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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 16:48:43 GMT -8
The Crusade for the Crossheir is referred to by the cats as just the Crusade. Originally formed by a gruff tomcat, Lucius, the Crusade was first a much more peaceful colony. Lucius was all too familiar with tyranny but after having to kill his own sons for plotting against him, Lucius’ successors spiraled back down into the harsh world of hierarchy. The Crux is the supreme ruler of the Crusade and is supposed to be completely exempt from any assassination attempts. “Yeah, right, that part,” The scarred tom huffed. The Cruciusheir, crossheir, does not have to be related to the Crux at all, though usually the Cruciusheir first appointed by the Crux is in some form. If any unfortunate happenings occur to the current Cruciusheir, the Crux can appoint another who they deem appropriate or other contenders can challenge for the position themselves. The Lux is forbidden to be elected Cruciusheir as they are solely in charge of keeping illnesses at bay and wounds patched up. They are often discouraged of having a family but the Laws do not outright ban it. Of age cats who are fully trained and capable of patrolling are known as Contenders. These cats make sure the prey pile is fully stocked and borders are sufficiently protected. Young cats who are in training and being trained by Contenders are called Students. Before graduating to Contender status, a Student must pass a minimum of four tests including: Hunting, Fighting, Scheming, Socializing, and Leading. If they pass at least four, the next moon they take a test over the Law. If they pass, they are granted full Contender status. Kittens who are too young to start their Studentship are referred to as Potentials. They can begin their training at six moons. Cats that have reached sixty moons and are not the Crux are considered elders, Metropolitans. They are expected to advise the Crux and do not need to continue their usual Contender duties.
The Crusade it not particularly religious but do believe in some sort of afterlife. However, they do believe that spirits frequently visit their physical world whether they are aware of it or not. Usually past Cruxes are more common to actually spot but others have deceased family members visit and give advice through their dreams.
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 16:51:26 GMT -8
☑ written ☐ in progress ☒ skeletons✿▩ writing thread | ☑ 000 - founding post ☑ 001 - law i and ruins of an empire ☑ 002 - law ii and transfer of power ☑ 003 - law iii and description of camp ☑ 004 - law iv and the first Student ☑ 005 - law v and blessings from the past ☑ 006 - law vi and mutterings of a coup ☑ 007 - law vii and Lavelle's lessons - ☑ 010 - law x and a future visitor
☐ 008 - law viii and separated brothers
SKELETONS / NOT WRITTEN ☒ 009 - law ix and ineligibility
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 16:55:11 GMT -8
ALL MEMBERS OF THE CRUSADE MUST FOLLOW THE LAW AT ALL TIMES. IF A CAT IS CAUGHT BREAKING A LAW, THE CRUX HAS THE POWER OF EXECUTING OR EXILING THE PUNISHED CAT.
LAW I: the Crux's word is law. it must never be challenged and followed to the letter. LAW II: the Crucisheir is named by the Crux. whoever is the Crucisheir when the Crux dies takes their place, regardless of the amount of time served as Crucisheir. LAW III: while anyone is able to speak to the Crux, especially for emergencies or dire situations, it is heavily suggested that lower ranks speak to their superior first. the prefered order is: Student ➳ Contender ➳ Senior Contender ➳ Lux ➳ Crucisheir ➳ Crux LAW IV: respect must be shown to the members of the praefectus. cats must...
- quiet to acknowledge the presence of the Lux
- quiet and dip head to acknowledge the presence of the Crucisheir
- quiet, dip head, and stand to acknowledge the presence of the Crux
LAW V: Contenders of the Crusade must present their chosen mate before the Crux for their blessing. if they do not receive a blessing (which is completely in the Crux's discretion), they may still be mates but ineligible to fill the role as Senior Contender or Crucisheir. LAW VI: the late Crux's decisions are upheld after their death unless there are dire circumstances. LAW VII: a Student must be proficient in Law before they can graduate to Contender status. to prove their knowledge, they will be tested by either the Crux or the Cruciusheir. LAW VIII: the cat with the title of Senior Contender is the oldest Contender and must be in good standing with the Crux and the rest of the Crusade. they have influence over patrols but no other extra duties are expected of them. LAW IX: taking mates or other relationships outside of the Crusade is frowned upon, and the said Contender having relations with an outsider will not be eligible to hold the position of Crucisheir or Senior Contender. kits born due to an affair are not punished for their parents' wrongdoing in any way. LAW X: the Lux is permitted to take a mate and even raise kits, but it is not recommended by the Crux and the Laws. before starting a family, the Crux is able to require a Lux Student to be in training.
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 17:09:23 GMT -8
DYNASTY LEGENDS
Some Crux will live their life and pass without much of significance. Of course being etched in history is preferable but that usually applies for the Crux or Cruciusheir with the most blood on their paws. A hall of blame if you will. All cats listed below played an integral role and shaped the Crusade to how it is today. Not all Crux or Cruciusheir's will be listed so time gaps between cats are expected. More will be added later.
reigned for 5 days | LUCIUS | succumbed to injuries at 36 moons Tired of living under tyranny, Lucius led a revolution that overthrew the king. His goal was to allow every cat a better chance of getting heard. His group would still be led by a single cat, known as the Crux, but the next in line would not be solely based on a royal lineage; any cat the Crux deemed worthy to potentially lead would be named Crucisheir.
Unfortunately, Lucius died only five days into he reign from his injuries sustained during the battle. Cato, his chosen Crucisheir, took control of the Crusade and finished writing the Laws with her most trusted Contenders.sometimes the short end of the stick is the sharpest SOMETIMES THE ONLY ROAD TO TAKE IS THE DARKEST
| reigned for 57 moons | POMPEY | killed during a territory dispute
Ever since Pompey was a small kitten, they knew they wanted to be Crux. They threw themselves into their duties without question, smooth talked the right cats with potential influence, and even allegedly disposed of a couple opposing cats.
During their reign of Crux, they were known for being a real stickler for the Laws, not even bending some for their closest friends and family. This caused them to be set apart from their close circle as most expect a bit of rule-bending for certain cats.
They ultimately were killed during a particularly violent territory dispute though it is speculated as to whether their final blow came from a friend instead of a foe.
i bet my billionth bottom dollar on a hopeless case NOW THE DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER HAS A KNIFE TO MY FACE
| reigned for 4 moons | JULIUS | murdered at 56 moons Julius succeeded Pompey as Crux after serving 18 moons as Crucisheir. However, staying as Crucisheir for so long left a bitter taste in a rival Contender's mouth. While Julius had obviously stayed in power for so long by using nefarious means, that was an unspoken understanding in the Crusade: Crucisheirs' pay in blood.
Right after becoming the Crux, Julius tightened up on punishments for Laws that had previously been half-heartedly enforced. As expected by many, he named Augustus Crucisheir. This was seen as a sign of respect by cementing that he really did see Augustus as his own son, even though Augustus arrived at the Crusade as an orphaned Student.
Unfortunately for Julius, the open secrets of former sins and the harsh use of newly claimed power led to a small coup breaking Law II, overpowering and murdering Crux Julius.
Augustus immediately took control as Crux and ordered the exiles of each member in the coup also allowing permission to kill if any of the Crusade ever laid eyes on them again. Julius is now remembered as the Crux in power for the shortest amount of time.
sometimes all you gotta say is "daddy, make it go away." SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY OUT IS AS A CARCASS
| HERE | reigned for 40 moons | AUGUSTUS | died in sleep at 75 moons Augustus came into power a lot quicker than expected, only serving as Crucisheir for 4 moons before the assassination of his predecessor. He, like many others, was uneasy about the unrest that had plagued the Crusade for many Cruxes before him. Therefore, he vowed to bring back the "glory days" and managed to claim a much larger amount of territory than needed.
Managing a large area of land eventually led to Contenders being overworked and susceptible to "alleged" fatal attacks from their own kin. Although Augustus bragged about being the first Peaceful Crux after a long period of conflicting ideals, the territory was won by blood spilled and any Crucisheir related deaths were overlooked.
However, Augustus ruled until the end of his natural life at 75 moons and was generally liked all throughout his rule.sometimes you gotta finish what you shouldn’t have started Sometimes you gotta shoot before you see the target | Row 3 column 2 | Row 4 column 1 | Row 4 column 2 | Row 5 column 1 | Row 5 column 2 | Row 6 column 1 | Row 6 column 2 |
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 17:12:28 GMT -8
- borders/surrounding territory
a line of cracking pillars lined the cobblestone path that was slowly being retaken by weeds and moss. the Crusade didn't complain, the greens provided a cooler, more comfortable surface to travel on. no one knew where the road led to; even at the times when the Crusade owned the most territory, the road continued on. For all the cats knew, it could be infinite. if one went the other way, however, the abandoned granite structures would appear and one would soon find themself in the heart of the camp. the vegetation overtook the stone ground in a dense carpet. still directly across the clearing was a small (compared to other's which traveling cats confirmed there were much larger ones built other places) granite structure with the same pillars seeming to hold up the roof, regardless if that was true or not. stepping inside did not protect you from all of the elements. for whatever reason this structure was abandoned, and there was only so much upkeep cats could continue theirselves. however, the cracks and openings allowed breeze and a fresh airflow inside the walls. this is where the low ranks slept and built their nests. the praefectus, high ranks, took residence across the way where brick arches were built halfway into a hillside. there were three arches, thus small divisions easily deciding where each den started and ended. any of the Crux's, Crucisheir's, or Lux's family could live with them if they wished. training Students was part of the camp's entertainment as it happened in the large circular paved middle of camp. uninvolved Contenders and Students would watch in the shade of their structures; some of the brazen ones would pace the outside of the circle offering advice or jeering. following the path out of camp once more, a slightly worn dirt path that veered off to the right would catch the eye. it wasn't very long and soon would stop at a quiet burial site. tall stone stacks marked old praefectus' graves and past those and down another path led to a larger burial site where the rest of the Crusade would be laid to rest.
- wip
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 13, 2021 17:13:04 GMT -8
| "Fight, my dear, but I just want to go home." NAME: Tiberius GENDER: male (amab) RANK: Crux STATUS: alive CAUSE OF DEATH: n/a SEXUALITY: asexual TEACHER: Augustus STUDENT(S): Caligula MATE: Julia (deceased) POTENTIALS: Drusus (deceased), Caligula (adopted grandson) PARENTS: Nero (deceased) x Drusilla (deceased) NOTABLE FAMILY: Augustus (stepfather and adopted father)
PERSONALITY: Tiberius might have once been a strong, popular choice for the Crux, but after experiencing multiple familiar tragedies, he remains reclusive and brooding. He stays uninvolved in the day to day duties in the Crusade, yet still feared for his mood-swings and harsh punishments. CHARACTERISTICS: His voice is low and scratchy, almost like sandpaper.
PHENOTYPE: longhaired solid black cat with hazel eyes with scars on the ear, face, and leg, and black ghost mackerel tabby markings GENOTYPE: ll / BB / XoY / Dd / aa / Mcmc / ww ARTIST: kazin |
RAZZ ♦ ADOXOGRAPHY♦ PHOTO
TIBERIUS
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 22, 2021 23:11:47 GMT -8
| "Whatever's good for your soul, do that." NAME: Manius GENDER: male (amab) RANK: Contender STATUS: alive CAUSE OF DEATH: n/a SEXUALITY: heterosexual TEACHER: - STUDENT(S): - MATE: none POTENTIALS: none PARENTS: unknown NOTABLE FAMILY: n/a
PERSONALITY: Manius is a very "go with the flow" type of cat. He doesn't want to rock the boat and certainly tries his best to stay out of the usual politics. CHARACTERISTICS: Not wanting to draw too much attention to himself, Marius stays on the edges of the camp.
PHENOTYPE: shorthaired black bicolor GENOTYPE: LL / Bb / XoY / Dd / aa / McMc / Wsw ARTIST: amethyst14
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RAZZ ♦ ADOXOGRAPHY
MANIUS
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Jan 22, 2021 23:27:47 GMT -8
| "I want to try the impossible to show it can be done." NAME: Cloelia GENDER: female (afab) RANK: Contender STATUS: alive CAUSE OF DEATH: n/a SEXUALITY: bisexual TEACHER: - STUDENT(S): - MATE: none POTENTIALS: none PARENTS: unknown NOTABLE FAMILY: n/a
PERSONALITY: Cloelia knows that there is nothing particularly remarkable about herself but still throws herself into the thick of expected duties. While she would never openingly gun for the Crucisheir position, she dreams that one day she'll be picked for the coveted spot. CHARACTERISTICS: Cloelia's eyes betray her true emotions regardless of what her other body language is saying.
PHENOTYPE: shorthaired silver and white tabby with amber eyes and a bobtail GENOTYPE: LL / BB / XoXo / DD / AA / McMc / Ii / Wsw / jbjb ARTIST: h1ss
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RAZZ ♦ ADOXOGRAPHY
CLOELIA
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Feb 1, 2021 21:27:10 GMT -8
| "We don't grow when things are easy." NAME: Caligula GENDER: male (amab) RANK: Crucisheir STATUS: alive CAUSE OF DEATH: n/a SEXUALITY: pansexual TEACHER: Tiberius STUDENT(S): Lavelle MATE: none POTENTIALS: none PARENTS: Germanicus (deceased) x Agrippina (deceased) NOTABLE FAMILY: Tiberius (adopted grandfather), Augustus (great-grandfather)
PERSONALITY: Caligula has a generic superficial jovialness that he uses to lure others into a false sense of security. In reality, he craves an unyielding grip of power and pulls a lot of unseen strings in the background. CHARACTERISTICS: Caligula is aware that he makes new cats uneasy. He seems like he should be tall, but his legs are much shorter than the average Contenders'.
PHENOTYPE: shorthaired blue shaded cat with blue-green eyes and short legs (not a munchkin genetically, they just got some short legs) GENOTYPE: LL / Bb / XoY / dd / aa / II / ww ARTIST: kazin
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RAZZ ♦ ADOXOGRAPHY
CALIGULA
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Post by spasticjazzhands on Feb 1, 2021 22:45:45 GMT -8
| "Trust the timing of your life." NAME: Tullia GENDER: female (afab) RANK: Contender STATUS: alive CAUSE OF DEATH: n/a SEXUALITY: heterosexual TEACHER: - STUDENT(S): - MATE: none POTENTIALS: none PARENTS: unknown NOTABLE FAMILY:
PERSONALITY: Tullia likes to think that she is a relationship expert, asserting herself in various dramas in guise of giving "advice." In reality, she just likes being in the know as it helps keep herself out of others' way. CHARACTERISTICS: She has broad shoulders that she likes to use to shove cats aside.
PHENOTYPE: longhair black mackie tabby with high white spotting and blue eyes GENOTYPE: ll / Bb / Aa / Ccs / Dd / Mcmc / XoXo / WW ARTIST: chamrosh
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TULLIA
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