The Wolf Clan range on the north eastern area of the continent of Erathior. Their primary area is south of the Norman Lands and west of the Bavlar Peaks. The Wolf Clan, along with their cousins/rivals, the Tiger and Bear Clans, serve as a buffer on the eastward expansion of the dark realm. As a whole, the clans are an individualistic and proud people. They hold their warrior/raiders up as the eptinome of their harsh, warrior code. The followers of the mysteries (the few mages among them, and the spirit priests) are held in awe and fear for their powers, but dwell apart from their fellow clansmen.
The clans are organized into tribes, sort of a large exended family. Tribes range from about ten members to over fifty. Marriage is almost always outside of the tribe, to prevent inbreeding. Couples are formed by arranged marriages or by raiding other tribes. The couple from an arranged marriage becomes part of the females tribe, and the couple from a raid become part of the raiders tribe. Inter-tribal communication is most often through the non-warrior women and the spell-users (who are considered to be part of two tribes, their birth tribe and the tribe of the 'Mysteries'). In times of crisis, the tribes band together, choosing a leader from amongst themselves. This leader, who is not always the best warrior, has absolute powers during the crisis.
If a tribe grows too small to survive in the often harsh lands of the clan, it will be adopted into another tribe. If a tribe should grow too large for their nomadic lifestyle (often these too large tribes, a tribe will quickly hunt out an area, forcing them to move into anothers tribes hunting grounds), it will split into two or more tribes. Orphans are adopted into the nearest tribe. Their is no discrimination against the foundlings, they are treated as full members of their adopting tribe (many have even risen to the post of cheif). It is for these foundlings that the prescription against inter-tribal marriage is waived.
The Clans follow a religion based on spiritualism and (limited) ancester worship. The greatest god of the Wolf Clan is, of course, the Wolf-Spirit. They almost venerate their greatest heroes. It is said that those who die 'good' deaths run alongside their wolf-companions spirits in the spirit realm (the Clan's version of the afterlife).