Zaharan (Tabaxi) Tribes

Zaharan tribes generally form the basis for the small settlements found across the harsh region, with each town headed by an elder who operates as the figurehead and chief of the town.
Tabaxi Elders are not officially recognized by the Crown as figures of authority in the Crown -> Duchies -> Counties -> Baronies structure, but function as voices of authority within the tribes and villages of the Zahar.
Due to the remote nature of the region they are allowed to effectively self-govern within the structure of the kingdom. Royal authority is of course still present in the form of tax collectors, and there is both legal and enforcement precedent for the Crown upholding trade agreements if the situation calls for it.