Grounders



The Grounders or The Outsiders (by the Mountain Men) is a term used to describe a person who was born on Earth rather than in space or Mount Weather. The Grounders alive today are descendants of humans who survived the nuclear apocalypse 97 years ago. Many of the 100 have negative views toward Grounders, just like a lot of Grounders have a negative view of the 100. They were the primary antagonists of the first season.

Not much is known about their history on Earth other than them being descendants of humans who survived the nuclear apocalypse 97 years ago. According to Dante Wallace of the Mountain Men, the DNA of the offspring of the Grounders who survived on Earth outside Mount Weather evolved and adapted, making them basically immune to the radiation that still lingers on Earth, much like the people from the Ark (who became immune through exposure to solar radiation in space). It can be assumed that whatever was left of the human race after the nuclear apocalypse banded together and created the Clans we see in the show.

It was originally assumed that all Grounders were a part of the same Clan. However, it was revealed by Lincoln that there is more than one Clan. Since the Grounders don't use last names, their Clan name is used instead. Every village within a clan has a leader. Every clan also has a leader who follows the Commander.

A more definite number of clans is given by Gustus in Remember Me; while discussing with Lexa the alliance with the Sky People, he mentions how she is the reason the twelve clans united and without her, the coalition would fail. Prior to that, the Ice Nation was the biggest threat to the alliance of the twelve clans. Lexa mentions in Survival of the Fittest that her spirit would find a new commander after she dies, possibly referring to reincarnation.

The Grounders maintain a hostile relationship toward the Reapers, Mountain Men, and Sky People. The Sky People, however, sought peace with them. At first, the Grounders were willing to extend peace to the Sky People provided that the Sky People leave their territory. Eventually, the Sky People and the Grounders form an alliance and agree to work together to free their people from Mount Weather. After the Commander forms an alliance with the Mountain Men in exchange for her people imprisoned within Mount Weather, leaving the Delinquents at the mercy of the Mountain Men, the alliance between the Sky People and the Grounders appears to be in jeopardy.

Languages
Executive producer Jason Rothenberg stated that the Grounders have their own language which is a Creole English that has evolved over three generations.

The Grounders' native language is Trigedasleng. Only the Warriors speak English, which makes them bilingual.

In Season Two, Lincoln teaches Octavia some of this language to help her blend in as a Grounder. With Lincoln from The Woods Clan going to Luna's Clan, It can be assumed that all Grounder Clans speak this language.

The Woods Clan
The Woods Clan, or People of the Woods, are a group of Grounders that inhabit the expanse of Virginia's woodlands. Their borders also extend to the ruins of what once was Washington, DC as Lincoln's home was near the ruins of the Lincoln Memorial. In Remember Me, it is revealed that the village is named Ton DC, probably due to a damaged sign nearby that reads " (Washing)ton DC 10 Miles".

The Boat People
"In my book, there's a map. Chart a course to the Eastern Sea. There's a clan there, led by a woman called Luna, a friend. Tell her I sent you."

- Lincoln to Clarke in We Are Grounders (Part 1).

Luna's Clan, also called The Boat People or The Water Tribe, is a clan ruled by a Grounder named Luna. This clan is allied with The Woods Clan, and, according to Lincoln in I Am Become Death, they live "east to the sea, then across it."

This is the clan where Lincoln was going to take Octavia to in order to keep out of the conflict between The 100 and Grounders. Octavia, however, decided to stay with her people instead of going with Lincoln. Lincoln also decided to stay. After he rescued Octavia, they were on their way there in the Season Two premier.

Ice Nation
The Ice Nation is a clan ruled by the Grounder known as the Ice Queen. This clan is currently allied with The Woods Clan but they were previously at war. They also kidnapped the girlfriend of Lexa, Costia, thinking she had information about the Commander. They tortured, killed and decapitated her. Lexa, however, still brought them into the Coalition to help fight Mount Weather and the Mountain Men.

Desert Clan
The Desert Clan is where Caris is from. Little else is known about this clan, although it does seem to be separate from the Nomadic Grounders in The Dead Zone.

Nomadic Grounders
Nomadic Grounders are generally Grounders who have no clan because they or a family member may have been seen as a "stain on the bloodline" due to birth defects and cast out. So far, they seem to inhabit The Dead Zone with some of them on their way to The City of Light in search of safe haven.

Notes and Trivia

 * As of Remember Me, it is confirmed that there are twelve Grounder Clans.
 * All twelve Grounder Clans are part of an alliance with each other called the Coalition.
 * Jason Rothenberg stated that there are multiple groups of Grounders in the show; Water Grounders, Ice Grounders, Boat Grounders, and Mountain Grounders.
 * The Ice Grounders are the Ice Nation and the Boat Grounders are the Boat People.
 * Some Grounders, such as the Nomadic Grounders, are not included in this list
 * The creator of the languages for the HBO TV series Game of Thrones created the Grounder language.
 * Grounders do not share common lifestyles with the Reapers or the Mountain Men.
 * Grounders fear both the Reapers and the Mountain Men.
 * The marks on their shoulders serve as a tally for their number of kills in battle. Each scar equals 1 kill.
 * Gaining kill marks is a great honor and a highly prestigious act among The Woods Clan.