ARCHIVIST
WaveClan Unique Rank | Singular | art by @rainstride
Archivists are the Clan’s recordkeepers, keeping track of the Clan’s history in the form of both stories and lessons, and shanties, hymns, and other songs. These cats are both knowledgeable and artistic, not only memorizing the oral history of WaveClan’s past, but also chronicling major events occurring in the Clan throughout their own lifetimes. An archivist is not chosen from birth or apprenticeship, but rather it is a position given specifically to a senior member of the Clan, when an older archivist feels it’s time to choose a senior warrior to train as a successor.
Archivists keep track of events within the Clan such as births, deaths, rank changes, and more. They are generally very eager to share their knowledge and to collect more tidbits of history. Though archivists are largely uninvolved in the political aspect of leadership, they are viewed as community organizers, and may conduct certain ceremonies – such as weddings, funerals, and the promotion of new argonauts – and lead celebrations or festivals within the Clan. Archivists can also be an invaluable resource in assessing situations dealing with natural processes or events, such as tides, weather, flooding, rockslides, and more. If something has occurred before in the Clan’s history, then it may not be cause for concern, or if it is, there may well be a protocol for dealing with it. Archivists also work very closely with the Clan’s argonauts, often the first that the argonauts report to after an expedition, and typically the keeper of any artifacts recovered on those expeditions that the argonauts do not use for piercings.
An archivist’s job, while not always physically demanding, is one that requires thoroughness and dedication, and archivists typically take to their work with pride. Whether they are advising the leader and deputy in crisis management, noting reports and recovered artifacts from argonauts’ expeditions, or working with the monarchs to begin educating kits on the Clan’s history, there is joy to be found in performing and sharing their duties. What’s better than whistling while you work being your work?