(some info here, rest in project) Claws of Chaos- Factions: -Coon family and supporters -Dissatisfied citizens -Rebel group -Outcast group History: The Coon family established themselves as a cohesive force in the city zone seven years after the tumultuous apocalypse. They found success in their breed’s size and strength against the threat of wild animals. The Coons first arrived in the city a five years after the apocalypse, in hopes of escaping the terrifying dog packs that thrive in the less developed rural areas. The founders, a sister and her two brothers, along with the sister’s two kits(we can name them if you have any ideas, I don’t think the A name tradition should start that early) They carved out a place for themselves in the midst of other cats as well as possums and raccoons. The family stuck together, united in brotherhood, and fiercely drove out all that weren’t theirs. Through this they found mates and the family grew, maintaining their ruthlessness all the while. The former Matriarch, the third in succession, was much more gentle than her predecessors. She began uniting forces with neighboring cat families and welcoming in loners, offering her family’s unique strength for protection. With their new numbers, they drove out the raccoon horde plaguing the city. This was a cause for great rejoicing amongst the new cats, as the raccoons had taken many lives. So all the cats united into a single colony, with the Coons at the head. (It needs a cool name) She continued to reign peacefully, and was regarded almost as a god from her good and impressive works, making her and the Coon family an honored name in the colony. She even managed to secure most of the city as colony territory. but the Matriarch’s life came to a violent end after a dog attack left her gravely wounded. She had reigned for three years but had mated very late, so her only kit was a year old, not old enough to lead. So her last remaining brother replaced her as the current Patriarch, Amon(maybe his mom started the A name tradition?) Amon rules wisely, but with a heavy paw and abuses the ranks. In the two years he has reigned, he has promulgated a culture of abuse in the high ranks, leading guards and hunters to exploit the commoners for food, housing, and their own satisfaction. few cats have left the colony because of this, most remain in the comfort and safety of where they have lived for most of their lives. In the second year of Amon’s reign, the old Matriarch’s son tried to overthrow him, motivated by his hatred of Amon’s punishing rule and his yearning for the title he feels he should have instead. He failed, of course, and would have been killed if he didn’t run away, taking a few associates with him. But his vocal uprising highlighted the commoner’s anger against the exploitive leadership. Defectors increased, and Amon now labeled them as traitors and rebels, betraying the family that had kept the colony safe for many years and tarnishing the late Matriarch’s honored name. Traitors are killed and branded with bitten off ears in case they escape. About half the cats side with Amon, especially in the leadership, and hate the rebels. Others quietly dissent with their heads down. The Coons still provide protection, after all. It is much harder to survive outside the city. This continues today, the beginning of the third year of Amon’s reign, in the month of February. Currently Amon is trying to kill off the Rebel group and expand into the more prey-rich urban areas. Dogs have become more of a problem ever since the Matriarch’s death, and as Amon tries to expand into their territory and eliminate them. Amon is now 7 years old and the rebels are anticipatig his death. Amon wants to secure the throne for his eldest daughter, Artemis. They work closely together. On the rebel side of things, they were founded after the attempted coup. The Matriarch’s son(or brother) is their leader, with those that fled with him in the coup part of his council. The rebels welcome not only traitors to the Coons, but loners that want shelter as well. They often raid the colony’s prey and supply stashes to injure their forces, targeting the leadership’s secret stashes. This usually makes the commoners of the colony ever more angry at the rebels as the leadership takes more from them to make up for what they’ve lost. The rebel group moves locations as the colony discovers them, but always stays nearby. Currently the group is experiencing trouble with morale, as the group is much smaller and weaker than the colony, so is in constant danger from the colony, wild animals, and dogs, as well as a growing sentiment of just wanting to settle down and have peace, mostly coming from the former loners that don’t really hate the colony.
The outcast group is to arrive later in the rp, after the colony hits the rebels especially hard. The outcast group arrives in the area, lead by Kryst. The rebels are all desperate for numbers, just to hunt and protect themselves, so reluctantly join forces with the outcasts. The outcasts are a good sized band of accomplished criminal cats, held together very loosely at times, but Kryst has kept them one so far. The outcasts are all thieves at best and murderers at worst. Kryst is very skilled and well respected in her group. Cool and cunning, she aims to take advantage of the rebels to get some land in the city. City scapes and forests are easiest for cats to live in, since they can climb while larger predators can’t, but the surrounding area is all brush and plains, no forest, leaving the city to conquer. Colony ranks(from highest to lowest) -Patriarch: Amon -His mate:? -Close advisors he picks out among the ranks -His close relatives -Coons(coons can be guards and hunters, but just by being the breed they are respected) -Halves(coons have bred with other breeds, making a mix.) -Sentinel(very skilled, specialized guard) -Commander(leader of multiple guards, 3-10) -Shadow walker(equal standing to commander)(name comes from a folk tale of a cat so good at hunting, they turned into a shadow. Is the title for those that excel at hunting.) -Hunter( obligate hunters, report to commanders if they are wanted to hunt in an area or for a specific person. They are expected to hunt constantly and are allowed travel latitudes that commoners are not.) -Guard(equal standing with hunters. Protect individuals, groups, and the territory. Reports to commanders. Have ranks by seniority.) -Herbalist(a new healing specialty only one cat has) -Commoner(helps out higher ranks as an assistant or takes care of themselves.) To ascend in ranks, cats must be mentored by a higher rank in that position or above, and after at least six months observed in a test by the Patriarch. He observes hunters in groups only in June, but Guards whenever he is available. If they succeed, he dons them with a sash (as they can find old clothes lying around as fabric) with a flower inserted in it respective to their new position. Their positions are announced at the moonlight gatherings, where they will be displayed. Rebel Group ranks: -Leader: that guy who needs a name -The council: three or five cats, prob three now that I think about it, maybe two. Those of the council can have other ranks too. -Runners (scouts that are essential for telling if the colony has found them and any dangers nearby. Keen of eye and swift of paw. They keep watch at night with guards) -Guards (superiority is determined by seniority in the rank. Seniors will oversee Runners and lower guards.) -Hunters (not really any leadership in this, they just hunt. There are no commoners. The leader requires everyone to have a profession or to be training in one, unless they are younger than six months, rearing kits, or too old. Also no healer, yet. Could rp their arrival or one in colony can defect here. Outcast ranks: -Leader: Kryst -The big three (a small group within the outlaws that Kryst trusts. They keep the outcasts in order, guard and advise Kryst. -Every one else determines their own ranks and alliances. The strongest rules. Colony Customs: every month on a full moon there is a moonlight gathering, where Amon addresses the whole colony, gives them news, and announces new ranking members. He also takes a census of who’s there an scratched it into a wall. If a cat doesn’t attend several, they are a suspected traitor and guards are sent to them. The colony has to come from afar to see him, as they live in the entire city. Hunters drop off prey at supply stashes, and others take their fill. There is a controversial breeding culture, where cats mate to retain or develop desired traits, such as the Maine coon breed, size, and speed. The coon family does this a lot. Travel is highly restricted since the coup. Guards are stationed to patrol the border of the city territory and not let anyone in or out without permission. Hunters have permission to leave on the assumption that they are hunting, unless the guard just doesn’t want them to. Hunters usually wear their sashes, signifying their rank, in hopes the guards won’t bother to stop them. It is ideal to hunt outside the city, since there is more and better prey there. Rebel culture: They try to care for each other a lot, so hunters bring their prey to the young or infirmed. There isn’t much abuse of power at all.
