#atd lore

[atdwarriorsau]

bc im making one rn, do the clans have a creation story?

Oof okay this is gonna have to be a four-parter.

Directory:

Part One: Ancient Ancestors/Mythology

Part Two: Why DotC is ass The Tangled Mess of Canon's Creation Story

Part Three: A Basic Overview of the AtD Timeline

Part Four: The Founder's Stories

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Part One: Ancient Ancestors/Mythology

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Explained in this post, anything not directly stated in TPB is free game for me. I am a very big mythology nerd, so I allowed myself to add some stories and rituals that can fit inside canon.

One thing I've noticed is how often Lionclan and Tigerclan and Leopardclan are brought up in the first arc. And how seemingly ever following arc seemed to drop the premise entirely. I always thought that was such a shame because there were SO many interesting things you could have done with that concept.

In this fictional land the clans live in (not britain), big cats emigrated up north, eventually becoming the wild cats known now. (At least this is what the clans believe). Cats with lion/tiger/leopard traits are held in high esteem, and NOT naming a kit with these traits those names is seen as very weird ad probably a bad sign for the cats life.

There are no stories about specific big cats, they've just been relegated to specific stereotypes and roles for whatever narrative the elder needs to tell. It's like in certain folklores that use animal characters. The fox is always sly, the mouse always scared, the bear always tough, the owl/crow always wise.

Tigers are bold, strong, but also clever and quick. They are NOT 'the bad ones' who the writers equate with Shaowclan, because that is bad and sucks. Tigers are actually (irl) incredible swimmers, so Shadowclan AND Riverclan hold them in the higher esteem.

Lions are what inspired Thunderclan's somewhat unique and very intense ideal of 'nobility'. The 'kings' who do good by all, leading without question. In an older age, Skyclan held lions in the higher esteem as well, though that has long since faded. They are still basically Thunderclan's mascot to this day.

Leopards are beloved by Riverclan and Wndclan. While strong, they are not AS strong as lions and tigers, so Thunderclan and Shadowclan tend to brush them off. Leopards were rumoured to be fast as the wind, and favoured intelligence over raw strength.

The Old Clans, as the are known, are often put down by the older apprentices as being 'kit tales', but elder warriors know the wisdom these stories hold. Due to the vague nature of the stories, many older cats question whether or not they hold any truth, but understand the importance of these stories and know to let them be.

As for whether I, the author, have decided if they are true or not, well, I'll never tell : )

[atdwarriorsau]

Leader's Lives -

The way Starclan communicates with their living descendents is vastly different from canon. In the first arc, Starclan was such a mysterious force, communicating in strange ways only a medicine cat could interpret. All that mystique was lost when we got Leafpaw’s pov, and say that Starclan cats simply just chatted with the mcs, in usually unnessicarily vague ways. It really hammered home the idea that these dead cats had no clue what they were talking about, they were just regular dead guys.

This also exposed a bunch of plot holes. Why can't Staclan cats just tell the cats the answers to prophecies, or instruct them exactly what to do in these scenarios? If they can enter and fight in the living world, why don't we see dead cats hanging around and talking to cats all the time? Why did they not help fight in other battles, like the battle of Bloodclan or the Eclipse battle? Why would they need to send the traveling group to Midnight, when they could just tell them where to go?

Starclan has just so many problems, way more than mentioned here, and it barely feels like a fun concept to explore anymore, especially with a medicine cat protagonist in EVERY arc since tnp. At this point, you either have to commit to Starclan being flawed or even malevolent, or find someway to fix the many problems and unnessicary pain they've caused. The canon authors have decided to do neither, leaving us with increasingly weak usage of Starclan.

But Staclan is a whole other post: Let's talk about leadership ceremonies!

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Leadership Ceremonies and Leader Lives in AtD

Almost all picks for life givers are changed in AtD. I'll explain the lives of the current leaders in DAWN, cutting out any spoilers for Stormstar’s Curse (the prequel)

There are some constant rules for leader lives:

1. All the chosen cats must have had some impact on the cats life, or represent something important to that cat

2. The seventh live is always the previous leader

3. The eighth live is the clan founder, who will always give a life for leadership

4. The ninth cat is the cat who had the most impact on the new leader's life, or for me, the most interesting pick

5. Dark Forest cats can give lives but only on certain occasions

6. Each ceremony is somewhat unique

7. Leaders loses lives in the order given

DAWN

Firestar

1. Redtail (compassion)

2. Silverstream (doing what's right and acceptance of outsiders)

3. Spottedleaf (wisdom)

4. Snowfur (love)

5. Gorsepaw (youth)

6. Leopardfoot (forgiveness)

7. Bluestar (courage and inner strength)

8. Thunderstar (leadership)

9. Yellowfang (trust)

Blackstar

1. ???? ?????? (care)

2. Flintfang (mentorship)

3. ???????? (control)

4. Hollyflower (faith in clanmates)

5. Stonefur (forgiveness)

6. Raggedpelt (honesty)

7. Tigerstar* (never be betrayed)

8. Shadowstar (leadership)

9. Badgerfang (self-love)

Leopardstar

1. Willowbreeze (hope)

2. ???????? (asking for forgiveness)

3. Brambleberry (empathy)

4. Greypool (understanding)

5. ????????? (following the code)

6. Willowkit and Minnowkit (mentorship)

7. Crookedstar (looking to the future)

8. Riverstar (leadership)

9. Silverstream (trust)

Tallstar

1. ?????? ???? (clan as a family)

2. ?????? ???? (energy)

3. ?????? ???? (action)

4. his father (responsibility)

5. ?????????? (faith)

6. ??? ???? (loyalty)

7. Dawnstar (wisdom)

8. Windstar (leadership)

9. his mother (love)

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Each leader ceremony will be a short story written here

[atdwarriorsau]

A History of Leaders

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Leaders Lives

Directory:

-?- = unknown number of unknown leaders

??? = one unknown leader

(All official* leaders in the named zone)

Thunderclan:

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Thunder Rumble 'Thunderstar'

-?-

Mothstar (Mothwish)

Aspenstar (Aspenfang)

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

Vinestar (Vinestorm)

???

???

???

Oakstar (Oakclaw)

???

Sunstar (Sunfall)

Bluestar (Bluefrost)

Firestar (Fireheart)

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-

Shadowclan:

-

Swift Shadow 'Shadowstar'

-?-

Buzzardstar (Buzzardwing)

Newtstar (Newtspeck)

???

???

???

???

???

Flowerstar (Flowermoon)

???

???

???

Frondstar (Frondwhistle)

???

???

Minkstar (Minkscratch)

Brokenstar (Brokentail)

Nightstar (Nightpelt)

Tigerstar (Tigerclaw)

Blackstar (Blackfoot)

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-

Riverclan:

-

Sweeping River 'Riverstar'

Honey Comb 'Honeystar'

-?-

Heronstar (Heronspring)

Dovestar (Dovesong)

???

???

???

???

???

Hazelstar (Hazeldust)

???

???

???

Darkstar (Darkwater)

???

???

Hailstar (Hailfall)

Crookedstar (Crookedstorm)

Leopardstar (Leopardfur)

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-

Windclan:

-

Wind Storm 'Windstar'

Owl Eyes 'Owlstar'

-?-

Houndstar (Houndrush)

-?-

Pearstar (Pearflower)

???

???

???

???

???

???

Swiftstar (Swiftscar)

???

???

???

Dalestar (Dalestone)

???

???

???

Dawnstar (Dawnshine)

Tallstar (Tallstep)

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-

Skyclan:

-

Sky Petals 'Skystar'

Sparrow Fur 'Sparrowstar'

-?-

Spiderstar (Spiderstripe)

-?-

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[atdwarriorsau]

food has been on my mind, so what would be the clans favourite dishes if cooking was a thing? like maybe honey glazed ham or venison or hamburger idk.... like, culturally, what would be a favourite food among each clan?

Oh boy you have NO IDEA what you've just started! I love food culture, I love talking about food culture! Buckle in for an essay

First of all, I HAVE to mention @bonefall, the GOAT of Warrior Cats culture redux! SO MUCH of AtD is inspired by their work < 3 I love it, if you wanna know my opinion on basically any Warrior Cats disc horse/hot takes just look at the bonefall post l!

I love their culinary clan cat stuff! Especially Windclan tunnelbuns, my favourite!

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OKAY AtD time

So because The Prophecies Begin is canon, I can't really change much, HOWEVER that means I can do ANYTHING I want to the lake territories. Also other clans (UNLIKE CANON) WILL have their own cultures, such as around food. More on that later.

Also I should mention I will ignore irl what cats can actually eat to let myself be more creative. AtD locations are not based anywhere in the real world.

We really get things going with the journey. This is the first time the entirety of the clans are forced to work and travel together. This is an important moment to see even though their cultures aren't the same they're all cats. They have more in Common tha apart. This actually plants some seeds for further things down the line >: )

Cats in AtD can eat a more diverse palate than in canon, and being forced to move on before learning how to hunt in one place, they have to get creative. This is where the eating of insects is born. It's for survival now, but later becomes a common snack.

Besides having new food to eat, cats from different clans, mostly the young generation, combine cultural food practices to make new memories, or just share things with each other!

Clan Differences:

Thunderclan

- not much I can say rn (until we get to the lake)

- this is base canon

- fav food in atd, Thunderclan likes mixing food, especially mixing mice meat and the meat of any corvid

- idk why, but for irl, Thunderclan always gave me BBQ energy, especially backyard bbq

Shadowclan

- these guys...

- Shadowclan, even before the journey, has the most diverse foods

- due to past famines, they are more open to trying different prey

- a Shadowclan cat invented adding things to prey for flavour (rn its mostly herbs)

- has the skills to identify whether roadkill/crowfood is safe (wich will be vital on the journey)

- fav food in atd, cut open a large frog/toad, clean out the meat leave the juices, dice up some small mammal prey meat, put inside frog belly and leave to ferment : )

- fav irl food, Shadowclan is soups and stews to me. Also bread with stuff in it

Riverclan

- FISH

- started the practice of removing the bones (and scales) from the prey, more like perfected it

- will later find out they're really the only clan that has the ability to enjoy sweetness ie fruit or honey

- atd fav food is fish

- I know you think irl fav food is ALSO fish, but actually Riverclan is 'throw a bunch of random things in a bowl and call it a salad' to me. Also the expenssive gourmet restaurant nothing meals lol

Windclan

- they do the most well during the hunger-pained journey because they are kinda used to it?

- Windclan cats are practically trained in not eating much, only really eating once a day

- one rabbit is usually good for many cats, they don't hunt that often

- will later experiment with drying strips of prey meat (bacon clan)

- fav atd meal, strip the fur n' skin of a rabbit, leave it out in the sun (flesh facing up) for a bit, enjoy!

- fav irl meal, sandwiches, anything you can wrap in bread. Also energy drinks for some reason. I know I said Shadowclan would develop stuff like spices, but Windclan is the spicy food clan to me

(no skyclan yet shush)

Much of this happens once we get to the lake so I might remake this then! Thanks for the question

[atdwarriorsau]

Was reading runningnose’s life and a part of me is really hoping he gets caught and punished

(YES another ask!! I be starving out here boys, please feel free to send more, ask anything, I love askes! I'm happy people are still interested smile)

(This is a good time to mention AtD isn't dead! I've been very busy with the wombo combo of uni work, holidays and a depressive episode. Ima try and drop something holiday related mayhaps soon)

Runningnose! Very interesting guy. Yeah I realized the backstory section of that post was gonna be huge whoops. Pre and mid Brokenstar Shadowclan is so so interesting to me.

As for getting caught and punished... uhh.. no spoilers but you might be a lil disappointed. I'll explain why later but first I wanna ramble about why I went this direction for this character..

It's a big change from canon, for a few reasons.

First, 'evil' villainous healers are a super interesting concept I would love to see (though I doubt it would happen in canon). Healers hold such power in a clan, political, medical, spiritual. They are always respected and needed in a clan. It makes sense that at least one of them might try and use that power to manipulate things for themselves. Also, on the medical side, Healers have more knowledge and power that other cats don't. Warriors are more likely to just accept whatever the healer tells them. It's a cool power dynamic that'll be fun to explore.

Secondly, I've seen some great evil Runningnose aus and got a bit inspired.

Thirdly... well... it really comes across in the books like Shadowclan in the first arc is just a helpless baby being yanked around by whoever has 'star' in their name, with no of their own. You're telling me everyone was just cool and neutral to everything going on around them? Nah. I've tried to make sure every Shadowclan cat has their own reasons and opinions on things, including an underground rebellion I've alluded to in other posts. I felt giving Runningnose some control over the Shadowclan schemes really works.

Also we needed more... morally dark characters in general.

Runningnose gets away with it because he's smart. He's the real mastermind in Shadowclan. He let Brokenstar and Tigerstar believe he (Runningnose) was their pawn when it really is the other way around. Which helps cause he can retroactively claim innocence and throw the blame on Tiger and Brokey (who are conveniently dead).

And it just so happens the leader of the old rebellion died in the Battle of Bloodclan.

Blackstar is very suspicious. He was groomed heavily by Brokenstar and though he doesn't know the full extent of Runningnose's crimes, he has... thoughts.

But that's the thing. Runningnose is a well-respected healer. And without solid proof, there really is nothing Black can do politically. Politically, which is where a lot of Runningnose's is power.

So, spoilers kinda..

I hate to break it to ya but... Runningnose dies comfortably without any of his crimes being revealed. There is no grand reveal or confession. That might be narratively satisfying, but not realistic. And usually I don't put too much stock into realism, but I felt this was fitting. Not all evils are punished. Sometimes, often, they win. We have to deal with that.

(This is bordering on non-canon but I feel obligated to mention Runningnose (and the Brokenstar era in general were at least somewhat inspired by the fact that many nazis were not charged or punished for their crimes for many years after the war ended.)

ALTHOUGH. I will say one thing.

When Runningnose dies, he doesn't go to Starclan immediately. Take from that what you will :)

H

[atdwarriorsau]

Wait how is sunstar brambleclaw’s grandparent?

Right uhhhhhhhb sorry Pinestar fans but... I combined his role with Sunstar. I really like this idea because it makes bluestar's Mentor be Tigers dad,, who was also in love with Moonflo (in an alternate reality they could be stepsibs lol)

Sunstar is still Oakstar's descendant. They (Oak, Sun, Tiger) have a history of being leaders, they have long claimed to be direct descendants of Thunderstar (which actually isn't true, Golden and Lion are Thunderstar descendants. OakSunTiger are actually closer to Sky descendants)

Sunstar doesn't leave for kittypet life, which means Tiger's whole "hating kittypets because of his dad" thing isn't true anymore.. which I never found compelling anyway lol

(Sun, Leopard and Moon miiigggghhttt be polycule in Starclan... It would have happened if Moon didn't die)

(Oh I know it's confusing but Sun is not Blue's dad... that's (bluensnow dad) is a mystery until Stormstar's Curse)

This relationship/family gets explored much more in Stormstar's Curse, whenever that comes out lol

Thanks for the question!

[atdwarriorsau]

Another question! What made you decided to make hopash night’s parents instead of crowice?

Oooooohhhhh I've been waiting for someone to ask this! It's mostly due to the reason Nightpaw takes canon Crowpaw's place!

When drafting this arc, I debated using Crowpaw (but only for a little while loll). Cause yeah, Crowpaw (*PAW) is an interesting character but.... how much really changes if you make it any other Windclan apprentice? We don't even see the Windclan revolution through Crowpaw's eyes! (huge wasted opportunity btw)

Plus uhhhhhh I'm keeping certain future Crowfeather uhhh 'bad stuff' in the story iykyk Using Nightpaw instead just ended up being a lot more interesting for the plot of tgj and po3... canon Nightcloud as a character just has a lot more going on yknow?

Now, understanding all of that, I still could have made hopash Crow's parents....

But Ashfoot is a lot more of an important character for the Windclan revolution plot, as well as in general, and I got really attached to Ash being Night's mom oops!

As for Hop, I wanted one of the povs to have a family member killed by Bloodclan.

This is a good example of my decisions when it comes to swapping around families. If it is not confirmed in the text of the six tpb books, and it makes for better or more interesting plot, I WILL change it. I am not beholden to prequel book lore and family trees. I refuse to be.

Thanks for the question!

[atdwarriorsau]

if yoyo how does each clan think abt the concept of an all encompassing god? can they even comprehend it? i mean if theyre like canon then theyll say "ur dumb and stupid and stupid and dumb" /hj

Yay asks!!!

WARNING: I have christian-flavoured religious trauma and that WILL bleed through.

Yeagghhhh..... Starclan (as they say officially) and The Stars (as they say unofficially) are sort of a "blind faith" thing. People in general really want something to believe in. They want a simple explanation about the wider universe and how things happen. An all-powerful god fulfills that. It makes it so you don't have to question everything, you just have to believe there is something out there that knows.

Anywayyy back to silly cats!!

I'll start with Windclan, the most devout. Nightpaw is a believer... but will often question The Stars. In a chapter that I can't remember whether or not I've posted it, Nightpaw asks about Starclan's power, to which her mother Ashfoot is like "uhhhhhhhhhh... trust in Starclan don't worry about it.." Faith in Starclan is almost seen as just a good personality trait lol. Windclan is most likely to have the mindset you've written above lol. Maybe if you don't understand it (aka question it) you just aren't blessed (even though the cats saying thos don't understand it either lmao)

Shdaowclan USED to be very religious but uggghhhhhhh.... a lot of bad things happened. Yup. It's more of an act now really.. like it's just a tradition to be thankful for having prey. Shadowclan has always been rather independent anyway. If you asked a Shadowclan cat, they'll be like "It's not for us to know, anyway are you eating that?"

Riverclan is simular to Shadowclan, but has a good few 'true blind believers'. Some Riverclan cats secretly hold on to old Water/River Kingdom myths and such. Like water spirits, to some they are just a metaphor, to some they are actual spirits. Riverclan cats are just extremely chill. Like yeah, I trust in The Stars, of course, but they don't really affect my life that much, maybe talk to a healer instead.

The founder of Thunderclan always that them to question everything, especially blind faith and trust. Unfortunately, Thunderclan has also had a few... fanatical leaders in the past... being the head of the Crusade Years, which were done "in Starclan's name" Making Thunderclan today a mixed bag. Some of the strictest codist cats of faith are Thunderclan cats. Starclan is the code and Starclan is nature, so you better respect both of them!

Religion isn't really meant to be questioned, simply obeyed. At least with my experience, and if you look at canon Staclan... it's just christianity isn't it.... like to a weird degree... almost as if the writers are old brits hm who knew....

So most cats don't question it. If you ask a scholar, Starclan is everything. Starclan is nature, the all powerful force that bother nurtures and kills. It's life, death and most importantly, the code. And Starclan is always watching, through every tree and puddle so do good or watch out.

(Can you tell my religious trauma ia influencing it lol)