✣Main Color Black
✣Additional Colors Gold, Crimson red, Brown
✣Season Affiliation Summer
✣Prey Types Bugs, reptiles, snakes, hares, birds, and desert mice/voles
✣Farming Cactus, Agave, Yucca, Tomatoes, Corn, Melon, Green-thread, Brittlebush, and Lemon verbena
✣Trading Goods Spices, Cloth/Silks, Gold, Herbs, Iron, Oil, Silver
✣Symbolisms Paradise, Endurance, Strength, Music, The Moon
1. Any individual not belonging to Aere Perennius who is summoned before the council must comply. Detection of foul play may result in imprisonment, though no harm will befall them unless absolutely necessary.
2. Blood shall not be spilled upon the sacred lands of Pyria. Any breach of this law will be met with strict consequences.
3. All members of Aere Perennius are required to pay their respects to the Shrine of The Witch each season, offering gifts and sacrifices in her name.
4. The young of the Scorpion’s Den shall be provided with extra prey and water at sunrise each day at the watering hole. Failure to feed the young shall result in the loss of the child, either by death of child through nature or through the judgment of the council. Children shall be taken from parents if neglected.
5. Failure to protect your clan is a failure of your sworn duties. Any attack upon a clanmate will result in severe punishment. Your clan must always come before yourself. Personal interests must never override the welfare of the clan.
6. He who controls the water controls everything. The access to and protection of water is of paramount importance.
7. High-borns, or royals, are to be treated with the utmost respect. High-borns are born from the Council, while royals are born from the leader or deputy (or are siblings.) The mate of a council member is to be afforded the same respect as the high-borns.
8. It is the duty of every able member to contribute to the gathering and preservation of resources for the clan. Hoarding or wasting resources is considered a severe violation. The desert is vast and lacks many resources, even the smallest resource is important.
9. All children of Aere Perennius must be safeguarded, nurtured, and taught the ways of the clan from an early age. Anyone who harms or neglects a child will face swift justice, as the future of the clan depends on their upbringing. Follow rule 4.
10. Every member must maintain both their physical and mental health in service of the clan. Those found neglecting their wellbeing or indulging in harmful vices that impair their ability to serve shall be stripped of their duties until rehabilitation is complete. No unfit cat will survive the heat of the desert and the vast lands that claim their territory. Training is a required weekly thing in Aere Perennius.
✣Talisman
Upon the birth of a kit, the clan’s artisans carve a unique talisman for each one. These talismans often reflect the kit’s name or physical traits. It is believed that keeping one’s talisman brings good luck and prosperity, while losing or destroying it brings misfortune. It is considered inappropriate to "trade" these talismans, except between mates, as they are deeply personal and symbolic. On rare occasions, an outsider may be gifted a talisman to signify a bond or their acceptance into the clan. Crafting a talisman for someone within the clan is seen as a gesture of profound affection and connection. While talismans are typically made from driftwood, they can also be crafted from other natural materials such as stone or wood. Kits of high birth (such as those born to the clan leader) are given more luxurious talismans, crafted from materials like jade, obsidian, or other precious stones.
✣The Marking
The members of the Council bear distinct symbols, marking their rank and signifying the respect they command within the clan. This mark must always be worn during meetings, ceremonies, or any important event within the clan.
It is not required to wear them about every day, but is recommended.
Leaders are given the largest star, called the Morning Star, which is placed on the lower back. It is made from a blend of crushed bugs and flowers.
Deputies receive a large star placed between their shoulder blades, crafted from roots and flowers.
Medicine Cats bear a small star on the back of their head, created from crushed berries and roots.
The remaining Council members are marked as follows:
Advisor: Small star on the chest.
General: Small star on the LEFT shoulder.
Commander: Small star on the RIGHT shoulder.
Oracle: Small star at the base of the tail.
If a Council member is removed from their position due to punishment, the area where their symbol was placed is slashed, leaving a deep scar. A former Council member with such a scar is regarded as dishonored and treated with disdain, and will never be allowed within the palace. Most exiled Council members are exiled or executed, but some may live if given the mercy of Onnophris' judgement.
✣Funerals
All members of Aere Perennius are to be buried in the sands, so their bones may return to the desert and become part of the eternal cycle of life. Clan-born cats are given the honor of stone hedges around their resting places to mark their final resting spot. A designated burial area is located near the Scorpion’s Den, where the clan gathers to honor their deceased. Upon the death of a leader, all cats both royal and low-borns, gather amongst the burial grounds to mourn the loss of their leader.
✣Morning Sun
At dawn, as the sun rises over the desert dunes, the clan gathers to meditate and connect with the energy of the new day. This ritual may include silent reflection, gentle stretching, communal purring, or sharing tongues to welcome the dawn. It is a time to honor the passing season and prepare for the new one, embracing both new life and the farewell of the old. It is by no means a required ceremony, but it is honored by many.
✣Water Offering
In a desert where water is a precious and scarce resource, the clan observes a sacred ceremony of offering water. Rainwater or dew collected in a communal vessel is ceremonially offered to the spirits of the land, expressing gratitude for the life-giving gift of water. This ceremony takes place at the changing of the seasons, as a way to honor the land that sustains the clan.
✣Attire
The attire of Aere Perennius is designed to protect the clan’s feline members from the harsh desert sun while allowing them to move freely. Their robes are made from lightweight, breathable silk or cotton, in earthy tones like gold, crimson, and brown, reflecting the colors of the desert. The robes have wide sleeves and high collars for sun protection, with slits at the sides for easy movement.
They’re often decorated with embroidered patterns of desert plants like cactus and agave, tying the clan’s connection to the land. Over their robes, they wear lightweight cloaks made from sand-colored linen or silk, trimmed with gold and adorned with symbols of the moon. These cloaks can be pulled over their heads as hoods for extra sun protection. Gold jewelry is common, symbolizing both status and strength—thin chains, small earrings, arm cuffs, and rings, often with crimson stones or pearls. To protect their faces and ears from the sun, members wear breathable headscarves or veils, usually in crimson or brown, embroidered with golden thread. These can be drawn over their faces during ceremonies.
For footwear, they wear cloth footwraps to protect their paws while walking across the hot desert sand. Braided belts hold small pouches for tools, herbs, or water or essentials when traveling through Aere.
✣Siesta Siestas
In the scorching heat of the desert midday, it is customary for members of Aere Perennius to retreat to shaded areas to rest. This period of respite, known as the siesta, is essential for conserving energy. During this time, clan members groom one another, engage in quiet reflection, or simply sleep, ensuring they are refreshed and prepared for the cooler evening hours.
✣Moonlit Gatherings
When the moon rises above the desert sands, clan members often gather for Moonlit Gatherings. These nocturnal assemblies are a time for socialization, the sharing of tongues, and the consumption of prey before the clan embarks on its duties for the night, as the cold nights are much more suitable than the blazing heat of the day.
✣Water Conservation Water
is a rare and invaluable resource in the desert, and the clan holds water conservation as one of its most sacred practices. From an early age, all members are taught to use water sparingly and efficiently. Rainwater is collected whenever possible, and shared with those in need. During times of drought, the leader and advisor will implement a schedule to manage water distribution, allowing each member a fair opportunity to drink while ensuring no one is left without.
The Aere Perennius clan is surrounded by endless miles of desert in every direction, where only towering dunes and sparse cacti break the monotony of the landscape. The sun’s unforgiving heat dominates the day, and as a result, the clan's members are nocturnal, emerging to live under the cooler night skies and retreating to rest during the blistering heat of the day. While most of the desert is dry and inhospitable, the Palace of Sand sits at the heart of the territory, boasting a massive, well-guarded watering hole that is carefully monitored and replenished daily.
The clan’s territory stretches for over three days’ journey, stopping only when the sand dunes give way to grasslands or reach the edge of the ocean.
The Scorpion’s Den
Tucked away in the shifting dunes, The Scorpion’s Den serves as a sanctuary for those less fortunate. It is a refuge for outcasts, wanderers, and those seeking anonymity. The Den is a labyrinthine settlement of huts and makeshift shelters crafted from salvaged materials, scattered across the harsh desert terrain. Life in the Den is difficult and often brutal, but it is where many find solace and survival. Advisors are stationed within the Den to oversee and manage the community, ensuring that resources are distributed and conflicts are resolved. Though they are cared for and loved deeply by Onnophris, most of the Den’s inhabitants never step foot inside the Palace of Sand.
(IMPORTANT)
Once a dangerous haven for criminals, The Scorpion’s Den was a place of chaos and lawlessness before Onnophris came to power. Under his leadership, the Den is slowly regaining order and stability. The generals, commanders, and their squads are stationed in the Den to maintain authority and ensure that the law prevails. Though many of the cats who live in the Den are seen as "low-lifes," it is not uncommon for higher-ranking members—such as Smiths, Warriors, Artisans, Navigators, Farmers, and even some Scholars—to be assigned to the area.
The Palace of Sand, on the other hand, is home to those more fortunate, including cats born into noble families or those who have worked hard to attain a higher status. Here, one might find Scholars, Collectors, Artisans, Caregivers, Kits, Elders, and some Chefs living alongside the clan's nobility.
The Palace of Sand
In stark contrast to the harshness of the Scorpion’s Den, the Palace of Sand is an opulent structure, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering mosaics that catch the desert sunlight. The Palace surrounds a sprawling oasis, a lush sanctuary in the midst of the barren wilderness, where towering palms sway gently in the breeze and crystal-clear waters provide respite to weary travelers.
Within the gilded halls of the Palace, royalty and nobility hold court. However, beneath the surface of luxury, a community of common folk, artisans, and servants work tirelessly to maintain the splendor of their surroundings.
The leader and deputy hold dominion over this section of the clan, overseeing both the nobles and the commoners who reside within the Palace's walls. Most ordinary clan members enter the Palace only on business, and those who work there often reside in small huts or quarters designated for servants.
Every Council member has a private residence within the Palace.
Despite the stark divisions between The Scorpion’s Den and the Palace of Sand, the two communities are united by the unbreakable bond of Aere Perennius. All clan members, regardless of their station, are protected and cherished under the watchful gaze of Onnophris, ensuring that no cat goes without food, water, or safety.
The Prison Below the Palace
Beneath the Palace of Sand lies a hidden prison carved into the sandstone. This secretive place is reserved for those who have been imprisoned for grave offenses. The imprisoned cats are kept out of sight, and only Onnophris or a highly trusted General are allowed access to the cells. Most of the clan’s members are unaware of the existence of the prison, and only a select few ever know its location.
The Desert's Bounty
The desert is home to a variety of prey, including birds, mice, rabbits, snakes, and reptiles. The flora, too, provides sustenance—many clan members have learned to eat the thorny fruits of the cacti, some even developing a resistance to the sharp needles that guard them. This resourcefulness allows the clan to thrive in an otherwise harsh environment.
