The Hidden Village

Bartras, an ex-soldier slave, leads the Free. He considers the post a temporary evil, for no slave should be placed above another. He promises to abolish his position once all slaves are free. As leader, Bartras has reluctantly organized the tribe along military lines, recognizing that the struggle to remain free is a war between masters and slaves. Eight generals serve as his council of war. These men and women have been selected from all classes and races of slaves to offer advice and to keep Bartras informed of events within their spheres of influence. Below the generals, a major presides over the Hidden Village. In addition to administering to the village's daily needs of decision making and dispute settling, the major oversees the village's defenses and assigns work details to maintain and expand the settlement as needed. Raiding parties are led by captains and consist of as few as six members or as many as several hundred, depending on the target of the raid.