What's a neat little world building tidbit you wrote that you like?
Ooooooooo hmmmm good question, still early days but for now I'm gonna say their governments!
Each Sheepfolk Clan has (had lol) a different style of government reflecting their heritage and values. Since there's 5 clans (for each of the 5 regions and maybe 6 clans in the future? I have ideas for other smaller sects but there's 5 main ones) and they're all spread out they've diverged slightly in how they each choose their ruler. The main thing though is they all use a form of Tanistry elective, a real historic type of leadership election used in the past irl in Celtic states, mostly Ireland and Scotland.
Anchordeep - Merchant Republic, the Leader (called a Tanist) is chosen through intrigue and cunning, usually manipulating the votes in his favour. The clan of Anchordeep is renowned as the mercantile clan of the wider Sheepfolk race, and they provide the other clans goods in return for influence, money and an agreement of peace. Which doesn't always hold up because of the following asshats:
Darkwood - Nomadic Tribals, the Tanist is chosen through whoever is the strongest (most soldiers in their household) or commands the most loyalty within the clan. Darkwood is the warlike clan, so duels and challenges for chiefdom are relatively commonplace and highly ritualised. As previously mentioned, the clans are varied enough and have enough shared history that there's a sense of sibling rivalry between them, and with clashing civilizations of course comes war. These guys love it, they adore a fight, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best, just that they're the most practiced.
Anura - Settled nomadic pastoralists, the Tanist is chosen fairly harmoniously, based on who has the largest amount of crops and is liked the most. The Sheepfolk of Anura focus on hospitality, pacifism and a strong emphasis on justice. They practice ritual kindness in a similar way to the Pūjā of the Hindu religion in our world, wherein guests are honoured greatly and invited to relax within their hosts homes with banquets and gifts. This makes them by far the most peaceful of the clans, and they will only fight if absolutely forced to. Much like:
Silk Cradle - Semi-Feudal Theocracy state, the Tanist is chosen through the election of the most learned and pious member of the Clan. The Silk Cradle Clan is home to the Lore-keepers of the wider Sheepfolk, their customs and their histories are all stored within their libraries. Members of the clan often swear vows of silence to become consecrated Lore-Keepers, and members of other clans often take pilgrimage to either do the same, or display their religious fervour. Members of the Clan are split up into smaller family groupings, all of whom swear fealty to the Tanist, who is also the head of the monastic order in non-religious matters. Members of the clergy are forbidden from inheritance much like monks, and so devote their entire lives into silence and the gift of knowledge.
Paradise (Unnamed for now) - Unknown as of current, but all I can say for sure is that this Clan is where the Final Lamb will come from. They'll likely have a Welsh heritage base, so maybe feudalism? It'll probably be a mystery for the most part, with this clan being the most isolationist one with very little contact with the other clans and tribes. They'll likely have a very foreign election system compared to the other clans, as their isolation will keep them more in line with their ancient values, such as preventing the religious melting the other clans have experienced.
