Among many of orcish clans, four stand above the rest. These are referred to collectively as The Big Clans.

Clan's "bigness" is mostly defined by territory size, the shamanic and physical prowess of its members, the feats of its chiefs, and its political influence in the Empire government. Each holds several shield-clans under its banner: lesser clans that have sworn allegiance in exchange for profit.

Their ideologies vary — from traditionalist war-shamanism to militant imperial loyalty — but all four shape orcish identity in some way.