[Closed] Directions

Rin and I did have a short discussion between ourselves about the matter beforehand, with Rin offering up Sunfall for West and Sunlive for East.

But I also think that the four clans, which are the center of the clan's world, would also be used when discussing directions in ways other than left and right. In "Clanwise Directions" (the clan version of compass directions) it would Shadowwise for north, Windwise for west, Thunderwise for east, and Riverwise for south. All of these derives as if Fourtrees was the center of the world. and it is the center of the clan cats' world.

We do have some directional names for territory parts and I kind of like the idea that the Clans could've learned the words from outsiders. I think if they were going to base their directions on anything, it'd be Fourtrees and/or Highstones. Highstones feels like a bigger distance measurer because anything in that direction takes you to outside the territories eventually, but Fourtrees is the center they use literally as a point in the forest and culturally as their Gathering spot. They always know where they are in relation to Fourtrees and each other, so I also love the idea of them using the Clan names as another way to define direction.

Posted by: @estellaria

We do have some directional names for territory parts

Rin and I overlooked this in our initial discussion, but in an effort to improve the game the map could be changed pretty easily.

Posted by: @estellaria

We do have some directional names for territory parts and I kind of like the idea that the Clans could've learned the words from outsiders

While I do agree that cats most likely would have heard certain terms from outsiders, I truly feel like they would stick with their own customs and cultures (IE directional names that they're familiar with and that have been passed down for moons). I'm really thinking that basing directions outwards from Four Trees is a fabulous idea as it's the center of clan life! So I'm really liking ShadowWise, Thunderwise, WindWise, and RiverWise. It would be easy enough that even kits could understand. 

I think it's pretty much agreed that we have to give the directional place names on the map... They could be kept and considered non-sense words that date from the times of the great clans. Sort of like all over Wisconsin there are bastardizations of Potowatami Native American words as place names all over the place... Thoughts?

Posted by: @kitsufox

I think it's pretty much agreed that we have to give the directional place names on the map... They could be kept and considered non-sense words that date from the times of the great clans. Sort of like all over Wisconsin there are bastardizations of Potowatami Native American words as place names all over the place... Thoughts?

The Philly area's full of Lenape names like that. It sounds perfect to me! Plus it gives them a bit more worldbuilding.

Final call for input on this one before it gets written up for documentation.

This has been added to the appropriate document.