The Community

The Community is a tight-knit group revolving around the uses of names. Each cat has a distinct purpose in life, and their names reflect this. The head of the group, Leader, is the one to decide the fate of each cat in the group. Leader has one assistant named Trainee, who will become Leader when Leader dies.

At the age of ten moons, each kit is given a proper name. Before then, they are simply referred to as a name given to them by their mothers. (such as Bird, Mouse, Blue, Claw, Ice, etc.)

Taking their personalities into consideration, after Trainee has a one-on-one conversation with each kit to be named, Trainee will report to Leader and Leader will then decide each kit's fate. Cats can share purposes, but names cannot be repeated per name ceremony.

Common purposes include:
Travelling 
Healing
Mediating
Mothers/father
Stargazers (interpreting signs from The Beyond)
Fighters 
Hunters

(Note: they are not limited to this!!)

Ancestors:

The Beyond are worshipped as deities, and where dead cats go. 

Acceptance:

Cats with purposes to travel are never welcomed back into the Community. It is considered treason to forsake the declaration of Leader, and to go back against your name is the worst of all. The Community are wary of outsiders, eyeing them with skepticism. However it is not unheard of to accept outsiders and gift them a new name. 

To refuse the name Leader gives you is one of the worst crimes you can commit (second only to disrespecting the Beyond), and exile is immediate should you not instantly repent.

Cats who leave the Community and their names are not travel related are considered dishonorable and never allowed back for forsaking their purpose. They're called Outcasts and shunned permanently. Followers are what the Community call cats with the purpose to travel, and if coming across one who's merely passing by on their travels they are warmly greeted. This is considered a sign of good luck and known as "Coming Full Circle". 
(Note: it's only good luck if they are passing through. If they wish to stay it is considered treason)

Community Terminology:

Leader: the leader of the Community. Their word is law.

Trainee: will become leader when leader dies. Has no authority until then. Interviews each kit who's ready to receive their names to learn their personalities to report back to Leader.

"Coming Full Circle": when a Follower from the Community ends up passing by the Community again. It's considered a sign of good luck. They're greeted warmly and sent off at sundown that night after a feast. The Follower then leaves and the Community carry on like normal.

Outcasts: cats who forsake the name given to them by Leader. They are frowned upon and never allowed to return.
Followers: cats who leave because they have the purpose to travel.

The Beyond: the term used to describe the afterlife of the Community. They speak with Stargazers.

Stargazers: essentially, they are ½ of the medicine cats. They interpret signs from the Beyond, such as when to move camps, the first night of snow, The Blooming, when to pick a Trainee, etc.
The Blooming: a term used to describe the first blooming of flowers. A full day feast is held and it's celebrated as a joyous occasion.

First Names: the term used to describe the name a kit is given by their mothers before they receive a true name.

Season: (note, if spoken it's said "the season of Dappling Leaves, the season of Falling Snow, etc.)

Falling Snow: winter; leaf-bare
Dappling Leaves: fall/autumn; leaf-fall
Blooming Flowers: spring; newleaf
Sunny Skies: summer; greenleaf

Territory:

Every couple of moons the Community will collectively travel and find a new camp. They only move camps when the Stargazers receive signs from the Beyond to move, and they travel at night, following the stars as the Stargazers lead the way.

Disabilities:

While most would assume cats with disabilities would be frowned upon, the opposite is quite true. They're shown great compassion, and most the time their disabilities do not affect their purposes. Even cats even cannot have kits and have the purpose of parenting can care for kits who aren't their own and fulfill their purpose.

Cats whose disabilities prevent them from having a 'normal' purpose are given a special role known as Advisors. They peacefully settle inner-Community disputes, and help Advise Leader and Stargazers. Those who join the Advisors get "Advisor" added to their name. (E.g Advisor Preycatcher, Advisor Stargaze, Advisor Combat, etc.)

Disabilities that will do this are fully blind Fighters, deaf and blind Hunters, any non-Caregiver and Stargazer who's unable to walk, blind Stargazers (they must be able to see the signs the Beyond give them), etc.

Retirement: 

When you are too old to carry out your purpose, you are able to peacefully retire. They keep their name, but "Senior" is added to it. (E.g Senior Queen, Senior Hunt, Senior Advisor Preycatcher, etc.)

Common misunderstandings:

- you don't have to have the purpose of parenting to have kits. If you're purpose is to Hunt you can have kits and then resume your duties a few Sun's rises after they are born.
- Trainees don't actually have any power until the they become Leader.
- your purpose is based off of your personality. Your parents names have no influence over you. (E.g if your parents are a Fighter and a Caregiver, you could still end up being a Follower)
- Stargazers don't actually speak to the Beyond unless it's a life or death matter. They interpret signs of nature.
- Leader cannot retire. They are in that position for life. Same with Trainee.

Ceremonies:

"Today is a celebration of purpose. Today, (insert names) will be shedding their First Names and receiving their true purposes in life. (Insert names) step forward. Your First Name is no more. You are now (insert new names). Your purpose will be to (insert purpose). The Beyond shall guide your paws and hearts." - the naming ceremony.

"Gather around, Community! Our Stargazers have informed us that tomorrow will be The Blooming. As per tradition, we will rest today and at Dawn tomorrow we shall awaken and we shall feast. Our Hunters will hunt from Moon's Rise to Sun's rise. Today is a day of rest, tomorrow is a day of celebration." - the day before The Blooming.

"Community! Wake and behold, The Blooming is upon us. Our Hunters have hunted all night for us, and so they shall pick the first prey in their honor. Afterwards we will feast and we will celebrate. May this season of Blooming Flowers be plentiful and lively." - the day of The Blooming.

"(Insert name) has forsaken the Beyond and their purpose. Turn away from them and cast them out! (Insert name), you are no longer welcome in the Community. Leave, and never return. Should the Fighters find you, they will have every right to chase you off or even kill you. You have until sundown to be far off our territory, (insert name). Now go." - exiling a cat.

"(insert name) has faithfully served the Beyond since the young age of ten moons. They've dedicated their life to serving the Beyond and now it is time to give them rest. Senior (insert name), we honor your commitment and each cat here will strive for a legacy of fulfilment that you have. The Beyond thank you and the Community do as well. May the Beyond grant you many moons if rest for your devotion and loyalty." - retirement ceremony

* Means they are not npc characters

Allegiances: