High elven clans in the Empire

Here's what the DM had to say (verbatim) about high elves in Auramkil back when we were figuring out Ganeth's background:

Unlike grey elven society, which is basically class-less, high elves in Auramkil conform quite happily to the human social system. The high elves in social standing range from the merchant class to minor nobility. Typically elves are seen as advisors to important people (and thus become important themselves). The library in the city has a large elven staff, and elven historians are likewise common.
High elves living in Auramkil have given up the traditional tribal unit common among other elves and have adopted a type of extended family structure. An elven dwelling in the city is typically a large house, with a courtyard, and many generations of elves from the same family live there. The head of the family is generally the oldest living member, and he or she has a big say in what everyone else does. Thus, an elf should not make friends/enemies, marry etc, without the advice (and approval) of the elder.
Often families will adopt a name and a device/symbol to represent them, and new devices are created when infighting among a family causes a split. These splits can lead to feuds and rivalries, and most families go to great lengths to try to prevent them.
The drow had faded away in high elven memory. Different families placed different emphasis on them. Some felt that the drow were actually just rebel wood elves from the past, and that the stories had become corrupted over time. Others acknowledged that the drow were driven underground, but felt that that was the end of the matter. In general, the high elves in Auramkil have far more important things to think about...

In practice, I'd say that the clans were a cross between minor feudal nobles and Mafia families. The more powerful families had retainers, they all fought for political standing and influence, and many of them weren't above making the occasional hit.

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Maintained by Erich Greene; last changed 2-2-96