Hierarchy of a Tribe

Not all Tribes are the same, and as such, it would be impossible to list the hierarchy of them all. However, most Tribes do follow a regular sense of social and political strata.

## Chieftains

Most Tribes are controlled directly by a single Chieftain or Chieftainess (also called simply Chieftain). These individuals largely come to power through a family tie, inheriting the role from parents or close relatives. However, some Chieftains rise to power simply by vote of elders or even by overthrow. In any case, the Chieftain is largely considered responsible for the Tribe as a whole and commands its destiny. The people of the Tribe look to their Chieftain for protection, wisdom, and direction. Most Chieftains see it as their direct responsibility to protect and nurture their people. Chieftains act as judges to resolve disputes, act as commanders in chief when leading defense or war, and also act with responsibility towards creating law and order. Chieftains are essentially small kings of their people and command with central authority.

## Cohorts

Most Tribes that are larger than just a handful of people also have a ruling Cohort which is the close friends and advisers of the Chieftain. These people are typically members of some larger or more powerful families within a Tribe. Often, they are hand picked by a Chieftain for the counsel, but also, many Tribes have Cohorts which are comprised of prominent individuals in the Tribe who are given the station out of respect. In short, the Cohort is effectively the cabinet or most trusted counsels to the Chieftain.

The members of a Cohort are often the matriarch of patriarch of a family line within the Tribe or simply a powerful person. As a result, the Cohort often is full of wise or intelligent individuals who have their fingers on the pulse of the people in the Tribe. They are greatly respected and provide advice to the Chieftain on how to rule and the directions on which to take the Tribe. They also serve to aid him in understanding how to solve mundane problems such as the best way to overcome a bad planting season or how to deal with relations with an outside Tribe. Although a powerful leader, the Chieftain is seen as more of a make-up of herself and her Cohort.

A typical Cohort is just a few individuals, usually between three and five.

## Elder Council

Almost all Tribes have an Elder Council which varies in size depending on the size of the Tribe. The Elder Council essentially acts as a collective that provides direction for the Tribe. The Chieftain answers to the Elder Council in many ways, but the Chieftain is also the final decision maker. As a result, the balance between an Elder Council and a Chieftain is that the Chieftain must respect the wishes of the council but also maintains final authority when the Council comes to odds with itself or cannot produce a final decision on its own. In this way, the Council provides a voice of wisdom and age to the Tribes which the Chieftain must respect, and their role is to provide guidance and direction.

Becoming apart of the Elder Council has a direct relationship with age. Only the older and wiser of the Tribe typically rise to position there, and the generally accepted age is around 50. Not all elders within a village join the council. They come from typically powerful family lines or are prominent individuals within the Tribe. Elders are often nominated and voted on for inclusion into the council by the existing council.

## Druids

Druids are a station that is higher among the Tribe than even the Chieftain is most regards, but they do not maintain a position of power over the Tribe. Druids are treated as somewhat outside the normal hierarchy of the Tribe because they exist for a purpose of providing wisdom, education, and protection from The Wild. As such, they are spiritual leaders within the Tribe. Even Chieftains are loathe to resist the will of a Druid should a Druid feel the need to dictate wisdom or command to the Tribe. However, occurrences of a Druid attempting to direct or a command a Tribe are extremely rare and only often happen as the result of the Druid detecting an emergency or other requirement due to the presence of The Wild.

The people of a Tribe listen to the word of a Druid as a word of spiritual advice and wisdom. A person may seek out the wisdom of a Druid for many reasons, but most often, it is as a physician to help deal with an ailment or other sickness. Druids therefore act as village doctor, spiritual leader, educator, and overall wise men and women. No one expects a Druid to assume any political power within the Tribe, and were a Druid to do so would definitely be seen as a violation of the separation of the Druid from the Chieftain.

## Wildguard

One distinct group within any given Tribe are the Wildguard. Being a Wildguard is not a position of political power but is rather seen as a position of higher social stature. The functional purpose of the Wildguard are to serve as a ready to go militia for a Tribe as they are comprised of the veteran Warriors of the Tribe. Wildguard are gifted with a headdress or other insignia by the Chieftain when they are appointed, and it is returned to the Tribe upon their death. When the Tribe is under danger, either from the forest or from outsiders, it is the Wildguard who are the first to respond. To become a Wildguard requires a person to be a veteran warrior of several engagements. Being a Wildguard is therefore seen as a respected position as a defender of the Tribe and overall warrior of high stature. Younger members of the Tribe seek out and are taken as apprentices of the Wildguard as they learn the ways of combat.

Wildguard do not act as a political force directly. Often, they speak simply through Elders or directly to a Chieftain just as anyone else in the Tribe would. However, their stature within the Tribe does signify that their voice is more loudly heard than others.

## Tribesfolk

The bulk of most Tribes is made up of the Tribesfolk within it. These are simply the people of the Tribe who do not fall anywhere specific within the social strata. Tribesfolk are the farmers, artists, craftsmen, workers, and warriors of the Tribe. As Tribes often act communally rather than individually, the Tribesfolk all work together to make a Tribe thrive.

Back to Forest Tribes Back Story

--Neil (talk) 17:03, 19 October 2016 (AST)