Dune Elves

The Dune Elves are a sub-culture of elves that inhabit the Rami Desert in Calenara. Their culture is semi-nomadic, having a few small settlements in around the Stone Labyrinth and living off the trade of unique resources they extract from nature.

Origin

During the long exodus the elves had to endure to escape the Shuni Empire, a group of them got lost during a sandstorm while travelling through the Rami Desert. No one knows how much time this elves wandered in the desert, some say hours, some say days our even a couple weeks, but in the end the only thing that mattered is that this elves found (or were founded) by the Dust Mother, a divine spirit who guide them to the safety of the Stone Labyrinth. There they established their only permanent settlement, Khalavo.

The life in the desert

Compared to other even cultures, the Dune Elves are the most mysterious of them, keeping many things about them for themselves and showing just a part of their culture while interacting with other cultures during the trade. Some people consider this behaviour as part of the teaching of their religion, the Cult of the Dust Mother, but there are people that have gained the respect of the tribes and with that more information about them. Dune Elves have adapted to survive in the desert without much problem, using just what is needed. They extract water from underground deposits that form in the Stone Labyrinth and use it to cultivate plants unique to the Rani Desert which, in combination with their cattle, give them the food they need. Even in the most harsh environments faith will always prevail and the Cult of the Dust Mother is proof of that. The dune elves pray when the sun rises to thank the Dust Mother for their home and will participate in an annual migration in through all the Rami Desert to visit holy sites. The priests of the Cult become the leaders of their tribes and take the important decisions like the way food and water will be divided and the route the tribe will take during the annual migration. Dune Elves try to avoid conflict with anyone, but if conflict appears they will do their best to protect the tribe, especially their warrior priests. But their main strength comes from the Sand Drake, a fearsome draconic creature that lives in the desert and is searched by priests to create a bond that, in case it happens, will give the priests great status and the tribe another way to be protected.

The tools of the trade

When necessary the Dune Elves will partake in trade with settlements near Khalavo, exchanging ore, clothing, plants, and more importantly vivhaya root. Even if the elves are seen as a mysterious and reclusive culture, most of the settlements they visit recognize the value of the products they bring and are ready to exchange resources such as water and food.