Inspired by "what is lawful and chaotic", and OD&D using it instead of good-evil, my lawful/chaotic split has to do with "institutional" vs "individual" loyalty.

So a lawful society is one where the institutions demand and receive loyalty. The crown, not the ruler. The rules, not the judge. The religion, not the priest.

Meanwhile, a chaotic society is one where the individuals demand and receive loyalty. The ruler, not the crown. The judge, not the rules. The priest, not the religion.

The lawful societies tend to be those of wall and road. They build fortified settlements to keep the darkness out, and ward both the walls and the roads against the monsters (which works, somewhat).

The chaotic societies are those of sky and hill. They live amongst the spirits and monsters of the wilderness.

This isn't "noble savage", but rather a completely different kind of "magical technology" -- binding bargains with monsters and spirits, instead of wards keeping them out.