character creation
guidelines

application

Use the provided template below to create your character. Guidelines are given in each section. 

Post your application (WIP or complete) in the appropriate subboard under 'Pending Applications'. The title of your thread should be your character's name. 

After joining Whitewater, you have one month to complete a character application. If you need more time or help, please reach out to staff!

WIP bios that have been untouched for one month, whether posted by a new or established member, will be archived. These can be moved back at any time. 

Please consult our bans/limits page before creating each character. Characters will not be accepted if they violate a ban. Exceptions include WIPs that were posted before the ban was put in place. 

The main application image must be a photo of a cat. Cat faceclaims should only be used once, with the exception of twins/siblings. Please take a glance at the Clan allegiances to ensure your faceclaim isn't in use. 

Please post in the #staff-help channel on Discord or PM staff on site when your application is complete. Staff will privately message you with your approval or any changes that may need to be made. 

High ranking characters are selected through auditions. More information about high rank characters, openings, and expectations can be found here. 

characters

Characters can be of any sexuality and gender identity. Any discrimination, hostility, or negativity towards LGBTQ+ themes or characters will result in an automatic ban. 

Any heavy topics in your character's description that go beyond the expected scope of Warriors must have a trigger warning. This can be placed at the beginning of your character's description, before the topic is mentioned, or before the entire bio. 

Whitewater does not have a character limit, but please be sure to not make more characters than you can keep up with! Staff may ask if you are still interested in a character if they haven't been played or plotted with in over a month. 

If you lose interest in a character, they can be archived at any time, whether temporarily or permanently. They can also be killed off or put up for adoption.

Whitewater does not limit character possibilities with a site shop. Characters with disabilities or neurodivergent cats are permitted, though staff will intervene if you do not handle the condition with respect. 

The youngest you can play a character is 2 moons old. The oldest you can play a character is 140 moons old. 

Mentors will be decided among players through plotting. You can also decide to have an NPC mentor. There are no thread requirements for an apprentice to graduate. 11 moons is the earliest an apprentice can graduate, but the apprentice can train as long as needed. 19 moons is considered late for a warrior apprentice, though tunneler/guardian/weaver may go until 22-24 moons. 

kits

Pregnant queens can be created, either with an NPC or in-play mate. Queens will be pregnant for two months before giving birth. Please don't create a pregnant queen just to get a kit, as staff will put litters with NPC mothers up for adoption periodically so everyone can get their kit fix. 

When there are available kits, members have no restriction on which Clan their first kit belongs to. After their first kit, members can then play one kit per Clan for each Clan they have an accepted character in. 

Kits are 'born' at 2 moons old, meaning you can play your newborn kit right away. Six months must pass in the roleplay before the kit becomes an apprentice, despite being 'born' at 2 moons. This is to prevent members from being unable to play their kit for two months. 

Kit applications can be brief and can be a reflection of how the character will be when they are a young apprentice.

acceptable names

Whitewater adheres to a more traditional naming scheme for characters. Prefixes should describe your cat's appearance at birth. Suffixes should positively describe the type of Clanmate that your cat grows into and emphasizes their appearance, personality, or skills.

Please be sure to follow the guidelines below when naming your characters. NPCs in your character's application must also meet our naming requirements.

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Prefixes should describe your cat's appearance (size, fur color/pattern, fur length) at birth. Prefixes cannot describe eye color, as kittens are born with blue eyes. Exceptions can be made in some situations, such as kits being found on Clan territory and taken in. Exceptions can also include name changes and Clanless cats that have joined.

Cats should be familiar with the prefix. No two-leg items are permitted, such as gemstones. The prefix should be found in the general region of Whitewater (Mountainous Northwest USA, so Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho). Do not use flora or fauna that cannot be found in this general area!

Cats of the same Clan should not share prefixes unless there is a significant age gap between them of at least 50 moons.

Clan names cannot be used as prefixes. This includes Ridge-, Prairie-, and Mist-. Moon- can also not be used due to the spiritual significance of the moonpool.

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Suffixes will always describe either your cat's personality, skills, or appearance in a meaningful and usually positive way. We have provided a list of acceptable suffixes in the post below. Suffixes must be pulled from this list!

Kingdom cats are the exception to this rule. Due to how Kingdom cats are not bound to clan traditions, they may take more unique suffixes that are not on this list. However, the meaning behind their suffix must make sense to their character as well as the world of Whitewater.

We are always taking suggestions to add to our approved list, so if you do not see a suffix you would like to use, please reach out to staff!

Clan names will not be permitted as acceptable suffixes. This includes -ridge, -prairie, and -mist.

honor titles

Honor titles are names that are typically given to a cat later in life. They can be used to celebrate a legacy, honor a triumph in battle—over injury or opponent—or even to mourn a loss. Examples of (implied) honor titles in canon are Halftail, One-eye, Deadfoot, Clawface, and Tornear.

Typically, leadership will deliberate the eligibility for an honor title, then approach with the offer. The receiver of the honor title has the right to choose whether or not to accept it, as well as having the final say over the name itself. Once a cat receives their honor title, it is considered rude to refer to them with their previous name.

Some other examples may be a warrior taking the name Foxstrike after successfully fighting a fox, Silentstep for an exceptional display of stealth, Thunderback for a feat of strength, or Crookedtail for an injury. Creativity is encouraged!