Lore of the Stars

[Running]

Here’s a thread for discussing rules for StarClan interactions, the actual nature of StarClan, and what each of the clans and tribes think of StarClan. I’m mostly listing my own headcanons and questions and various things other people have mentioned, but nothing is set in stone yet. I’ve opened this up to everyone for discussion because I think this is something that would benefit from a variety of perspectives. Please contribute!

StarClan

StarClan cats have the ability to walk in dreams (more in dreams section).

They tend to manifest as translucent glowing versions of themselves with stars in their pelt.

The amount of power a StarClan cat possesses is proportional to their brightness. Rest in the territories of StarClan allows a StarClan cat to regenerate their energy.

From the stars they can view the goings on in the territories.

They give nine lives to leaders.

StarClan cats cannot see into the minds of cats, and can only get hints and shadows of it when walking through dreams.

They can manifest in the world of the living, but it takes a lot more energy than walking in dreams and most cats aren’t attuned enough to see or sometimes even hear them anyway.

Is there anything else that clouds the field of vision of StarClan, as I’m assuming they’re not omnipotent?



The “Dark Forest”

Probably needs a new name if we go with my idea that the clans are deathly afraid of having their spirits trapped beneath the earth, and thus the dark forest is more of a dark and grim series of underground caverns than a forest.

Obviously “bad” cats go here after their deaths, but are they sent here directly by StarClan or by some more ancient force or set of rules?



Non-clan cats

What happens to non-StarClan worshipping cats after they die? I know I said Adder ended up in “Oblivion” after her death, and we’ve mentioned things about spirits being trapped in the world of the living, but we should have a more thorough discussion on this.



Medicine cats

Along with healing, medicine cats have the responsibility of interpreting signs from StarClan, performing burial rite ceremonies to ensure a cat passes onto the stars, and possibly other ceremonies if we come up with them.

Through mental exercises and sharing tongues with StarClan at the Brightstone, medicine cats can make better use of dreams with StarClan. They are also more attuned to supernatural disturbances and are more likely to make sense of them.

Medicine cats are forbidden to have kits. Some believe this is because of the fact that a medicine cat must be in essence a parent of all of the clan and having kits is thus a distraction, that StarClan has forbidden it and thus it is taboo, medicine cats who violate the law are cursed, etc.

The act of mating with another cat has somewhat been confirmed to weaken a medicine cat’s bond with StarClan, but I have an additional possible explanation for the taboo: medicine cats already have a strong affinity for and are attuned to the world beyond, but by sharing tongues with StarClan they enhance that connection. Passing that enhanced energy onto a kit is volatile and dangerous, often leading to children of medicine cats either being stillborns/miscarriages/dying at a young age, or taking a very twisted path. It’s possible this effect is more pronounced for female medicine cats as they also carry the kits through pregnancy, but it still exists for male medicine cats.



Leaders

Through their nine lives, leaders also have a connection to StarClan formed in a different manner than medicine cats (and thus are able to have kits). They can go to the Brightstone for guidance, and are more likely to remember dreams that StarClan walks in. They lack the spiritual training, however, and thus rely on medicine cats to interpret signs and messages from StarClan.



Ordinary cats

There is a spectrum of affinity for the supernatural even among the untrained. For instance, if a StarClan cat is walking in the realm of the living, some cats will be completely oblivious, others might get a faint sense of unease, others might be able to hear the StarClan cat, and some might be able to catch faint traces of scent and sight and sound at the corners of their senses, but lose sight of the StarClan cat if they look too closely.

Likely if the cat has any emotional attachment to the StarClan cat the affinity might be slightly increased.

Cats of the Tribe of Storm Winds typically have a stronger affinity than other clans, although DuskClan also has a decently strong affinity. When close to death, cats have a much higher affinity.



Other beliefs

It’d be fun to play around with non-clan cats’ beliefs about the world beyond. In a couple posts I’ve implied that the city cats have some level of superstition and that a long time ago there were cats who claimed to commune with the dead, although those cats were looked upon with fear.



The Veil

There is a strict divide between the realm of the living and the realm beyond, but the veil is thinner in some places than others. On the whole, it is thinner in the territories, which might have something to do with why the cats ended up there (by the way, it might be interesting to discuss connections between other species and the otherworld and whether the existence of StarClan has anything to do with the fact that cats are often connected with the supernatural in folklore, but I digress). It is thinnest in the Tribe of Storm Winds, followed by DuskClan, which may also be a contributing factor in the way those clans are particularly attuned to the otherworld. Likely the exile territories had a thicker veil between the dead and the living.

The place where the veil is actually thinnest is of course at the Brightstone, where leaders and medicine cats can share tongues with StarClan directly.



Dreams

StarClan cats can walk in the dreams of non-medicine cats, but it requires more energy to maintain the connection, and often it will be completely forgotten. That isn’t to say that such dreams can’t leave some sort of impression, generally an emotional one, but it’s likely more vague and sometimes might not even be the impression a StarClan cat intended.

Medicine cats have the training to recall their dreams and also lucid dream to some extent, allowing them to better obtain the answers they seek



Exceptions:

Feel free to think of clever ways that these rules might be bent and broken, but exceptions to the rules must be approved by an admin.

Current exceptions:

Sorcha (upon her death, gave part of her being to Finbar to save his life, essentially giving him a life like StarClan gives leaders, which led to her being trapped between the living and the dead and Finbar having some mental issues and an unnatural connection to the realm beyond on top of his guilt for being unable to save his sister)

Sparrowpaw (short version: got possessed by a Dark Forest cat at birth and the two, henceforth known as Sparrowpaw and DarkSparrow had some identity/mental issues from somewhat sharing minds and then went on a murderous rampage of sorts before being killed by Adder. After her death Sparrowpaw ended up in StarClan and was separated from DarkSparrow, who was thrown back to the Dark Forest, but there is still a link between them and any time that Sparrowpaw uses up her energy there is a risk of DarkSparrow taking her place).



Differences between beliefs and practices of the clans:

The Tribe of Storm Winds is the most connected to StarClan. Their territory is at high elevations and open without being unprotected (unlike ThornClan which does have open spaces at high elevations but is more arid and vulnerable).

To the Tribe of Storm Winds, StarClan tends to send its messages via the wind and sky.

DuskClan feels a connection to the mist and fog, which often does block out the stars, especially in the parts of the forest where the trees are difficult to climb. I wonder if we should do something with this.

SmokeClan and the regenerative cycle of fire?

[Sparrow]

StarClan

Good with all of that. I'd say that since StarClan are the manifestations of the clan cat's ancestors, and so have little to no influence or sight into things that are not to do with the clans.

After many many centuries, starclan spirts fade, becoming quieter and less visible, until eventually they disappear, blown away like dust in the wind. At this point they become part of the world as energy, and not as a personality anymore, they are the wind, the rivers, the beating heart of a mouse, and they have no more sense of self.

The “Dark Forest”

I'd say perhaps this should be called something like the "Night cave," the "Twisted tunnels" or the "Catacombs," and should be an endless maze of pitch black tunnels deep in the earth where bad cats go. No one can see, everyone is lost and filled with fear, and strange monsters live in the darkness and attack cats randomly (Spoiler, many of these monsters are cats that have been down there so long they've become mindless and savage)

Who goes where is decided by rules older than Starclan, that only the most senior and powerful StarClan cats actually know about.

Non-clan cats

I think that, just like clan cats, a non-clan cat's spirit goes through a similar process. The only difference is that they do not have a family of ancestors waiting for them once their spirit ascends, unless they've become part of clan society. These spirits either blow to dust immediately, set out to find their own ancestors, attempt to get StarClan to let them join them (Since StarClan is the local spiritual power), or haunt the living.

Medicine cats

I like the idea of the powers of StarClan being passed on into kits and that being dangerous, though I would like it should be equal for toms and queens since it would be kinda sucky for all the female medicine cats if the male ones could get away with kits half the time while the females get a worse curse. This could potentially be why the Tribe of Smoke Shadows has two medicine cats (and therefore potentially two apprentices) at any one time, therefore allowing for the contact with StarClan to be spread out more and allowing the medicine cats to have kits, while other clans feel it's a taboo and not a risk worth taking.

Leaders

Yup legit

Ordinary cats

Yup good

Other beliefs

Yeah I'd agree with bringing in a little religious diversity through the city cats

When I first made Izumi and Kiba a wrote them as being rather cynical about the clan's beliefs in a greater good. I was thinking that in the city there are many tales of supernatural occurrences and many cats who believe in some greater power, but that the city's greater power is Death. They think that there's no afterlife, and that you just stop existing (Like losing consciousness forever). There's no worshiping or praying (Unless you want to die, which can happen a lot in the city to be fair) and few cats speak of it, but there used to be a cult that tried worshiping Death to appease it, leading to death rates higher than Seul's rule. The cult was destroyed, but mentioning them is taboo.

The Veil

Yup agree.

Dreams

Yup

Exceptions:

Yup

Differences between beliefs and practices of the clans:

Yeah these sound good

[Running]

The fading of ancient StarClan cats is an interesting idea...Perhaps its up for debate whether that fading truly means eliminating a sense of self.

Maybe "Night Cave" works, but I feel like the name should strike more fear into those who hear of it. "Night Cave" kind of sounds like a seedy club or something. I really like your description of it especially the identity of those monsters.

Okay, having the powers of StarClan passing onto kits being equal for both genders sounds good to me. Hmmmm, I thought the Tribe of Smoke Shadows has two medicine cats where one of them has full spiritual powers and cannot have kits, while the other lacks spiritual powers and has kits. Spreading out the influence of StarClan among multiple cats would be less effective in my opinion since either you have two cats with insufficient power to really cross the veil or two cats with sufficient power but still with the risk of having cursed kits. It's as if sufficient contact with StarClan is a journey to the peak of a mountain. A full medicine cat can make the journey to the peak, whereas even those with the highest natural affinity can only traverse part of the mountain. Now say you had two medicine cats who each had enough power to climb half of the mountain. Combined, the distances both could travel could reach the peak. However, all cats must start at the base of the mountain, and thus having two cats who can ascend half will never result in one reaching the peak. At least, that's how I see spreading out StarClan powers among cats-what are your thoughts? It's possible we could have two weak medicine cats and play with those consequences, I guess... 

There are definitely a lot of city superstitions that could be fun to play with-I can even see some cats starting to believe Seul is a demon himself-after all, no normal cat could create the bloodshed he does while staying spotless, right?

I'd also like to propose that leaders and medcats tend to have more power in StarClan because they already have experience crossing the Veil, albeit from the other side. It'd be nice if other cats than leaders and medcats played a role in governing StarClan, although I'm not sure how that government is even structured. 

Other important questions:

a) How much is StarClan a hivemind? In old roleplay posts there has been mention of cats going to StarClan sharing in and gaining ancient understandings, but we don't have much in the way of bounds of what knowledge all StarClan cats get. How much of what an individual StarClan cat learns or discovers is shared with their ancestors? It's likely that some old secrets are left with the leaders/eldest StarClan cat...

b) Obviously any sort of major shift in the world caused by StarClan requires the effort of all of StarClan, but what requires StarClan acting as one versus an individual StarClan cat acting alone? 

c) How much can StarClan actually see? Do they have to focus on a particular area to see it? In other words, do they see every conversation going on in the territories at any moment? Do they have to focus on a particular area to see it, or just to see it more clearly? Is it harder to see a conversation in a den? Is it harder to see a conversation underground (I'd say this is rather likely given the clans' fear of being stuck underground). I get the feeling StarClan's powers in general should be stronger at night. How much of what an individual StarClan cat sees feeds into the knowledge of all StarClan?

How much of a respect for privacy does StarClan have? Their job is to watch over the clans, but are they always watching, even during, say, intimate moments? (I totally see some StarClan cats having shipping parties and a betting pool on when two cats are going to finally get together).

[Sparrow]

Medicine cats

Good point for the medicine cats and their connection... Perhaps in the tribe of storm winds there could be one cat who separates themselves from physical bonds to reach enlightenment, thus having a strong connection with starclan. They don't take mates or have kits, spend much of their time meditating and communing with starclan, and take more of an advisory role and a spiritual role. They help with healing by doing what we might consider to be ritualistic medicine: Chants, massages, acupuncture, and rituals to cleanse the spirit. Cats go to them for advise in their lives and trust their opinions greatly. Kinda like a shaman, with a high rank in the clan.

The second medicine cat does the exact opposite. They connect as much as possible with the physical world and all but cut off their connection with starclan. They have kits, take a mate, and involve themselves as much as possible in what you could describe as "practical" medicine: Drug remedies made from herbs, Splints for broken limbs, spiderwebs for wounds, poultices for infections. They have no advisory place and don't get consulted by the leader for any decisions. They hold the same rank as any warrior and nothing higher.

The shaman medicine cat fulfills the spiritual side of a medicine cat's duties, taking enough time to be able to make a stronger connection than many medicine cats in other clans due to their dedication to the spirits. They advise the leader, and could debatably have a part to play in treating cats with mental illness, as the clan may see that as illness of the soul, and so to be treated by the spiritually connected cat.

The physically-connected medicine cat fulfills the need for a medic in the clan, healing the sick and becoming so connected with the physical world and the cats in it that they have more time to care for their clan mates in their physical sickness. They are in fact encouraged to have kits due to a belief that their parental instincts will strengthen their connection to their work of caring for other cats.

a

I'd say starclan should be essentially like one massive clan. The eldest and most highly ranked in life are those with the most power, and they hold conference often to decide on what to do. Not every starclan cat involves themselves in the "government" of starclan, and when action is decided on most starclan cats will follow it unless it is completely unreasonable, much like in a normal clan. This is why I think older cats should fade though, since in this system the sheer population size would make decision making nigh on impossible...unless they had a democracy and elected leaders?

b

One starclan cat can meddle small-scale. Stuff like dream walking, maybe appearing to a cat, but things like major signs need to whole of starclan. So like, a flood, or clouds covering the moon, or a spring suddenly bursting from the ground.

c

I'd say, regrettably, that starclan can choose to watch anything going on in the territories at any time xD So that would include intimate moments I guess. Perhaps there is a shift system in which starclan cats watch what is going on, and report important happenings as they see them?

[Running]

Woah, I really like that system. And I'm assuming you mean the Tribe of Smoke Shadows not Storm Winds?

a
Interesting. Let's hope StarClan takes younger perspectives into consideration as well as older ones, or suffer the consequences.

b
Sounds good.

c

Alright. So Sparrowpaw was definitely watching Mistral and Kiba on their long walk? e_e

Still, there's a difference between being able to see everything and actually seeing everything. I'm essentially wondering how often do things fall through the cracks when it comes to what StarClan knows.

[Sparrow]

Yeah ^_^ Smoke Shadows, glad you like the idea <3

c
lol yeah I guess Sparrowpaw saw that xD Awks...

I guess there would be places where starclan watches lots (Like clan camps) and places that fewer starclan cats bother to look at (like way out in the territories)... So you'd never be 100% sure if starclan was watching if you were out and about.

Starclan may still not have seen Seul for example, as he and his gang are just outside the territories and haven't gone near a camp or important area yet.

[Running]

Awkward indeed. How old was Sparrowpaw when she was killed anyway?

Also, it would be fun to roleplay Sparrowpaw and Sorcha interacting hinthint.

Alright, that makes sense. I'm assuming at least some of the clans believe StarClan is always watching. But gaps in StarClan's vision makes sense.

To what extent does StarClan have foresight, then? Does it just come from a vast knowledge of the past and present in the territories? In other words, are they able to detect the pattern of a tapestry by the initial stitches? Or is there something beyond that, some sense of the pattern that comes from beyond their factual knowledge?

[Sparrow]

I was thinking that they could have a form of foresight where they can see the future like lots of roads lying out in front of them. They know which roads are more likely, and get a strong sense of premonition when something horrible is likely to happen (Like war etc)

[Sparrow]

and yes I know TT-TT I just have no muse for Sparrowpaw right now

[Running]

I forgot to add nine-lives sensing to the discussion. I know we talked about it before a little, and agreed that only full medicine cats should have the ability to sense the number of lives a leader has. Should that be limited to a medicine cat's own leader then cause otherwise all the other medicine cats would know Sootstar has not been approved by Starclan?

[Sparrow]

Yah that works ^_^

[Dreamer]

OKAY IM SO SORRY I DIDNT REPLY TO THIS BEFORE NOW.

So far as Im concerned everything you have all said makes a great ammount of sense and I agree with it!

Also I LOVE the Smoke Shadows system! That would definitely help to make things really different and unique for the Tribe, which is kind of what we wanted for them anyway!

Of course it is something we need to make sure Spots is okay with, but otherwise Im all for it.

I think within each clan the medicine cat should be able to see their leader's lives, this is due to the fact that most of the time, medicine cats are present in the background for a leader's ceremony although they do not necessarily participate. However since they were likely to be present they have a sort of bond and connection with their leader, not necessarily tangible, but at least of some form.

As for Starclan's sight, you can see anything, but not everything at once. So while Starclan can see everything, it may be more points of focus. Like for example its easier for Starclan to focus on cats of great importance, leaders, deputies, medicine cats, dying cats and cats with strong spiritual sensitivities. But other cats and situations and places are more.. blurry? Or at least it takes more effort to look at places that dont already have a strong spiritual importance to them. This may or may not make sense the way Im trying to explain it...

I like the idea of roads of the future Sparrow. As they allow for options and not perfect precognition, but more of a vague, this could happen watch out, thing. But it also helps for the inacurracies of Starclan's sight. Such as maybe they look at a path in which a particular cat plays a big role and think, oh we need to watch that cat, when in reality its actually another path that i being taken and another cat is actually going to rise.

Lets say for example, Hawktalon. With Lavenderstar's slow decline, one of the paths of the future showed that Marshfur, who was a competent warrior would take more control, and so they watched him more carefully. Oh they were aware of Hawktalon but thought him of less consequence. Suddenly in a move of a path they were less expecting to happen, Marshfur leaves to find Mistleap, and Starclan is scrambling to figure out which path is the one that is being followed. When the deputy dies, they expect Hawktalon to be named, and since they have not focused to carefully on him, do not realize the darkness of his ambitions. But then another path is taking by the ailing Lavenderstar, and she chooses her son. Starclan has watched this young tom grow up, and they realize the mistake which has happened, but the tom they were hoping to champion, Marshfur, is gone. The clan breaks down, and Starclan is left at a loss with what to do. Sootstep comes to be named leader, but when he comes they deny him the privilege. They know him better than they know many cats, they know the disaster that would ensue. What they dont expect is for him, who usually gives up so easily and is too lazy to try, is filled with anger and determination to spite them. Starclan, although they had seen all of the different paths, remained ignorant of which way the future would go. Some paths are far more obvious and clear, they reek with a strong sense of fate. And then sometimes, even the smallest decision can upset the clearest path and leave the future in a nearly unrecognizable jumble.

Of course that is just an interpretation, so it doesnt need to be accepted, but its a way of explaining Starclan's limited omniscience and precognition.

[Sparrow]

^Agree ^_^

I talked to Spotted a bit about the Smoke-Shadows system, and she mostly liked it with a few edits. I'll wait for her to come back and speak for herself though ^_^