Within Silversun a multitude of Factions exist. Characters are able to gain and lose Clout with these Factions by virtue of their actions. Generally, a successful adventure into the Desolation will result in directly gaining 3 Clout with the Faction that organised or requested the excursion, or 1 Clout that can be spent with any faction.
Clout can also be won or lost with powerful entities, but cashing this in requires a means of contacting them first.
Levelling up Clout with your Faction unlocks per-adventure abilities flavoured around that faction.
Beware: you can lose Clout with a Faction if you displease them - particularly someone with a higher level of Clout than you.
Someone in this Faction knows who you are and might hold the door open for you but you'll have to leverage them hard for anything else.
Someone in this Faction knows who you are and likes you enough to maybe swing a favour for you and give you the latest gossip.
You're a proven trustworthy ally to this Faction and can get a few people to help you out.
You are trusted by this Faction and can influence them to a lesser or greater degree depending on your choice of words.
You have become a pillar of this Faction and become a part of it.