The 14th Rule of the Warrior Code: An Inspection
Jun 1, 2021 0:47:46 GMT -5
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Post by Dark Sun on Jun 1, 2021 0:47:46 GMT -5
(Disclaimer: The following contains a lot of text. If you want to read it all to get the best understanding of this post, you can if you want, but just to let you know the actual question / point of this post lies all the way near the bottom. )
The 14th rule of the warrior code states, and I quote, "An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense."
The second-to-last bit of phrasing draws at the very least two possible interpretations.
1) Any cat that breaks the warrior code, likely by committing a great crime, may be killed if they present a direct threat to you or your Clan if necessary. As an example, think of Tigerstar (1).
2) Any cat that does not follow the warrior code and is presenting a direct threat to you or your Clan may be killed if necessary. As an example, think of Scourge.
Now obviously, most of the Clan cats have morals. They also don't often kill in interClan skirmishes if they can help it. The validity of the second interpretation and at what lengths it can go to could and would depend on the cat at hand and especially their leader. Note the previous rule, "The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code."
I'm currently developing an OC named Snowraven (previously, Snowpaw, Snowkit) who is more of a morally gray character. He has a habit of killing outsiders - rogues, loners, and kittypets - especially if they are intruding on their territory and threatening his Clan. Unlike Tigerstar who killed when needed to achieve his dream and ambition of supreme power and who ultimately served himself above all others, and unlike Scourge who murdered out of sport and as a show (plus he was a foxheart to his very core), Snowraven has other less fiery intentions. Instead of ambition (he has never desired leadership), bloodlust, revenge, or even a hatred or distrust of outsiders like many Clan cats share, he does what he does for... no other reason than serving his Clan, or at least that's his excuse and one that he completely believes. He has a unique perspective on those that do not have "pure warrior blood", ie that are different in any way from Clan cats: he simply views them as dangerous pests that if possible should be wiped out, one individual at a time, but only if they do you wrong first.
Obviously the environment he would have grown up in would have greatly shaped his perspective on life inside and outside Clan borders, but given that Snowraven is incredibly intelligent - one of his skills is being a master wordsmith - and that he's greatly introverted and very self-sufficient, much of his ideas come from his own critical thinking. From even an early age he compared outsiders with another type of threat or nuisance the Clans face "occasionally": rats. He drew comparisons and make his own conclusion that rogues, loners, and kittypets (bunching them all up into one category) and rats are not too different from each other. When they make their presence known they generally present a threat to the Clans or individual cats, they don't follow the warrior code (more on that in a moment), neither can be reasoned with in his opinion, etc. He has also made the conclusion that without the warrior code and StarClan guiding them, outsiders could not possibly develop any real or at least familiar resemblance of loyalty, honor, compassion, morality, etc., and thus in his eyes they simply do not matter. The fact that the vast majority of these cats' spirits simply fade away once their corporeal bodies die is a rather fitting addition from his point of view. To put it simply, he doesn't view them as "real cats" at all.
This is not his entire character however. Instead of being coldblooded like a lot of cats that follow a similar path, Snowraven can be a genuinely likeable cat when he chooses to tolerate the presence of others; there's even a few cats he genuinely enjoys being around. He is remarkably patient, understanding, empathetic, protective, he is fiercely loyal to his Clan, and he can often even be kind. In fact, in the fanfic I am writing, his murderous tendencies, while an important part of his character for sure, may almost be a highlighted footnote rather than anything. This might change if I decide the plot should revolve around his unconventional and pretty extreme method of handling most intruders, and if the presentation I am giving is inaccurate and I am not greatly misunderstanding the 14th rule of the code, it could even serve as a warning to others in-Universe about rules that don't adapt over time to become more fair.
(Note: His Clan of birth is WindClan, located in the lake territories, but I am not basing all of it off of canon since I have only read up to Omen of the Stars. Leader names and the like may differ. I also heard the Clans are more forgiving towards outsiders these days but I am not entirely sure on that front.)
As mentioned above, Snowraven does not view outsiders through a lens of hatred or disgust, but rather he sees them as nothing more than simple obstacles or pests, and he reasons that instead of chasing them away, killing them would be much more effective. Over the course of his life he has, to be honest, needlessly murdered dozens of outsiders who trespassed near or on WindClan's lands, but not once has he seen anything wrong with his ways of "handling business". (I've yet to decide on WindClan's current leader's position on this.) In fact, one time when he was challenged by another cat regarding his brutal practices, he just had this to say, and he put it quite casually as well,
"Outsiders are nuisances at the best and are threats at the worst. They steal our prey, they trespass our territory. They do not live under the guidance of StarClan or the Warrior Code, so they could not possibly have even the weakest grasp of understanding of the concepts of compassion, love, loyalty, honor... When they die, their spirits, if they have any to begin with, would logically have nowhere to go, and in a fitting way they would then fade into obscurity and nothingness. They have no meaning in life nor in death. As far as I'm concerned, they're no better than rats. I'm not on a crusade to kill outsiders. That would imply that I care. My loyalty and love is to my Clan and my Clan alone, and like any loyal warrior my purpose is to ensure that our Clan continues to survive by any means necessary, even at the cost of my life. But while they continue to violate our land and ask for a fight, why should there be a problem if I were to "dispose" of that hostile element given the chance? Killing an outsider and one of our own cannot possibly be comparable; it's illogical, even madness. Unless you mourn for every rat you've killed as well?"
Going back up to the 14th rule of the warrior code, it states that an honorable warrior won't kill another unless in self-defense... or if the cat in question does not follow the warrior code. Since outsiders do not follow the code and thus the code fails to protect them specifically, could the murders he has committed be excused and his spirit be allowed into StarClan?
The Dark Forest wiki states that cats that have committed great crimes in the harming of Clan cats can and/or will be cast out to this unforgivable place. But it also states that if a warrior believed they were following the warrior code, they have a decent chance of making it into StarClan. I assume that if a cat were to redeem themselves in a way that "outweighed" the crimes they committed in the past, or if the crimes they committed didn't break the warrior code in the first place, this same hope might be available to them, although it would probably be on a case-by-case basis. Since Snowraven technically didn't break the rules, and he did what he thought was best for his Clan (by "following the warrior code like any good warrior", and never once did he questioned position) I automatically assumed he would be greenlit for joining StarClan. However the StarClan wiki challenges this; it states that any cat that has caused great harm will not be allowed inside its realm. Since killing outsiders obviously counts as harming others, my former assumption might be thrown out the window.
And I know, "I was just following orders" is a poor excuse. But up to the point I've gotten up to in the series, things are a little more complicated here.
Again, I have not read the most recent series so I am not familiar with the Clans' current stance on outsiders and their "worth", including StarClan's, so for all I know outsiders are mostly viewed as being equal to Clan cats now. But regardless here I am, so call me naïve if you want. But my question is, given your analysis of the situation, where do you think Snowraven belongs, StarClan or the Place of No Stars? Where do you think he would realistically end up? (I'm only asking because I am genuinely up in arms about this, and the more perspectives I get and the more voices are heard, the better. )
Note: I posted this in the Shoutbox a couple of times so sorry if it sounds like I'm repeating myself. I just overanalyze and hyperfocus sometimes. Also, you're a champ if you've read all of this so far. Have a cookie.
Edit: I failed to realize that the first line of the 14th rule says "other cats" instead of "other warriors", shifting this character's fate over to the Dark Forest. Still, I'll leave this thread open for now.
The 14th rule of the warrior code states, and I quote, "An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win their battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense."
The second-to-last bit of phrasing draws at the very least two possible interpretations.
1) Any cat that breaks the warrior code, likely by committing a great crime, may be killed if they present a direct threat to you or your Clan if necessary. As an example, think of Tigerstar (1).
2) Any cat that does not follow the warrior code and is presenting a direct threat to you or your Clan may be killed if necessary. As an example, think of Scourge.
Now obviously, most of the Clan cats have morals. They also don't often kill in interClan skirmishes if they can help it. The validity of the second interpretation and at what lengths it can go to could and would depend on the cat at hand and especially their leader. Note the previous rule, "The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code."
I'm currently developing an OC named Snowraven (previously, Snowpaw, Snowkit) who is more of a morally gray character. He has a habit of killing outsiders - rogues, loners, and kittypets - especially if they are intruding on their territory and threatening his Clan. Unlike Tigerstar who killed when needed to achieve his dream and ambition of supreme power and who ultimately served himself above all others, and unlike Scourge who murdered out of sport and as a show (plus he was a foxheart to his very core), Snowraven has other less fiery intentions. Instead of ambition (he has never desired leadership), bloodlust, revenge, or even a hatred or distrust of outsiders like many Clan cats share, he does what he does for... no other reason than serving his Clan, or at least that's his excuse and one that he completely believes. He has a unique perspective on those that do not have "pure warrior blood", ie that are different in any way from Clan cats: he simply views them as dangerous pests that if possible should be wiped out, one individual at a time, but only if they do you wrong first.
Obviously the environment he would have grown up in would have greatly shaped his perspective on life inside and outside Clan borders, but given that Snowraven is incredibly intelligent - one of his skills is being a master wordsmith - and that he's greatly introverted and very self-sufficient, much of his ideas come from his own critical thinking. From even an early age he compared outsiders with another type of threat or nuisance the Clans face "occasionally": rats. He drew comparisons and make his own conclusion that rogues, loners, and kittypets (bunching them all up into one category) and rats are not too different from each other. When they make their presence known they generally present a threat to the Clans or individual cats, they don't follow the warrior code (more on that in a moment), neither can be reasoned with in his opinion, etc. He has also made the conclusion that without the warrior code and StarClan guiding them, outsiders could not possibly develop any real or at least familiar resemblance of loyalty, honor, compassion, morality, etc., and thus in his eyes they simply do not matter. The fact that the vast majority of these cats' spirits simply fade away once their corporeal bodies die is a rather fitting addition from his point of view. To put it simply, he doesn't view them as "real cats" at all.
This is not his entire character however. Instead of being coldblooded like a lot of cats that follow a similar path, Snowraven can be a genuinely likeable cat when he chooses to tolerate the presence of others; there's even a few cats he genuinely enjoys being around. He is remarkably patient, understanding, empathetic, protective, he is fiercely loyal to his Clan, and he can often even be kind. In fact, in the fanfic I am writing, his murderous tendencies, while an important part of his character for sure, may almost be a highlighted footnote rather than anything. This might change if I decide the plot should revolve around his unconventional and pretty extreme method of handling most intruders, and if the presentation I am giving is inaccurate and I am not greatly misunderstanding the 14th rule of the code, it could even serve as a warning to others in-Universe about rules that don't adapt over time to become more fair.
(Note: His Clan of birth is WindClan, located in the lake territories, but I am not basing all of it off of canon since I have only read up to Omen of the Stars. Leader names and the like may differ. I also heard the Clans are more forgiving towards outsiders these days but I am not entirely sure on that front.)
As mentioned above, Snowraven does not view outsiders through a lens of hatred or disgust, but rather he sees them as nothing more than simple obstacles or pests, and he reasons that instead of chasing them away, killing them would be much more effective. Over the course of his life he has, to be honest, needlessly murdered dozens of outsiders who trespassed near or on WindClan's lands, but not once has he seen anything wrong with his ways of "handling business". (I've yet to decide on WindClan's current leader's position on this.) In fact, one time when he was challenged by another cat regarding his brutal practices, he just had this to say, and he put it quite casually as well,
"Outsiders are nuisances at the best and are threats at the worst. They steal our prey, they trespass our territory. They do not live under the guidance of StarClan or the Warrior Code, so they could not possibly have even the weakest grasp of understanding of the concepts of compassion, love, loyalty, honor... When they die, their spirits, if they have any to begin with, would logically have nowhere to go, and in a fitting way they would then fade into obscurity and nothingness. They have no meaning in life nor in death. As far as I'm concerned, they're no better than rats. I'm not on a crusade to kill outsiders. That would imply that I care. My loyalty and love is to my Clan and my Clan alone, and like any loyal warrior my purpose is to ensure that our Clan continues to survive by any means necessary, even at the cost of my life. But while they continue to violate our land and ask for a fight, why should there be a problem if I were to "dispose" of that hostile element given the chance? Killing an outsider and one of our own cannot possibly be comparable; it's illogical, even madness. Unless you mourn for every rat you've killed as well?"
Going back up to the 14th rule of the warrior code, it states that an honorable warrior won't kill another unless in self-defense... or if the cat in question does not follow the warrior code. Since outsiders do not follow the code and thus the code fails to protect them specifically, could the murders he has committed be excused and his spirit be allowed into StarClan?
The Dark Forest wiki states that cats that have committed great crimes in the harming of Clan cats can and/or will be cast out to this unforgivable place. But it also states that if a warrior believed they were following the warrior code, they have a decent chance of making it into StarClan. I assume that if a cat were to redeem themselves in a way that "outweighed" the crimes they committed in the past, or if the crimes they committed didn't break the warrior code in the first place, this same hope might be available to them, although it would probably be on a case-by-case basis. Since Snowraven technically didn't break the rules, and he did what he thought was best for his Clan (by "following the warrior code like any good warrior", and never once did he questioned position) I automatically assumed he would be greenlit for joining StarClan. However the StarClan wiki challenges this; it states that any cat that has caused great harm will not be allowed inside its realm. Since killing outsiders obviously counts as harming others, my former assumption might be thrown out the window.
And I know, "I was just following orders" is a poor excuse. But up to the point I've gotten up to in the series, things are a little more complicated here.
Again, I have not read the most recent series so I am not familiar with the Clans' current stance on outsiders and their "worth", including StarClan's, so for all I know outsiders are mostly viewed as being equal to Clan cats now. But regardless here I am, so call me naïve if you want. But my question is, given your analysis of the situation, where do you think Snowraven belongs, StarClan or the Place of No Stars? Where do you think he would realistically end up? (I'm only asking because I am genuinely up in arms about this, and the more perspectives I get and the more voices are heard, the better. )
Note: I posted this in the Shoutbox a couple of times so sorry if it sounds like I'm repeating myself. I just overanalyze and hyperfocus sometimes. Also, you're a champ if you've read all of this so far. Have a cookie.
Edit: I failed to realize that the first line of the 14th rule says "other cats" instead of "other warriors", shifting this character's fate over to the Dark Forest. Still, I'll leave this thread open for now.