Chief
Working Lords of the Northlands
Working Lords of the Northlands
The Chief heads a clan, and is a common feature in the Northlands. In most cases the Chief is the lowest rank among the nobility in the North, and they are responsible for their clans and any lands or assets that clan might own.
As will be seen, the nature of the clan and the interpretations of the powers (if any) of the Chief are quite fluid, as while the clan itself is a mainstay of live north of the Dragonspine Mountains, they are effectively ad hoc collections of families, recruits, slaves, and chattel wealth. In order to clarify somewhat, let us examine the clans of both Normark and Torness.
Clans of Torness
There are five major clans and about a score of lesser ones that comprise the kingdom. Most lean toward a given culture, but the majority are broadly mixed. Likewise, religion and even language varies from one to the next due to the mountainous terrain of the kingdom, inevitably leading to some level of balkanization.
Most major clans hold lands within the boundaries of a single jarldom, but there are a few outliers. Clan Beor, for example, is an outlawed clan following a failed rebellion in 616 4A. As such they hold no clan lands at all, instead camping in the wilderness, living among the folk of other clans (who may or may not be aware of their clan heritage), or even living the gypsy lifestyle.
The minor clans likewise have a wide variety of structures, from playing the role associated with guilds in southern lands to performing the role of mercenary bands. Following the structures of the clans themselves, their chiefs play a reciprocal role (i.e., bandit chief for Beor, guildmaster for a mercantile clan, etc.).