The Leodal States are modeled upon the nations of Africa, particularly in their use of kinship and tribal systems. One’s duty is not to a “country” or “nation” but to your family. If you have much you share, whether that is food, money or power. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle of low-level graft and corruption, as the only way to fight those who follow the old ways is to help your family so they can’t get hurt by the other guy.

Despite the stringent efforts by the Concord to replace these lateral lines of power with the more traditional hierarchical ones, Leodal culture, particularly in Coulomb (Verge) and Ngesebus (Far Reach), remains intact.