Sunpaws- The high council
Anchor - Rapt
The Anchor is the heir to the Worldstone, believed to have emerged from the ancient tree's roots. The founder and leader of the Worldstone lions.
Maintenance - Duke
Maintenance acts as the Anchor's claws and teeth. Responsible for the more everyday organization and command of the pride. While the Anchor often is occupied with the collective, the Maintenance is more concerned with the individual. The word of the Maintenance is the word of the Anchor.
Diviner-
The left eye of the Anchor, watcher of the skies. The Diviner uses the winds, the clouds, and the birds to predict things like the weather, the movement of prey, and whatever the skies whish to tell. A lion forever cursed to be blown like the winds they watch, hollow and light.
Prophet-
The right eye of the Anchor, watcher of the waters. The Prophet uses the light dancing of the Mirrorlake to see what has been, what could have been, what is, what might be, what will be, and what could be. A lion cursed to be burdened with terrible knowledge, unable to truly use this knowledge until it is far too late.
Wunderkind-
A lion occupied with the upkeep and preservation of the Worldstone. The pride's Wunderkind is chosen and begins their duties from a very young age, as they must show a great affinity for the Worldstone shortly after birth to fulfil this position effectively. The Wunderkind has direct and exclusive authority over the Keepers, and answer only to the Anchor and Maintenance.
Grandiose-
The head of ceremonies, history-keeper, and loremaster. Often acts as a conflict mediator, both small-scale and large-scale. Has authority but no direct power over most ranks. An advisor to the Maintenance and Anchor.
Vouch-
Ambassador and outreach for the pride. Tasked in keeping track of relations to outside groups and forces. While the Grandiose mediates between individuals, the Vouch mediates between larger groups. Only Stonebound lion other than the Anchor and Maintenance with authority over Deepwalker lions.
Bai-Vang-
Named for the old-language word for "Cursed Fang" the Bai-Vang is the speaker for the dead and lost. This lion exists outside the chain of command entirely, and operates independently from the rest of the Pride. The Bai-Vang will often remain in the Cave of Ghosts for most of their lives, emerging only for extreme circumstances or for a funeral service. A Bai-Vang is not chosen by the Anchor, but it is always obvious that a lion will be the Bai-Vang as soon as they are born. The signs will very greatly from Bai-Vang to Bai-Vang, but there will always be some sort of sign.
Cloudpaws- those above
Skreeleen-
From the old-language word for "Thunder Voice", The Skreeleen are the pride's messengers. They are lions with booming and clear roars that can travel across the entire Worldstone. Each Skreeleen is assigned to a sector in order to make sure the Worldstone lions maintain proper communication across the large area. While the Skreeleen do not have true ranks, each of the Sunpaw lions other than the Bai-Vang have a personal Skreeleen, who often possess the loudest and most melodious voices among these lions.
Apothecary-
The Worldstone's healers and herbalists. Works alongside (but has no authority over) the Keepers. Maintains gardens, researches curative properties of plants on the Worldstone, and treats various maladies that may afflict Worldstone lions. There is usually only one or two Apothecaries at a time.
Keepers-
Custodians of the tree- a small circle of lions answering only to the Wunderkind. Chosen at a young age for this role, in which they will remain for their whole life. Each Keeper is often given a specialty or a focus for their work in order to spread out the burden of labor.
Aviators-
Worldstone lions that keep in contact with and maintain diplomatic relationships with the birds that inhabit the Worldstone, with corvids and vultures having the closest relationship to the pride. Led by an Aviator Captain, who is usually a particularly charasmatic veteran aviator.
Bird-Eyes-
Bird-Eyes are lookouts acting as the Worldstone's alarm system. They spend much of their time on top of trees at the edge of the Worldstone, watching for threats or herd movements. They will also send and receive messages via birds, so they tend to work alongside the pride Aviators closely. Led by a Bird-Eye Captain, who is always the Bird-Eye with the sharpest eyesight.
Byrgisa-
From the old-language word for "Claw," the Byrgisa are the "last defense" so to speak- they're a large group of highly trained and battle-ready lions that can mobilize against any threat to the Worldstone. While lions of the Byrgisa are usually less active than most other Cloudpaw lions due to the nature of their role, they often keep their skills sharp by regular sparring among themselves. The Byrgisa operates almost as a sub-pride, with various ranks and roles within the group, while remaining mostly sperate in terms of living spaces from the other lions.
Outrunners-
The majority of lions living on the Worldstone are Outrunners. This is also the only Cloudpaw role that may require scaling and descending the Worldstone on a regular basis. Outrunners are expected to fill many roles in the pride- they scout the close lowland territory, hunt, and check in with the Deepwalker lions. This is more of a "do whatever is needed", catch-all type of position in the Worldstone pride.
Deepwalkers- those below
Edgefolk-
These lions are tasked with guarding and scouting the far reaches of the lowland Worldstone territory. They send word of herds entering the area to the Outrunners and intercept strangers and interlopers as they arrive. They travel in groups, each of which will fall into a sort of miniature-pride dynamic with more fluid roles than the overall pride.
Travelers-
Those who venture outside of the pride's territory, often to contact other prides and creatures. They spend most of their time away from the Worldstone territory, returning once or twice per year to update other Worldstone lions about their journeys.
Dregs-
Lions and hyenas alike that live mostly solitary lives on Worldstone territory. They are rankless and only allowed to remain in the pride under the assumption that they will help defend the territory from intruders if needed and come to the pride's aid in times of great strife. They will often only communicate with other Worldstone lions when sharing prey with the Outrunners or Edgefolk, which is also the only time these lions are tolerated by other ranks.