The Openskies Ranch ;; Sign-Ups (WIP)

The Openskies Ranch prides itself on the work it puts out and and how open their ranks are. Founded by the barn cats that once lived there with twolegs, the ranch is now home to only the loners that settled there and whatever livestock still remains.

The group doesn't believe in any particular higher power, and when asked after life after death, you'll always get poetry. Cats here follow their hearts, and wherever their heart desires is where they'll be long after their body retires.

The ranch is also strange in that they see cats coming and going often. It's tradition that students leave on a Soul Search to explore the world after they finish their training, and they come back if their heart calls to it. They're very open to new cats joining, permanently or temporarily. Every so often, merchant and traders come around and then leave, sometimes taking cats with them, or leaving a few of their own.

Cats here also carry surnames, and often pick up their own or take on another's to show their ties to family and friends alike. Disownment is taken very seriously, and disgraced cats don't typically stick around long.

The ranch formally got its name from the wedded trio of Lilac, Hunter, and Kestral Skywatcher after twolegs left and the generation before them passed by. Hunter was the first sheriff of the ranch, and later on, a charismatic cat called Rob would be the first mayor voted in.

Life on the ranch was peaceful, spats during voting aside. It's not until recently that things have gotten as tough as they are now. A whole stock of farmed mice have died and smell foul, and there's not much that can be done if that sickness spreads further along. With a newly voted-in Sheriff Harper Rosesong and Mayor [Name], they have to pick up where they can now.

★ = high power | ✦ = semi-high power | ⦿ = normal rank | ◎ = unofficial rank

★ MAYOR (0/1)
The ranch's political leader that handles outside groups and works with the sheriff to handle ranch issues. Anyone over 24 moons is eligible to be voted into this role every 6 moons, but it isn't uncommon for them to have long terms.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

★ SHERIFF (0/1)
The ranch's in-house leader that works with the mayor to upkeep law and order. Anyone over 24 moons is eligible to be voted into this role every 6 moons, but it isn't uncommon for them to have long terms.
xxxHarper Rosesong — A young, skinny brown molly with darker spots and emerald eyes.
xxxxxx— played by Artificial_Radiance

✦ DOCTORS (0/1)
The ranch's medical masters that work with farmers to keep herb and medical supplies high. There is 1 per 10 cats in the group.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

✦ NURSE (0/2)
A cat that is directly learning under a doctor after their Soul Search, or an acting assistant for the doctors.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ DEPUTIES (0/∞)
The ranch's muscle. They act as its defenders and do general maintenance, though sometimes they'll accompany ranchers on patrols, especially during tense times. They are primarily inside the camp.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ FARMERS (0/∞)
The ranch's main source of plant life. They tend to herb patches for ranchers to use as bait and for doctors to use for medicine. They are both inside and outside of camp.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ HOMESTEADS (0/∞)
The caretakers of the ranch's youngsters. They run the nursery, acting as midwives, babysitters, and teachers for kits. They are primarily inside of camp.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ RANCHERS (0/∞)
The ranch's main set of hunters. They keep track of prey levels, set traps, scavenge resources, and patrol the range. They are primarily outside of camp.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ RETIRED (0/∞)
These are cats that have formally retired from their main jobs. They might take up a bit of work here and there, but now they're here to help teach young cats and relax.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

⦿ STUDENTS (0/∞)
These are young cats between the ages of 5 and 14 moons old being taught by other cats around the ranch. They are not eligible for being voted into higher ranks.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

◎ KITS (0/∞)
Young cats typically under 5 moons of age that are busy with the important role of being children. Nothing grand is expected of them, outside of staying out of trouble.
xxxNAME — desc
xxxxxx— played by user

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The group's camp is an abandoned farm. Most cats live in the barn or old twoleg nest, but shelter is abundant on the land. There are no designated dens, other than the doctor's office being located in the expansive pantry and kitchen in the old nest. A few cats take to sleeping out in the fields under the stars.

Their territory is all within the fence and over a hill; thanks to learning how to farm prey on top of understanding agriculture, they don't need to branch out unless times are tough. To the south are hills, and the rest of the territory is an expanse of flowering prairies, with a rocky landscape out on the horizon to the north.

The Old Oak is a landmark to the southern reaches of the territory, a huge tree on the crest of a hill. It's a popular drop off point for the Soul Search, or just having private talks in general.

Lover's Nest is where weddings are held and families are celebrated. It's a scenic spot with a small brook, a pond, and a short outcropping of trees and bushes. Proposals often happen here.

The Drop is a sudden crack in the world. A great huge ravine that is ill advised to go near unless you're an experienced climber and know your footing. I'll tell you now: you aren't and you don't. Anything that falls down there is swallowed by the earth and never seen again.

©Artificial_Radiance