The Furuso are a jalate of six interrelated bison-riding tribes: Oru's tribe, Oasa's tribe, Rei's tribe, Mari's tribe, Hoisa's tribe, and Megar's tribe. These tribes are divided into strict castes. The tentborn are noblemen, capable of becoming chiefs, shamen, and warriors. The hornborn are the children of shamen or shawomen, who are generally guided into becoming shamen themselves, but who may also become camp-singers (who must swear vows of celibacy), warriors, or dirtborn. The saddleborn are the children of warriors who are not tentborn. Some children are battleborn, born amidst conflict and raised in the warrior's way, or else their fathers were exceptionally heroic warriors. Their children are tentborn.