Skyfall 2.0: Clowder Structure and Ranks
One of the largest changes made in Skyfall is the fundamental structure of the clowders. I wanted to have a system where cats could have jobs outside of hunting and fighting and where there was a path to leadership-type positions for experienced cats who don't necessarily want to be leader themselves. Variety is really lacking in the canon series, especially in this area, and it often drags the characterization and plots down. I wanted to create a system that encourages differences in personality, goals, and roles.
The following post will be an overview of each role in the clowder and their general responsibilities. Each cat and clowder may treat each role with differing levels of respect and with slightly different responsiblities, but the general gist of the job will remain the same.
Here are the different roles in the clowders listed in the same order as they would be in a standard allegiance sheet for Skyfall:
Clowder Leadership (Yawoorgorrl or "Announce-Rank")
Thegn (Shaigorrl or "Star-Rank"): The thegn is the equivalent of the canonical "leader". They are in charge of the clowder as a whole and are the main representative of the clowder at gatherings. Thegns have the final say in most clowder decisions, perform many ceremonies, and lead their cats into battle.
Reeve (Arrlgorrl or "Command-Rank"): The reeve is equivalent of the canonical "deputy". They are the second-in-command behind the thegn and are responsible for organizing daily patrols and overseeing apprentice training. When the thegn dies, is exiled, or retires the reeve takes their place.
The Clowder Council (Shawrarrgorrl or "Star-Trust-Rank")
Physician (Rushgorrl or "Herb-Rank"): The physician is the clowder's doctor and the co-equivalent of the canonical medicine cat. They gather and organize herbs and care for the sick and injured of the clowder. There are usually 1-3 physicians.
Priest (Shomgorrl or "Moon-Rank”): The priest is the clowder's spiritual advisor and the co-equivalent of the canonical medicine cat. They provide spiritual guidance, look out for signs from the Stars, and aid in the performance of important clowder rituals. There are usually 1-2 priests.
Senior Churls (Wrarrpyagorrl or "Trust-Skill-Rank"): Senior Churls are representatives from each churl rank that act the leaders of their rank and the advisors to the thegn. There are 5 senior churls in all clowders except the Windpaws who have 6.
A note: the term "senior churl" may be used to refer to any older, experienced churl. ClowderMew does not have definite articles, so the difference is indicated either by context or using an honorific to indicate the status of the referenced cat. In English, the difference will most often be clear via the use of a definite article "the" for council-member senior churls or by the use of "council-member" like I just did.
Churls (Kachgorrl or "Claw-Rank")
Hunters (Akachkgorrl or "Hunt-Rank"): Hunters are the bulk of the churls in any given clowder. They are the closest equivalent to the canonical "warrior". They are the primary group that performs hunting and border patrols and is the most responsible for feeding the clowder. There are usually 5-10 hunters.
Artisans (Gweengorrl or "Create-Rank"): Artisans are responsible for creating tools and accessories for the clowder as well as maintaining the camp. There are usually 2-4 artisans.
Roamers (Haimpagorrl or "Quest-Rank"): Roamers are responsible for gathering materials for the physicians and artisans, trading with other clowders and outsiders, and generally venturing beyond the territories for scouting and material gathering purposes. There are usually 2-4 roamers.
Caregivers (Yyangorrl or "Nursery-Helper-Rank"): Caregivers are the equivalent of canonical "perma-queens". They are cats who help guide expecting cats through pregnancy and birth and aid in the care of kittens. They help teach kittens about the churl code and day to day clowder life to prepare them for becoming apprentices. There are usually 1-3 caregivers.
Warblers (Yanayagorrl or "Song-Rank"): Warblers are the historians and entertainers of the clowder. They teach young cats history, gather stories from the elders, and entertain cats in camp with stories of clowder history and legends passed down generation to generation. There are usually 1-3 warblers.
Couriers (Panpeangorrl or "Running-Rank"): Couriers are the messengers of the clowders. They are usually the fastest cats in their respective clowder and run news from camp to camp. They often spend the night in another clowder's camp and are thus the most knowledgable about cats and customs in other clowders. There are usually 1-2 couriers.
Morticians (Byygorrl or "Blood-Rank"): Morticians are responsible for preparing the dead for burial, performing last rites and aiding in funerary rituals. They also help support the bereaved. There are usually 1-2 morticians. During peacetime or when they otherwise have no duties to perform, the mortician usually acts as a hunter, roamer, or artisan and is double-trained in one of those roles in addition to mortician.
Clowder-Specific Churl Ranks:
Trailbuilders (Shofgorrl or "Path-Rank"): Trailbuilders are a subgroup of Thunderheart churls that are responsible for creating and maintaining pathways around the territory to help cats more efficiently traverse the area. This subrank is in addition to whatever standard rank a churl has. Most trailbuilders are hunters or artisans.
Tanners (Shaofigorrl or "Hide-Preparing-Rank"): Tanners are a highly specialized subrank of Shadoweye artisans. The Shadoweyes use leather and skins more frequently than other clowders as a result of their wet, boggy territory and therefore have an artisan or two dedicated to leather production. There are usually 1-2 tanners and it is considered a subrank in addition to the rank of artisan.
Sentinels (Pipengorrl or "Watching-Rank"): Sentinels are a subrank of Rivertail churls who are responsible for intrepreting weather patterns and watching for signs of flooding around the territory. Floods are a common occurance on Rivertail territory and can be disastorous, so sentinels are vital to warning the clowder with enough time to escape if needed. This is a subrank in addition to whatever standard rank a churl has. Most sentinels are hunters, couriers, or roamers.
Tunnelers (Bworagorrl or "Burrow-Rank"): Tunnelers are a stand-alone Windpaw churl rank. They maintain and dig out the network of tunnels underneath Windpaw territory and hunt for prey below ground rather than above. They are also used as a seperate battle patrol that can ambush opponents from below the earth. Tunnelers are their own rank and also have their own senior churl, the senior tunneler, on the council.
Mediators (Kroobengorrl or "Sat-to-Listen-Rank"): Mediators are a Skypelt-specific rank that sits on the council. They officiate clowder voting, help smooth over interpersonal disputes, and provide diplomatic support for the thegn and clowder leadership as a whole. There are usually 1-2 mediators and they are their own stand-alone rank.
Daylight Churls (Kachapifgorrl or "Claw-Day-Rank"): Daylight churls are a specific type of Skypelt churl that can be a member of any churl rank. They are typically housecats who participate in clowder activities during the day and return to their homes at night. Daylight churls can be any rank that is not a council or leadership position.
Scouts (Hasoogorrl or "Swoop-Rank"): Scouts were a formidable group of Skyclaw hunters that were selected personally by the thegn as a sort of body guard. Scouts were trained into the role from apprenticeship and were also the only group of cats that could become thegn themselves. Scouts were used not only as a thegn's personal soldiers but also as an advance ambush patrol that would jump down on opponents from above. Scouts and hunters were considered different ranks, but they shared a senior churl and largely performed the same duties.
Elders
Elders (Aomrrgorrl or "Guiding-Rank"): Elders are retired churls. Most often, these are elderly cats who choose to retire around 10-12 years of age, sometimes earlier depending on personal circumstances. Elders tell stories to younger cats, may aid in patrols at their own discretion, and generally help out around camp. They are under no obligation to perform any churl duties.
The Young Paws (Pwyyarreeb or "Little Paws")
Apprentices (Piagorrl or "Learning-Rank"): Apprentices are young cats roughly 6 to 12 months old. They are in training to become churls and are assigned to mentors in the rank they are persuing. Apprentices graduate to churls upon completion of a final assessment or when they otherwise prove their skills. This usually happens around 12 to 14 months old, perhaps older depending on the rank in question. Physician and priest apprentices are usually in training the longest, averaging a graduation age of 14 - 15 months old. Apprentices do not have churl names and go by only their first name.
Kittens (Mew or "Kitten"): Kittens are the youngest members of the clowder. This grouping includes any cat younger than 6 months old. Kittens are cared for by their parents and/or the caregivers in the nursery and are not permitted to leave camp. Older kittens are taught the Churl Code and clowder history by the caregivers, warblers, and elders. Kittens do not have churl names and go by only their first name.
Link back to the Master Post
As always, credit for ClanMew (the base for ClowderMew) to @bonefall and @troutfur