Clans of The Wilds

  While this belief ties all of the Nomads together, it is the less overarching beliefs which tie people together in clans. These clans are self-selecting, with people able to stay or leave as and when they choose.  

Types of Clans

There are two types of clan, which are fundamentally different in various ways. One is just known as a clan, and has a nomadic lifestyle. The other is known as settlements or permanent camp which are set up with permenant buildings in a specific location.   Below is a list of the main differences.  

	Clans	Settlements
Camp	A temporary site which usually consists of tents, caravans and other non-permanent shelters. They are likely to stay in place for 3 - 6 moons on average.	A permanent site which consists of a combination of semi-permanent tents and caravans, and peat-walled or wooden buildings.
Leader	The person who leads a clan is known as the Chief Among Equals. They can only lead a clan if they can persuade people to follow them.	The Harskar is a hereditary position which is passed down to the most competent next of kin. People are marked as being the next in line when they reach adulthood.
Leadership	While most clans are run with a fair amount of discussion and compromise, the Chief Among Equals makes the final decision. It is a combination of charisma and diplomacy.	A Harskar doesn't need to take anyone else's opinion into account. If those who live in the settlement don't like their decisions, they are welcome to move on.
Size	Most clans are small and can have anywhere between 20 and 200 members. These are rough estimates, and numbers fluctuate as people come and go.	Settlements are larger than clans, with most having between 2,000 and 5,000 members. While numbers do change, it is usually more stable.
Members	Anyone can be a member of a clan, but it's not necessarily an easy life, so they are more likely to be those old enough and fit enough to keep up with it.	As with a clan, anyone can be a member. But the majority of people who live in a settlement are very young families, the elderly or the infirm.
Security	Life in the clans is not a secure one. It is reliant on the wise leadership of the Chief Among Equals and their knowledge of the best places to camp.	Settlements are built in places which are easily defensible and safe. There are warriors who live within the settlement and work for the Harskar to protect it.
Food	Food within the clans is mostly foraged. There are hunters who hunt around the camp, and there are those who know where to find root vegetables and berries around the forest they are in. Flour and other goods are traded either with settlements or with Townsfolks. There is a lot of variety, but not necessarily a reliable supply.	Settlements have people who specialise in food provision. Farmers who grow and tend crops or livestock, and there are those within the settlements who are skilled in turning these raw elements into foods such as flours which can be used or traded. There is little variety, but a reasonably reliable supply.
Trade	Externally, clans trade with each other, with the settlements and with The Towns. Internally, most things are shared, as what is good for the clan is good for everyone.	Externally, settlements might trade with clans, but most trade happens with its members who use something of a barter system to exchange goods and services.
Medicine	Most clans have a Heks or some kind of healer who lives and travels with them and provides medical support. However, there is no guarantee of the herbs needed for medical supplies.	Each settlement has a Heks and a healer who is available to help anyone who lives there. They have a steady supply of herbs and other medicines.
Freedom	Most clans are built on shared values and beliefs, or at least beliefs in the same Chief Among Equals. If, for whatever reason, a person wishes to leave, they are free to do so and will be accepted by another clan.	Most members of a settlement are there because that is where they need to be. While they too can leave and join a clan should they choose, the lifestyle jump is too hard for most.

   

Example Clans

While there are over 100 clans across the Wilds, here are examples of some of the more well-known ones. The map (above) will provide a guide to the geography these clans are traversing.