SCRIBE
MarshClan Unique Rank | Multiple | art by @rainstride
Scribes are a small but incredibly vital group, specially trained from apprenticeship and tasked with the management of MarshClan’s ever-shifting territory. They are oftentimes the most agile, sure-footed, keen-eyed cats in the Clan, in addition to being skilled navigators, in order to survey the marshes swiftly and effectively. Though there is little restriction on who can train to be a scribe, the job is incredibly demanding and time-consuming, and it is not uncommon for cats who begin training as scribes to opt out to become warriors instead.
With the constant ebb and flow of the tides changing the territory daily, navigating it can be tricky even for experienced warriors. Scribes mitigate these challenges for their Clanmates by scouting the marshes and carving maps noting safe paths through. Scribes are typically the first cats awake and patrolling, particularly after storms or spring tides, when changes to the territory’s topography are the most drastic. They work closely with the Clan’s healers to monitor the growth of herbs, and are often the first to go to work constructing things to divert water flow away from vital areas. Salt marshes can be a harsh environment for many plants and animals, but scribes work to ensure both that the territory stays stable enough to provide for MarshClan’s needs, and that MarshClan doesn’t damage the ecosystem they live in. Scribes act as an advising council to the Clan’s leader and deputy on many internal affairs, and hold the collective ability to veto some decisions if they believe it will threaten the balance of the marshes’ ecosystem.
A scribe’s work seems to never be finished, but by working as a team, they ensure MarshClan’s prosperity – and make sure everyone gets time to rest. Though their skills are most frequently put to use in their jobs, many scribes have artistic and curious spirits, finding joy in learning about the natural world, and in the acts of carving or crafting – form and function should coexist!