THE ROYAL FAMILY

The Royal Family are the leadership of Elysium. They are excempt from The Game, allowed to have multiple litters, and they are the only ones who know the truth behind the city.

What is that truth? Simply this - that life outside the city, is not the disastrous danger zone as Elysium claims. It is the reason no cat is allowed in or out. The Game is used to keep the city under control, threatening them with a death game, and promising great riches to the winner. The winners of these games are only allowed to know the truth after they have been crowned, as the Victor's crowns all have the ability to paralyze a cat, or kill them should they disobey. The Royal Family's kittens are taught the truth after they turn 21 and are given a mate.

For those born into the Royal Family, they have very regal names. A Victor is not re-named upon joining the family, to remind them of their roots.

VALOR

Valor are the brave faction. Defenders of Elysium, working to keep the cities borders safe. They often work alongside the tougher of the animal species such as canines or birds of prey. Their primary job is to ensure that outsiders do not disrupt Elysium's way of life, and that no-one leaves the city.

Valor members often wear spiked jewelry, or weapon enhancements such as claw-extenders. They are often riddled with scars, which they wear as a badge of pride. Valor members are also trained in weaponry, and work with Jurat to develop new technology that they are able to use better than the human weapons, which can get a bit clunky.

Valor names are often tough sounding, reminiscent of the names a "rogue" might have taken, in the days before the end of humans.

Valor values bravery, loyalty, and strength. Their ranks are named Tenderpaw (apprentice) and Ironfang (warrior). In order to become an Ironfang, Tenderpaws spend three years in battle training, before a final tournament style fight in which the top five members are accepted into the higher division of soldiers, while the rest are divided into lesser ranks. It is possible for a lower ranked Ironfang to rise and take command of others, but it is rare, and very difficult to do.

JURAT

Jurat are the honest faction. They lead the justice system in the city, presiding over the creation of new laws, and ensuring that existing laws are kept. Jurat assigns mateships for all factions based on compatibility, which is determined by a personality test that all cats take upon the age of 21, after they have aged out of The Game.

Jurat members have two main jobs, which can define their appearance. Judges are represented by a black cape they wear, and they can also be seen with reading glasses or scroll-bags. Jurats that work as scientists can be defined by a white cape, or eye-protective glasses.

Jurat names are represenative of various sciences.

Jurat ranks are Student (apprentice) and Truthseeker (warrior). To become a Truthseeker, Students spend one year in study of the laws, one year in which the group of Students as a whole creates a new law or adapts an existing one to better benefit the city, one year in which they train in the labratories, and one year in which they must only speak the truth, which is verified by a truth serum developed by their previous scientists. Jurat is one of two factions which allows for choice in an adult job, as their Truthseekers are allowed to choose between Judge or Scientist upon completing initiation.

EMPAS

Empas are the compassionate faction. They take care of the other animals that work in the city, and grow the food that Elysium eats. Empas members wear a heart necklace to identify themselves, and they often have flowers braided into their fur.

Empas members often have animal companions, animals who work for the city but stay with the cats to help them with their duties - especially Empas members who tend to the animals, for ease of communication. Empas members are often taught how other animals live, learning their cultures and ceremonies, in order to better work with them.

Empas ranks are Greenpaw (apprentice) and Gardenheart (warrior). Their Gardenheart ceremony involves covering the new member in paint, weaving them with flowers, and bestowing the heart necklace to them.

Empas values love, compassion, and kindness. To become a Gardenheart, Greenpaws must either raise a young animal from newborn to worker, OR raising a plant from sapling to first harvest. This can take from 1-8 years, depending on the animal or plant, which are assigned randomly.

CURAN

Curan are the healers of Elysium. Although they are the smallest faction due to a rebellion centuries ago, they are slowly rebuilding in number. Curan are often viewed by the other factions as treacherous, since they hold tighest to the old stories of "relgion" and "Starclan", often practicing some of the old traditions. However, they are a very necessary part oft he city, and thus are allowed to stay.

Any kitten wishing to leave Curan must go through a lengthy trial to prove they hold no loyalties to Curan. They must publicly disavow their former faction. Those descended from the 7 Survivors are not allowed to transfer. Any cat wishing to transfer into Curan often becomes an outcast of the other factions, seen as a traitor for joining "the rebellion" instead of staying loyal to Elysium, despite the fact that the civil war ended generations ago.

Curan members are represented by the bags they carry which store various herbs. They also often have wrappings wound around their limbs which can double as bandages in an emergency. Aside from these, there is no knowing what a Curan member might wear, as they are often called in to do tasks the other factions don't want to do, even though that is why the Factionless exist. Curan members descended from the 7 Survivors are marked by a bracelet with a set of wings on it.

Curan names are typically herbal, and the most reminiscent of the old warrior clan naming traditions. They also will somtimes have names reminiscent of the old tribes. Curan values devotion, instinct, and resilience, and their ranks are Trainee (apprentice) and Cloverleaf (warrior)

In order to become a Cloverleaf, a Trainee must spent two years learning about herbs and their uses, one year learning about the various rituals that Curan holds to. Their final test is seeing if their Trainee's will go through a ceremony that will introduce them to the heavenly city of Starbright, which is what Starclan became after the End of Humanity. The ceremony will assign the Cloverleaf to a secret ancestor, who will protect them during life, and aid them should they need it. If Starbright refuses to show itself to a Trainee, then the cat is made factionless for not holding true to Curan's beliefs. They have avoided several Royal Family assigned spies this way.

FACTIONLESS

The Factionless are those who failed initiation for one reaason or another, and now work as Elysium's laborers. They do the grunt work no faction wants to (and that no faction wants to make even Curan do).

While Empas provides food for the Factionless, they are not permitted into buildings to sleep, and must survive in the harsh weathers of the city. Death rates are rather high for the Factionless.

The Factionless are given one chance at redemption, during The Game. Unlike the Factions, where participance is mandatory, Factionless may volunteer to enter The Game. If they are the survivor, then they will be made into the highest honor the city has, joining the royal family.