WC DEPUTY INTEREST CHECK

[foxlore]

࿐ೃ˙ WINDCLAN DEPUTY INTEREST CHECK ࿐ೃ˙

Hey, y'all! Scorchstar won't be choosing a deputy yet, but I'd like to consider the options ahead of time, so here's an interest check for WindClan's next deputy! I am considering choosing a long-term deputy from this interest check, but I would really enjoy having a short-term deputy plot before Scorchstar settles on her final decision. Here's some things to consider before applying:

✦ In order to be considered for deputy, your character must be at least 12 moons old and must have had an apprentice before (even if they have not finished their training).
✦ I'm looking for someone who is active and friendly OOC, who is seen around the discord server regularly, and who is not only posting in their own channel.
✦ Scorchstar will only promote a character who she feels she can trust, and she is specifically searching for someone with strong combat skills. It is unlikely that she would choose a character who doesn't fit these criteria, but it's not strictly impossible, so feel free to shoot your shot anyway!
✦ In order to qualify, you cannot have another character who holds the deputy or leader rank.
✦ Make sure you've read through the deputy section of the rank guide, and the leadership guide. If something happens to Scorchstar or myself, your character will be required to step up even if you've opted for a short-term plot, so it's best to be prepared even if you don't plan on your character becoming leader!

Please use this form to state your interest:

[b]Character name:[/b] @/account
[b]Long or short term?:[/b] please choose one or the other!
[b]Why would your character want to be deputy:?:/b] or alternatively, why would they be an interesting choice for scorchstar?

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[PUNK]

Character name: @SOOTSPOT
Long or short term?: Due to the plot written out below it really could go both ways depending on what people want for their characters and I don't want to force a suggestion of long or short since it'll cause a lot of things to unravel! I'll say long-term but w/ consideration that if others want different than I'm totally chill with that!
Why would your character want to be deputy:?

Spoiler

Sootspot holds a thousand loyalties and none. Swallowed by the shadow of those who came before him, he is determined to pull himself out of it and become better than his mother and siblings at any expense. Within Sootspot lies a fear of death and an unquenchable rage towards the Stars for 'neglecting' him. Determined to meet them and to fulfill a myriad of control issues with a fancy title, he has become Machiavellian in his scheming, slowly creating a web of uncertainty and doubt and collecting as much information as he can about those around him to pave the possibility of promotion.

He is, understandably, never going to be Scorchstar first choice.

Yet, he will not be the one to convince her that he is the best option. Within the Medicine Cat's den lies two cats whom Sootspot had some power over - Cottonsprig, whom he is aware had broken the Warrior Code and who he threatened in the past with revealing the secret to the whole clan if she didn't do what he said. Celandinepaw, who lacks any faith in StarClan, whom Sootspot had convinced would be the reason she is expelled as a Medicine Cat and as a WindClanner if word ever got out. Between them, there is room to create a false omen - a dream from the Stars themselves telling them the right choice, a pile of soot left by the leader's den and, from within it, new life sprouting.

A new dawn for WindClan, a new hope in the paws of an unlikely cat.

And, somewhere, within the very echelons of reason, something falters. There has never been outwards disinterest in WindClan's best interests. When he is not a Queen, Sootspot is a competent tunneler. Where the leader is tough and no-nonsense, he is willing to spin tales and support from a passive position, often supporting logic over emotions. Who can say no to such reasoning if 'StarClan' said a balance was needed?

For Scorchstar, I imagine it would cause some interesting conflicts. They are not cats that have ever gotten along and he has shown no formal interest in fighting, yet there is the false pretense that StarClan things he is the best choice. I imagine it could cause some interesting moral dilemmas with her position on strength and faith, and conversations between the two on what to do for WindClan are likely to be very back-and-forth with Sootspot politely suggesting more pragmatic choices.

And should this end up being a short term thing instead of long term then I imagine it would be an interesting step towards Code 9 (After the death, retirement, promotion (to a leader status), or exile of the deputy, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh). Without the extra time to formulate a false prophecy, it is unlikely he would be promoted, after all.

 

[Kitty-Kat-]

I had a dream about deputy Peri last night and felt compelled to at least apply.

Character name: @Periwinklebreeze.
Long or short term?: Short term
Why would your character want to be deputy:?: An unorthodox choice, Periwinklebreeze is, most likely, some sort of attempt at peace. Whether its dealing with conflict within the clan or at the borders, Periwinklebreeze is not one to leap to claws first without a good reason - and, in the past year, has finally shown that his teeth and claws are more then just decorations if he does use them. While not the most skilled fighter, he is a survivor - and, quite frankly, one would be hard pressed to find someone more self-sacrificing then him. He'd lay down his life for windclan and what he thinks in right in a heartbeat - something that might be looked upon with favor after Sunstride and Wolfsongs abrupt departure and the wounds their absence leaves behind. However, his virtue is just as much his flaw - a need to make friends and deal with things peacefully, to always do the right thing in any situation, might end up causing tensions should the rest of the council or his leader not want the same - his heart a bit to kind, his vision a bit too rose-colored. Currently, he is wracked with guilt and uncertainty over Sunstrides leaving - blaming himself and the other members of the council for driving Sunstride away by not trusting him. He's rather obsessively trying to prove himself as a lead warrior and member of windclan, and despite his soft-heart, would be unfalteringly loyal and honest to Scorchstar... perhaps to his own detriment.

— Extra Note's: For reasons already discussed privately, no matter what excuse/plot is used to do so, Peri's term would be a short one (ei. no periwinklestar sowwy). However, despite wanting to play a short-term plot, I am fully prepared for anything that may happen - I'm intimately familiar with how IRL can take a turn, and especially with willie/smog's situation as a fresh reminder to all of us that sometimes shit happens unexpectedly, in the event of a sudden switch I'm more then willing to stick it out longer-term. It should also be noted that while I don't have a character on the leadership path, I do have another application pending - in the very unlikely event of both somehow being picked I'd stick with whichever was communicated to me first and withdraw the other.

 

[nya]

im a ✧･ﾟ:* certified yapper *:･ﾟ✧
may edit this over time, i've just been sitting on it for a minute now and figured if anything... it's fun to chat about!!

Character name: @cottonsprig
Long or short term?: although she would fit either circumstance, i want to nudge her forth as a sort of interim short term option. given that she has broken her own code and doesn't regret it would likely spell trouble for windclan in the future, so perhaps it wouldn't be smart to lock her in as an successor. that said, i can be swayed differently if the narrative suggests so.
Why would your character want to be deputy:?:

Spoiler: personal

why would she want this?

as of right now, cottonsprig does not consider herself a candidate for deputyship. to be completely frank she is entirely focused on completing her work as a medicine cat and figuring out what there is for her after the fact. warriorhood alone has only been a blip of her lifetime, a glittering memory until once again made her only goal. suffice it to say that remaining on the council, let alone laterally moving as scorchstar's deputy, is not something that she even thinks about.

that said, given the opportunity, she would take it. it'd be a chance to prove herself in the eyes of her clan and starclan both - that she can be of use outside of her medicinal skills. it'd be acceptance in the name of selfishness truthfully, regardless of how it comes through. she has always been sootstar's runt daughter, has always been one of windclan's long line of medicine cats... to be something different but important - essential even to the clan - she would absolutely take it. she would do anything to prove herself once again.

Spoiler: community

why would the clan accept this?

cottonsprig has always been described as warm and inviting to her clanmates - in this regard she is wholly scorchstar's opposite. by virtue of her current role, she's able to know her clanmates more intimately. and by all intents and purposes, she does. she knows their ailments, routines, needs and wants. she is not all knowing, no one is, but cottonsprig prides herself in being even the most solemn cat's confidante.

additionally her charisma may inspire other cats in the clan to have a more positive approach to life. while even she can be deluded by her wants, cottonsprig does not think it wrong to live life with a level of whimsy and carelessness. admittedly this can also be posed as a flaw, as someone carefree may let more slip than someone hard-broken by the rules. she would want to be friends with all those in her clan first, even at the detriment of her image and clan progress.

Spoiler: ooc notes

notes for if i ever wanna ramble and expand more. im nerfing my tall box after this.

☆ has, technically, taken in an apprentice! while training celandinepaw is not in the name of warriorhood, the code does not specify that detail. cottonsprig ticks off one of the few necessary hurdles to be deputy, regardless of the path she's in.
☆ med cat on the deputy path. shes getting a lateral promotion in corporate
☆ narratively would be very fun to explore the fact that her sign to be a mc was faked - "is this my true path?"
☆ (while i intend to explore it regardless,) cottonsprig being a deputy would entail her freedom from the med cat code - does she insist on telling her kits, likely apprentices or warriors by then? does she let them live in continued bliss?
☆ having another sootkin in the succession line could be spicy. she def does have power and control issues that could be seen as remnants of her mother.
☆ formerly scorch's apprentice, after nearly a year of cottonsprig trying to make up for the distance between them... cotton ruining it all by not only admitting she broke the code, but also that her sign was faked.... GET HER OUTTA HEREEE

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[meghan]

currently a wip! i will edit this note when it is complete <3

Character name: @SCORCHSTORM
Long or short term?: open to either!
Why would your character want to be deputy?: in summary, scorchstorm is a highly loyal, dependable warrior who wants little more than to serve her clan to the best of her ability. as scorchstar's daughter and mirror, it could be easy for windclan's council to become a sort of echo chamber... but it could also be easy for the council to form a united front, something that windclan has struggled with recently. scorchstorm's justice-seeking and low tolerance for codebreaking / betrayal make her formidably determined to enforce the rules windclan and starclan have set in place. but whether she acts in accordance with starclan's will is up for debate...

Spoiler: ic requirements & motivations

scorchstorm meets all of scorchstar's requirements. she is one of the closest cats to her mother (at least, anymore), is known for her combat skill, meets the age requirement, and is in the process of training an apprentice (assuming buckfire's shadowing counts; if not, i do have plans for her to mentor an actual apprentice soon). though she is new to the council, i feel like her promotion from lead warrior to deputy would feel somewhat natural. windclan's environment has been thrown into shifting, uncertain sands; scorchstar choosing a cat she has known and trusted for moons (her own daughter no less!) could feel like a patch of solid ground to her. i would also be interested in the clan reaction to this choice, as i know some were less pleased than others by scunior's ascension to the council in the first place, thinking of her as a nepo pick. i would love to lean into this idea!

scorchstorm's own motivations for deputy are...

— keeping family close:
— culling the rot:
— high self-standards:
— selfish:

Spoiler: community plots & ideas

im not sure if there are already plans in place for the installment of the 14th warrior code... but i do think scorchstorm could be a good contender for playing a part in that!

Spoiler: out of character

currently im adjusting to a new lifestyle and work schedule, so im posting this application BUT would like to note that i may withdraw / need to be a short term deputy pick if i dont think i can handle the responsibility ooc! im applying with the goal of being able to keep scorchstorm in the long term position but i just want to be up front about that!

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[Floppie]

Long or short term?: Preferably long term!

Character name: @PINKSHINE

Why would your character want to be deputy?: Pinkshine has a lot of love for WindClan! Her main motivation in life is to keep those around her happy, and while she will absolutely be sticking to this regardless of her rank, a promotion to deputy would suddenly — and favorably — expand her perceived scope of influence! She wants to be the very best warrior she can possibly be for WindClan, and it would be a huge honor for her to continuing doing so in the position of deputy.

Throughout her life, Pinkshine has always had a certain perception of both the Leader and Deputy positions, that being like... beacons, somewhat. Community Leaders that should be ever-present within a Clan, friend, and that can always be relied upon. She had adored Sunstar when he was deputy, and at the time, expected him to be deputy forever. She'd adored Sunstar as Leader too, and just as much Scorchstar as his deputy. Despite plenty of evidence to the contrary now, she had still sort of believed that those two would be at the helm of WindClan for the rest of time. She had held the two of them to a remarkably high regard, and has always been ( and beneath Scorchstar regardless, will continue to be ) supportive of all their actions, as well as largely attached to them as people. Both of them had huge impacts on her life, and Pinkshine would be beyond honored to follow in their footsteps, as well as invigorated to fill the gaping space Sunstar had left behind. In just the way he had been to her, she wants to be someone that can always be leaned on in times of need. She already wants to be everyone's friend, and this would just make it even better, clearly!

Obviously, Pinkshine is not outwardly very... tough. She's probably a little too easygoing, very friendly, loud, a bit naive, and um! Let's be real not the smartest cat in the world, but none of these things have stopped her from being a capable member of WindClan so far. Even if she does not have remarkable foresight, she's been in the middle of enough conflict within WindClan to know not every cat is trustworthy. Hard decisions have to be made sometimes. Some things can only be solved with fighting, even if it isn't her favorite... Scorchstar would easily quell some of her more dangerous habits, whilst simultaneously I think they could have a very fun good cop bad cop dynamic <3 Pinkshine loves Scorchstar dearly and their relationship is absolutely one of my favorites to play on site. They're good friends despite having pretty differing demeanors and the way I think they would both have influence on each other, like Scorchstar imploring Pinkshine to be tougher whilst Pinkshine tries to get her to ease up on some things, would be sooo silly and fun.

Pinkshine isn't known for being jaw-droppingly good at combat or anything, but Scorchstar especially would know that she's been apart of plenty of battles, and at this point can hold her own!

Thank you for the opportunity!! :D​

 

[bellus]

Character name: @SEDGEPOUNCE
Long or short term?: long term, preferably for sometime after a short term deputy?
Why would your character want to be deputy?: i don’t think sedgepounce has ever considered himself deputy material. he’s lived most of his life in a sort of blissful ignorance; aka, “the adults will take care of all the important stuff, i don’t have to worry about it.” now that he’s older and has a better sense of the world, he’s realized that he’s the adult. he can’t pawn off responsibility to some other nebulous, “more capable” figures—the health and wellbeing of the clan he loves is in his paws now. if windclan is to thrive, he has to contribute.

Spoiler: ic reasonings

loyalty: after witnessing the betrayal of several clanmates—the clan leader included—sedgepounce’s trust in authority figures has greatly whittled away. there’s less so a belief in himself as being the right cat for the job, and more so a distrust in others around him. sedge knows himself. he knows that next to nothing could sway his loyalty for his clan (which can’t be said for everyone). if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself!

responsibility: sedgepounce has never been a leadership role like this. it would be an adjustment, but he would take the role seriously, and would do his best to become someone that his clanmates can trust in. he’ll be thrown into the fire, so to speak.

connection: on average, sedgepounce gets along great with most of his clanmates. he’ll be great at connecting with other windclanners, and will often want to get the opinion of the masses on important decisions. he has an incredibly deep sense of community with his clanmates. he wants what's best for the clan as a whole more than anything.

journeymates: though they aren’t the closest, sedgepounce and scorchstar do have a foundation of a trusting, mutually respectful relationship. they’ve already gone through an outstandingly difficult task together once—theoretically, they can do it again!

outer-clan relations: sedgepounce, though loyal to windclan above all else, has always been respectful to other clans, which is a trait he’d want to maintain into his tenure as deputy. he tends to judge others as individuals, not as collectives. his kind and genuine nature extends to everyone within reason.

misc: though admittedly good at combat, fighting—and most certainly killing—is something segdepounce has always struggled with. he’s never taken a life. he dreads the day he has to. this could prove to be an interesting internal conflict for him going forward!

Spoiler: ooc reasonings

i’ve never been an hp on tabbytales, but i have on other similar sites! my utmost goal is fostering an open, honest, friendly community ic and ooc. there’s genuinely nothing more important to me than having a community where everyone feels welcome. it’s catsite! it’s a fun hobby we all enjoy, and i want to keep it that way!

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