Who Are We? (in role-play)

A Desert Born is a member of a communal, semi-militaristic society on a world that has become the only source of a quasi-mineral that can be used for medical, military and commercial plastic systems. This mineral is also used as a base for addictive drugs.

Given the galactic demand for this substance, the Desert Born are the richest people in the Galaxy. However, since they choose an isolationist lifestyle, hidden on and below the surface of Araxes, few outsiders have proof of this wealth.

The Desert Born are the survivors of a ruthless and relentless process of culling the weak or unsuitable since they colonized Araxes three thousand years ago. The culture is traditional, conservative and ecologically aware. They are non-consumers, making and using only what they need. However, this traditionally limited ownership has encouraged a high level of craftmanship and expertise in everything they manufacture (including explosives).

The culture is organized into two "sides," called moieties in anthropological jargon, consisting of four clans each (more about that later). Clan membership is inherited through both father and mother, so that every Desert Born is a member of two clans, although the mother's clan is by far the more important of the two.