Fiction:Volver Empire/Culture/Clans

Overview
usually live in family groups called Clans. Some clans have existed since the dawn of Volver civilization, while others are fairly new. Each clan has their own fighting style, runes, personalities, and even practice different religions. Sometimes members of certain class have different physical attributes as well, such as bigger muscles, larger antlers, stronger bones, larger brains, or vice versa. Each Clan also has a political position based on age of the clan, the status of the members of the clan, and actions of the clan in general.

Honor Code
Each member of the clan contributes the Clan's Honor. Clan Honor is based on the actions of clan members and often times the actions of the overall clan. If one member of the clan breaks the Code of Honor, the Clan is seen as dishonored, until that member faces justice for his dishonor, is removed from the clan, or redeems himself/herself through acts of kindness.

Political Standing
Clans are ranked politically by the age and status of the Clan's representatives. A fairly new clan with well known and skilled members representing it is more likely to be listened to than an old clan with non credible representatives. An Old clan with credible representatives would rank higher than a new clan with the same credibility however. In most cases, the Religion of the clans does not interfere in political decisions, as most clans share the same religion.

Clan Structure
The Volver Clans are slightly complicated social groups. Each Clan is basically a collection of at least two or three smaller clans with the same ideals, causing them to identify as one group. The King is the leader of his own clan, and has authority over all clans. Clan Leaders are in charge of their own Clan and have authority over the smaller clans within their own. They also have respect from other clans and Clan Leaders. The smaller clans have their own leaders who advice the Clan Leader, who in turn advises the King.

The smaller two or three smaller clans, called Cinhil, or Families usually identify themselves as one Clan, or Raanu. Each Family can be made up of multiple bloodlines, thus making the overall Clan very diverse in terms of genetics and bloodlines, making it possible for members to marry each other and bear healthy offspring.

Leadership
Clan Leaders are chosen through succession from parent to child, or through combat. The Clan Leader must accept a leader duel challenge or he/she risks dishonor. The winner of the duel becomes the new Clan Leader, and his/her descendants will succeed them for generations unless they are defeated. Once every few years, usually every 50 to 100 years, all Clan Leaders must meet up and do battle with each other in a tournament known as the Velahr Guthwine (literally meaning "Leader Battle"). The winner of this tournament becomes the Valishar, or King and supreme ruler of the Volver race. The Valishar and his descendants are known as a royal family, and can only be removed from power through leader duels within their own clan or through a democratic vote. Though leader duels within the Valishar's own clan are usually unlikely since the Valishar is the strongest of his own clan and the strongest among all clans.

Clan Membership
Clans are usually based on the bloodline of the individual Volver. In most cases, Volver children of married couples take the Clan name of their Father, though they also belong to the clan of their mother. They usually fight for the Clan that they use as their last name. Volver who do not have a Clan, such as orphans or simply Volver from other lands can join any clan they wish based on their combat abilities and religious views. They often become the first in their bloodline to be in that clan.

Newer clans often stem from Volver families who did not identify themselves as belonging to clans and had no last names. So they create a Clan name for themselves and are thus a newly formed clan. Their children will go on to spread their Clan name in future generations.

In other cases, new clans stem from older clans via individuals who did not agree with their former clansmen. In order to establish their own views, they formed their own clan. Volver who agree with their views and combat styles usually leave their old clans to join the newer ones. Despite their bloodlines, the descendants of these new members are born as members of the new Clan and bear the new last name opposed to the old one.

Marriage and Mating
Marriage often links two Clans together forming alliances and fellowship. Children of these pairs are considered to belong to both clans, though they usually bear the Clan name of their father.

Most of the time, Volver marry and have children within their own clan or smaller clans within their clan. In most cases, A male and female Volver who share the same Clan name does not mean that they are both related in blood. Inbreeding rarely happens amongst Volver Clans.

=Clans=

Clan Free
Clan Free Volver, also known as U'Raanu, are Volver who make no loyalties to a specific clan, and fight and represent themselves on their own accord. These Volver usually have no political standing, but are still seen as fellow Volver on the Honor Code.