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.

Welcome!

The "Desert Born" are a faction on a group of role-play sims of Second Life, somewhat modelled on the Fremen of Frank Herbert's Dune series - although not too closely, due to copyright issues - mixed with some features common to various indigenous cultures. For more information about the role-play of the sims as a whole, you can go to the Splintered Rock ning.

This blog is envisioned as a clearinghouse of sorts for the various pieces of role-play canon developed by the role-players of the Desert Born. I hope this will be of use! If you wish to email me regarding a post, or to make a suggestion, please do so at yazirasam (at) gmail (dot) com.

A note regarding cultural appropriation: I'm aware that to some I may be walking a very fine line here. I wish to note that I very carefully do not include any cultural specifics from any one culture - the features I include are known from various cultures and I have incorporated them at an underlying or schematic level. For example, clan systems like that of the Desert Born are known from various cultures, but I have incorporated only the format, not the specifics. I make this note because members of some indigenous cultures are rightfully angered by ongoing appropriation and misuse of private or sacred artifacts and practices by outsiders - see the Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality for an example - and I do not wish to be placed in that group.