Post by Sorrel on Oct 15, 2019 17:00:49 GMT
Training An Apprentice
Basic Rules:
* Know that apprentices are expected to learn and abide by the warrior code. Failure to do so will reflect poorly on both the apprentice and their mentor.
*An apprentice works from early dawn to dusk unless special training times are scheduled for whatever reason(ValeClan cats in Greenleaf for instance may train after dusk to avoid heat stroke).
1. Apprentices may not leave camp without permission from a warrior(Preferably their mentor) or a high rank such as the leader.
2. Apprentices may not eat until they have brought back one piece of prey for the elders or queens, unless given express permission.
3. Apprentices must accompany their mentor when asked to.
-3.b. If the apprentice has good reason to be wary of their mentor, they should bring these concerns to a deputy, leader, or fellow warrior.
4. It is discouraged for leaders to assign kin to train kin(ie, older siblings training younger, parents training children, etc.). This is to avoid favoritism and remove personal bias.
5. After receiving their warrior name, former apprentices will hold a one-night vigil in silence.
The Path to Warriorhood:
Mentors and apprentices must work together and build a bond to get the most out of the training experience for both cats. To help roleplayers come up with milestones and ideas for their own training threads, we've provided some simple prompts and rough age ranges for certain types of training.
The Basics: 6-8 moons old
Apprentices this young may be low on stamina as their bodies adjust to having a rigorous schedule- there's a difference between training and overworking! Take care of your apprentice and don't stretch them too thin if you can help it.
1. Get to know your apprentice; chat with them, ask them about their aspirations or what they like. Gain their trust, and build their confidence in you. This will make training much smoother.
2. Border patrol. Take your apprentice out around the outskirts of the territory, pause by well-known landmarks, and show them the scent-markers.
3. Teach them how to care for the elders and queens(Or ask the current Medicine Cat to help, too).
4. Teach your apprentice emergency procedures- what to do if there's a disaster at camp, how to alert a patrol about a dangerous animal or event, and pass on important information to the leader or deputy. A warrior must know how to share important news swiftly and accurately!
5. Get help from the medicine cat or their apprentice to learn a few basic herbs. Warriors only really need to know to recognize a select few of the following - catmint, cobwebs, honey, horsetail, juniper, marigold, mouse bile, poppy seeds, and wild garlic. There's no need to memorize them all, but knowing a few can be very helpful.
6. Tail signals! These silent communications are vital for warrior life; many young cats already know a few basic ones they picked up from adults and playmates like Stop(Tail raised) and Follow Me(Tail kinked over back), and everyone knows what a lashing tail means. Here are a few other good ones to learn:
Battle Training: 8-12 moons old
Apprentices at 8 moons finally have enough stamina and strength to start learning how to fight. Each clan has their own tactics and methods, so be sure to refer to various clan information posts for help here, too! But here's some rough guidelines/ideas:
1. Teach your apprentice where they're vulnerable; the throat, belly, stomach, eyes, and spine are common targets for an opponent. Show them how to best strike these spots without getting hit back themselves.
2. Each clan is different, but some moves are universal in one-on-one combat. Teach your apprentice how to "rabbit kick" with their hind legs, pin an opponent, pounce, and make basic swiping and clawing attacks.
3.(Advanced[9+ moons]) Teach your apprentice the clan-specific combat style.
In PeakClan, apprentices train in small groups and learn how to take on predators and foes much bigger than themselves. There is a focus on stunning and brutalizing the enemy over straight up clawing; bruises aren't uncommon after an especially rigorous training session. Cats are trained to have powerful shoulders to plow through snow and deliver disorienting blows.
In ShellClan, apprentices train in very small packs- mostly two or three, in order to learn how to navigate their treacherous territory and use the ocean to their advantage. They learn how to use riptides, waves and the motion of the water to their advantage. During this time, they learn riskier moves, like drowning and smashing opponents against rocks or corals.
In ValeClan, apprentices learn how to fight in ranks and divisions, and operate in large groups. Typically, groups of apprentices around the same age will come to see each other similar to a squadron of soldiers; cats they can rely on, no matter what their personal relationship is like. Sparring and playfights are encouraged in spare time, as well.
In GladeClan, cats learn how to use the thick foliage around them to their advantage. They value stealth and acrobatics, and mostly train independently of other mentor-apprentice pairs until they begin to practice battle party scenarios.
4. Real-world experience. Is there a battle coming up? A patrol skirmish on the horizon? Bring your apprentice along. Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing.
5. Recuperating. Recovering after battle is just as important as the battle itself. Work with the medicine cat to learn a few basic field medicine practices(Putting cobwebs over a wound, fashioning a simple splint, using a stick to bite down on for pain management). Show them how to carry a cat who is too wounded to carry themselves- and remind them that while it is not encouraged, cats do sometimes die in battle.
Hunting: 7-10 moons
Hunting for prey is the most basic aspect of life as a warrior; combat is situational. The hunt is daily. Apprentices must do their best to feed the clan before they may be allowed to feed themselves. Prey will vary by clan location; check the Local Fauna thread!).
1. Basic technique; show your apprentice how to properly crouch, how to stalk their prey silently while still moving quickly. Don't worry about teaching them specific styles for certain animals. Only focus on the most essential basics.
2. Climbing(PeakClan, ValeClan, GladeClan) or swimming(ShellClan, GladeClan, PeakClan) can help a cat get a better vantage point or reach more risky yet rewarding prey- as well as help them escape a predator.
3. (Advanced[8+ moons]) Start showing your apprentice specific ways to hunt certain prey animals you can't just use the basic stalk and pounce method for. For example:
In PeakClan, you could teach your apprentice how to dig for hibernating mice, which part of a turkey's neck to aim for, or how to find rabbit nests in New-Leaf.
In ShellClan, you could teach your apprentice how to catch larger fishes, stalk seabirds, watch for ravens popping open oysters(two meals for the price of one!), or steal and carry the eggs of birds and reptiles.
In ValeClan, you could teach your apprentice how to outlast or outrun a jackrabbit, dig up gophers, or pop the shell off of a small tortoise.
In GladeClan, you could teach your apprentice how to root for frogs, chase squirrels, or snag a bat out of the air.
4. Knowing when to give up. Some prey animals can retreat into burrows, cause harm, or otherwise eventually prove they're more trouble than they're worth. It's important to teach your apprentice when to keep trying and when to give up and search for different prey.
5. Some prey needs a little extra preparation before it can be given to elders or queens, who may be sharing with their older kits. Scorpion stingers must be removed, bird feathers plucked, etc. Also teach your apprentice where and how to bury prey bones- though some harsh Leaf-Bare moons may require you try to eat them anyway.
Final Lessons: 10-12 moons
Your apprentice is most likely about to graduate; at this point, they should know almost all there is that you can teach them. Now, it's time to start preparing for their rite of passage. Rites of passage are not required to be roleplayed out as long as you have already done at least one other thread, but it is strongly encouraged! Each clan has a unique rite.
PeakClan: Brave the harsh cold of the White Tops to reach the Ancient Keeper, an enormous pine tree where every new warrior leaves their mark. Rake your claws through the bark and plant your memory on the landscape before returning home.
To prepare, help your apprentice adjust to colder and colder environments for longer periods of time. Teach them how to stay warm and conserve energy for the long path up the mountain, and how to breathe effectively in the high altitude.
ShellClan: Retrieve a decently large reptile or bird egg from Featherfoot Cliff and return it to camp without breaking it. If you really wanted to show off, you could also try to take a fish egg from the ocean; the softer casing will make this a difficult task combined with swimming and then climbing home while wet.
Ensure your apprentice has mastered both climbing and swimming; they will need at least one of those skills to succeed here. Ready them to face aggressive pelicans and sea snakes. Show them how to carry an egg gently yet firmly, and how to run, jump, and climb while doing so.
ValeClan: Select a bone from Vulture's Landing and return home with it. Sounds simple, but the area is infested with snakes, deadly scorpions, and large birds of prey.
Warn your apprentice about the vultures. Teach them how to predict and dodge a snake's strike, and to keep an eye out for the shadows of large birds circling. Prepare them for the intense heat and danger ahead of them.
GladeClan: Apprentices of Gladeclan who are deemed old enough to receive their warrior name are taken out into the woods to the fringes of the territory at night and told to find their way back to camp on their own: using only their training and senses to guide them. Along the way they may face disguised senior warriors who stalk them as ‘predators’, and their goal is to make it back to camp by dawn.
Teach your apprentice how to navigate the woods and identify markers in the chaos that the dense forests can be. Have them work together with fellow apprentices, and teach them how to either dispatch or evade predators that are larger than them.
Basic Rules:
* Know that apprentices are expected to learn and abide by the warrior code. Failure to do so will reflect poorly on both the apprentice and their mentor.
*An apprentice works from early dawn to dusk unless special training times are scheduled for whatever reason(ValeClan cats in Greenleaf for instance may train after dusk to avoid heat stroke).
1. Apprentices may not leave camp without permission from a warrior(Preferably their mentor) or a high rank such as the leader.
2. Apprentices may not eat until they have brought back one piece of prey for the elders or queens, unless given express permission.
3. Apprentices must accompany their mentor when asked to.
-3.b. If the apprentice has good reason to be wary of their mentor, they should bring these concerns to a deputy, leader, or fellow warrior.
4. It is discouraged for leaders to assign kin to train kin(ie, older siblings training younger, parents training children, etc.). This is to avoid favoritism and remove personal bias.
5. After receiving their warrior name, former apprentices will hold a one-night vigil in silence.
The Path to Warriorhood:
Mentors and apprentices must work together and build a bond to get the most out of the training experience for both cats. To help roleplayers come up with milestones and ideas for their own training threads, we've provided some simple prompts and rough age ranges for certain types of training.
The Basics: 6-8 moons old
Apprentices this young may be low on stamina as their bodies adjust to having a rigorous schedule- there's a difference between training and overworking! Take care of your apprentice and don't stretch them too thin if you can help it.
1. Get to know your apprentice; chat with them, ask them about their aspirations or what they like. Gain their trust, and build their confidence in you. This will make training much smoother.
2. Border patrol. Take your apprentice out around the outskirts of the territory, pause by well-known landmarks, and show them the scent-markers.
3. Teach them how to care for the elders and queens(Or ask the current Medicine Cat to help, too).
4. Teach your apprentice emergency procedures- what to do if there's a disaster at camp, how to alert a patrol about a dangerous animal or event, and pass on important information to the leader or deputy. A warrior must know how to share important news swiftly and accurately!
5. Get help from the medicine cat or their apprentice to learn a few basic herbs. Warriors only really need to know to recognize a select few of the following - catmint, cobwebs, honey, horsetail, juniper, marigold, mouse bile, poppy seeds, and wild garlic. There's no need to memorize them all, but knowing a few can be very helpful.
6. Tail signals! These silent communications are vital for warrior life; many young cats already know a few basic ones they picked up from adults and playmates like Stop(Tail raised) and Follow Me(Tail kinked over back), and everyone knows what a lashing tail means. Here are a few other good ones to learn:
- Enemy Nearby(Tail bobbing)
- Danger(Tail hooked)
- Stay Behind Me(Tail erect, waving side to side)
- Attack(Tail tip flicked towards enemy position)
- Be Careful (Tail erect, tip flicking side to side)
Battle Training: 8-12 moons old
Apprentices at 8 moons finally have enough stamina and strength to start learning how to fight. Each clan has their own tactics and methods, so be sure to refer to various clan information posts for help here, too! But here's some rough guidelines/ideas:
1. Teach your apprentice where they're vulnerable; the throat, belly, stomach, eyes, and spine are common targets for an opponent. Show them how to best strike these spots without getting hit back themselves.
2. Each clan is different, but some moves are universal in one-on-one combat. Teach your apprentice how to "rabbit kick" with their hind legs, pin an opponent, pounce, and make basic swiping and clawing attacks.
3.(Advanced[9+ moons]) Teach your apprentice the clan-specific combat style.
In PeakClan, apprentices train in small groups and learn how to take on predators and foes much bigger than themselves. There is a focus on stunning and brutalizing the enemy over straight up clawing; bruises aren't uncommon after an especially rigorous training session. Cats are trained to have powerful shoulders to plow through snow and deliver disorienting blows.
In ShellClan, apprentices train in very small packs- mostly two or three, in order to learn how to navigate their treacherous territory and use the ocean to their advantage. They learn how to use riptides, waves and the motion of the water to their advantage. During this time, they learn riskier moves, like drowning and smashing opponents against rocks or corals.
In ValeClan, apprentices learn how to fight in ranks and divisions, and operate in large groups. Typically, groups of apprentices around the same age will come to see each other similar to a squadron of soldiers; cats they can rely on, no matter what their personal relationship is like. Sparring and playfights are encouraged in spare time, as well.
In GladeClan, cats learn how to use the thick foliage around them to their advantage. They value stealth and acrobatics, and mostly train independently of other mentor-apprentice pairs until they begin to practice battle party scenarios.
4. Real-world experience. Is there a battle coming up? A patrol skirmish on the horizon? Bring your apprentice along. Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing.
5. Recuperating. Recovering after battle is just as important as the battle itself. Work with the medicine cat to learn a few basic field medicine practices(Putting cobwebs over a wound, fashioning a simple splint, using a stick to bite down on for pain management). Show them how to carry a cat who is too wounded to carry themselves- and remind them that while it is not encouraged, cats do sometimes die in battle.
Hunting: 7-10 moons
Hunting for prey is the most basic aspect of life as a warrior; combat is situational. The hunt is daily. Apprentices must do their best to feed the clan before they may be allowed to feed themselves. Prey will vary by clan location; check the Local Fauna thread!).
1. Basic technique; show your apprentice how to properly crouch, how to stalk their prey silently while still moving quickly. Don't worry about teaching them specific styles for certain animals. Only focus on the most essential basics.
2. Climbing(PeakClan, ValeClan, GladeClan) or swimming(ShellClan, GladeClan, PeakClan) can help a cat get a better vantage point or reach more risky yet rewarding prey- as well as help them escape a predator.
3. (Advanced[8+ moons]) Start showing your apprentice specific ways to hunt certain prey animals you can't just use the basic stalk and pounce method for. For example:
In PeakClan, you could teach your apprentice how to dig for hibernating mice, which part of a turkey's neck to aim for, or how to find rabbit nests in New-Leaf.
In ShellClan, you could teach your apprentice how to catch larger fishes, stalk seabirds, watch for ravens popping open oysters(two meals for the price of one!), or steal and carry the eggs of birds and reptiles.
In ValeClan, you could teach your apprentice how to outlast or outrun a jackrabbit, dig up gophers, or pop the shell off of a small tortoise.
In GladeClan, you could teach your apprentice how to root for frogs, chase squirrels, or snag a bat out of the air.
4. Knowing when to give up. Some prey animals can retreat into burrows, cause harm, or otherwise eventually prove they're more trouble than they're worth. It's important to teach your apprentice when to keep trying and when to give up and search for different prey.
5. Some prey needs a little extra preparation before it can be given to elders or queens, who may be sharing with their older kits. Scorpion stingers must be removed, bird feathers plucked, etc. Also teach your apprentice where and how to bury prey bones- though some harsh Leaf-Bare moons may require you try to eat them anyway.
Final Lessons: 10-12 moons
Your apprentice is most likely about to graduate; at this point, they should know almost all there is that you can teach them. Now, it's time to start preparing for their rite of passage. Rites of passage are not required to be roleplayed out as long as you have already done at least one other thread, but it is strongly encouraged! Each clan has a unique rite.
PeakClan: Brave the harsh cold of the White Tops to reach the Ancient Keeper, an enormous pine tree where every new warrior leaves their mark. Rake your claws through the bark and plant your memory on the landscape before returning home.
To prepare, help your apprentice adjust to colder and colder environments for longer periods of time. Teach them how to stay warm and conserve energy for the long path up the mountain, and how to breathe effectively in the high altitude.
ShellClan: Retrieve a decently large reptile or bird egg from Featherfoot Cliff and return it to camp without breaking it. If you really wanted to show off, you could also try to take a fish egg from the ocean; the softer casing will make this a difficult task combined with swimming and then climbing home while wet.
Ensure your apprentice has mastered both climbing and swimming; they will need at least one of those skills to succeed here. Ready them to face aggressive pelicans and sea snakes. Show them how to carry an egg gently yet firmly, and how to run, jump, and climb while doing so.
ValeClan: Select a bone from Vulture's Landing and return home with it. Sounds simple, but the area is infested with snakes, deadly scorpions, and large birds of prey.
Warn your apprentice about the vultures. Teach them how to predict and dodge a snake's strike, and to keep an eye out for the shadows of large birds circling. Prepare them for the intense heat and danger ahead of them.
GladeClan: Apprentices of Gladeclan who are deemed old enough to receive their warrior name are taken out into the woods to the fringes of the territory at night and told to find their way back to camp on their own: using only their training and senses to guide them. Along the way they may face disguised senior warriors who stalk them as ‘predators’, and their goal is to make it back to camp by dawn.
Teach your apprentice how to navigate the woods and identify markers in the chaos that the dense forests can be. Have them work together with fellow apprentices, and teach them how to either dispatch or evade predators that are larger than them.
