Senior Apprentice and they are also allowed to leave the tunnels. Senior Apprentices are tasked with hunting for the Queens and Kits in the Gang, fetching bedding material for the entire Gang, and assisting Healers with herb gathering.

Herbs
This lists all the herbs a Healer should know, what they look like, and how to use them.

Illnesses & Injuries
This lists the illnesses and injuries that may occur in game that a Healer should know how to treat.

Battle Moves
These battle moves are common and used by all cats.

Special Battle Techniques
These techniques require special circumstances and aren't used by all cats; most of them are only used by cats in specific Gangs.