Mountain Clans of the Vale

The Mountain Clans of the Vale are a culture, divided into clans of varying size and strength, who live in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon, in the Vale of Arryn. Descendants of the First Men, they are considered primitive by the Andals of the Vale.

Culture
The Mountains of the Moon are home to a population of people who have rejected the authority of the Eyrie and are independent from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms and its feudal society. They believe that every person's voice, regardless of gender, should be heard during councils. Some clans share close bonds. Conflicts between the clans are often resolved by payment of blood money and clansmen are quick to settle personal grievances through violence.

Traditionally poor people with poor quality of weapons and armor. They subsist by raiding local villages, small groups of travelers and will attack even the Lord of the Eyrie if he is not properly protected. They take all weapons, grain, and armor they can find, as well as all women, whether they are wedded or not. Some women participate in raids.

The clansmen ride small horses that are suited to the narrow mountain paths.

Known Clans
Archmaester Arnel listed the most notorious mountain clans in his work Mountain and Vale. These include:[7] There are also smaller clans, but they are often assimilated into larger clans or destroyed by knights of the Vale.
 * Black Ears
 * Burned Men
 * Howlers
 * Milk Snakes
 * Moon Brothers
 * Painted Dogs
 * Redsmiths
 * Sons of the Mist
 * Sons of the Tree
 * Stone Crows

History
Following the events of the War of the Five Kings and the Second Conquest, many members of the Mountain Clans returned to their homes well armed and well provisioned. The promises of the Imp, Tyrion Lannister, made good during the reign of Tommen Waters, saw their equipment take a significant step in the direction of equalizing them with their Andal foes. For the following years the Mountain Clan vales grew more and more violent and effective, culminating in the destruction of an armed band of Valemen sent to stamp out a supposedly minor clan uprising.

In 320AC, rumours began to arise of a King in the Mountains, who had managed to somehow united the Mountain Clans under a single, unified banner. Though little ever came of this, save a sharp increase in raids and clansman sightings, many for a time feared that a major assault was coming.

As of 338AC, most rumours of the Mountain King had faded. In their place came a renewed feuding among the clans, and brief respite from the various raids that had so bloodied the region.

Recent Events
With the return of the Red Comet in 407AC, many have spoken of larger stones seen to have fallen deep in the Mountains of the Moon.