Initial concepts from my end are along the lines of...
> controlling certain convenient pathways. Not all, by any means, but a number of those safe from sets of dark evil outside beings (cats and dogs)
> occupation of a decent food supply and a little "mining" section where the group is basically able to sustain itself for a good while
> subfactions forming into "religions"
> fairly populous group in relation to others, at the cost of individual quality and unity.