Ironclan

|| Ironclan ||

||Environment||

Environment:An expanse of grasslands riddled with train tracks overgrown with weeds and abandoned farmland. An occasional tree and tall rock breaks up the grasses.

Significant Spots:
The Cornfield: Westmost of Ironclan territory resides a large cornfield. After decades of no twolegs managing it, it has become overgrown and dissorderly. It's an excellent place for hunting. Most of the Cornfield is Ironclan territory, but Marshclan and Ironclan fight occasionally for the southmost part of it that resides over the tracks.
Place of Jagged Trees: an expanse of grassland to the west scattered with jagged trees (dillapidated wooden fences). Most of the sheep, goats, and chickens reside here. Is a good place for hunting.
The Abandon Twoleg Settlement
Tree Place: territory east of camp and closest to the river. This expanse of land is more heavily dotted with trees than any other area in Ironclan. It's a great place for hunting as there's lots of placces to hide. Also a shady and cool place due to the trees and river.
The Apple Tree: An apple tree that resides south in Ironclan territory, near the border with Marshclan. The air there smells sweet and it's always pleasently cool because it's near the river.
Small Bridge: The smaller bridger north-east of Ironclan territory. Resides within treeplace and is used as a place of shelter if cats find they're unable to make it back to camp before dark.

Animals not classified as preditor or prey:

Crow: Considered Sacred.
Vulture

Preditors Present:

Coyote
Hawk
Owl
Fox

Prey Found:

Chicken
Goat
Sheep (must be taken down by multiple cats)
Rabbit
Cow (if found dead)
Mole
Mouse
Birds
Vole
Rat
Snake
Gopher
Roach, Beetle, Centipede, Worm, Moth, various insects

||Camp||

Camp:
The camp is set up to the east of the territory, near the river bend and the Small Bridge. The clan resides in the remains of an "Iron Serpent" (site of a train wreck). Ironroots (train tracks) surround the camp on three sides.
Warriors Den: Resides within one of railcars (cats refer to as "broken ribcages") that is mostly still right side up. Some parts of the roof are fallen it, but it's mostly covered. Older warriors sit on the railcar cushions blanketed with sheepswool for bedding, and younger warriors line the floor of the railcar with dried grass for bedding.
Apprentices Den: Resides within one of the more dilapidated railcars. The roof spotted with holes that let in dappled light. The inside is lined with dried grasses for bedding.
Medicine Cat Den: Resides within a passenger railcar mostly intact. Herbs and other necessities are stored underneath the seats. Herbs that need to be dried hang out the windows. The medicine cat makes their den wherever, and it is made of dried grass and sheepswool. Old dishes and bowls used to serve passengers long ago are now used to collect rainwater and hold special herbs.
Leader's Den: In the head of the serpant (engine car of the train). The inside is completely lined with dried grasses and sheepswool. A few cushions and blankets have been stolen from passenger cars and serve as beds as well.

Nursery: In a mostly intact railcar. One half of the den is lined with sheepswool, while the other is covered with old cushions from passenger railcars (whichever the kits/queens prefer to lay on)
Clan Meeting Place: The clan meets at the head of the serpant (engine car of train). The head is slightly turned on it's side where it ran off the ironroots (traintracks), and is over-run with weeds and grasses. The leader and deputy stand on the topmost part of the head, and the rest of the clan listens from the ground.

||Clan Culture||

Clan Culture
General:
Ironclan cats are clever, adaptable, and resilient. They value praticallity, Since they have often been the underdogs within the clans, they try not to judge cats by their stripes and listen to all sides of a tale. Ironclan cats are also the crafty-est among the clans, they don't mind teaching their cats to fight dirty and encourage their cats to be observant and use all opportunities presented to them. Ironclan cats also don't mind eating carrion food and scavenging food from hawks/coyotes/vultures.
Ironclan cats tend to be small, lithe, and wiry. Of all the clans, they have the most variation in fur type and fur colors/patterns (which comes from a history of half-clan cats being born in or joining Ironclan). The most common fur colors are black, light brown, and a light-orange sandy color. Most cats have shorter or medium length fur.
Fighting Style:
Sacred Animals/Objects/Ideas:
Crows: Crows are long time allies of Ironclan. The clan founder could speak to crows. Instead of seeing them as bad omens, she respected how resourceful, clever, and resilient the they were. After picking up a few phrases from observing them, she asked if they could teach her their language, and they agreed. She taught this skill to her kin and clanmates and now everyone in Ironclan can speak to them. The Crows and Ironclan look out for eachother, spreading news if a coyote pack is on the hunt, of food that can be scavenged, or of developements within other clans. Over time the crows have learned to speak to cats too, and in times where the crows are struggling Ironclan offers them food and shelter.Ironroots:
Wind: Wind is believed to be a creature, much like Fire and the Iron Serpent. Except unlike Fire, Wind is benevolent and playful creature. Wind brings the sent of prey. Wind runs through the grasses alongside cats as they hunt. Wind sings, and the grasses dance to its song. A windy day is seen as a lucky one.--a cat with a prefix/suffix having to do with wind is often alluding to the cats free or playful nature.
Feathers: information detailed in traditions
Fire: Fire is feared in Ironclan, more than in any other clan. The dry grasses and cornfields of Ironclan are prone to catching flame during the summer, and swathes of their territory have been eaten by Fire time and time again. Ironclan considers Fire to be a furious, untamable beast. Fire is a relic from the time of the Iron Serpent, a creature that has managed to not go extinct because of its ruthlessness and resilience. Fire speaks to no one. Not the crows, nor the cats, and ravages all in its path without mercy.--The clan founder said that Fire was what killed the Iron Serpent, a creature whose pelt was wrought of metal and thought to be impenetrable.
--Fire is used as a cautionary tale for kits. That if they behave badly or disobey the code, Fire will find them and lick at their feet with its hot tongue.
--A common idiom in Ironclan for cats who have "gone bad" or have made cruel/ruthless/wrathful/ decisions is to say "Their soul(or heart) has been consumed by Fire"
--To have the prefix fire/flame/anything related to fire, in combination with the suffix "heart" is actually considered an insult, not a compliment to the cats passion or bravery as it may be in other clans. For example, the name Fireheart (only in Ironclan) would imply that a cat is a cruel or wrathful individual.

Traditions:
~ Ironclan cats have a tradition of "earning your feathers". Feathers are given to cats if they do a heroic deed, an honorable thing, overcome a great trial, etc. Cats also receive feathers for passing kithood, apprenticeship, earning their adult name, mentoring an apprentice, becoming a leader, and becoming an elder. Feathers are most commonly given to cats by their superiors, leader, or mentor, but can be given by others as well. Cats also exchange feathers to indicate their relationship with eachother. Different feathers mean different things. Cats most commonly keep their feathers by, near, or under their den bed. Feathers are a source of pride for Ironclan cats, and the more you have, the more successful you are. When a cat dies, they are buried with their feathers.
~ Collecting knick knacks, twoleg or otherwise is common among cats. Cats keep their things by their den. Shiny Stones, gems, and bits of metal are popular. Ironclan cats tend to be hoarders, and knick knacks decorate the clan camp as well.
~ Sheepswool as bedding is considered a luxury, as sheep are large and hard to kill, and sheepswool is very comfy (and also has healing properties).
~ Rolling around near the apple tree is known to make cats smell sweet. If one cat is trying to impress/seduce another cat, they may do this.
~ it's become a reacurring trend in Ironclan to choose insect related names for kits. No reason really, insects are just neat.

Cat Ideas for when you can draw again and your hands aren't shit