Post by Amandus on Dec 11, 2015 17:53:00 GMT -5
"None can escape its charms
Its natural beauty cleans
And warms like a fire
And you will be willing to stay forever
In one place like a tree."
-John Muir
This guide may apply to both canon and RP timelines. It explains the basics of the society, but some categories have been left out and are explained in their own threads in the extended guides. Thus, this guide isn't "complete" in reality.
Overview-
Founded on June 7th, 2003, the Outcasts are a society of young girls living under the radar in Yosemite national park. People who join this society are fascinated by the park, and willingly give up the luxuries and security other people have in order to live among its majesty and grace.
This role play is based on a unpublished series of writing (elements taken from Warriors by Erin Hunter). Some liberties had to be taken in order to make this project work as a role play- particularly the removal of dozens of characters acting as the Outcasts in the canon story line. These characters will be replaced by anyone who registers and creates their own character. Whatever happens in this role play is not canon and will not be integrated into the real story.
Domain-
The area of Yosemite national park was once a center of gold mining before it was established as a park in 1890. Since then, it has been a great spot for tourism for Americans and foreigners alike.
Founded on June 7th, 2003, the Outcasts are a society of young girls living under the radar in Yosemite national park. People who join this society are fascinated by the park, and willingly give up the luxuries and security other people have in order to live among its majesty and grace.
This role play is based on a unpublished series of writing (elements taken from Warriors by Erin Hunter). Some liberties had to be taken in order to make this project work as a role play- particularly the removal of dozens of characters acting as the Outcasts in the canon story line. These characters will be replaced by anyone who registers and creates their own character. Whatever happens in this role play is not canon and will not be integrated into the real story.
Domain-
The area of Yosemite national park was once a center of gold mining before it was established as a park in 1890. Since then, it has been a great spot for tourism for Americans and foreigners alike.
The six Clans are each given a section of the park- either on the far east or west side, northeast, northwest, southeast, or southwest. All around the park is the mountainous, difficult terrain of the Sierra Nevada that the Outcasts must face every day, with only sparse coniferous forests, rivers, and creeks in valleys. The Outcasts have set strict borders between their territories, which they mark with a colored ribbon or symbol on a tree.
However, a few areas are set off as an amnesty between the Clans. Yosemite Valley, the park's most notable attraction, serves as the Gathering place for the Outcasts. They believe this area is the land of SpiritClan. Tioga road, the highway that cuts the park in half on the north and south side, is also put under a truce. This makes all amenities along the road available to all Outcasts, including restaurants, hotels, and a few campgrounds they can raid.
Social Organization-
The Outcasts are each put into ranks based on age, experience, and influence.
Apprentice- Students of the Clan, apprentices learn about culture, hunting, fighting, and nature from their mentors. The leader can also help teach them. It usually takes 2 months for an apprentice to rank up to warrior.
Warrior- Warriors are the foundation of the Clan, providing food, supplies, defense, and education for apprentices. There are levels within this rank: Novice: less than a year, amateur: 1-2 years, intermediate: 2-3 years, advanced: 3-4 years, elite: 5+ years.
Nurse- The nurse looks after her Clanmates' health and takes care of injuries. Nurses have a special connection with SpiritClan, sometimes being sent dreams from them. They also collect herbs and Domestic medicine and look for methods of better sanitation within the Clan. Nurses may educate a warrior in medicine as her apprentice; this ensures there is an adequate replacement for her when she dies.
Deputy- The deputy is a chosen warrior by the leader to be her successor. When the leader dies, the deputy replaces her and chooses a new deputy. Deputies are responsible for organizing patrols, leading raids, advising the leader, creating strategies, and taking the place of the leader if she isn't present.
Leader- The leader makes the most important decisions and guides the Clan in battle as well as everyday life. The leaders serve as the judges in a situation where an Outcast must be exiled or suspended. They also direct rank ceremonies, the Gathering, and the Solstice Festival. The Outcasts believe that the leader knows best.
Rogue- A former Outcast that was exiled. No longer part of the Clans, rogues wander through the outskirts of the park, like the Sierra and Mono Basin national forests, living off campsites there. A few others have returned to Domestic society. Sometimes, rogues sneak into the Clans' territories and hunt there. If caught, they are driven away by a patrol. All rogues are NPC's.
Loner- These are people who live alone in the wilderness alongside the Outcasts, and aren't hostile to them. They are still technically Domestic, but some of the Clans have come to know them and they got to know each other. They also occasionally help each other out with getting food and supplies. All loners are NPC's.
For obvious reasons, there are no elders, queens, or kits for the Outcasts.
Customs and Traditions-
* The Gathering: On the last night of each month, all of the Outcasts take a trip to the Gathering Place in Cook's meadow of Yosemite Valley, where they are under a truce and, led by the leaders, discuss the month's events and strategies for warding off future problems. They also buy and sell things from each other after this discussion. The first Gathering was on June 31st, 2003. The tradition was arranged after an informal meeting between Clans ahead of time.
* Solstice Festival: During the night of each winter and summer solstice, the Outcasts go to Cook's meadow again to celebrate the longest/shortest days of the year. They sell things, dance, and tell stories. This festival was first recognized on June 21st, 2003.
* Rank Ceremonies: When an Outcast ranks up, the leader has everyone in the Clan gather around for an official announcement of their new rank. If a deputy becomes leader, she will pick a new deputy in her place.
* Raids: The Outcasts aren't self-sufficient, so they must rely on campsites to get clothes, books, food if wild game isn't available, etc. Raiding is risky, but it is necessary for their survival, and, surprisingly, no Outcast has ever been caught. Extra training in warriors helps keep the risk low.
* The Moonstone: On the first night of the month, all of the nurses must take a trip to the Medial Moraine in Yosemite Valley to see the Moonstone, an unusual iridescent rock in a glade. It was an extremely critical discovery, being the foundation to the belief, or even existence, of SpiritClan. It is said that the nurses connect to SpiritClan when they visit this stone. It was discovered when a few nurses wandered off from the Gathering on August 31st, 2003.
* Ornaments: These are made of various objects including pieces of Domestic jewelry, wooden carvings, or flowers and leaves the Outcasts found to wear. These are usually only worn by the nurse, but sometimes the leader and deputy do during the Solstice Festival. They are used to decorate hair.
* Clan Imprints: Almost like a brand on livestock, the Outcasts have a symbol that is embedded in their skin that represents their Clan. Clan Imprints are applied soon after an apprentice has joined. It is done by the nurse lightly cutting the skin with a razor sharp knife so that it creates a tattoo with the appearance of a permanent scar. Clan Imprints were originally suggested at the July 2003 Gathering, and designed in notebooks by the original leaders. They are meant to be used as proof of what Clan an Outcast is from, in case of treason or other confusing situations.
* Formal Names: Each Outcast is given a formal name that pertains to nature, made up of two words. The second word in an apprentice's name is "Foot", but it is changed to something else once she becomes a warrior. If an Outcast becomes leader, the second word is changed to "Spirit". Clanmates don't call each other by their formal names, but they must call members of other Clans by theirs.
Warfare-
A notable part of the Outcast culture is their way of defending their land. The Outcasts have always been wary of each other outside the Gathering because of suspicion of another Clan sneaking into their territory and raiding their camp; the first Generation Outcasts were selfish and aggressive due to the stress and uncertainty of their new lifestyle. This mindset set off the doctrine of the other Clans being dangerous, leading up to border disputes and entire wars later on, since future apprentices would be taught that fighting was the only solution to problems between the Clans.
It is forbidden for Outcasts to use weapons and purposely kill each other. This would cause the population to plummet, and Outcasts may not find enough new apprentices to replace the lost lives. It would generally only create unnecessary suffering and problems concerning social hierarchy- very few warriors left so that the Clans would have to recruit many apprentices at once.
Battles are always fought on secure ground away from cliffs; most deaths in battle are caused by falls with brain damage as a result. The Outcasts keep fighting until one side surrenders.
Economy-
The Outcasts often trade at the Solstice Festival and the Gathering, mostly various wooden crafted items or supplies and books that are no longer wanted. They sometimes trade stolen money for these things, and can also use that money to buy food from a restaurant or the grocery store in Yosemite Valley. Trade is most often promoted in the summer, when the Outcasts have many leftover items stolen during the influx of tourism. Scamming has been an issue in the past, and anybody caught doing so would have their right to commerce revoked.
Arts-
Though a minor part of their culture they don't take seriously, the Outcasts have created various artwork depicting things like wildlife, their Clanmates, and the park's scenery. Supplies for painting is a rare privilege for them, so nearly all of their artwork are either wooden carvings or pencil/pen drawings. A select few Outcasts had uppermost talent obtained from free-time and sold their work to other Clans. The few paintings that the Outcasts have made are amateur, most coming from RiverClan, but still sell for high prices ranging from $100-$1,000.
Some Outcasts have also written about their experiences in their life in journals to be used as historical reference for future members. These journals also tell about major events involving foreign activity and wars, disease, and the state of the environment.
Law and Order-
Rules and their enforcement for the Outcasts are strict; most regulations have remained fixed since the society's founding. All the rules of the Outcasts are recorded into the Outcast Code, a document that each Clan owns a copy of.
The Outcast code is split into categories such as ranks, conduct, warfare, and foreign activity. The leader and deputy are figures responsible for enforcing it, and they must do so well in order to prevent their society from slipping into anarchy.
Punishments for Outcasts are made if they break an important rule severely or have repeated offenses of a lesser one. Minor punishments vary between Clans, but some include skipping a meal, sleeping outside the tent, or doing chores around the camp for the entire day. A higher punishment is suspension, where the Outcast is sent away to another Clan for 1-6 months; the punishment is treated like a boot camp. For crimes like murder or treason, the Outcast is exiled- banished from the Clans and never able to return, being called a "rogue". They typically live in the Sierra national forest below the park.
Rogues are a small nuisance for the Outcasts' patrols, especially those living in the southern half of the park. The rogues who haven't returned to the Domestics often wander into their territories to hunt or raid campgrounds.
Survival-
The Outcasts rely on tourists for nearly everything, with only a few exceptions such as bows and fishing spears crafted out of wood, and wild game as their main source of food. They also sometimes eat various plants found on their land. The Outcasts are very lucky to have figured out ways to survive in the wilderness, such as sanitation and safety, which they have always shared with each other at the Gathering. All the Clans follow the same daily schedule:
* 6:30 A.M. Wake up
* 6:30- 7:00 A.M. Eat breakfast
* 7:00-12:00 A.M. Morning patrol/Leave for the Gathering (ShadowClan/WindClan)
* 12:00-12:30 P.M. Eat lunch
* 12:30-5:00 P.M. Afternoon patrol
* 5:00-5:30 P.M. Eat dinner
* 5:30-7:00 P.M. Evening patrol/Leave for the Gathering (ThunderClan/SkyClan/StarClan)
* 7:00-9:00 P.M. Free-time/Leave for the Gathering (RiverClan)
* 9:00 P.M. Go to bed/Gathering begins
* 12:00 A.M. Come back from the Gathering
On the day of the Gathering, the Clans further to the east leave extremely early in order to make it to the Gathering place; it can take them up to half a day to get to Yosemite Valley.
Their camps are usually set somewhat close to a Domestic campground, though not right next to it. If they feel unsafe at the current campground they reside at because of suspicion by the Domestics, the Clan may move their camp to another campground, or near Tioga road if there is only one campground available. Many campgrounds are only open in the spring and summer, but they often have no choice but to settle near those, and go somewhere else for supplies during the cold months. ShadowClan often steals from the Tuolumne Meadows "post office", a place where packages for hikers await, filled with useful supplies.
ThunderClan- Merced Lake campground
WindClan- Tuolumne Meadows campground (along Tioga road)
RiverClan- Bridalveil Creek campground
ShadowClan- Tuolumne Meadows campground (along Tioga road)
StarClan- White Wolf campground
SkyClan- Porcupine Flat (along Tioga road)
The following campgrounds are under a truce:
* Tuolumne Meadows campground
* Tioga campground
* Tioga Junction Campground
* Porcupine Flat
* Ellery Lake campground
In recent years, all of California has been under a drought that has only worsened, beginning to dry up the Outcasts' water sources. In addition, the drought is also drawing less tourism, directly giving the Outcasts a disadvantage in raiding campgrounds. Tourism is also slowly waning off from awareness of theft at those campgrounds. Eventually, the Outcasts may have no choice but to go off-site to get supplies and water, or even move out of the park all together.
Health and Sanitation-
Good hygiene, for the most part, is rather foreign to the Outcasts, and the original Outcasts were especially careless about it. But over time, newer nurses developed better sanitation in the camp and treatment for a variety of illnesses. Sanitation guidelines:
* Outcasts must urinate/defecate further away from the camp, by many yards. They may not do this in a water source. Stolen toilet paper should be used and then discarded into the fire.
* All wild game must be thoroughly cooked over the fire until the meat has very little color in it left. If the meat seems diseased, it should be thrown in the fire.
* Outcasts should try to find hand sanitizer in campsites for their own use back at the camp. It should be used after handling meat or after patrolling.
* Outcasts must boil river water or snow over the fire before drinking. This kills any water-borne pathogens.
* The food pile should be well-secured against animals.
* Boiled water and soap is a necessity for washing utensils, dishes, clothes, and bathing.
* All trash from Domestic food should be thrown in the fire.
* Sick Outcasts should be isolated from the rest of the camp, staying in the nurse's tent until they are cured.
* Dead Outcasts should be buried at least five feet underground. They may be near the campsite, but not directly under it.
Every winter, many Outcasts develop the cold or flu, which the nurse can easily treat with stolen over-the-counter medicine, if that is even necessary. However, a more deadly disease threatens them- pneumonia. Along with malnutrition, pneumonia is the leading cause of death for the Outcasts; it is more likely that you would die from this than falling from a mountain. Though improved sanitation eliminated typhoid and dysentery, the Outcasts sadly don't have the resources to fight this illness.
Unfortunately, most Outcasts become more weak and sickly as they age due to their living conditions, especially their diet, in the wilderness, despite the nurses' efforts to improve sanitation. Most older Outcasts waste away from malnutrition, since they are usually immune to most pathogens after being exposed to them for so long. It is usually the younger Outcasts who catch dangerous illnesses because they are used to Domestic sanitation, not being exposed to them. No Outcast has lived past nineteen.
Additionally, some Outcasts' mental health is affected by their lifestyle. Some older members seem "brainwashed", as in they are completely numb to their activities during the day; they have been doing those same things every day since they joined. They may hardly recall their life before joining the Clans. Some Outcasts have dealt with depression from the deaths of their Clanmates, and even generalized anxiety from war and the fear of Domestics.
Education-
Apprentices are taught extensively about life in the wilderness of Yosemite. The curriculum mainly consists of Outcast culture, the park's history, hunting, fighting, rock-climbing, and safety in the wilderness, but during free-time their mentors often use extra material as an influence. This is mostly made up of biology- especially ecology, epidemiology, and environmental studies. The leader also sometimes keeps an apprentice back at the camp to teach them while the others patrol.
The Outcasts' knowledge about these areas of science come directly from books stolen from campers, which mentors use as textbooks for their apprentices.
Domestics-
"Domestic" is a derogatory term for anyone who is not an Outcast, deriving from how other people are restricted within society and must conform to everyone else, like a domesticated animal. This is most often used to describe the tourists and park staff the Outcasts are hiding from.
Domestics are always avoided when patrolling; if an Outcast sees one, they get as far away as possible, especially if it is a park ranger, photographer, or scientist. ShadowClan actually kills most Domestics they spot in their land, simply trying to defend themselves and erase their tracks. However, some of those bodies have been found.
In later years (2010+), the park has begun to crack down on the sharp increase of disappearances and thefts since 2003. Yosemite Valley and the campgrounds have been more heavily guarded by police and park rangers.
The Outcasts sometimes keep in touch with world events through eavesdropping or reading stolen newspapers and magazines, even though they play no part in the other society.
Map-
Thanks, MS Paint, for that hideous thing going through Tioga road.
However, a few areas are set off as an amnesty between the Clans. Yosemite Valley, the park's most notable attraction, serves as the Gathering place for the Outcasts. They believe this area is the land of SpiritClan. Tioga road, the highway that cuts the park in half on the north and south side, is also put under a truce. This makes all amenities along the road available to all Outcasts, including restaurants, hotels, and a few campgrounds they can raid.
Social Organization-
The Outcasts are each put into ranks based on age, experience, and influence.
Apprentice- Students of the Clan, apprentices learn about culture, hunting, fighting, and nature from their mentors. The leader can also help teach them. It usually takes 2 months for an apprentice to rank up to warrior.
Warrior- Warriors are the foundation of the Clan, providing food, supplies, defense, and education for apprentices. There are levels within this rank: Novice: less than a year, amateur: 1-2 years, intermediate: 2-3 years, advanced: 3-4 years, elite: 5+ years.
Nurse- The nurse looks after her Clanmates' health and takes care of injuries. Nurses have a special connection with SpiritClan, sometimes being sent dreams from them. They also collect herbs and Domestic medicine and look for methods of better sanitation within the Clan. Nurses may educate a warrior in medicine as her apprentice; this ensures there is an adequate replacement for her when she dies.
Deputy- The deputy is a chosen warrior by the leader to be her successor. When the leader dies, the deputy replaces her and chooses a new deputy. Deputies are responsible for organizing patrols, leading raids, advising the leader, creating strategies, and taking the place of the leader if she isn't present.
Leader- The leader makes the most important decisions and guides the Clan in battle as well as everyday life. The leaders serve as the judges in a situation where an Outcast must be exiled or suspended. They also direct rank ceremonies, the Gathering, and the Solstice Festival. The Outcasts believe that the leader knows best.
Rogue- A former Outcast that was exiled. No longer part of the Clans, rogues wander through the outskirts of the park, like the Sierra and Mono Basin national forests, living off campsites there. A few others have returned to Domestic society. Sometimes, rogues sneak into the Clans' territories and hunt there. If caught, they are driven away by a patrol. All rogues are NPC's.
Loner- These are people who live alone in the wilderness alongside the Outcasts, and aren't hostile to them. They are still technically Domestic, but some of the Clans have come to know them and they got to know each other. They also occasionally help each other out with getting food and supplies. All loners are NPC's.
For obvious reasons, there are no elders, queens, or kits for the Outcasts.
Customs and Traditions-
* The Gathering: On the last night of each month, all of the Outcasts take a trip to the Gathering Place in Cook's meadow of Yosemite Valley, where they are under a truce and, led by the leaders, discuss the month's events and strategies for warding off future problems. They also buy and sell things from each other after this discussion. The first Gathering was on June 31st, 2003. The tradition was arranged after an informal meeting between Clans ahead of time.
* Solstice Festival: During the night of each winter and summer solstice, the Outcasts go to Cook's meadow again to celebrate the longest/shortest days of the year. They sell things, dance, and tell stories. This festival was first recognized on June 21st, 2003.
* Rank Ceremonies: When an Outcast ranks up, the leader has everyone in the Clan gather around for an official announcement of their new rank. If a deputy becomes leader, she will pick a new deputy in her place.
* Raids: The Outcasts aren't self-sufficient, so they must rely on campsites to get clothes, books, food if wild game isn't available, etc. Raiding is risky, but it is necessary for their survival, and, surprisingly, no Outcast has ever been caught. Extra training in warriors helps keep the risk low.
* The Moonstone: On the first night of the month, all of the nurses must take a trip to the Medial Moraine in Yosemite Valley to see the Moonstone, an unusual iridescent rock in a glade. It was an extremely critical discovery, being the foundation to the belief, or even existence, of SpiritClan. It is said that the nurses connect to SpiritClan when they visit this stone. It was discovered when a few nurses wandered off from the Gathering on August 31st, 2003.
* Ornaments: These are made of various objects including pieces of Domestic jewelry, wooden carvings, or flowers and leaves the Outcasts found to wear. These are usually only worn by the nurse, but sometimes the leader and deputy do during the Solstice Festival. They are used to decorate hair.
* Clan Imprints: Almost like a brand on livestock, the Outcasts have a symbol that is embedded in their skin that represents their Clan. Clan Imprints are applied soon after an apprentice has joined. It is done by the nurse lightly cutting the skin with a razor sharp knife so that it creates a tattoo with the appearance of a permanent scar. Clan Imprints were originally suggested at the July 2003 Gathering, and designed in notebooks by the original leaders. They are meant to be used as proof of what Clan an Outcast is from, in case of treason or other confusing situations.
* Formal Names: Each Outcast is given a formal name that pertains to nature, made up of two words. The second word in an apprentice's name is "Foot", but it is changed to something else once she becomes a warrior. If an Outcast becomes leader, the second word is changed to "Spirit". Clanmates don't call each other by their formal names, but they must call members of other Clans by theirs.
Warfare-
A notable part of the Outcast culture is their way of defending their land. The Outcasts have always been wary of each other outside the Gathering because of suspicion of another Clan sneaking into their territory and raiding their camp; the first Generation Outcasts were selfish and aggressive due to the stress and uncertainty of their new lifestyle. This mindset set off the doctrine of the other Clans being dangerous, leading up to border disputes and entire wars later on, since future apprentices would be taught that fighting was the only solution to problems between the Clans.
It is forbidden for Outcasts to use weapons and purposely kill each other. This would cause the population to plummet, and Outcasts may not find enough new apprentices to replace the lost lives. It would generally only create unnecessary suffering and problems concerning social hierarchy- very few warriors left so that the Clans would have to recruit many apprentices at once.
Battles are always fought on secure ground away from cliffs; most deaths in battle are caused by falls with brain damage as a result. The Outcasts keep fighting until one side surrenders.
Economy-
The Outcasts often trade at the Solstice Festival and the Gathering, mostly various wooden crafted items or supplies and books that are no longer wanted. They sometimes trade stolen money for these things, and can also use that money to buy food from a restaurant or the grocery store in Yosemite Valley. Trade is most often promoted in the summer, when the Outcasts have many leftover items stolen during the influx of tourism. Scamming has been an issue in the past, and anybody caught doing so would have their right to commerce revoked.
Arts-
Though a minor part of their culture they don't take seriously, the Outcasts have created various artwork depicting things like wildlife, their Clanmates, and the park's scenery. Supplies for painting is a rare privilege for them, so nearly all of their artwork are either wooden carvings or pencil/pen drawings. A select few Outcasts had uppermost talent obtained from free-time and sold their work to other Clans. The few paintings that the Outcasts have made are amateur, most coming from RiverClan, but still sell for high prices ranging from $100-$1,000.
Some Outcasts have also written about their experiences in their life in journals to be used as historical reference for future members. These journals also tell about major events involving foreign activity and wars, disease, and the state of the environment.
Law and Order-
Rules and their enforcement for the Outcasts are strict; most regulations have remained fixed since the society's founding. All the rules of the Outcasts are recorded into the Outcast Code, a document that each Clan owns a copy of.
The Outcast code is split into categories such as ranks, conduct, warfare, and foreign activity. The leader and deputy are figures responsible for enforcing it, and they must do so well in order to prevent their society from slipping into anarchy.
Punishments for Outcasts are made if they break an important rule severely or have repeated offenses of a lesser one. Minor punishments vary between Clans, but some include skipping a meal, sleeping outside the tent, or doing chores around the camp for the entire day. A higher punishment is suspension, where the Outcast is sent away to another Clan for 1-6 months; the punishment is treated like a boot camp. For crimes like murder or treason, the Outcast is exiled- banished from the Clans and never able to return, being called a "rogue". They typically live in the Sierra national forest below the park.
Rogues are a small nuisance for the Outcasts' patrols, especially those living in the southern half of the park. The rogues who haven't returned to the Domestics often wander into their territories to hunt or raid campgrounds.
Survival-
The Outcasts rely on tourists for nearly everything, with only a few exceptions such as bows and fishing spears crafted out of wood, and wild game as their main source of food. They also sometimes eat various plants found on their land. The Outcasts are very lucky to have figured out ways to survive in the wilderness, such as sanitation and safety, which they have always shared with each other at the Gathering. All the Clans follow the same daily schedule:
* 6:30 A.M. Wake up
* 6:30- 7:00 A.M. Eat breakfast
* 7:00-12:00 A.M. Morning patrol/Leave for the Gathering (ShadowClan/WindClan)
* 12:00-12:30 P.M. Eat lunch
* 12:30-5:00 P.M. Afternoon patrol
* 5:00-5:30 P.M. Eat dinner
* 5:30-7:00 P.M. Evening patrol/Leave for the Gathering (ThunderClan/SkyClan/StarClan)
* 7:00-9:00 P.M. Free-time/Leave for the Gathering (RiverClan)
* 9:00 P.M. Go to bed/Gathering begins
* 12:00 A.M. Come back from the Gathering
On the day of the Gathering, the Clans further to the east leave extremely early in order to make it to the Gathering place; it can take them up to half a day to get to Yosemite Valley.
Their camps are usually set somewhat close to a Domestic campground, though not right next to it. If they feel unsafe at the current campground they reside at because of suspicion by the Domestics, the Clan may move their camp to another campground, or near Tioga road if there is only one campground available. Many campgrounds are only open in the spring and summer, but they often have no choice but to settle near those, and go somewhere else for supplies during the cold months. ShadowClan often steals from the Tuolumne Meadows "post office", a place where packages for hikers await, filled with useful supplies.
ThunderClan- Merced Lake campground
WindClan- Tuolumne Meadows campground (along Tioga road)
RiverClan- Bridalveil Creek campground
ShadowClan- Tuolumne Meadows campground (along Tioga road)
StarClan- White Wolf campground
SkyClan- Porcupine Flat (along Tioga road)
The following campgrounds are under a truce:
* Tuolumne Meadows campground
* Tioga campground
* Tioga Junction Campground
* Porcupine Flat
* Ellery Lake campground
In recent years, all of California has been under a drought that has only worsened, beginning to dry up the Outcasts' water sources. In addition, the drought is also drawing less tourism, directly giving the Outcasts a disadvantage in raiding campgrounds. Tourism is also slowly waning off from awareness of theft at those campgrounds. Eventually, the Outcasts may have no choice but to go off-site to get supplies and water, or even move out of the park all together.
Health and Sanitation-
Good hygiene, for the most part, is rather foreign to the Outcasts, and the original Outcasts were especially careless about it. But over time, newer nurses developed better sanitation in the camp and treatment for a variety of illnesses. Sanitation guidelines:
* Outcasts must urinate/defecate further away from the camp, by many yards. They may not do this in a water source. Stolen toilet paper should be used and then discarded into the fire.
* All wild game must be thoroughly cooked over the fire until the meat has very little color in it left. If the meat seems diseased, it should be thrown in the fire.
* Outcasts should try to find hand sanitizer in campsites for their own use back at the camp. It should be used after handling meat or after patrolling.
* Outcasts must boil river water or snow over the fire before drinking. This kills any water-borne pathogens.
* The food pile should be well-secured against animals.
* Boiled water and soap is a necessity for washing utensils, dishes, clothes, and bathing.
* All trash from Domestic food should be thrown in the fire.
* Sick Outcasts should be isolated from the rest of the camp, staying in the nurse's tent until they are cured.
* Dead Outcasts should be buried at least five feet underground. They may be near the campsite, but not directly under it.
Every winter, many Outcasts develop the cold or flu, which the nurse can easily treat with stolen over-the-counter medicine, if that is even necessary. However, a more deadly disease threatens them- pneumonia. Along with malnutrition, pneumonia is the leading cause of death for the Outcasts; it is more likely that you would die from this than falling from a mountain. Though improved sanitation eliminated typhoid and dysentery, the Outcasts sadly don't have the resources to fight this illness.
Unfortunately, most Outcasts become more weak and sickly as they age due to their living conditions, especially their diet, in the wilderness, despite the nurses' efforts to improve sanitation. Most older Outcasts waste away from malnutrition, since they are usually immune to most pathogens after being exposed to them for so long. It is usually the younger Outcasts who catch dangerous illnesses because they are used to Domestic sanitation, not being exposed to them. No Outcast has lived past nineteen.
Additionally, some Outcasts' mental health is affected by their lifestyle. Some older members seem "brainwashed", as in they are completely numb to their activities during the day; they have been doing those same things every day since they joined. They may hardly recall their life before joining the Clans. Some Outcasts have dealt with depression from the deaths of their Clanmates, and even generalized anxiety from war and the fear of Domestics.
Education-
Apprentices are taught extensively about life in the wilderness of Yosemite. The curriculum mainly consists of Outcast culture, the park's history, hunting, fighting, rock-climbing, and safety in the wilderness, but during free-time their mentors often use extra material as an influence. This is mostly made up of biology- especially ecology, epidemiology, and environmental studies. The leader also sometimes keeps an apprentice back at the camp to teach them while the others patrol.
The Outcasts' knowledge about these areas of science come directly from books stolen from campers, which mentors use as textbooks for their apprentices.
Domestics-
"Domestic" is a derogatory term for anyone who is not an Outcast, deriving from how other people are restricted within society and must conform to everyone else, like a domesticated animal. This is most often used to describe the tourists and park staff the Outcasts are hiding from.
Domestics are always avoided when patrolling; if an Outcast sees one, they get as far away as possible, especially if it is a park ranger, photographer, or scientist. ShadowClan actually kills most Domestics they spot in their land, simply trying to defend themselves and erase their tracks. However, some of those bodies have been found.
In later years (2010+), the park has begun to crack down on the sharp increase of disappearances and thefts since 2003. Yosemite Valley and the campgrounds have been more heavily guarded by police and park rangers.
The Outcasts sometimes keep in touch with world events through eavesdropping or reading stolen newspapers and magazines, even though they play no part in the other society.
Map-
Thanks, MS Paint, for that hideous thing going through Tioga road.
