HIGH RANK EXPECTATIONS (UPDATED 22 MAY)

As a leader of X Clan, there are many responsibilities and expectations. Applying for leader, or going from deputy to leader should not be considered lightly. Please read through what is required of this special position carefully before beginning your application:

001. Members with leader positions are expected to be on their designated account for their leader at least once a week, preferably twice.

002. Leaders have the responsibility of holding ceremonies for their Clan and organizing Clan meetings. These include naming ceremonies, mentor and apprentice ceremonies, as well as gathering announcements.

Naming ceremonies are when a kit becomes an apprentice or an apprentice is meant to become a warrior. As the leader, you oversee this personally. It is up to you to PM or have an in character thread with the mentor and/or apprentice prior to the ceremony to assess if training has gone correctly and for the allotted amount of time. Leaders are responsible for naming apprentices, unless there is a special request from the mentor or apprentice characters.

Mentor/apprentice ceremonies are held when a warrior receives a new apprentice to train. Even though apprentices will be paired with a warrior upon the creation of their profile, there can be a formal ceremony, though this is between the leader and the designated mentor/apprentice pairing.

Gathering announcements are held the week before a Gathering (you can hold them any time during the week, even the day before though this is not advisable). This thread will allow you to choose which clanmates you take with you, and you can base it on who replies to the thread or have it already figured out prior. It is recommended you take at least 2 - 3 other cats aside from your deputy to the Gathering. Leaders are required to go to every monthly gathering unless there is a plot-relevant reason they are not attending, in which their deputy will take their place at the Gathering.

There may be other miscellaneous Clan meetings, which can be anything from the announcing of a threat to the Clan (I.E., an rival Clan, predators), discussing messages/omens from StarClan or a new plan of action for the Clan.

003. Leaders are responsible for punishments (not limited to re-naming ceremonies*, demotions (I.E. a deputy back to warrior, forced reassignment of a medicine cat), banishment). In coordination with their deputies, they also are at liberty to plan an attack on another Clan, and, in relation to war, oversee the treatment of Clan prisoners. Tough calls are a must for this position (if only it were all peaches and roses!).

004. It is also the job of the leader to appoint a deputy if the previous is deceased or unable to perform their duties any longer. Leaders have one week real time to decide on their next deputy. When choosing a new second-in-command be sure to PM possible fills before making your announcement. Announcement should be officiated in character, via a thread in the designated Clan meeting place.

005. As an extra note, female leaders ARE allowed to take a mate and have kits of their own. If a she-cat becomes pregnant, she should take care to lessen any amount of stress and are advised to hand more duties to their deputy as the pregnancy furthers. Once she is moved to the nursery, the deputy takes over her duties and is encouraged to select a senior warrior to assist in helping everything in the Clan run smoothly (not absolutely required though recommended). Nursery-bound leaders are still consulted with daily, or, at least, as much as they would like to. Once the she-leader is able to leave the nursery, she may return to her normal duties as leader.

While an acting deputy of X Clan does not have quite the workload like their leader, there still are specific expectations to be met. Please read carefully before applying for a deputy position:

001. Like with the leaders, deputies are also expected to participate on forum once or twice a week to show their activity.

002. Deputies do a lot of interacting with the entire Clan, and it is important for them to spend time with their clanmates. Every month (at least!!), deputies are required to organize a patrol within their Clan to assess any potential threats and the condition of their territory. You are welcome to organize these in character or OOC, but there must be a thread for the patrol, remember, at least once a month. The patrol can consist of volunteers if the characters of your choosing do not wish to go!

003. While leaders directly oversee naming ceremonies themselves, it is the job of the deputy to ensure that apprentices are being trained for the right amount of time (a general guideline is 1 hunting lesson thread and 1 battle training thread, and then a final assessment thread**). Deputies are encouraged to report when apprentices are ready, or if they are not (either IC or through PM).

004. In the event a leader goes inactive, or is incapacitated due to a plot reason, it is the duty of the deputy to take up the leader responsibilities and may choose to keep their own for themselves or find another willing warrior to help them.

005. Much like the situation of a female leader, female deputies are also allowed to take a mate and have kits. Their situation is handled almost identically with the leader either taking up their duties or, alternatively, requesting the help of a senior warrior to take up some of the slack.