The Great Dunes (Dek Pan)

A large imposing desert, with some scrub-land inbetween. The only settlements are in the North Dunes (Tesa), the [[Location-194375]] and the East Dunes (Li).

Each of these settlements are attached to an oasis after which they take their names.

There once was a South Dunes - but the oasis has long since dried up and the houses nothing but rubble. Whatever the original name of the area it is now known as Hisa (Lost).

It is a vast desert full of high dunes from which the name of the Great Dunes (Dek Pan) derives. The dunes are a rusty red in colour sometimes covered in a low scrub known as Genta (Spiky) for its inch long spines.

The buildings of the area are normally made from sun baked clay mixed with manure and are low 1 story buildings with flat open roofs where most families sleep during the summer. No windows or doors are installed to help ventilation.
Privacy is achieved by way of Genta (Spiky) bark screens and hanging woven sheets. To keep flies away Sera (Scented) leaves are burnt, leaving houses usually full of thick, sweet smelling smoke.

The Great Library (Kifa) of each oasis East, West and North are the only buildings made of stone and stand an impressive 4 stories high. Glass is only used sparingly to protect certain books from the elements.

Travelling librarians who work for the Great Library bring its knowledge to those who cannot visit it themselves, they usually shelter in transportable tents made from Hifa (Thick Skinned Beast) hide and propped up with Yet (Spindly Tree) poles. They usually travel in groups of 5 and have Betfa (Hardy Beast) to carry the packs.

They speak a version of Gren At (Spoken Word) the language of all Pos, and the second most spoken language on Silman Ata Ke (All that is Known) . Some words such as the names of plants, animals and religions specific to the area are unique and are spoken nowhere else. They speak with a strong accent in which the stress is always placed on the second syllable of a word. They share the same names for all races and universal objects with some regional variation on spelling or pronunciation. They are believed to have kept in contact with the outside world up until the Sandstorm (Isad) began around 100 years prior to the story.

The population is quite small and spread out especially compared to the size of the Great Dunes (Dek Pan) the densest population centre is the Northen Dunes (Sepat) with a population of around 5,000 most other areas have around 2,000 to 3,000 people. Including the isolated normadic communities there is approxiamatly 11,000 people.

The currency that is commonly excepted is the Yan (Bead) clay beads - the colour varies depending on its worth. Red beads are the easiest to produce so therefore are worth the least, while purple or blue beads are the highest value as they take the most effort to create.
Bronze is also commonly used as a form of currency.
The nomadic tribes still primarily barter.

None

All laws listed below are agreed by all clans:

All glass made must be donated to the Great Library (Kifa).
All children over the age of 7 years must be taught to read and write.
Hunters can only operate within the agreed tribe boundaries.
Children are adopted by the Great Library unless a relative can prove a legitimate connection with the child, and they must have the funds to support one.
Children at the age of 16 must gather at the Great Library (Kifa) for the signing in of adulthood, their first tattoo will be given there.
Until a child reaches the age of 16 no tattoo or piercings are allowed and any adult seen giving one to a child will be fined.
Nomadic tribes must allow travelling librarians to pass through their land.
No one is to venture to the Sandstorm (Isad).
No one is to practise magic.
Murder, theft and any other violent or socially disruptive crimes are punished with death

Fenat - a game of agility where contestants have to leap, crawl or climb over or under a series of obstacles.
Dep - a chess like game with several pieces, the aim of the game is to capture all of your opponents pieces while also dealing with the the board which is structured like a real terrain with mountains, valleys and streams to block you off and force you into a corner.
Foka - a team sport which involves inflated stomachs of Jens (Burrowing Creature), players pass the ball between them with the objective of getting it pass the opponents line, while at the same time keeping yours defended as multiple balls are in play at any one time. It is considered 𝘁𝗵𝗲 game of the region.

It is a dry, hot desert with towering dunes made from a dusty red sand with 3 main oases and 1 further one that has dried up. Some scrub-land is present and once every year there is a great storm on the Day of Rain (Opa It Aka) and all the previously barren Genta (Spiky) bushes burst into flower, the flowers are collected and crushed for the rare purple and blue dyes they produce.

Some basic crops are produced such as Wek (Wheat) and Opek (Barley). As well as this Renta (Dates) and Tek (Apricots) grow naturally and are harvested every summer. Other fruits include Req, Itsa and Het - all tough, hardy fruits that can survive severe drought. Most food comes from hunting and previously before the Sandstorm (Isad) began, trade.

It is located in the far south just below the equator far below the Werspar Mountains of the Ki (Dwarfs) and above the Irsar Ocean islands of the Sin (Elves).

It is hot, dry and there is no seasonal variation except for on the Day of Rain (Opa It Aka).

It was first founded as a nation by the 4 brothers, the sons of the Great Osa, the wisest man to ever live. When he died the he requested that they solve his last riddle.

𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘺
𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘥-𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬;
𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.
𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
Pos 𝘩𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦
𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.
𝘜𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥,
𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥

The brothers consulted many a wise man and many a priest but none could answer the riddle. Soon the brothers felt full of despair, for they could not answer the riddle. One day an old lady was passing when she saw the 4 brothers lamenting, "What is wrong that you on such a fine day should be in such despair" she cried. "Old mother!" they replied "Our father has died and left us this task, a riddle to solve, but no one can answer it. We have tried and tried consulted all the wisest men of the land, but still none can solve the riddle".
The old crone looked curious and asked if she may be allowed to read it for herself "Old mother" they sighed "If you think you can answer it, please, try". She read the riddle with great intent, shook her head and laughed. "Oh I can see it plain as day" she said in delighted tones.
"What is it Mother" the eldest asked with great agitation, "What is it!". The crone simply chuckled and turned away throwing one last line over her shoulder.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥,
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥.

The brothers looked among one another in despair, another riddle they cried. Except the youngest, as in delight he jumped up and exclaimed "Rain". And around the brothers it rained and rained a storm swept over the land, the Genta bush came into flower and the burning heat cooled.

From that day on, the rain came, once a year on the Day of Rain (Opa It Aka). And the brothers each set off, to claim the oases formed on that day, and ruled as kind and wise leaders till their death. ((𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘯 Siken 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴)).

It was established, according to myth, over 2,000 years ago in the Year of the Brothers. But some records seem to show it dating back as far as 5,000 years.

The Great Dunes has had many internal conflicts - that will be mentioned elsewhere - but only one major one with the outside world, that was the War of the Tesar. It spanned a time period of around 10 years and all began when a member of the Sin (Elves) royal family Sylar died. The Ki (Dwarf) Fawar was accused of poisoning him and was subsequently executed. What followed was a series of rising events that drew in all of the 5 races into the War. The final battle in the Tensar, the only one to occur outside of the Great Dunes (Dek Pan), ended with a victory for the Sin (Elves). Subsequent years would lead to a cooling of tensions between the races and trade routes once again were in full operation within 100 years. The Great Dunes (Dek Pan) have always been allies of the Sin (Elves) and the Ki (Dwarfs) respectfully, but during the War they were on the side of the Ki (Dwarfs), they have never fully regained the trust they once had with the Sin (Elves) because of this.

The start of the novel takes place here and the towards the climax the 5 will once again return.