Ian said a lot of good stuff. I've been thinking that the city may be
primarily a place where the Volsaxar clans have steads where they can be
close to the High King. They would want to have their own places so they
wouldn't have to be the king's guest while in WW (puts too much of an
obligation on them). Naturally support staff would have to live there to
keep the places up and be ready for the clan rings/chiefs to show up. They
wouldn't always have to be there. The city might be a place where clans
sent their less able people to live in part off the King's generosity.
Maybe it's where the malcontents end up or people who have been fighting
inside the clans go to get away while still contributing.
As far as local politics go there must be a reeve or steward who looks after
the place. Problems within a clan go through the normal clan chain.
Problems between clans probably go to the steward first and then to High
King for resolution.
Just some thoughts.
Oliver