The Highlands: Clan Structure and Customs among Islay Folk

[Guest]

Posted previously by Wyrldgirl:

Islay : The Clans
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Just an idea. Let me know if you can use it.

Islay : The Clans

"The tripod is the most unstable structure in nature"

There are many clans on Islay, but the majority of them are derived and/or descended from 12 senior Clans. Of these 12, three have the most land, power and influence, and are called the Great Clans:

MacDermot
O'Brien
Ryan

- and the other nine are called the Lesser Clans:

Armstrong
Donovan
Mayfield
McKenna
O'Connor
O'Shea
O'Toole
Sheridan
Sisk

Prior to the arrival of Count Von Bleib Hier, the clans lived in fairly much a state of permanent warfare. Each of the Great Clans wanted their chief to be Chief Of The Clans (effectively overall ruler), and sought the support of the Lesser Clans; in turn, the Lesser clans sought to promote their own interests, and constantly shifted their support amongst the Great Clans. This, coupled with the Islay tendency to dwell upon perceived slights and insults, created a vicious atmosphere of internal strife, backstabbing and family feuds that lasted for generations.

This is not to say that the Clans were unhappy with this; in fact, the arrival of Count Von Bleib Hier, and the cessation of the endless squabbling left something of a vacumn, and caused a great deal of resentment towards the Count. As a result an uneasy truce now exists... yet like a fire that has not been extinguished, the embers of rebellion amongst the Clans still smoulders. They would love to usurp the Duke, declare Islay an independent state, and return to their old ways. All they need is a leader who favourable to all of the Clans - and that, alas, is unlikely to happen. In the meantime, the Clan Chiefs brood and plot...

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Islay : Clan Structure
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More ideas... feeling industrious. Must be Friday!

Islay : Clan and class structure

Each Clan is lead by a Chief. The Chief has supreme authority over members of his Clan, and his land.

Alongside the Chief is the Tanist. This will be Chief's successor, who is working alongside the Chief in order to learn how to wield the reins of power. Please note that Tanist does not have to be direct member of the Chief's family - it is usually the most able person in the Clan, after the Chief.

Beneath the Chief and The Tanist are the Protectors, or military leaders of the Clan. These act as
generals in times of conflict.

Chieftains
Beneath the Protectors are the Chieftains. These are the heads of various branches or families within the Clan. These have local authority within their own branches/families and land, but must bow to the Chief if he/she overrules them.

Gentlefolk
Any member of the Clan who can claim a direct blood connection to the Chief.

The Clansmen
The main body of the Clan. In times of peace, they work the land for the Chief; in times of war, they fight!

This hierarchy is always observed (repsect for your elders and betters!) - however, as it is so ingrained, there is no concept of resentment. The Clansmen are *proud* to serve their Chief, and their actions reflect directly on him. This is reflected in their willingness to die for the Chief and the cause, if needs be.

To ensure that the Clan remain as an extended family, fosterage is commonplace - children (including the Chief's) are routinely sent to stay with, and be brought up by, other families. In this way, each Clansman, even a simple peasant, can feel responsible for the offspring of his Chief - and vice versa.

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Islay : Highland Life
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In for a penny!

Islay : Highland Life

- Appearance
Most people wear a hooded cloak (sure protection against the fabled Islay mist!); under this, a linen shirt and breeches for men, and a long linen dress for women. These were frequently embroidered, and usually belted or girdled. Many wear a short, furred jacket over this. Shoes and sandals are made from cattle hide. Jewelry is worn by both sexes; rings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches for the cloaks. More unusual is a neck ring or torque, which is predominantly a male fashion accessory.

Hair is usually long, and curled, pleated or braided by both men and women. Men usually wear two long braids, women as many as six or eight!

Women have basic cosmetics, scented herbs and oils to make themselves more desirable. Perfumes and oils from other lands are greatly prized.

- Housing
Most people lived in wooden houses, either timber framed, or made of whicker and turf; stone is reserved for those with power and influence. Chieftains, Protectors and the Chief live in fortified houses of stone. Most of the wooden houses are circular in design, and consist of one large room on the ground floor, and several smaller rooms on the upper storey.

- Lifestyle
Most Clansmen live off the land, eating what they can grow or hunt. Most days they eat bread, oatmeal, eggs, meat, milk, honey, some vegetables and fruits. The main evening meal is used to catch up on any events of the day, and to tell stories.

The life of the Clansmen is driven by the four great festivals which mark the end of each season, when great fire festivals are held by each Clan. At these festivals local disputes are settled, and marriages solemised. The chieftains are responsible for apportioning land to the local Clansmen at the Winter Solstice; all Clansmen are given land to farm and live on. This can mean that a Clansman moves to various farms several times in their life!

In additional to the farmland awarded to each Clansman, there is the freeland - woods, hills and marsh. This is considered common property for all to gather berries or wood from.

Strangers are by general consent welcomed openly, and the given the best of the food in the house without question of who they were or for what purpose they had come. Only after the guest is properly welcomed is the host allowed to discretely inquire about their origin or purpose. The reward is news, stories and music of the outside world, which is then spread to the rest of the clan.

- Wealth And Trade
Wealth is based largely on the barter system; cattle is a highy valued commodity, as is metal work, jewelry, fine clothes and oils from other lands. The arrival of traders into the Clan farms is a source of great excitement, as it not only offers new goods but news of the world beyond Islay.

- Inheritance
Goods pass to the descendents of the dead; ownership of the land passes back to the Chieftain, to apportion as he or she wishes.


Islay : Customs
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Here are details of several strange folk customs amongst the people of Islay:

The Stag Dance
The Stag Dance originated as wild dance of triumph following victory in battle. It is said to be
inspired by the capers of the stag, the dancer's upraised arms representing the animals antlers. A solo performance, it is vigourous and highly stylised, calling for great skill. Skilled dancers are highly valued for entertainment purposes.

The Sword Dance
The Sword Dance also has war as its basic theme; traditionally danced on the eve before battle, it was said that to touch or displace a sword was to indicate that the dancer would fall in battle the next day.

Tree Tossing
A event traditionally said to have originated in the Islay Whiskey area. A tree no less than the length of three grown men is cut down; each contestant in turn picks the tree up and attempts to hit a pig tied to a length of rope. Timing and momentum are keys to this popular event. The event ends when the pig is killed or the contestants are exhausted.

Fish Slapping
An event traditionally said to have originated in Hafne. The contestants approach each other in a ritual dance and proceed to slap each other with a fresh trout. The winner is the one whose fish disintegrates the soonest.

Porridge Hurling
A day before the event, a mixture of oats, water and slat is thoroughly mixed and left in a leather bag. The resulting congealed mixture is hard enough to crack a man's skull. The bag is then attached to a rope, and whirled around the head before being released. The contestant hurling the porridge furthest wins a bag of oats, a bowl and spoon.

Bagpipes
Primarily a device of war, designed to strike fear and loathing in the hearts of adversaries. Opponents have been known to flee, holding their hands over their ears, at a distance of two miles.

[Guest]

Please post your thoughts, ideas, suggestions for utilizing or ammending the above information. Also if you have ideas for customs/history that might be included in defining the Clansfolk, post them here.

[Perdita Faechild]

Is there any definite idea of how each clan is reacting to the dwarf crisis?

[Guest]

This would probably depend upon their location: both the clans and the trail of refugees. I think you had suggested (as Geran) the O'Tooles might be a bit put out.

I think it would mainly be an overall reaction of all the clans at the moment, based largely on the outcome of the Meeting.

We need, perhaps to establish Clan territories: some manner of county system to give us a general idea of which clan is prevalent in which region (and, getting ahead a bit, which clans used to be mightiest in the regions not under the Duke's direct rule).

[wyrdgirluk]

Suggested regions (or Rovings) for the clans:

The Roving of Jura
- traditional heartland of the O'Brien clan
McKenna, O'Connor and O'Shea clans are based here
This roving used to include Hafne

The Roving of Skara
- traditional heartland of the MacDermot clan
Armstrong, Donovan and Mayfield clans are based here
- the usual source of rebellion and discontent, sandwiched as it is between the Rovings of Jura and Flint
- borders the Midlands of Dort

The Roving of Flint
- traditional heartland of the Ryan clan
O'Toole and Sheridan clans are based here
This Roving borders Nazareen and will take the brunt of the Dwarven refugees from Nazareen

Thoughts/comments?

[Guest]

I like this. It will certainly help with the map I'm working on.
It sets up the relationship of certain clans quite nicely.

My only complaint is with "Rovings". Could we perhaps come up with a term unique to Islay that is not a gerund?

[wyrdgirluk]

Whats the matter with a Roving? No-one else uses it, and I thought it has a nice ring Your forum, though

[Maeve]

This has been wikified!