Ankh're

Aveh Project: Clan Structure

How many clans are within Aveh?

The number of clans within Aveh is somewhat variable, as the number can change depending on environmental, social or economic concerns. On an average, there are between two and three hundred clans, including splinter septs.

In general, environmental or other disaster will lead to a reduction in clan numbers, whereas a boon of some kind will lead to a proliferation of septs, if not outright new clans.

How are the clans structured?

On a large scale, the Avik clans are arranged in somewhat of a network. At the apex is Clan Fatima, and below that are the airr'varakiu ('regional' or 'provincial' clans), which hold the bloodlines of the ancient territory-chiefs who once governed their quadrants of Aveh. All other clans are considered to belong to one of these basal clans, save for Clan Fatima (see below).

The basal clans are Tenesshi (Sandflame), Jarikrad (Windrider), Si'lirr (Storm Lion), and Kerria'li (Water Jewel). Each corresponds with one rough quadrant of Aveh, starting with Tenesshi in the south and moving counterclockwise.

Most clans are 'standard' clans. But on occasion, a given clan may splinter; the most common reasons are overpopulation and internal disagreement. If the splinter group is not large enough to form a distinct, separate clan, it will become a sept a 'lesser' clan which is considered a direct offshoot of the parent-clan and directly allied to it. Once a sept gains enough people, though birth, marriage and adoption, it becomes a full-fledged clan.

Within clans of any size, governance is through a clan head, supported and advised by an elder council made up of the most highly skilled individuals in the fields important to the clan, plus a vask'ki (healer) and a leader of festivals, both spiritual and celebratory. Such an individual is generally also a tessha'jiri (talesinger) as well. Despite the term 'elder', age is not a factor so much as skill and wisdom. The elder council determines the allotment of both duties and rewards throughout the clan, where the clan head administers judgements and sees to his or her people's well-being.

How many individuals make up a clan?

Most clans' population varies between one hundred and three hundred individuals, with a few clans exceeding this average. Those exceptions to this generality are usually to be found amongst the sedentary clans.

Clans with less than one hundred members are considered septs, unless the clan has existed for more than a quarter-century and has had its population decimated. The basal clans would seem to contradict this, but even in those cases the actual core-blood, those who belong to the basal clan and no other, number no more than any other clan.

Are the clans matrilineal or patrilineal? Both? Neither?

Many different forms of inheritance can be found within the Avik clans; it can be honestly said that all three forms may be found within the borders of Aveh. However, it is more common to find inheritance through the male or female line, than through the more exotic forms, or no formal means of inheritance. Otherwise, the practice breaks down fairly evenly between matrilinity and patrilinity.

Saeu (those of the Avik "third gender") inherit as females within some clans, but in most cases a clan will have arrangements in place for compensation, should a saei be eldest-child, as they are considered neither male or female.

In the inheritance of clan leadership, how does matrilinity/patrilinity affect said inheritance? What about in the case of "common" marriages?

Matrilinity or patrilinity does not normally affect the clan leadership, unless the position of clan head is an inherited one (which is almost always the case). When leadership is inherited, it passes through the male or female line as per usual. Saeu can inherit the position as females if such practices are followed, being required to adopt children; otherwise, they do not usually become clan heads unless it is not an inherited position.

Within "common" marriages, the spouse-to-be (male or female) brings a dowry to the marriage, which is added to the other's inheritance or potential inheritance to form a nest-egg of sorts. Should breakup occur, the dowry is retained by the spouse who contributed it.

What are the differences, if any, between nomadic and sedentary clans?

The basic difference between nomadic and sedentary clans besides the obvious is clan size. On the whole, a sedentary clan boasts a larger population, and nearly all exceptions to the average population figures belong to sedentary clans.

A sedentary clan is defined as any clan in which the majority of the clan-blood remains in one place for greater than two-thirds of the year. Conversely, even if they hold a settlement, if the majority of a clan is on the move for greater than two-thirds of the year, the clan is considered nomadic.

Most agriculture is done by the sedentary clans, the nomads cultivating tiny seasonal plots at best; on the other hand, nearly all animal husbandry is the province of the nomadic clans. It is entirely possible that a clan may have a segment of its population which is an exception, such as a sedentary clan of merchants which has a nomadic element in order to acquire goods and offer services over a wider expanse of territory.

Do the clans have set territories? What do they entail?

All clans possess ancestral holdings, segments of land upon which the clan's word is law. Depending on the type of terrain, a clan may feel a tendency towards raiding those possessed of 'kinder' lands.

All territories contain at least a handful of artesian wells or natural wellsprings. Some, but not all, have at least one small oasis, brushland or savanna area.

Nomadic clans travel throughout their territories, spending the hottest part of the year clustered about the largest wells, or at an oasis settlement. Sedentary clans place their core settlement in similar areas, and sent out small 'patrols' to scout their borders.

Scattered throughout Aveh are free lands, areas in which any may come and make use of the available resources. The commonality of these lands are reinforced by the basal clan of the quadrant and ultimately Clan Fatima. Similarly, the trade-roads and caravan trails are owned by no one clan, and obstruction of these byways is punishable. Most clans possess their own routes, as well.

Passage into another clan's territory is not impossible, though in some cases a thorough check will be made of those requesting passage and all cases will be observed by native scouts. Actual usage of clan resources requires a payment of some kind to the holders of the land.

How are clans that have become too large broken down into smaller groups? How are territories, trade routes, belongings divided?

Should a clan's population become too large, a segment of the clan will generally break away to form a sept (or, rarely, another clan). The new clan-core consists of those who volunteer to separate from the parent clan; if necessary, this number is supplemented by the drawing of lots.

Those forming the new clan may bring with them all of their personal belongings, plus one-half of what they would inherit (if such is the case). The two elder councils will then meet in order to portion out territory, and this fractioning of lands is often supplemented with free or unclaimed lands by intervention of the royal line, if such a thing is necessary. Ancestors and the clan esshi'faiana(u) are consulted throughout this process. These selfsame spirits go with the new group, as well as remaining with the old, though ties with the new clan may fade with time.

Apportioning of trade routes is relatively simple; the new clan gains control of any non-free routes lying within its territory. In the case of a hostile split as opposed to one due to overpopulation or lack of resources an impartial arbitrator from the basal clan, as well as a member of the royal line, will mediate between the two parties.

If two clans become united, how is the merger handled?

When two clans make the decision to unite, the smaller clan is usually subsumed within the larger. Should the clans be equal or nearly equal, a decision must be made in order to determine which clan identity will be retained, or whether a new name and identity will be created for the "new" clan. The first generation after the merge, if a smaller clan is declared null, may append the dead clan's name and identity to their core identity; after that, the marks are dropped (at least officially). If the lesser clan is made up of less than thirty or forty individuals, they are completely assimilated.

If the clan territories are adjacent, or within easy access of one another, the lands and resources are simply pooled. If not, the lesser clan will liquidate their territory into good to bring to into the larger clan's territory. Should the clans be equal, the least advantageous territory is generally the one rendered into base resources.

How does one transfer allegiance from one clan to another?

Most cases of transfer between clans are through marriage or adoption, though one can also change clan allegiance if one is dissatisfied with their birth clan. The individual must formally petition their prospective new clan, often after having lived with it for at least half of the year. If the petition is accepted, a ritual is held to 'wash away' the old clan ties and 'burn' the new ones to the individual; this ritual also severs ties to the former clan ancestral spirits and esshi'faianau, though blood-relatives may still be called upon. The new clan member is now known to his new clan-spirits, but polite offerings are required before they will properly respond.

The new clan member may be adopted into a family, or left to stand on their won, as circumstances and preferences dictate.

How are the clans identified? What about territories?

All clans have identifying glyphs, emblems and colors which their members use in clothing, ornamentation and even architecture. Most Avik will display their clan-blood-ties in some manner, even if it is so simple as to dress in the colors of the clan. Avik can recognize their own clan-marks and those of their neighboring clans, plus those of the basal clans and the royal line, at a minimum; most know more than these.

Territory-marks are used to delineate a clan's holdings. They are placed upon road-stones, on the embrasures of the artesian wells, and on standards which are placed periodically along territory-borders. It is considered polite, when traveling through another clan's territory, to look for a marker and therefore be able to greet one's hosts properly when met.

Those without clan marks, or who do not display them, are generally held under suspicion.

When clans merge, elements of the two clan's emblems may be amalgamated if the clans were equal in strength, or if such a merge is desired by the combined population.

What is the basic family unit?

The core of the family is the unit formed by parents and children. Quite frequently, this core is expanded by adopted family members, and to include childless uncles or aunts who have decided to aid in the raising of children or simply to bring the family together. Elder family members may also join their children's household if they decide to no longer maintain their own.

Each family-line within a clan is noted by a subtle addition or change within the clan emblem; such an addition is often adopted as a full clan emblem by new-formed septs.

Linking these cores together through siblings and cousins creates the larger family groups, and ultimately creates the clan itself.

What are some of the social roles within the clans? Do they vary? If so, how? What gender divisions, if any, are common?

All clans have certain roles which must be filled: the clan head, the elder council, and the clan- scouts (who also serve as guardians). Within the council, a representative is required for every occupation common within the clan, the vask'ki, and the leader of festivals. Depending on the size and inclinations of the clan, there may be aides and family-line representatives as well.

Gender roles often depend on the method of inheritance; if matrilineal, the males undertake the "less strenuous" workloads, and that is reversed when the clan is patrilineal. This is not a caste system written in stone, however, and individuals are (usually) judged by skill and competence as well as gender. Saeu are often found in support roles, especially as guardians or roving scouts; they are generally the ones who adopt orphaned children as well, as they do not/cannot bear their own.

Assumed social roles are more constricting within sedentary clans, as a whole; nomads require every able pair of hands they have.

How does one become a clan head? What could cost someone the position? How would the removal of the clan head be accomplished?

In most instances, the position of clan head is inherited, though in some cases the head is chosen by the elder council. If the eldest child is not suitable for the position, it will be passed to the next offspring, and so on.

Regardless of the means of gaining the position, the head of a clan has the same expectations of his or her people to fulfill. If the head does not make certain that all members of the clan are provided for; if they hoard resources for themselves; if they are cruel or nonresponsive to the needs of their people; they will be deemed unfit and removed, and a more suitable candidate put in their place, be it a sibling or an individual chosen by council and clan.

The removal of clan head is held through a ritual (willing participant or not), stripping the authority from the now-former head in a reverse of that ceremony used upon their accession. They need not leave the clan, unless their behavior is such that exile is required.

It is also possible for the head to step down willingly, and common reasons for this are age, or a belief that there is a better individual for the position. In such a case, a nullification ceremony is not required, simply a ritual to transfer the position of clan head.

Does the Royal Clan differ from the other clans? If so, how?

Clan Fatima ("white-soul-bird", archaic word-form) resembles other semi-sedentary clans to some extent, having Bledavik as the core settlement and the surrounding lands, plus the city- state of Nisan to some extent, as their clan territory though they have jurisdiction over the unclaimed areas of Aveh as well. However, it could be said that Fatima borders on nomadic, with a substantial number of its population (sometimes upwards of three-quarters of the adult population) riding circuit throughout the country as impartial witnesses and direct links between the clans and the royal line in Bledavik.

The clan traces its bloodline to the four base clans as well as the original Fatima clan, owing to the marriage of the core-blood to the basal clans when the royal line was founded. The clan has two distinct families within it, the "lesser" line being found within Nisan and the core-blood within Bledavik.

Clan Fatima numbers between two and three hundred, with a clan-core of approximately seventy-five, and this clan-core possessing an even more intense form of the "Fatima eyes" than the clan as a whole (the "Fatima Jasper"). Marriage outside the clan is nearly unheard-of, with first-cousin marriages being by far the norm. The clan's unique characteristics became more predominant with time and the clan population dropping from the maximum of four hundred before the purge held by Shakhan.

~ Dictionary of Terms ~ Clan Structure ~ Cultural Notes ~ General Notes ~ Theology ~