#tussockclan

[kiwibattlecats]

Tussockclan Lore Pt. 2

- Tussockclan are well-known as the most devout clan. Their faith in Starclan (generally, individuals of course vary) is absolute. On warm nights, the clan will often sleep outside their dens together under the stars to be closer to their ancestors. It is vital every apprentice makes a journey to the Star Falls before they become a warrior.

- Unsurprisingly, they are strict upholders of the warrior code.

- Leaders and healers are always looking for signs and signals from Starclan, especially in times of trouble or if a major choice needs to be made; their guidance is of the utmost importance. 

- Elders have a place of high esteem in Tussockclan, even when compared to other clans. Called Wise Ones, these cats -rather than senior warriors- act as the leader’s council along with the healer. Their wisdom and experience is highly valued and called upon regularly.

- Tussockclan have the largest verbal library of mythological stories of any clan, passed down from generation to generation, though of course minor changes have occurred to the tales over time. These cover a wide range of topics, from Starclan and the celestial entities said to have created the world, to famous historical cats and events. While some of these tales often exist in other clans, the latter variety is typically wildly changed; either with different names or different events afforming to the bias of the clan itself. 

- Unlike all the other clans, Tussockclan does not have a specifically named place for the leader to call a meeting. Typically they will simply call it from the middle of camp. 

- Tussockclan clan scent is very much of the ocean; salt and seaweed and sand. 

- Tussockclan cats are extremely sure-footed due to regularly traversing sand dues and coastal rock formations. They can swim some, though not as well as Flaxclan cats; this is because they tend to avoid getting in the ocean altogether due to the danger involved in currents and surf. All apprentices are taught to be very careful as well as emergency survival if they fall in. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon cause of death in Tussockclan. 

[kiwibattlecats]

Tussockclan Lore Pt. 1

- Tussockclan’s origins lie in Moonclan, one of the original two clans alongside Sunclan. After Sunclan’s split into Gorseclan and Fernclan, Moonclan remained a single clan for some time. Flowerstar, the leader at the time, believed that the splinter clans had lost their way and were committing a blasphemy against Starclan by breaking up Sunclan; a clan formed according to legend by direct hand of the clan’s divine entities. However, wanting to avoid war, she organised several meetings between the two acting as a moderator.  - Moonclan’s split came out of necessity, though it took almost a full generation before it happened. As Gorseclan and Fernclan grew in size and strength, Moonclan was pressured from two fronts. At first the split was a practical one to defend territory more effectively from two different camps, though remaining the same clan. Eventually though, the two camps drifted apart. The deputy in the new camp started ignoring the leader in the original camp’s orders... It was easy to see what was going to happen. And, given Flaxstar was allowed to have her nine lives, Tussockstar came to the conclusion that it was Starclan’s will, and accepted it. And so the four modern clans of today were finally formed. 

- Tussockclan is unique in its lifestyle. Given their territory is almost entirely coastline; made up largely of sand dunes, rocky shores, lagoons and steep cliffsides. Only some farmland and the river mouth of the river that divides Fernclan and Gorseclan break up the coastal nature of their territory. 

- With Tussockclan’s territory being what it is, their diet includes some unique prey items. Regular prey such as small birds and mice are not always forthcoming. They are highly opportunistic, seeing any potential food that comes their way as a gift from Starclan; they always give thanks over their meals. Some unique food items include insects, seabirds and their eggs and chicks, any fish they can catch from the shore, and freshly killed prey that's washed up or been hit on the thunderpath that marks the main border of their land. Gullfood-eater is a regular taunt by other clans, but they do not eat any carrion that is showing any sign of rot. Instead, they simply believe in waste not, want not. 

- Tussockclan’s territory also causes them another unique behaviour; transient camps. While they do have a main camp, nestled in the sand dunes in the center of their territory, they also have several other camps that are periodically maintained ready for emergency use. Storm tides can be dangerous of course. 

- Tussockclan are crepuscular in their activity like Gorseclan, but more nocturnal leaning. 

- Tussockclan lost almost an entire generation of cats during Boulderstar of Gorseclan’s campaign of violence in the recent past. This makes present-day Tussockclan cats extremely wary and risk-adverse, along with many holding deep suspicions towards Gorseclan as a whole. 

-Tussockclan partake in “burial at sea” with their deceased, seeing it sending the body to Deepwater; the God of both the ocean, and as master of the Dark Forest, of death itself. The spirit meanwhile, will be sent up to the stars, reflecting on the sea’s surface. Rumour has it that any evil cat sent on their final journey is weighed down during this sea burial, to prevent the soul escaping from Deepwater and ensuring they are stuck in the Dark Forest. This burial method may well have started as a practical element to their funeral rites; their territory being made up proportionally as sand dune and stone means it is not well suited to burying bodies like in other clans. Other clans do see this practice as distasteful.

[kiwibattlecats]

Tussockclan Territory Landscape Inspiration