Post by Keeper on Sept 2, 2020 17:34:51 GMT
"A non-believer of StarClan is not a true clan cat. Your lack of faith can affect the ways of the Enlightened, and must be kept to yourself."
- the Warrior Code, revised.
!WARNING!: this thread contains some slightly dark themes that may trigger dissociative sensitivities or disorders. Possession and loss of consciousness is a huge theme in the Enlightened.
!WARNING NUMBER TWO!: you are not permitted to use any of this lore as it was written by Blackthorn staff for Blackthorn only. Reposting it or strong reference to it will be deemed theft, and we will attempt to take action against you, or blacklist you publicly. We take theft seriously.
In the universe of Blackthorn, StarClan does in fact exist and are referenced and worshipped. However, StarClan is far less powerful than they are in the books, and instead act through vessels of cats handpicked from either clan. These cats can be picked at any age, but are never unweaned kits. A cat will be picked by being sent a prophecy, which clan code states that all prophecies or dreams must be reported to the leader. After the leader hears of the prophecy, they'll be able to determine that this cat has been picked to join a mysterious and ancient order known as the Enlightened. The prophecy often revolves around the cat's name being repeated from all directions as they enter a dark chamber, AKA the chamber of the Enlightened.
The Enlightened dwell in a distant, often snowy mountain far past the reaches of BoarClan. It is about a two day's journey, sometimes more depending on the weather or other troubles. Cats picked for the Enlightened will often be escorted by a party of two warriors and potentially an apprentice. (This can be RP'd out or skipped entirely.) Any cats who make the climb to the Enlightened may stay for a few days to rest before going back down to the clans.
What happens after their arrival at the peak is unknown; no one is sure if there is an initiation or any specific way of life, because no one is allowed inside the cave in which they dwell in.
Other important notes...
- All medicine cats join the Enlightened after they have retired.
- New leaders do not receive 9 lives unless they make the journey to seek them out from the Enlightened.
- Those picked for the enlightened are cats that StarClan musters just enough power to use to speak through. They do not appear to be entirely 'possessed,' but this does seem to take a toll on a cat's previous memories, with some older Enlightened members forgetting the names of their clanmates and family. When StarClan begins to take over a cat's indentity, the cat begins to be referred to as an Ancient of the order. Ancients begin to lose free will, but this dark secret is something unbeknownst to the clan cats.
- It appears that the Enlightened have some sort of protection by StarClan that allows them to grow much older, often thrice the lifespan of an average warrior, and to go much longer without food. Some Ancients of the order are believed to even be older. A collection of prey is provided to the Enlightened each season as a sort of offering, with a party of leader-picked warriors to bring the offering to them. It is unclear if the Enlightened do hunt for themselves. The younger or more fresh members likely do.
- Elder members seem to be used to the cold of their snowy peak mountain, paying no mind to the negative temperatures, regardless of fur length. Perhaps this is part of StarClan's grace.
- Ignoring the prophecies and calls of the Enlightened is something that one will surely suffer for; they will begin to physically see the prophecy in real life, and will be consumed by it. They'll be overwhelmed with loud voices and whispers that only they can hear, essentially hallucinating, but their hallucinations are being brought upon them by the Stars. These cats become known as Scathes; broken-minded cats who didn't answer the call to the order.
- The Enlightened seem to answer to one grand, elder master known only as Seeker, but no one has ever seen them on their journeys to the Enlightened's reach. The cat who speaks for the seeker is known as the Teller. No one else has contact with the Seeker, and it's believed even the Teller has not seen the Seeker physically. The current teller is Palecast.
- The Enlightened can manifest StarClan on a full moon. They use this time and this power to allow the clan medicine cats to consult with the stars in their dreams, essentially sending the Stars to the clans below. They can be present for medicine cat meetings by falling asleep under the full moon beside the Soul Pool, but this only happens if there are urgent happenings among the clans that the Enlightened wish to have an immediate hold on. Otherwise, StarClan simply "fills in" the Order on moonpool meetings after the fact.
- The Enlightened seem to remain neutral in clan affairs, like border skirmishes.
- It's unclear if the Enlightened possess any other powers that can help alter the clan's fate, or if they merely provide guidance.
- If the clans need help or guidance immediately in between full moons, they must make the journey up the mountain to consult with them. This rarely needs to happen.
INITIATION/RITE OF PASSAGE
(you are not required to RP the rite, but if you'd like to, inform the acting Teller!)
(you are not required to RP the rite, but if you'd like to, inform the acting Teller!)
Once the newly inducted member has had time to get used to their new surroundings, they will be called to the Moon Pool by the Teller herself. (This is the reflective pool sitting at the peak of the Enlightened as seen in Star-reach.) Bare in mind this rite is kept secret from the clans, just like nearly everything else about the way of the Order.
Other Order members instinctively gather around. This is often done in the darkness, even as the frigid snow flurries consume the peaks. The moon reflects clearly over the pool of water, as do the stars, which are quite visible given how high up the group is.
The Teller begins to speak.
"(Name), StarClan has chosen a path for you that you are blessed to have been given. As a member of the Order, you shall serve the clans until the Stars release you and have felt you've served your time. You shall never leave our reaches, nor shall you share our ways, or else meet an unbecoming fate."
Often times, younger members called to the order sniffle and wail, often for their mothers. The Teller never seems to have any emotion for this, and speaks over them regardless. Perhaps the Teller is just this removed emotionally from the initiation, or perhaps they are wise enough to know that showing emotion makes the change all the more difficult. After all, everyone was once new to this way of life.
"I ask now, (Name), that you enter the waters of the Moonpool, as is our way of becoming truly one with the Stars. When you emerge, so will the Grace of the Stars, which you will carry for the rest of your days among the Order of the Enlightened. If you refuse to enter, I warn you, you shall be forced."
The words of the Teller often feel haunting, as other cats in the order seem to be able to repeat them quietly, as if this is rehearsed. The truth is, the wording is always the exact same for this tradition, unlike other traditions for the clans in which the leader may change up the wording depending on their own preference, personality, and speech tendencies. It's likely this is StarClan speaking through the teller, and this is why it feels so strangely precise each time.
The new member will either enter the pool and submerge themselves under water, or be shoved in. Usually the first.
The darkness of the water and the sudden silence that surrounds them feels like pure isolation, like for a moment, they will never again hear another cat's voice. But this feeling lasts only seconds, as whispers of a thousand ancestors fill their ears despite the water inside of them. They can suddenly breath, as if not underwater at all. Almost as though the pool of water is a portal, another chasm, another realm. Ghostly cats approach them slowly from the depths of the water surrounding them, but only one dares touch the new member; this is believed to be the cat that "possesses" the initiate, and who will speak for them. This is when the new order member truly becomes a vessel for StarClan.
The cat will then resurface with an unseen entity attached to them. No one is sure what can happen if a cat resurfaces before a spirit can attach, but catch me using that as a plot device later.
The new member emerges feeling strangely serene, a little disturbed, and with knowledge that they can't quite work through yet. As if they have been given memories not yet theirs, but in a billion pieces they cannot yet parse. Over time, they will. For if the initiate fights off the attachment of the spirit, their mind will no longer become their own; it is said a spirit can suppress you if you cannot learn to live in peace alongside them. This is why the life of an Order cat is truly a dark one, and not the great honor that everyone is told it is when they are in kithood.
If the Teller feels the need to, the cat may be renamed at this time. This is done especially to cats having a hard time adjusting to their new life, as a means of helping them forget what they had before. The Teller will give the cat a ranking or duty to fulfill (guard, tender, or hunter), and then the order departs as quickly as they had gathered, leaving the new member wet and alone by the pool in the midst of the cold night.
Other Order members instinctively gather around. This is often done in the darkness, even as the frigid snow flurries consume the peaks. The moon reflects clearly over the pool of water, as do the stars, which are quite visible given how high up the group is.
The Teller begins to speak.
"(Name), StarClan has chosen a path for you that you are blessed to have been given. As a member of the Order, you shall serve the clans until the Stars release you and have felt you've served your time. You shall never leave our reaches, nor shall you share our ways, or else meet an unbecoming fate."
Often times, younger members called to the order sniffle and wail, often for their mothers. The Teller never seems to have any emotion for this, and speaks over them regardless. Perhaps the Teller is just this removed emotionally from the initiation, or perhaps they are wise enough to know that showing emotion makes the change all the more difficult. After all, everyone was once new to this way of life.
"I ask now, (Name), that you enter the waters of the Moonpool, as is our way of becoming truly one with the Stars. When you emerge, so will the Grace of the Stars, which you will carry for the rest of your days among the Order of the Enlightened. If you refuse to enter, I warn you, you shall be forced."
The words of the Teller often feel haunting, as other cats in the order seem to be able to repeat them quietly, as if this is rehearsed. The truth is, the wording is always the exact same for this tradition, unlike other traditions for the clans in which the leader may change up the wording depending on their own preference, personality, and speech tendencies. It's likely this is StarClan speaking through the teller, and this is why it feels so strangely precise each time.
The new member will either enter the pool and submerge themselves under water, or be shoved in. Usually the first.
The darkness of the water and the sudden silence that surrounds them feels like pure isolation, like for a moment, they will never again hear another cat's voice. But this feeling lasts only seconds, as whispers of a thousand ancestors fill their ears despite the water inside of them. They can suddenly breath, as if not underwater at all. Almost as though the pool of water is a portal, another chasm, another realm. Ghostly cats approach them slowly from the depths of the water surrounding them, but only one dares touch the new member; this is believed to be the cat that "possesses" the initiate, and who will speak for them. This is when the new order member truly becomes a vessel for StarClan.
The cat will then resurface with an unseen entity attached to them. No one is sure what can happen if a cat resurfaces before a spirit can attach, but catch me using that as a plot device later.
The new member emerges feeling strangely serene, a little disturbed, and with knowledge that they can't quite work through yet. As if they have been given memories not yet theirs, but in a billion pieces they cannot yet parse. Over time, they will. For if the initiate fights off the attachment of the spirit, their mind will no longer become their own; it is said a spirit can suppress you if you cannot learn to live in peace alongside them. This is why the life of an Order cat is truly a dark one, and not the great honor that everyone is told it is when they are in kithood.
If the Teller feels the need to, the cat may be renamed at this time. This is done especially to cats having a hard time adjusting to their new life, as a means of helping them forget what they had before. The Teller will give the cat a ranking or duty to fulfill (guard, tender, or hunter), and then the order departs as quickly as they had gathered, leaving the new member wet and alone by the pool in the midst of the cold night.
STAR BLINDNESS
"Star Blindness" is a good physical way to tell how long a cat has been within the order. A newly inducted member will have normal eyes. A member freshly initiated will maintain the appearance of slightly clouded eyes and depleted vision. As the years go by and the entity that overtakes them becomes more and more overbearing, a cat's vision depletes, and the reflection of stars can be seen over their cataracts. Ancients of the order have eyes completely consumed with the reflection of the night sky. A cat who is speaking with StarClan or using their "powers" in some way will have these strange reflective stars twinkling and glowing.
Their normal vision does deplete as Star Blindness grows, but it is said that this allows them to see entities and spirits walking among us easier.
The more stars a cat has shown in their eyes, the less you are talking to that cat and more so the entity that which latched to them long ago. This is why family members are highly discouraged on going on seasonal patrols; it can be too painful to look at the face of your loved one, and have an empty stare look unlovingly back at you...
(rcamboin on flickr!)
newer members, initiated recently.
experienced members, a few years in the order.
ancient members (a generation or more in the order)
Their normal vision does deplete as Star Blindness grows, but it is said that this allows them to see entities and spirits walking among us easier.
The more stars a cat has shown in their eyes, the less you are talking to that cat and more so the entity that which latched to them long ago. This is why family members are highly discouraged on going on seasonal patrols; it can be too painful to look at the face of your loved one, and have an empty stare look unlovingly back at you...
(rcamboin on flickr!)
newer members, initiated recently.
experienced members, a few years in the order.
ancient members (a generation or more in the order)
RANKINGS/HIERARCHY
There is not a complex hierarchy to be had in the group. The order would be happy living out their days with no real system, but for the sake of ensuring their survival, ranks are in place.
SEEKER
The seeker is an unknown creature that dwells at the forbidden depths of the Chamber. Their voice is raspy, and no one is even sure of their gender. The sounds of great nails scraping against rock can be heard from the Seeker's den, and it smells of rancid death. Prey is dropped into the den each morning, as if feeding a pet. Those who try to steal a look at the Seeker are often not seen again, and so it is widely accepted to never try to intrude or go too far into the Chamber, regardless of your status in the order. The Seeker speaks only with the Teller, the acting leader of the group. The Teller relays what is told to them by the Seeker, however, so really the leader is indeed the mysterious Seeker.
TELLER
The teller is the acting leader who acts on behalf of the Seeker.
ANCIENT
An elder member of the order, often generations old. Once a cat is deemed an Ancient, they stop fulfilling duties, spending all of their time learning the great stories and secrets of the Stars.
HUNTER
Hunts at the base of the mountain each morning to provide for the group. Often, the most food that can be located is mere mice and berries. Fortunately order members can go longer, much longer without food, and consider it a luxury. The clan offering each season is their time to feast.
GUARD
Members of the Guard are posted at the entrance to the chamber, the main path into Star Reach, and the entrance to the deep chamber in which the Seeker dwells.
TENDER
Because of the protection of StarClan, medicine is not truly needed in the order. Wounds and ailments heal naturally, and quickly, regardless of severity. Still, Tenders keep a sick or injured member company in the Chamber, bringing them food and water in a leaf pouch. Tenders also may keep new members warm with their body warmth, and take care of kits who were inducted to the order quite young.
SEEKER
The seeker is an unknown creature that dwells at the forbidden depths of the Chamber. Their voice is raspy, and no one is even sure of their gender. The sounds of great nails scraping against rock can be heard from the Seeker's den, and it smells of rancid death. Prey is dropped into the den each morning, as if feeding a pet. Those who try to steal a look at the Seeker are often not seen again, and so it is widely accepted to never try to intrude or go too far into the Chamber, regardless of your status in the order. The Seeker speaks only with the Teller, the acting leader of the group. The Teller relays what is told to them by the Seeker, however, so really the leader is indeed the mysterious Seeker.
TELLER
The teller is the acting leader who acts on behalf of the Seeker.
ANCIENT
An elder member of the order, often generations old. Once a cat is deemed an Ancient, they stop fulfilling duties, spending all of their time learning the great stories and secrets of the Stars.
HUNTER
Hunts at the base of the mountain each morning to provide for the group. Often, the most food that can be located is mere mice and berries. Fortunately order members can go longer, much longer without food, and consider it a luxury. The clan offering each season is their time to feast.
GUARD
Members of the Guard are posted at the entrance to the chamber, the main path into Star Reach, and the entrance to the deep chamber in which the Seeker dwells.
TENDER
Because of the protection of StarClan, medicine is not truly needed in the order. Wounds and ailments heal naturally, and quickly, regardless of severity. Still, Tenders keep a sick or injured member company in the Chamber, bringing them food and water in a leaf pouch. Tenders also may keep new members warm with their body warmth, and take care of kits who were inducted to the order quite young.