sheltertown

Sheltertown began as a tidal shelter of a well-established nomad clan. Its position near the islands and on a fluctuating border with another clan meant the shelter saw near-constant use, slowly growing from a single shack to a small waystation. Eventually the two clan whose territories it bordered merged, becoming the largest clan in the tidelands.

With this strategically placed, stationary base of operations, this large clan was able to establish stable trade relationships with the agrarians. Their fair prices and convenient location soon drew the business of other clans as well, and they became brokers of goods flowing in and out of the tidelands. Now a hub for commerce and transit, the waystation ballooned into a floating town that maintained a population even at tiderise.

As the founding clan came to dominate the clan-to-land trade networks, they invited representatives from allied clans to advocate for their interests in trade negotiations. This gathering eventually developed into an informal council, though it primarily represents the interests of the near tidelands as the small, fluid clans of the far tidelands see little benefit to participating in this sort of organization. While some agrarians mistakenly view this council as the governing body of the nomads, this is not accurate; the council only contains representatives from a limited subset of clans and has no authority over its members.