highland rock bison live to the north of Toreas' territory. they're kind of a free-floating, disorganized bit of a race with no established power center-- for instance Toreas is identified as the king aurochs because he is the strongest, and can take on full human features. all non-royal oxen-- and bison-- are just anthro. in spite of this lack of focus, the bison are few in number and thus individuals are quite more powerful compared to an average aurochs.

unfortunately, they also happen to be sitting on some resources Toreas really wanted. he didn't want to go marching over and start a shitfight (for once) so he made a deal with them. anyone can be bought!

Toreas incorporated this grouchy mountain breed into his grand empire essentially as a kickback for privileges on their ore mines. their womarn's stay home in the highlands with a few bulls to rear young and oversee the slave human miners, but most of the menz (only twelve in number) were hired on as Toreas' royal guardsmen. basically, his palacial police force. in addition, since employment makes the bison appearmore needy than they'd like, they also get to run much of the temperate region's rich agricultural products back home to their fat, snowbound wives.

Arry and bison are not PAID to roam the villages, really just hang around Terry and look imposing, eat his food, run the jail etc... but they cause a lot of ruckus and, unfortunately for the aurochs power stability, often interbreed (when they're not bothering young men instead.) the consensuality rate is... not so hot. i don't even wanna go into what they do with the humans. ghastly.

though they are all subordinate to Tofilius who is head of both guard units (the other is basically the military) and he in turn answers to his father, Arroriuks oversteps his position as "head bison" all too frequently. mean and cocky, and with the goods to back it up, he takes every opportunity to give the comparatively too-serious Tofilius a hard time. he doesn't get much sympathy because pops contributes to the taunting most of the time.

so while Arroriuks' bad behavior vexes his people and drives his own son further into spiteful disdain (and probably a cutting habit,) Toreas turns a blind eye to most of it because of the bisons' iron and and gold pouring in from the north. many of the oxen take this in consideration as well, and just roll with the punches when it comes to their pregnant daughters and various other "inconveniences."

why bother outlining a bit race from a story tangent? well because they have everything to do with how badly the Bastaat operation goes when Ka is there, by way of unwittingly selling her out to the main enemy who tracks her into the bizarre virtual time-traveling experiment.

that and i haven't written all this down yet, here's as good a place as any.
dundundDUNdun dundunDUNDUN.