Knockers live in sprawling clans led by a council of ancients called the henavek. Each clan consists of many related families; clans belong to a set of mines. They believe they have a duty to protect those who enter the mines and respect the caves, the minerals and ores, and the knockers themselves. This duty is taken very seriously, and those who violate it are banished. Those who enter the mines and do pay proper respects are taunted and tormented until they leave; if they commit a grievous crime in the mines, it may drive the knockers to cave in the mines to protect them. Miners often show respect by leaving food for the knockers.

Some knocker clans are less friendly and more malicious. They call themselves tommyknockers. They are more violent and try to keep the mines for themselves. They start off with acts of theft to scare their targets, then escalate.

As miners, knockers wear mostly the garb of miners. To make the tedium more bearable, they have strong sense of humor and like to play pranks, but they take very seriously protecting miners and others in their mines. They knock to warn of cave-ins or other dangers.

Each clan council sends three representatives to the national council, called the gorwolysi. The national council determines the laws of the clans, taking into consideration influence from knocker and tommyknocker clans. The council answers to the arlodh, the lord, who is the patriarch of the oldest of knocker clans.

Knockers engage in mining, trading, and negotiations with other miners on a regular basis. Children are raised to respect the mines and engage in one of these main focuses. They are raised by their parents and extended family and are considered adults by age 17. Courtship among knockers is carefully monitored by the families, because old grudges and feuds run deep among them, but otherwise no restrictions on courtship exist beyond age. Clan alliances are very important, and marriage is sometimes used politically. If there is no political reason for a marriage, most knockers don't bother.

Knockers honor the mines above all else. If a mine is emptied of its main contents, they will perform a special ritual that will seal the mine safely and allow it to be used as one of their clan cities.