How the Clans Work

Religion/Customs
All the Clans-- Forest, Ice, Mountain, and Sea, have different customs and beliefs, but all have the basic belief of the three souls-- clan, name, and world soul, and a being called the World Spirit is part of everything. The World Spirit roams the summer forests as a tall, stag-headed man with spreading antlers; in the winter, the Spirit is a woman with leafless red willow branches for hair, that walks the deep forest alone, striking terror in all she meets. Midsummer Night is a time of change that is celebrated.

Clan Leaders
The Clan Leader is the person who keeps the people of his/her clan safe. It is also the job of the clan leader to decide when and where the clan moves over a certain period of time. However, they are not completely in control: others have a say as well, although most of the time it is the leader who makes the final decision.

Mages
The Mages match in power, or nearly match, the Clan Leaders. They can tell when the best prey will come, cure sicknesses, and use the natural world around them to their best advantage. Without a Mage, the clans will be less stable and more likely to undergo suffering.

Food
There are no "regular" hunters and foragers; different hunting/foraging parties are organized each time, and sent out when necessary. However, skillful hunters like Renn are invaluable and sent out more often. Plant food and vegetables are just as important, and are abundant during summer.