League of the Thundering Herds: Government

The Council of Horns and Hooves: The ruling body consists of the chief (or a designated representative) from each of the four founding tribes. Decisions are made by consensus, a process that can be slow but ensures every voice is heard. Two of these (Chief or representative) are sent to the city of Veropia to be the representatives for the League in the Veropian Senate.   The Speaker of the Winds: A temporary title given to the council member who hosts the gathering. They facilitate discussion but hold no extra power, embodying the League's principle of equality.   The United Herds: In times of war, the war chiefs of each tribe form a joint war council. The overall command is often ceded to the Tasunke (Horse) war chief for campaigns of mobility, or to the Yanash war chief for the defense of fixed positions.

The League's power comes from the complementary strengths of its members:   The Honovi (Deer): The scouts, trackers, and diplomats of the League. Their swiftness and grace make them the eyes, ears, and voice of the confederacy.   The Tasunke (Horse): The cavalry, messengers, and raiders. They provide the League's strategic speed and overwhelming shock value on the open plain.   The Hehaka (Elk): The line-breakers and guardians. Their size and strength form the sturdy core of the League's infantry and are crucial in defending the Yanash mound-towns.   The Yanash (Buffalo): The providers and builders. They are the agricultural and spiritual anchor, offering fortified settlements, a reliable food surplus, and the deep spiritual wisdom of the mound-builders.   Their annual gathering, the Conclave of the Gathering Herd, is a massive event featuring games, rites, political negotiation, and the reaffirmation of their bonds. It is both a festival and the most important political event of the year.

The Treaty of the Thundering Herds   The relationship between the Veropian Empire and the League of the Thundering Herds is not one of subjugation, but of pragmatic coexistence between peer powers. The League recognizes the benefits of a stable relationship with the empire. Their treaty is a complex, mutually beneficial agreement that manages the tension between two vastly different civilizations. Since they are a confederation, During their yearly gathering they send two of their chiefs or representatives from two of the tribes to attend the senate.   The Core Agreements of the treaty:   1. Sovereign Recognition & Borders:   The Clause: The Veropian Empire formally recognizes the League as a sovereign confederacy and the rightful governing body of its defined territory, known as the Hanian Plains. The League, in turn, recognizes Veropia's claim to its northern holdings and the route to them. Along with a seat at the table of the Empire   2. The Imperial Road (The Veropian Corridor):   The Clause: The League grants Veropia a right-of-way for clearly marked roads, for the movement of troops, officials, and merchants. Veropian traffic must stay on these roads. The League will provide Yanash guides for all imperial caravans for a fee, ensuring their safety and compliance.   3. Economic Exchange & Interdependence:   The Clause: The League becomes the preferred supplier of specific goods to Veropian northern legions: prime beef and hides from the Yanash, and horses from the Tasunke. In return, Veropia provides finished goods: steel tools, weapons, quality textiles, and grain (as a buffer against poor hunts or harvests).   4. Mutual Defense Pact (The Delicate Balance):   The Clause: The signatories agree to come to each other's aid if attacked by a common, external enemy. The treaty specifically defines this as a force that threatens the existence of either party (e.g., a massive horde of orcs, an invasion from Faizum).   The Delicate Fine Print: Crucially, the treaty explicitly excludes Veropian intervention in internal plains conflicts. If the Mingan (Wolf) tribe attacks the League, Veropia is not obligated to help. This protects the League's autonomy and prevents the empire from using "protection" as an excuse to garrison troops all over the plains.