Who's ready to ruuuuuuuuumble! It's everybody's favorite time of the year. That's right. Another nail-biting, throat-punching, life-ruining NaNoWriMo is upon us, and the competition's never been fiercer. Who will step away with the crown? *music intensifies*

Oh no—it's Maple with the chair!

Other than word-count-blasting ourselves into the stratosphere with TA's annual NaNoWriMo competition, we have a light and breezy announcements this month as we wind down for the holiday season! A little breather after our event-heavy annual celebration and the butt-load of content updates last month.

We're doing our seasonal OTS nominations as we gear up for leaf-bare, hosting the final month of our leaf-fall Gathering and writing prompts, starting a brand new TA-hosted movie night, announcing the new LC MCA and LC plot adopts, and posting our character activity checks!

UPDATES ---

• NaNoWriMo 2024
  
• Leaf-fall Gathering
• TA Movie Night
  
• Staff Picks
• LC MCA & Plot Adopts
  
• Character activity checks
• TA Movie Nights
  
• Monthly patrols
• Plot updates

NANOWRIMO 2024 ---

While November is the concluding month of autumn, here on The Apostles, we make sure to go out with a bang! Get ready for our timeless and most cherished tradition. It's our NanoWriMo writing contest 🎉🎉🎉

NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, is a yearly event where participants challenge themselves each November to write a novel of at least 50,000 words in 30 days. The event was founded in 1999 wow were some of you even born yet omg, and has since grown into a global phenomenon inspiring writers of all ages and skills, and even more significantly, freaky meowerz on planet cat-land serving sentences in post prison. We're sure this is everything the founders aspired for and more s/o to Christ Baty if you're reading this, you're now a level 2 furry.

Our NaNoWriMo has been a highlight of the Apostle Community for years. Together, we foster creativity, improve our writing skills and endurance, cook up new threads and close out old ones, and by the end of the month, we look at our final word count and go DEAR GOD, WHY?! Each year, the contest evolves with the needs of our members. We hope that whether you're gunning for the top tier or looking to take it easy, NaNoWriMo serves as a community bonding experience, and only make you cry a little bit.

RULES
 
1. Posts created from November 1 to November 30 are only eligible for the contest!

2. Points are scored so that 1 word = 1 point. If a post’s total word count (after excluding quotes) is 564, that is 564 points.

3. Like last year, if you close a thread created before August 1, 2024, you can add an additional 300 points to your score!

a. This will be 300 points for every old thread you close and not every post you make to close the thread. So if Wish posts 3 times to close an old thread, she will only earn an additional 300 bonus points for the entire thread.

b. Bonus points will only be awarded to members who actively post during the contest. So if Rain started the old thread back in April but never worked to close it and didn’t post during the contest, they would not get any bonus points.

4. To encourage original writing, do not include direct, word-for-word quotes from other members (typically shown in strikethrough or italic text) in your word count.

5. Since we're awarding prizes in tiers vs one single, final grand champion winner, you are allowed to track your points on the forum throughout the entire month using the form below. You do not have to wait until the final week of the month to post. We only ask that you don't wait until the very last moment to post your scores as tactical advantage. Past NaNo tracking posts for example.

FORM

[b]Name:[/b] Your Name
[b]Posts:[/b] Lists of posts --- can go under a spoiler tag if it's a long boy. Don't forget to include bonus points!
[b]Final score:[/b] Final total! Please add this up! We don't wanna do that. We didn't major in math dot com.

6. Members must use The Apostle's onsite Word Counter available in the sidebar (to the left) to calculate their post and final total. This ensures that everyone is using the same word counter, so the contest remains fair.

If you have questions about the contest, please contact maxx for more information.

TIERS & PRIZES

Tier 1 - 8,000 word points

• A Wheel Spin
• Retired character thread
• Participation pixel
  

Tier 2 - 15,000 word points

• A Wheel Spin
• Retired character thread
• A rare trait
• Participation pixel
  

Tier 3 - 30,000 word points

• A Wheel Spin
• Retired character thread
• A rare trait
• Participation pixel
• Dream of Starclan
  

Grand Prize Winner

• A Wheel Spin
• Retired character thread
• A rare trait
• Dream of Starclan
• Reincarnate a character (former character of yours or an approved NPC bio)
• Coveted winner pixel
  

You win everything under your tier. You do not get doubles, triples, etc. of every prize.

LEAF-FALL GATHERING ---

We're on the third moon of our Leaf-Fall Gathering! You will have until November 30 to create a thread participating in the special prompt: React to and reflect on the eerie, ooky-spooky environment! A low mist clings to the ground and an unsettling presence can be felt. Who or what will your character run into?

The Gathering raffle will be drawn on September 1, 2025 during our 6-year anniversary. One lucky winner will win an assortment of goodies! If you want to volunteer art for the raffle, please dm maxx on the discord!

CAT LAND MOVIE NIGHT ---

Thanks your fast and furious responses, we're kicking off the all new Movie Night hosted by the one and only rain! This will be a monthly event similar to Game Night, except we'll be watching films YOU want TA to see! On the first Sunday of every month, we will all gather to laugh, cry, and most of all, bond over our favorite and maybe not so favorite movies!

Adding to the fun, a wheel will be spun at the beginning of the night to choose what movie to watch from your suggestions! So bring your popcorn, snacks and drinks, for the first meeting will be held November 3 at 9:30 p.m. est! If you want to participate but haven’t thrown in your movie suggestions yet, check out this form!

wish recommends "finally, peace and qui- oh what's this?". Beetleshine bumps into Cedarpath out in the pines. They share hunting techniques, like camouflaging, while getting to know one another. Will this chance encounter blossom into friendship? Her favorite quote: “She certainly hadn't been in ThistleClan long, but it warmed his heart to see her so determined and inquisitive."



rain recommends "a request on bended knee". In the wake of Redcloud and Hazelberry becoming mates, there seems to be only one thing missing from their perfect lives: a family. This is the thread that makes all of their dreams come true as they ask their friend Whitewhisker for a little help. Their favorite quote: "I loooove kittens."



Bandit recommends recommends "You're never gonna fit in much, kid". Snailtail is looking to expand his battle prowess, and what better to teach him than Splitersight’s sharpened claws? With ThistleClan’s deputy as his former mentor, he’s learned many tricks, but is it enough? His favorite quote: "​​ I want to learn from cats beyond my mentor. Cats who know different things."



maxx recommends "I didn't win but neither did you," where Snailtail and Smokestorm spar. Maxx appreciates the supportive yet distant approach that Smokestorm takes to interacting with family. He notices that Snailtail has (probably) learned from the rogues. There's a lot of foreshadowing, and Maxx enjoys the head nod to his retirement: "Be seeing you in the elder's den, uncle.”


sloth recommends "no joke." An amusing read, Dandelionbite antagonizes Mallowfrost into a brawl despite her having better things to do. As the tussle, they agree that love is overrated and they definitely don’t need it at all. Her favorite quote: "Next time you want me to kick your ass, you're really going to have to beg me for it.”



Raven~ recommends "pay attention to me!!!" Heathermask is left with a terribly bored Hollowkit and BOY is that guy getting on her nerves. He pesters, and she snaps until he is forced to the realization that he won’t know maternal love from a queen that merely endures him. Her favorite quote: "M-mother, do you hate me? You can say it if it's true. I won't tell Daddy or anyone, I promise.”

LICHENCLAN MEDICINE CAT ---

*triple drumroll pls* We're hyped to announce that the fr fr fr medicine cat apprentice of LichenClan will be Sandpaw! Congratulations maple . We're so excited to welcome you into a high position role, and for Sandpaw's future plot to unfold. While you were the only candidate for the position, we were floored by your audition and believe Sandpaw's unwavering faith in StarClan will help guide LichenClan's future. We're dying to see her upcoming threads with secret! Briarfall and for this plot to kick off! Yay! Now let's get this girlie into the tunnels 😈

LICHENCLAN PLOT ADOPTS ---

*even mooooore drumroll pls* We're pleased to announce that Saltwisker (fallenreaper ) and Sagefrost (sloth ) will be teaming up to make LichenClan a personal Dark Forest to help us shape LichenClan's upcoming narrative. We always (sincerely) appreciate everyone's interest in our plot bunnies, and we encourage all current traditionalists/loyalists to get involved in this mini-plot, so please keep your eyes peeled for future patrols, writing prompts, and threading opportunities! Yay to more Coyotecall-induced, evil-shenanigan antics 😈 😈

CHARACTER ACTIVITY CHECK  ---

Another leaf-bare is upon us, and with it, another seasonal character activity check! As usual, please see #character-activity-check in the discord and post an update for each of your characters. You will need one post from the leaf-fall season, September 1 to November 30, for the character to be considered active.

If your character does not have an active post from the season, use this as an opportunity to find them a thread or fun a new plot! You can also use the activity check to evaluate your roster and complete any outstanding character arcs. Archiving a kitty to clear up some space is totally valid! Or killing them is always a thrilling option...😈😈

SEASONAL PROMPTS & PATROLS---

Please see and use the Leaf-fall Writing Prompts to engage with the plot and create new threads. New patrols can be found in November Patrols.

CURRENT ONGOING PATROLS

• A Light in the Deepest Shadow (Unknown)
• Strength, Sinew, Bones, and Silk (RWC)
• The Fire Sermon (TC)
• Go fish! (RWC & Tribe)
• There Be Ghosts in Those Tunnels (LC)
• The Soul in the Stone (TC & tunnels)

PLOT UPDATES---

REDWOODCLAN NEWS:

• Following the Gathering, Foxtail and Mist journey from Tribe lands to discuss her dream about the tunnels with Finchstar and Asterstorm.
• Tigerpool's trusted group of apprentices and warriors continue reporting any suspicious or code-breaking activity to him as tensions rise within the Clan.
• Border relations remain amicable with LichenClan and the Tribe. Border relations are actively hostile with ThistleClan.
• Asterstorm brings Foxglovefire to the MoonCave due to the lagoon's unwavering silence.
• Caution around the tunnels and the unnerving presence increases, especially as many around camp realize that Blossomstep hasn't been seen awhile...
  

THISTLECLAN NEWS:

• Ignoring Firstar's secret alliance, Blazingstorm gathers a patrol of ThistleClan warriors to hunt down the rogues who killed Lilypad. A bloody fight ensues.
  
• ThistleClan warriors continue to close up any tunnel entrances, barring them from ThistleClan land. However, many encounter a strange presence, an unsettling darkness...
• Border relations remain tense with LichenClan and the Tribe. Borders are openly hostile with RedwoodClan and the tunnelers.
• Meadowshine finds a now-mute Icesong in the tunnels, who leads her to a mysterious rock, but why? None of it make sense to her.
  
• Shadepool remains mysteriously missing.

LICHENCLAN NEWS:

• The council decides to allow Leopardface and Hawkpaw stay in the Clan, however not without some parameters. Deadeye and Ghostface also share their concerns regarding the new rules and the traditionalist's unrest.
  
• As guards continue to monitor the MoonCave and tunnel entrances, a dark and foreboding presence grows more sinister for those who ignore their warnings and venture into the tunnels depths.
• Following the new rules, traditionalist continue to meet and commiserate their changing Clan.
  
• Border relations remain amicable with RedwoodClan and the Tribe. Tensions continue with ThistleClan.
• Foxglovefire goes with Asterstorm to the MoonCave, where she makes contact with "StarClan" for the first time.
  
• Sandpaw wakes in the middle of the night to a mysterious voice summoning her to the tunnels...
  

TRIBE NEWS:

• Following the Gathering, Foxtail takes Finchstar up on his offer and journey across the Estuary with Mist to discuss her vision about the tunnels with Asterstorm.
• As her visions about the Clans increase, Foxtail passes on messages to her Tribe-mates, urging them to share her visions across the border, despite the aggression they might face.
• A dark and foreboding presence lingers in the tunnels on the Clan island, wreaking havoc on the Lake Superior...
  

CELANDINE NEWS:

• Poppy's rogues encounter an aggressive ThistleClan patrol in their territory.
• Celandine continues to hunt and train on ThistleClan's periphery territory, which includes straying onto other Clan and Tribe territory.
• A dark and foreboding presence lingers in the tunnels, wreaking havoc on the island...
  

AGEING ---

Characters will age one moon this month. Staff will update the allegiances, while members are responsible for their own character biographies. Characters that were created or born in the last week do not have to age and can wait for the next month.

Remember if you have apprentices reaching warrior age check out the requirements and ensure you meet them before putting in a ceremony request.

Note:

Aster and Reed kits are five moons old.
Curly and Oak kits are five moons old.
Spark x Turtle kits are five moons old.
Mist x Song kits are four moons old.
Red x Hazel x White kits become playable at one moon on November 14.

FUTURE UPDATES ---

May the battle begin! Best of luck to our word-count-trackers this month. May your fingies only bleed a tinsy itty-bitty-bitty bit, and may you take the month of December off to rest-up post-mind explosion. StarClan knows you'll need the break from post prison jk there's never a break! Other than dominating the forum with word galore, we sincerely hope you find time to enjoy the holiday season, eat a StarClan-fearing amount of food, and be with your loved ones! Happy meowing!

Best,
The Apostles Staff