Joining a Clan
Although every clan traces its origin to a common founding event, spirit, or other occasion which forged the clan, outsiders can and often do join a clan. This is so common that many clans only have a minority of members with biological kinship to that original founding. A new member must be “adopted” by another member (often a clan leader) and swear loyalty to the clan ring, placing themselves under its protection and promising to support the clan against all others. The new member is brought into the clan cult and becomes at least a lay member of the local cult of Orlanth and Ernalda, and pledge themselves to the clan patron deities and spirits. This places the member within the magical protection of the clan spirit, but also opens them to retribution if they betray their oaths. If the outsider merits it, they might be given land or other rights. If not, they are expected to be the tenant of someone else.This process is very flexible and can be deceptively informal, until the pledges and oaths take place. These are watched by spirits and gods, and it is obvious to all present that it is an event of importance and even danger.
Leaving your clan is like leaving a cult.
Leaving a Clan
Leaving a clan and renouncing those ties has consequences similar to leaving a cult. The clan spirits become hostile and may attack or curse those who have renounced the ties of kinship. Such spirits will especially go after former members of the clan ring that abandon their clan.It is possible for members of a clan to leave with the permission of the clan council. Such commonly happens when there is widespread disagreement within a clan and the clan splits to avoid bloodshed. The terms of disassociation are usually agreed upon and the former clan members may leave with no ill-will from the old clan or its spirits.
Clans and Marriage
When you marry someone, you remain in your clan. Your spouse remains in their clan. Marriages are key ties that link clans together.
If your spouse’s clan is in a feud with yours then there is going to be tension! And if your kids belong to the other clan, that’s even worse.That is the stuff tragedy comes from.
What decides what clan the children are in? The type of marriage.
Seven classes of marriage are recognized:
1. Husband and Wife. Both participants have equal property, status, and responsibility. The woman moves to her husband’s house, and children belong to his clan.
2. Husband and Underwife. The husband has more status and property, and consequently more say in what goes on. The woman moves to her husband’s house, and children belong to his clan.
3. Wife and Underhusband. The wife has more status and property, and consequently more say in decision making. The man moves to his wife’s house, but the children belong to his clan.
4. Esrolian husband. The wife has more status and property than the husband. The man moves to his wife’s house, and the children belong to her clan.
5. Year wife or -husband. This is a temporary marriage, renewable after a year, subject to terms listed above.
6. Bed wife or -husband. No property changes hands save for that publicly granted with witness. The children are raised by the individual who is not named in the title. Thus a bed husband is not responsible for raising the children.
7. Love spouse. No property changes hands, even unto going to the children of the pair. A vow of monogamy for its own sake, or the sake of romantic love. Children go the father’s clan.