Post by Skyfeather on Dec 1, 2009 13:52:34 GMT -2
Tradional naming and ranking ceremonies of the Clans.
There are many important ceremonies that rule Clan life. How the leader's remember them all we may never know; but until you do this reference article should do the trick! With each leader's memories and styles the wording of ceremonies can change slightly, but the theme of contacting StarClan with majesty and the general wording stays the same.
• Clan Meeting
to call the clan
This is a call by the leaders that summons cats to a clan meeting in ThunderClan. It is not known whether this call is generic for all the Clans or not.
LEADER/THUNDERCLAN: Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting!
• Warrior Name
from apprentice to warrior
These ceremony is used to change apprentices to warriors when they have reached twelve moons of age and/or completed training.
LEADER: I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him/her to you as a warrior in his/her turn. (_Apprentice Name_) do you promise to follow the warrior code and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
APPRENTICE: I do.
LEADER: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. (_Apprentice Name_), from this day forth you will be known as (_Warrior Name_). (_Clan Name_) welcomes you as a full warrior.
*The clan usually commences into cheering of the new name; and congratulates the new warrior. The cat will need to stand silent vigil for the night and guard the camp.
• Apprentice Name
from kit to apprentice
When a cat reaches six moons of age this ceremony is used to assign them a mentor so they can begin training to eventually become a warrior.
LEADER: I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this kit. He/she would like to become a warrior of (_Clan Name_), but must first become an apprentice. (_Kit Name_), from this day forth, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as (_Apprentice Name_).
(_Warrior to be Mentor_), you will train (_Apprentice_Name). (_Warriors Mentor_) was your mentor. I hope that his/her (_trait_) and (_trait_) will pass through you to your new apprentice.
*The clan usually commences into cheering of the new name; and congratulates the apprentice and mentor.
• Medicine Cat Name
from apprentice to medicine cat
When a medicine cat reaches around twelve moons of age and their mentor decides it is time, they will be given their true names. They will remain an apprentice until their mentor joins StarClan, but this new name will honor them with new respect from their Clan and StarClan.
MEDICINE CAT: I, (_medicine_cat_), medicine cat of (_clan_), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons.
(_apprentice to receive name_), do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
APPRENTICE: I do.
MEDICINE CAT: Then by the power of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. (_apprentice name_) from this moment on you shall be known as (_warrior name_). StarClan honors your (_virtue_) and (_virtue_). May you use them to serve your Clan for endless moons. *medicine cats then commence into cheering name and congratulations.
• Name Change
a change of name
These words are used in unusual circumstances, like when a cat receives a disfiguring injury, to otherwise change their name.
LEADER: Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment she/he will be known as (_New Name_).
• Dying Apprentice
to join StarClan as a warrior
When an apprentice has given their life for the Clan but is dying, a Clan leader may decide to give them their warrior name, as to enter StarClan with the title.
LEADER: I ask my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has learned the warrior code and has given up his/her life in the service of his/her Clan. Let StarClan receive him/her as a warrior. He/she will be known as (_Warrior Name_).
• Elders
from warrior to elder
This is not so much a ceremony as an announcement to the Clan, when a warrior is ready to retire to the elders den.
LEADER: (_Warrior_), You say that the time has come for you to join the elders. Are you sure this is what you want?
WARRIOR: I am.
LEADER: Then you will rely on apprentices and younger warriors to bring you fresh-kill, and you are no longer able to go on patrol.
• Leader Name
from deputy to leader
This rare ceremony is only used when a leader is granted nine lives by StarClan. It is preformed by StarClan at the moonstone/moonpool or similar sacred place of contact.
STARCLAN CAT #1: Welcome (_Name of Warrior to be leader_). Are you ready to receive your nine lives?
WARRIOR: Yes (I'm ready).
STARCLAN CAT #2: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #3: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #4: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #5: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #6: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #7: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #8: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #9: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #10: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
There are many important ceremonies that rule Clan life. How the leader's remember them all we may never know; but until you do this reference article should do the trick! With each leader's memories and styles the wording of ceremonies can change slightly, but the theme of contacting StarClan with majesty and the general wording stays the same.
• Clan Meeting
to call the clan
This is a call by the leaders that summons cats to a clan meeting in ThunderClan. It is not known whether this call is generic for all the Clans or not.
LEADER/THUNDERCLAN: Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting!
• Warrior Name
from apprentice to warrior
These ceremony is used to change apprentices to warriors when they have reached twelve moons of age and/or completed training.
LEADER: I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him/her to you as a warrior in his/her turn. (_Apprentice Name_) do you promise to follow the warrior code and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
APPRENTICE: I do.
LEADER: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. (_Apprentice Name_), from this day forth you will be known as (_Warrior Name_). (_Clan Name_) welcomes you as a full warrior.
*The clan usually commences into cheering of the new name; and congratulates the new warrior. The cat will need to stand silent vigil for the night and guard the camp.
• Apprentice Name
from kit to apprentice
When a cat reaches six moons of age this ceremony is used to assign them a mentor so they can begin training to eventually become a warrior.
LEADER: I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this kit. He/she would like to become a warrior of (_Clan Name_), but must first become an apprentice. (_Kit Name_), from this day forth, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as (_Apprentice Name_).
(_Warrior to be Mentor_), you will train (_Apprentice_Name). (_Warriors Mentor_) was your mentor. I hope that his/her (_trait_) and (_trait_) will pass through you to your new apprentice.
*The clan usually commences into cheering of the new name; and congratulates the apprentice and mentor.
• Medicine Cat Name
from apprentice to medicine cat
When a medicine cat reaches around twelve moons of age and their mentor decides it is time, they will be given their true names. They will remain an apprentice until their mentor joins StarClan, but this new name will honor them with new respect from their Clan and StarClan.
MEDICINE CAT: I, (_medicine_cat_), medicine cat of (_clan_), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons.
(_apprentice to receive name_), do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?
APPRENTICE: I do.
MEDICINE CAT: Then by the power of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. (_apprentice name_) from this moment on you shall be known as (_warrior name_). StarClan honors your (_virtue_) and (_virtue_). May you use them to serve your Clan for endless moons. *medicine cats then commence into cheering name and congratulations.
• Name Change
a change of name
These words are used in unusual circumstances, like when a cat receives a disfiguring injury, to otherwise change their name.
LEADER: Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he/she is. By my authority as Clan leader, and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment she/he will be known as (_New Name_).
• Dying Apprentice
to join StarClan as a warrior
When an apprentice has given their life for the Clan but is dying, a Clan leader may decide to give them their warrior name, as to enter StarClan with the title.
LEADER: I ask my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He/she has learned the warrior code and has given up his/her life in the service of his/her Clan. Let StarClan receive him/her as a warrior. He/she will be known as (_Warrior Name_).
• Elders
from warrior to elder
This is not so much a ceremony as an announcement to the Clan, when a warrior is ready to retire to the elders den.
LEADER: (_Warrior_), You say that the time has come for you to join the elders. Are you sure this is what you want?
WARRIOR: I am.
LEADER: Then you will rely on apprentices and younger warriors to bring you fresh-kill, and you are no longer able to go on patrol.
• Leader Name
from deputy to leader
This rare ceremony is only used when a leader is granted nine lives by StarClan. It is preformed by StarClan at the moonstone/moonpool or similar sacred place of contact.
STARCLAN CAT #1: Welcome (_Name of Warrior to be leader_). Are you ready to receive your nine lives?
WARRIOR: Yes (I'm ready).
STARCLAN CAT #2: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #3: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #4: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #5: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #6: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #7: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #8: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #9: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
STARCLAN CAT #10: With this life I give you (_trait_). Use it well to (_Something it can be used for to benefit the Clan or cats around him/her_).
