War-Camps, also called war-bands, were the social unit structure used by groups of Illyrians within the Illyrian Mountains of the Night Court. Each was led by a war-lord, addressed as Lord, and contained Illyrian warriors along with their families and other non-combatants. Each war-camp functioned independently of the other, and were known to raid or feud among themselves. During times of war, the various war-camps would unite under the High Lord of the Night Court into the Illyrian Legion, which was considered the largest standing army in Prythian .
Males within the war-camp were trained to join the Legion. Some would drop out of military training to become merchants, blacksmiths, shopkeepers, etc. Male children were trained to be warriors since they were eight, when they were literally thrown into the sparring arena by their mothers and left to fend for themselves. All female members were expected to do the domestic labor including cooking, cleaning, laundry, and child-rearing. Females who did not not perform their chores could be punished by camp-mothers or whatever males were in charge of them. They were trained to lower their eyes when in the presence of males. In some war-camps, it was standard for their wings to be cut when they had their first period.
Under High Lord Rhysand's rule, Clipping was forbidden. He also worked to allow female Illyrians to train to join the Legion if they wished. When Amarantha came into power, some war-camps gleefully joined her. These were hunted down by Rhysand and his Inner Circle and killed. The practice of cutting returned during this time, though Rhysand continues to fight against it.
Known War-Camps:[]
- Windhaven: Windhaven was the war-camp Rhysand, Azriel, and Cassian were trained in. Its war-lord, Devlon, also served as Commander of the entire Illyrian Legion when the war-camps were united.
- Ironcrest: A large war-camp considered a rival of Windhaven. By A Court of Frost and Starlight, Kallon, the son of its current war-lord, has begun spreading slander directed at Rhysand and Cassian among war-camps to cause dissent.