Culture
The overall structure is clan, tribe, village, town and city. Most clans consist of one to three family groups, with a tribe have up to five clans. Most of the article will cover the life with the clan or tribe.
Family:
The family unit is run by a patriarch, who is usually the oldest male in the house. He is in charge of all the dealings with anybody outside of the family, including any marriages, business arrangements, and outside work. The matriarch of the family runs the house, and when inside the domicile, her word even outranks the patriarch.
Each child is taught how to fight, read and write, along with their chores as assigned by the parents. The oldest male child is expected to take over the family business, and the eldest female will be married off to another clan by her 16th birthday. It is the responsibility of the youngest son the care for the parents when they get old.
When a patriarch dies the matriarch continues running the family business and house, it is true if the woman dies. If both die, the children are given to another clan members based on the their needs, including any property. if the man has a relative in a different tribe, then they attempt to come to an agreement. This has lead to battles and even wars in the past.
Members of the clan are protective of their own and will help or fight for their fellow clansmen.
Marriage:
Marriage within the same clan is forbidden and must be approved by both families, by the local priest/priestess, and the clan’s chief or leader. Usually, the two clans are part of the same tribe. However, two clans from rival tribes have found themselves connected by marriage. The more status the family has within the kingdom the higher the person must be to approve the joining. Any person from a noble family will also need the approval of the high priest/priestess and the current ruler.
During the spring festival, the patriarch of the family with eligible preteen sons or daughter gets together to discuss the joining of the two families through marriage, which occurs within the following years, usually during the fall festival.
After the marriage, the woman becomes a clan member of the man’s clan and considered a minor clan member. All the adult clan members on the man’s side are considered brothers and sisters, while the woman’s sides are aunts and uncles.
All the children from the father's clan within the same generation are called nephews and nieces. Siblings from the other clan are considered cousins.
Divorce:
Since it is more of a joining by two families, there really is not anything like divorce. Instead, it is a contract between the two families, and should one side or the other fail to uphold their part of the agreement. They can make a formal request to the priest/priestess and clan leaders from both clans to have contract dissolve. If it is granted the losing party will pay a penalty to the other party, and to the officials.
Inheritances:
All the land belongs to the man and is passed along to the eldest male child, the house belongs to the woman and is passed on to the eldest female child. If there is no male or female child, then the land belongs to the man’s eldest brother, or sister. If the couple was childless, then the land is owned and worked by the clan, until they decide to give it to a new couple.
War:
In times of war with other clans, any women from the opposing clan are confined to a house under penalty of death. They may leave with another clan member for their daily chores. Once the hostilities are over then they are free to return on their duties. Women that have been in the clan for several years and established roots are not held to the same restrictions.
Death:
When a clan member dies of old age, their life is celebrated as they are prepared for the journey to the afterlife in accordance to their cult. The decease are laid to rest in near by natural caverns with the end sealed from the rest of the caves. Some prefer the entire body, while others just place urns fill the ashes of their love ones. Only family members and priest are allowed in the catacombs, unless they become invaded by one of the many underground races or creatures. then the entire clan or clans with defend their dead.
If the member was killed in battle or an approved fight, then it is accepted as part of life. They mourn for twenty-four hours as the body is prepared. Sometimes one side or the other will try to take retribution on the other family, but this is usually discouraged by both sides.
Should the person die because of a malicious or a cowardly act, then the closest family member has the option of deciding the fate of the attacker. Many wars have been started because the punishment was seen as being unjust. After one year of morning and if the person is still able to father/bear children, then it is expected for them to find a mate and continue the bloodline.
It is not uncommon for one of the brothers/sisters to accept the surviving member into their own house as a mate. If several of the men have an interest in her then they will woe her into accepting them as a new partner, even though he may already have one. Yes, they can have more than one mate, but it must still be approved by the leaders. If the survivor is the man, he is expected to find another spouse, and he may have several women trying to get his attention.
Sometimes they choose to leave seeking fame, fortune, or adventure. Many never return, but some do and they are welcomed back as a sage.
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