The Thundering Sands
- Terrain
- Desert, with isolated fishing villages along the southern coast
- Controlled By
- Vas'tek
- Travel
- Not to be attempted without a guide
- Known For
- Architecture suited to the desert; distinctive wedding customs
The Thundering Sands are the desert at the centre of the continent, with a scattering of isolated fishing villages along the southern coast. The desert is controlled by Vas'tek, and no account of the region is complete without the Vas'n.
It is not a place to travel without a guide. Architecture, family structure and wedding custom here are all shaped by that fact.
In their own words
Bevel Dart, The Musings of a Wanderer
The region commonly known as the Thundering Sands is not a place to go a’quest’n without a guide. It is primarily desert, with some pockets of isolated fishing villages along the southern coast. The desert is controlled by Vas'tek and no study of the Thundering Sands is complete without a look at the Vas'n people, though you will find it elsewhere in Musings.
Architecture
The architecture of the Thundering Sands is made up of stout, earthy materials; generally brick and stucco. The Vas'n make up for the otherwise drab buildings by sculpting interesting patterns into the structures. And fabric, lots of fabric. Colorful string flags, banners, and hangings fill the air above the streets and markets.
When traveling the desert, the Vas'n use breathable fabric tents. The striking colors of a camp are reminiscent of a circus.
Colorful floor rugs are common. Heavy rugs are used in buildings and lightweight rugs are used in tents.
Family Structure
Family structure typically includes extended family under the same roof. Multiple generations, aunts, uncles, and cousins fill homes and tents.
Cultural Norms
Water is traditionally a scarce and precious resource to the people of the Thundering Sands. Breakthroughs in congruence understanding in the last several generations has led to a decrease in water scarcity, but the sacredness of water remains. Water is not wasted, spilled, or left to evaporate. You are responsible for your family’s water. Water is life. The only exception is at Wayat'ujan (the oasis city of the Vas'n), where water and life is plentiful.
Green, the color of oases, is a sacred color among the Vas'n. The color is reserved for holy men and women and for the King.
Weddings
As anywhere else, weddings are important affairs. A parallel is drawn between water and marriages; they are both a source of life. Wedding gifts always include a jug of water from each guest. The culmination of the wedding ceremony includes all guests dripping a splash of their water into a bowl, from which the bride and groom will both drink. In grand ceremonies, congruence users will wring water from the air in a masterful show.
Myths
The Thundering Sands is a strange and ever-changing place. The shifting sands reveal and bury ruins at a regular rate. The Vas'n believe that the ruins are from an ancient people who would not share their water and therefore doomed themselves.
Other Peoples of the Thundering Sands
Along the southern coast of the desert are isolated fishing villages. These people live their lives in solitude. They do not foray into the desert to the north, and their ships rarely make the long trip to the population centers of Nashriam or Alvania. It should be noted, however, that I recently caught wind of a change due to their proximity to Karg. Trade between the villages and Karg is small but growing.