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Post by nightfall on Jul 1, 2012 11:01:27 GMT -10
 Name |
Alderheart
Gender |
Tom
Age |
58 moons
Rank |
Warrior [Council Member]
Clan |
Fogclan
Beliefs |
Alderheart's devotion is to Starclan, and to Starclan alone. He places no one on par with his ancestors, and does not believe that Starclan would choose one single cat to do their bidding. He believes that Starclan sees everyone as equals, from the tiniest kit to the oldest elder.
At the same time, Alderheart remains tolerant. Due to his belief that everyone is equal in the eyes of Starclan, it means to him that those who do not believe are still on an equal level. He holds no ill will towards Pineclan, a clan of non-belief. He holds true the idea of equality and second chances.
However, this also means that Alderheart does not believe that Miststar is Starclan's "chosen one." He thinks that, if Starclan wanted Owlstar out so badly, then they would have appealed to the clan as a whole to have her removed in a nonviolent, non-accusatory manner. A simple "Starclan has chosen" discussion, a way he believes Owlstar would have calmly left in, with those she was closest to by her side.
Instead, Alderheart has been given a clan ruled with an iron fist. A clan that holds only one cat above all others. An insane cat, at that.
Thus, Alderheart has been left to pick up the pieces what he sees as the disillusioned beliefs of a radical, the damage of a failure who is not even around now to atone for her actions.
Parents |
Blackclaw [father + deceased + forestclan + np]
Russetheart [mother + deceased + forestclan +np]
Siblings |
Whitepaw [sister + deceased + forestclan + np]
Kitetail [brother + unknown + forestclan + np]
Mate |
Eagleheart [unknown + forestclan + np]
Kits |
Blackkit [male + unknown + forestclan + np]
Brackenkit [male + unknown + forestclan + np]
Palekit [female + unknown + forestclan + np]
Apprentice/Mentor |
Gorseheart [mentor + male + deceased + forestclan + np]
Crowheart [apprentice + male + unknown + forestclan + np]
Sparrowtail [apprentice + female + alive + fogclan + np]
Appearance |
To say Alderheart looks a little rough is an understatement. This cat is big, tough, and has all the scars to prove it. Really. Alderheart is huge. He has an air of utmost respect around him and knows how to command it.
Along with his big body comes plenty of fur. If someone were to make a coat out of Alderheart's fur, it could probably fit LeBron. His fur is thick, long, and very comfortable to lie on. Eagleheart would have described it as "a large comfortable pillow in the shape of a cat with a voice." His lovely fur is a mix of light to dark browns and blacks, giving him a dappled, almost tree bark-like look (thus the name Alder).
There isn't much else to say about Alderheart, as the rest of him is pretty plain, just large. He has olive green eyes, large ears with fur coming out of them, and a long muzzle. Amusingly enough, like the rest of him, his whiskers are huge, and make him look like some old dude with a giant moustache. No wonder he seems like some kindly old veteran.
Personality |
Like any cat with a long history of intelligent thinking and difficult decisions, Alderheart is proud and dignified. He is a cat of his word, always willing to stand for justice. He is one to always step in in times of distress and need, and with follow through with a task until it is done.
His general attitude is that of a kindly, proud, veteran grandfather. He is happy to divulge stories for the young ones if they wish one, but at the same time, will chastise and warn when needed. He is always providing helpful tips and tricks to apprentices, and will always sit an apprentice down and talk to him/her one on one if he believes they are having problems that they don't want to discuss with their mentors.
However, thanks to his long history of danger and hate, Alderheart can also be quite volatile. Like many veteran soldiers, it's hard for him to "shut off" - meaning it's hard for him to get out of the battle-like state of mind he's been in for so long. He can easily lose his temper and shout. However, once he's back in control, he's apologetic and nervous, upset at his own inability to control his emotions.
Nevertheless, Alderheart is generally positive and gentle, always playing the role of the cool old grandfather - even though sometimes he just needs to take a step back and breathe.
Skills |
Thanks to Alderheart's rather large stature, he is an extremely capable offensive and defensive fighter. He has the strength to make a cat three quarters of his size go flying with a good tackle, and at the same time, can take a lot of abuse before giving in. His fighting prowess is well known throughout the clans.
However, because of his larger stature, he's not the best hunter. His weight and body size do not combine well for a hunter, and he often scares away prey because of his loud pawsteps. But he's not all bad - he can still hunt well enough to help feed the clan.
His tracking skills are considered average, really - he's good enough that he doesn't get hopelessly lost but not as good as to track a cat or some prey all throughout Fogclan's territory.
While not a social cat, Alderheart has gained his famous father's ability to persuade. He finds it easy to both get cats on his side and to debate with others over a topic of interest. This skill has helped in the past, particularly in his attempts to join Miststar's council.
History |
Kithood
Alderkit was born to two happy parents, Blackclaw and Russetheart.
He was the oldest of three kits, his brother Kitekit the middle kit and sister Whitekit the youngest. Alderkit spent much of his kithood playing with his brother and sister in the nursery. However, on the day when he turned five moons, his father was killed by a fox during a patrol. His family was heartbroken by the loss of their headstrong, dignified father, who was also a close friend of Elkstar's. Alderkit spent the rest of his time as a kit wondering and worrying about succeeding his father when he became a warrior.
Apprenticeship
When he reached six moons, Alderpaw found himself apprenticed to Gorseheart, a well-known, established warrior with a glowing track record of successful apprentices. Alderpaw immediately felt the pressure of being Gorseheart's apprentice. What if he couldn't deliver? What if he made a fool of himself in front of his mentor and the clan? Alderpaw decided to work his hardest to become another one of the members of Gorseheart's successful apprentices.
It worked, for the most part. Until, that is an assessment that several mentors decided to have to see how far their apprentices were in terms of understanding training. Tasked with sniffing out an old badger set (which was believed to be long since abandoned), Alderpaw (being the hardworking cat he was) sniffed it out quite quickly. Unfortunately, the set was not abandoned, and instead of succeeding in the assessment, Alderpaw had a very big, very angry badger on his tail.
The ensuing fight between badger and cat was horrifying, and more than one life was lost. One of these lost lives belonged to his sister, Whitepaw, who happened to be in the way of the badger's sharp teeth early into the battle.
Alderpaw and Kitepaw were devastated, but were forced to move on. They soon completed their training and both received their warrior names: Alderheart and Kitetail.
Warriorhood
Alderheart, much to the happiness of his family, had successfully succeeded his father, and, had succeeded as another glowing merit badge to Gorseheart's plethora of successful apprentices. More joy was brought two moons after his warrior ceremony when he met Eagleheart. The two quickly fell in love.
Elkstar died about 6 moons into Alderheart's career. Brownstar took over. Alderheart slowly became a favourite of Brownstar's - his intimidating size and battle prowess had not gone unnoticed.
Brownstar gave him an apprentice - Crowpaw, a cat that he was meant to train to be a brutal fighter. Alderheart trained Crowpaw with utmost efficiency and superiority, turning him into exactly what Brownstar wanted him to be. Brownstar was proud, and Alderheart realized he was becoming everything his father had taught him not to be - a cat who used his skills unlawfully and not in the ideal of Starclan. A monster, in short.
Nine moons into Brownstar's leadership. Alderheart found happiness again - his kits had been born. Palekit, Brackenkit, and the oldest, Blackkit, who was named as such in honour of his father. Alderheart had discovered his reason for living once again, every time he watched his little kits play about, so oblivious to the crumbling world around them.
The Journey
Around this time, a rumour that Cedarclaw was planning on leaving Forestclan with as many cats as he could get began to spread around the camp. This woke Alderheart right up. He realized that this would be his chance to escape the clutches of the poisonous cat who had made him so battle-scarred - inside and out.
However, when he brought up the topic with Eagleheart, she refused to hear. No kit of hers was going on a journey into the unknown. She was still pure - thanks to the fact that Alderheart was a "favourite" - his kits were not forced to leave the nursery early to become unprepared apprentices. She did not know of the monstrous things that were occurring outside the nursery.
Worried, Alderheart consulted Cedarclaw himself. Cedarclaw convinced him to join them on the journey, telling him that many more would be willing to join the journey if a cat like Alderheart were to be leaving as well. Alderheart realized that he would be throwing everything away - his brother, his mate, his kits, his pride as the son of the great Blackclaw of Forestclan.
For some odd reason, he felt more liberated by this than tied down.
The day came. Cedarclaw announced his intentions. Shortly after, Alderheart stepped up to join him. The group of cats left. Alderheart left it all behind, and felt nothing.
The journey was long and harsh. Alderheart found himself losing many acquaintances. Of course, no one trusted him. He'd been a favourite of Brownstar's after all.
One of the few cats willing to talk to him was Owlstorm, a sharp, religious cat. She carried no interest in his past mistakes. She was more interested in his present. They had many discussions about their starry ancestors. Alderheart found himself with a good friend.
The Division
Finally, the journeyers found a new home. By that time, the group of cats that had come from Forestclan had diminished greatly. With many others, Alderheart went out to the surrounding area, preaching Starclan, the clan and clan life to rogues, loners and kittypets alike. Many joined. Soon there were too many for one clan.
So the cats were split. Three clans at first. Owlstorm had become the leader of one, one that based itself entirely on the ideals of Starclan. Alderheart joined his good friend happily. He could enjoy himself in a clan that was based on Starclan's ideals.
Then Gingerclaw stepped forward. A clan with no belief? While Alderheart was surprised by the notion, he still accepted it, knowing that some had this atheist belief.
And so, four clans were made.
Fogclan
By the time Fogclan was established, Alderheart was about 39 moons of age. He became a senior warrior, helping the deputy, Mistpelt, with clan duties and such. He was given an apprentice,
Sparrowpaw.
She became his pride and joy. She was like a daughter to him, considering all his kits were still in Forestclan. He trained her carefully and meticulously, making sure she could become the best warrior she could be. He could not have been happier when she became a warrior five moons later.
The Banishment
Alderheart, as a senior warrior, was especially perceptible to rumours flying around the camp. This held true when the news whispered around about Mistpelt gathering cats. Worried, Alderheart consulted his old friend, Owlstar. She waved off his worries, telling him the rumours were likely fake and that she had faith in her deputy.
Yet, faith can be broken. This happened mere moons after the consultation Alderheart had with Owlstar, when Mistpelt and her followers banished Owlstar and her followers. This time, Alderheart stayed behind. He knew he couldn't leave. He knew he couldn't leave the clan in the paws of this cat. He saw it in her eyes. Mistpelt- no, Miststar had the same power-hungry eyes he had always seen in Brownstar as she proclaimed herself Starclan's chosen leader of Fogclan.
Alderstar knew, at that moment, that he had a job to do. A job that had the complete opposite goal of Miststar's.
The Council
With a new sense of grave purpose, Alderheart busied himself with getting close to Miststar. Once again, he had to become a favourite of a power-hungry monster, and it felt no better the second time around. He worked himself into the comfort zones of many cat. Rowan was easy, considering how nice he was. Tawny was a little more difficult. Volepelt was even harder. Miststar herself was hardest of all.
But he achieved it. He knew he had achieved it the moment Volepelt came to consult him about something. He knew he was in.
Fogclan, the Dominated
Despite being in the council, Alderheart found it increasingly hard to watch the public confessions and tribunals. He would try constantly to make sure he was out on patrol or hunting when he knew one was coming up. If he could not, then he would force himself to focus on a point in the camp where the poor cats were not, and would try to look dignified and above it all - after all, a council cat must be proud of their choices.
Alderheart, despite all appearances, was not. He would try his hardest to turn a blind eye to the supposed "sin" on the clan, and would only punish when not doing so would bring harsh suspicion.
The going was difficult. Every part of the clan reeked of fear. Cats were terrified of him, all because they knew he was part of the council. Gone were the short moons of being trusted because of Owlstar's trust in him. Owlstar was gone. All that was left was her insane deputy.
When Miststar vanished, little changed. The public beatings and confessions continued. The only change came when Volepelt declared war. Alderheart became scared. He didn't share Volepelt's sentiment. Pineclan wasn't bad. They weren't out to taint the forest. The war would only end in grief.
But for now, Alderheart has no choice. He can only hope for Starclan's interdiction.
Roleplay Example |
You know those days when you know everything is going to suck so much? Alderheart had a feeling it was one of those days.
"Alderheart! Alderheart!"
... Yes. It would be one of those days.
Sighing, Alderheart turned to look into the bright eyes of a rather small apprentice. Small-pawed and clumsy, Kitepaw was constantly looking for someone to talk to.
As happy as Alderheart usually was to talk to apprentices and tell them stories, Kitepaw was starting to get on his nerves. The cat never left. It was as though the apprentice was stalking him.
The thought was mildly creepy, so Alderheart turned his thoughts away from such things and spoke. "Yes, Kitepaw?"
The small cat was leaping with excitement. "Whitepaw said you were going on patrol. Can I come? Can I? Can I? I wanna go on patrol!"
Alderheart nearly said no. Patrol would be insufferable with this cat on it. But when the senior warrior looked at the apprentice, he could see the terrible desire to just do something important. Alderheart sighed.
"Is your mentor okay with you going on patrol with me?" The little cat nearly screeched. He jumped up and down, prancing around before turning to look at Alderheart again.
"I'll go ask!" He raced away.
Yep, it was gonna be one of those days.
---
"Be quiet, Kitepaw!" Alderheart ordered. He crouched down in the bushes. The apprentice curled up beside him. Beyond the bush, he could see Pineclan warriors who were very clearly on the wrong side of the Pineclan-Fogclan border. In any warrior's books, that was a big no-no. In Alderheart's books, that was "Get off before I kick you in the face" kind of thing.
Alderheart considered his options. On one hand, he could leap out and rush the two warriors. On the other hand, he could use diplomacy and request that the cats leave Fogclan territory. On a third hand, if that was possible, he could do the latter, and then use the former if the latter didn't work. Yes, that sounded good.
The big cat moved to leave his hiding place. Kitepaw moved as well, and Alderheart faced him.
"Go back to camp and report this to Owlstar." The apprentice tried to protest.
"But I could-"
"No." Alderheart growled. "These are warriors, and you will be a target. Grow a little, and then you may join me in battle." The apprentice resigned himself to his task and fled back towards camp.
With that out of the way, Alderheart exited the bush and stepped towards the two invading warriors. Of course, he wasn't really able to sneak towards them, as he was huge and they saw him immediately.
In retrospect, Alderheart really should have realized that when cats get caught doing things they shouldn't, their first instinct is to attack. However, he didn't realize this. Thus, he had two fully-grown Pineclan warriors stampeding towards him.
Honestly, this didn't really bother him. He had some stress to relieve, and, if these warriors thought themselves strong enough to challenge him, then he would gladly accept the challenge. Amusingly enough, as the warriors got closer, they seemed to realize who they were dealing with, and began to slow down.
But, they had challenged, and he had accepted. Alderheart moved forward smoothly, catching one of the warriors (who had a black pelt) under his chest and sending him flying backwards. He turned and kicked the other warrior on the flank, sending him to the ground. Within seconds, the black pelted warrior was on Alderheart's back, and Alderheart let him hang there for a moment before falling backwards and squishing the warrior under his immense weight.
As he got up, the black pelted warrior fled. The other one, still noticeably winded, took one glace at Alderheart before following his companion.
A cry from behind him alerted Alderheart to the backup warriors. Among them, Sparrowtail, Kitepaw, and Owlstar. He found himself chuckling as he faced his leader.
"They challenged me."
Perhaps to day wouldn't be so bad after all.
Character Songs |
"Hero of War" by Rise Against
"Professional Griefers feat. Gerard Way" by deadmau5
"Together or Not At All" Doctor Who Unreleased Music - The Angels Take Manhattan
"Amelia's Last Farewell" Doctor Who Unreleased Music - The Angels Take Manhattan
Critique level |
Criticise all aspects of my character.
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