Post originally by Sammy Grimes at 2005-06-16 14:12:29
Converted from Phorums BB System

Uh, can you quote this? Interclan economics and trade does occur. They can provide for their members to a limited extent, but not totally. Even if they provide crossbows for their sons or Aridani daughters going off to war, if they are primarily a clan of scribes, they probably bought those from a weaponsmithing clan. Now granted, they probably bought those from the same weaponsmithing clan that their clan-fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers, ad infinitum bought them from. Even in Tsolyanu no one clan can do everything. If you will note most of the clans are agricultural clans who provide for the clans that are not farmers. But you buy wine from a wine-making clan (usually those clans also provide a place to party and to throw up in as there are no taverns except in the foreigners corner). The Chlen-raising clans provide Chlen-hide for the Hide-tanning clans who provide the cured hide to the weaponsmithing clans. And, of course, the Assassin clans provide a service that no other clan can provide.
Its just that usually if you want something you go to your clan elders and they do the work of getting the stuff for you from their stores or from an allied clan. This is the same system that exists in India today (you go to your brothers with a request, you and they go to your father, he goes to his brothers, and then he and they go to the family elder, and he goes to his brothers, and a decision is made, family resources are allocated, someone goes and buys what you need and they provided it to you. All the while they have jokes at your expense).