The 8 Clans

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Introduction

Within Atinaw there are 8 families who more or less lead the country alongside the current King or Queen. These are the 8 clans. Powerful and old, each one is led by a Finla who keeps their portion of the kingdom running.

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Clan Myaldar

Located close to a river and a massive forest, Clan Myaldar is responsible for a lot of the wood and wood craft items in Atinaw. Things like furniture or the raw wood for houses tends to mostly come from Clan Myaldar. They keep themselves fed through the funds they get in exchange for this wood, as well as by fishing in the river. Occasionally the people of Myaldar do hunt, but it's a bit harder for them since while they have this wonderful stretch of forest the constant cutting of trees causes enough noise as to scare away the edible prey. Not to mention attract monsters. Though, that's just a general facet of life in Atinaw, and isn't something that's going to bother someone who's lived there their entire life.



House Vidhunn
The current family representing Clan Myaldar. The Vidhunn family is most well known for their physical strength, something that's to be expected given the common occupations. The members of the house often tend towards being expert craftsman and powerful wood cutters. While Myaldar produces lot of wonderful wood creations, the stuff created by the Vidhunn family themselves are known for being beautiful to the point that their pieces are sold as luxury goods. Just about every piece of wooden furniture in the Vidhunn family home is handmade, which is something that can be said about most families in Myaldar but takes on a special meaning when talking about the Vidhunn.



Vikinger Group
The Vikinger group belonging to Clan Myaldar is smaller compared to a lot of other groups. They're mostly foot soldiers and their existence is rendered mostly to that of Peacekeepers. Due to how central Clan Myaldar is in Atinaw territory, they don't need to be as constantly on guard and prepared for attacks. The most they suffer from are the wild beasts that already live in Atinaw and the occasional bandit groups, which is something even the citizens of Atinaw are long since used to.

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Clan Hopsfel

The smallest Clan of all, Hopsfel has the misfortune of being located in the mountains that sit between Atinaw and Dalquia. Because of this, the clan is mostly occupied by miners and smiths. They focus on the creation of things like weaponry and armor for the rest of Atinaw. In addition, they're the only ones that can navigate the tunnels that go through the mountains and get to the other side unharmed. This makes them extremely valuable as it's a more direct route to Dalquia, as opposed to the water ways. The often trade things like weapons, armor , and even soldiers for medicine and food, some of which gets shared with Atinaw at large but a lot of the food in particular is used to sustain Hopsfel.



House Hallbjorn
House Hallbjorn are well known for being expert crafters of Atvalthal Steel. Most members of the family are well versed in the creation process and guard it closely. Those who are looking to properly learn how to make it will often apprentice under members of the family or at least someone living in Hopsfel. The family as a whole are strong and prideful, and with good reason. The family has a habit of being mostly male, though not on purpose. The line itself just seems to produce more male heirs. However, the strongest member of the family seems to always be the matriarch of the family, usually a mother or a grandmother who can't be beat when it comes to physical prowess or crafting skills. There tends to only ever be a single daughter who more often than not is the heir.



Vikinger Group
The Hopsfel Vikinger are almost non existence. A large part of Vikinger existence is that they tend to be sailors more than anything. Vikings, raiders, that kind of thing. Hopsfel has virtually no access to water though, so the group itself is virtually non-existence. The only thing that can loosely be described as the Clan's Vikinger group are the city guards.

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Clan Raellon

Clan Raellon are the most known for their academics and innovations. They aren't really fighters which causes them to occasionally struggle, but they are extremely intelligent. Since Atinaw considers this to be a 'different kind' of strength, Raellon is often offered protections by the other Clans in exchange for being privy to new and powerful innovations. A branch of the 'Academy' from the capital city exists her. Though, if asked, a lot of people would honestly say this is more the main branch. While Afsos boasts its education system due to having access to the Simithe, those who choose to study here have access to members of House Asmund, which many consider the better deal. Since the Academy in Raellon is technically associated to the one in the capital city, they're often allowed to borrow materials from the Grand Library.



House Asmund
House Asmund has a very unique claim in that out of all the other houses, they're the one that's never changed so to speak. Each Clan has gone through its fair share of growing pains. In addition to that, a lot of the families who started these clans ended up being changed. Most Clans ended up changing representative family multiple times. But ever since the original lord Asmund, it's never really changed. Some people say it's because they were the only one who weren't pompous enough to name the Clan after themselves and instead made the name a dedication to the Gods. Be that an Old One or a Dragon God, that's honestly up for debate. Members of the family often become Druids, tacticians, or follow in the steps of their ancestors and act as the only bastion for magic in Atinaw (as well as closest thing the Scholia Arcana has to a foothold, even if it's fairly lose due to Asmund's independent nature.) The family itself is known for being exceptionally large, twins and even triplets are common.



Vikinger Group
Due to being a border clan, Raellon has a large Vikinger group. However, that group itself doesn't completely belong to Raellon. As mentioned most are scholars before soldiers. Due to their importance, they often receive a lot of gifts in the form of soldiers to help protect them. Especially since they're a border Clan and so exceptionally close to the Empire. They're even occasionally supplemented by Seafall, courtesy of the current ruler in exchange for any new developments.

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Clan Loregard

Clan Loregard are full of hunters, fighters, and monster slayers. They have access to both the large lake in Atinaw territory as well as being placed both inside and across from large forests. While the one across from them is farther, Yzranor and then have something of deal. Since Loregard leans more towards monster slaying and Yzranor more towards hunting, the two work together to keep the forest clean of both beasts and enemy humanoids. They probably have one of the best relationships out of any clan just because of how much they rely on one another. Loregard is full of exceptional warriors and the people from Loregard have the highest chances of moving up in any kind of military standing.



House Iulide
House Iulide are known for military service. It's deeply encouraged ever since children are small that they should think about joining one of the three Orders. While birthrates in the family are high, this encouragement often leads to the family itself being rather small. The House itself heads a very small faction of monster hunters that has a couple posts in various spots in the world, extending their reach outside of just Atinaw. Those who don't chose the military will often instead chose this path, or very rarely remain the help govern the house. It's more likely for a single child to be held back by a parent and forced to be the heir than it is for multiple children to squabble over the title. This house is also exceptionally prideful and the most known for causing trouble.



Vikinger Group
There is no larger or more tactically trained and focused group of Vikinger in Atinaw. While not quite near the size of the Knighthoods, they could potentially rival a single Knighthood in strength even if they couldn't win. This group, while being largest, is also most often used to supplement the forest of Raellon, Threndo, and Yzranor since those three have the most precarious border positions and pride takes a back seat to the safety of Atinaw as a whole. Goods and services are still exchanged for this supplementation, but Clan still usually offers it at a discounted price compared to how much they might charge another country asking for the same amount of aid.

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Clan Yzranor

Clan Yzranor has a much smaller swath of forest, but makes due with it. They're extremely skilled hunters and have a distinct ease to them when it comes to stealth and trapping. They're technically also in charge of the forest across the river from them, but they've been known to share it with Loregard for a number of reasons. That forest is the most likely to be attacked by monsters or bandits, but it also has some of the riches prey and is a good place to race what Yzranor is the most known for. Mounts. Yzranor is the Clan to go to when it comes to animal husbandry. A large number of the mounts used by the Knighthoods as well as Loreguard come from Yzranor. They also tend to play spy for the Kingdom, but this is a lesser known fact since often those prone to repeating it are left without a tongue to repeat it with.



House Forni
House Forni are exceptionally when it comes to the breeding and care of animals. They sell these animals and exchange get extra aid to help them deal with their position as a border Clan. Just about anything can be tames and bred by them in a number of years, and a lot of dangerous monsters over time have had portions of their populations trained and subjugated by the powers of House Forni. As far as anyone knows, that's the most typical occupation for members of this house. However. Less known but more commonly, members of House Forni will go into spy craft. They're carefully trained in long guarded secrets of stealth. House Forni played a vital role during the war with the Imperium, often jumping the border and sabotaging them when necessary. While their skills aren't needed as often anymore, they keep those skills sharp just in case. They lead a small ninja faction and keep a close friendship with House Iulide.



Vikinger Group
This group tends to be on the smaller side considering the two big focuses on the clan. However, half this group have extremely powerful sea mounts which can be devastating when used properly. In general, Yzranor often keeps the best mounts for themselves. They often receive extra protection in exchange for the creatures they breed.

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Clan Threndos

Threndos is special in that it's the only Clan with any farmland in Atinaw. At least, a large enough amount that can be commercialized in a way to provide sustenance for more than a town or two. Because of this, Threndos is heavily focused on farming in an attempt to supplement Atinaw's food supply. Threndos is full of extremely strong and hardy people, but they also tend towards being the least intelligent. The two main options for people living in Threndos is either to take up farming or join the military.



House Ingifast
Most members of the house either own a plantation, join the military, or become traders with Auris thanks to their proximity with Verdantis. Because of this, House Ingifast is extremely important for supplement the food source of Atinaw. A lot of people have access to fishing and hunting, some event have orchards, but few have access to proper vegetables in the same way that the members of house Ingifast do. Because of this, the house has built up a relationships of offering food in exchange for protection since they are a border clan.



Vikinger Group
Large enough to ward off attacks if Auris decides to try anything especially funny. A lot of the Vikinger is provided for by Threndos itself since those who don't take up farming only really have the option of fighting remaining to them. That being said, the Vikinger is further supplemented by those trying to exchange favors for foods.

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Clan Kamdin

Kamdin is unique in that the focus of their existence isn't practical in the strictest sense. What they bring to the table are luxury goods. There are jewel mines in the mountains and they also have access by Blackwater Bay, and by extension access to Dalquia. Their access to open water so easily gives Kamdin the ability to focus big time on the trade of luxury goods, trading in luxury goods and trading out gemstones, as well as whatever the residents of Atinaw are willing to trade in exchange for the luxury goods that Kamdin brings in. Kamdin also hosts a plethora of other crafts alongside jewelry making.



House Geirleif
It's rare that a member of House Geirleif doesn't become an artisan in some fashion. It's expected that every member of the family familiarize themselves with at least one craft enough to recognize the good from the bad. Better still is if they themselves can create. The family is large and because of that there's often a lot of different specializations within the family that they tend to use to their advantage. They facilitate trade through almost all of Atinaw and thanks to their existence mostly being focused on business and mercantilism no one really questions this. The one thing that keeps this family from becoming egregiously powerful is that they loyally ascribe to the beliefs of what Finla and Clan Leaders are supposed to represent. Because of this, a lot of their money goes to community service projects and support those who can't support themselves, which makes House Geirleif popular, even outside of Kamdin.



Vikinger Group
Kamdin has the absolute largest flee out of all the Clans. The thing about that is, the flee is almost entirely dedicated to commerce. While it looks impressive and maybe even scary at a distance, one is quick to realize that the actual tactical capabilities are paltry at best.

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Clan Grimholdt

Grimholdt exists in a very weird position where it's cut off from nearly every other Clan baring the small road behind the mountain range which gives them access to their closest friend, Kamdin. While they're in an equally advantageous position as Kamdin to trade with the world at large, they're mostly cut off from Atinaw. Which, they honestly don't really mind. People of Grimholdt tend to become jacks of all trades and because of how cut off they are the Clan itself has become a lot more self reliant than other Clans who know they have the rest of Atinaw to rely on. If something were to cause a rift between all the clans, they'd have the least to lose. They probably wouldn't even notice since everyone else rarely sees them (aside from Kamdin) and as such treats them with great ambivalence. The biggest profession in Grimholdt is fishing.



House Slodi
House Slodi is full of expert mariners and fishers. After spending many generations mostly cut off, they've learned to rely on what the world offers them. The mountains can be mined and 'unclaimed' forests nearby can be used to for wood which lets the members of House Slodi make some of the absolutely best boats. The House itself is fairly relaxed and due to how cut off they are act the least like they're actually nobles and more so like they're just general leaders who guide things along and occasionally make appearances when all the Finla are required to attend something or the other.



Vikinger Group
They have the second largest fleet, but since it's mostly dedicated to fishing that doesn't really matter. That being siad, they've got more offensive force than that of Kamdin and a lot of their fishers are ferocious sailors and as such know how to defend themselves. As prior mentioned, Clan Grimholdt makes the best boats, good enough that even House Vidhunn and Clan Myaldar tend to take notes.

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Noble Rules And Progression

Players are fully given the ability to join a noble house at any time with the proper amount of work put in. In order to regular how things run, the following are the rules associated to having and playing a noble and should be kept in mind.


Roleplay Rules


[*]Players may not start as the reigning Finla. While the siblings, cousins, and children are the Finla are absolutely completely allowed due to the way nobility in Atinaw works, immediately starting as the Finla is not allowed. Players also may not begin play as the husband or wife of the current Finla. Earning the rank of Finla or even becoming the partner of one is a complicated process that requires players to be willing to put in the time and energy to write with one another and display a certain level of care not only for their character, but for the Clan they'll one day be leading if they're chosen.

[*]Those playing in a noble family are not the 'owner' of this family in terms of OOC control, even if they end up becoming the Finla of that family. These families are open to any players who gain moderator approval and current players cannot block people from joining their family. Similarly, they can't block players from joining at certain points in that families lineage. New siblings and cousins can drop in at any minute, so PCs should just assume they have a lot upon character creation. These characters can also be of any age, as heirship is decided by merit and not age. The one thing new PCs cannot do is become the child of another PC without gaining explicit consent.

[*]Noble players should be mindful of the culture of Atinaw, and act appropriately. You are a noble, regardless of how active you are in political plots you are still affected by the cultural associations with being a noble.

[*]Players should refrain from acting on behalf of your house or making decisions for your house outside of what your rank might entail. A generic member does not have the ability to speak on behalf of their house as a whole unless given the permission to do so by their Finla (this is usually given as moderator approval).

[*]Beside Finla, there are no official ranks among members of a noble house. Everyone else is just a member. However, there are a number of unofficial rankings which do help dictate where a noble is in the pecking order and how likely they are to become the next Finla. These ranks are roughly equivalent to the typical ranks associated to the nobility in the Ransera Nobility Rules guide. The rules regarding progression, how it works, and benefits associated with it are detailed farther down the write-up

[*]As one final note, player can and are encouraged to play lesser houses, the leaders of which being the Alt Finla. A player will have full control of their lesser house and who gets to join it. Prior to approval, players must submit a basic write up for their lesser house with the Alt Finla included. The level of power possessed by the Alt Finla of these houses varies, however, it can never rise above that of roughly what would be a Baron in other countries. With that said, the Alt Finla are in a unique position where they can usurp the power of the Finla with the proper number of threads and plotting. In this event, the minor house would then become the major house which represents the Clan they are apart of, and normal noble rules apply. This is also a warning for the member of major houses, as this can happen if they aren't careful.


NPC Rules

The NPC Rules for Atinaw follow the same general rules as they do in Lorien, taking into account the translation of ranks.


Wealth Rules and Progression

Wealth Rules for each rank roughly follow their technical counterparts as detailed in this write-up


[*]Fjornis is the technical name for general members of the kinship. Member is usually more often than nor the rank they are referred to by. They can be compared to landless lord. This rank is mostly only used for the members of lesser families, as the members of greater families more often than not begin as Thiris. This is also the rank often given to those in a major family who've done something considered to be wildly disgraceful.

[*]Thiris can be compared to lords. Players will generally begin play as this rank. It is a general rank with nothing special attached.

[*]Tevinver can be compared to barons. At this point players are expected to have or start a business to help provide for the family. In addition, nobles will be given a small amount of land. Typical a small town. They will either act as the Alt Finla of this town, or be tasked with helping the current Alt Finla. In addition, this is where Alt Finla rest regarding ranking. To obtain this rank, players must simple be active and invested in the care of the Clan they live in. Interact with plots and other players is a good way to achieve this. It is possible for a play to be pre-approved to start at this rank, however, it's considered with much scrutiny.

[*]Eininver can be compared to counts. Players finally begin to truly help their Finla manage the clan at this point. They are usually given a cluster of towns and estates that they are in charge of overseeing the Alt Finals who rule them. An Eininver is usually privy to important plots going on in their Clan as well as Atinaw as a whole. They are the first in line to be considered when the Finla is considering retiring (however, this isn't always a given).

[*]Finla can be compared to dukes, and are considered to be the leaders of a noble house. Players who achieve this rank should be helping to lead plots, pushing plots along, and generally acting with some level of confidence regarding the inner workings of Atinaw. They are usually core players and have probably been in Atinaw for a while, invested in its play and truly helping to progress it as a country.

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