Well, a lot of the defensive strategy would be based on how their ancestors fought the Praxians. Whilst new ideas and tactics might be tried, it would be a brave chief who would go against the received wisdom of the ancients. His warriors and godspeakers would be reluctant, and if his new fangled notions didn't work he wouldn't be chief for long.
Also, the tribal and clan chiefs are elected/appointed for a purpose. They have a job to do, same as any cottar or thane, and the tribe or clan will expect them to carry that job out. In times of crisis, a tribal chief might find his clans outside his gates whether he ordered them or not, demanding refuge and protection in return for all those cattle, horses, and weeks of labour they've provided.
It would be less of a plan, where the clan rings sit down and thrash out a strategy for each eventually, but rather a mixture of interpreted omens and historical/mythological tradition. Perhaps the tribal founders were almost pushed off their tula, but made a heroic, and successful final stand atop the steel hill. Therefore, everyone in the tribe knows that if the going gets tough, they have a proven refuge from which to defy the enemy. And they look to their leaders to ensure that their stronghold (a matter of tribal pride) is maintained - while grumbling over the cost of course.
Andy
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