Whitesands

## Introduction

The rustic desert village of Whitesands is situated in the sand dunes of Ceres. It is a beautiful location and a rest stop for many travellers and traders. Though they dwell in a harsh place, its residents are creative and kind, bringing color to the desert with their song and craft. The village is welcoming and open to all, though for this reason it is susceptible to raiders.

The village of Whitesands is characterized by cheery sandstone houses and cacti gardens. Most buildings have thatched roofs and open windows, with curtains being put up on windy days. Hanging pots of herbs blow a pleasant breeze during the day, and tiki torches burning sticks of sandalwood chase away insects at night.

The current leader of the village is **Myrtle**.

## Whitesand Society

The majority of Whitesands is *Talentless*, although a rare **Blessing** has been passed down through the generations that manifests in usually one in every twelve villagers: sandbending. This Blessing gets rarer with each generation.

The village of Whitesands has stayed a village for many centuries, even as other towns grew and became cities. This is largely due to the fact that the villagers like living the way they do, without the hassle and complexity of city life. However, in recent times, many of the village children have grown interested in the big cities. Many of the elders of the village are beginning to believe that it may be time for the village of Whitesands to fade away.

Most Whitesand villagers are uneducated and illiterate, but are skilled in a variety of survival and craft smarts, including carving, song, storytelling, foraging, identification, weaving, pottery, hunting, fishing, and farming.

Whitesands encourages artistic expression. Many villagers can play at least one instrument or two.

No villager, elder, or child goes idle. Whitesand villagers all rely on one another in one form or another - perhaps one may require the identification of a cactus plant in their basket, or another may require a patch for their shirt. There is no official form of currency in Whitesands, so small acts of kindness may be repaid in favors, such as a cooked meal, an offer to come over for tea, etc.

Most who live in Whitesands are humble, kind, patient, and generous. They treat newcomers and travellers the same way they would their neighbors, but not naïvely: rude or shady travellers may be asked to leave the village.

Generally, elders lead the village, and the wisest or oldest usually becomes leader. Leading the village is a big responsibility, and often holds more than just leading: a leader is also expected to keep the peace and fend off any threats, be they animal or otherwise.

## Whitesand Cuisine

Many first-timers that visit the village don't expect much from the food, but it's quite the opposite. Having hundreds of years of experience living in the desert, Whitesand villagers cook up a variety of different foods and flavors with what the desert provides them:

* Agave (generally used as a sweetener for drinks and other foods)
* Aloe
* Beans (often grilled or porridged)
* Blooming Tea (large dried chrysanthemum-like flowers about the size of one's palm, that bloom in water: makes for a fragrant and mildly bitter light yellow-green tea)
* Cactus fruit (can be eaten raw, candied, or made into jelly)
* Candied scorpion
* Certain snakes
* "Desert dog" (a species of hyena)
* Desert honey (referred to by the villagers simply as 'honey', outsiders tend to think it has a smokier taste)
* Desert squash
* Desert Tea (an assortment of dried desert herbs that makes for a grey-green spicy-smelling, minty tea. Has an odd aftertaste and is considered a local remedy for many things.)
* Eel (usually smoked or grilled)
* Fish (usually dried or grilled)
* Flower porridge (mostly tasteless on its own: usually flavored with herbs, spices, or complemented with meat)
* Fried cactus
* Goat meat (usually roasted with herbs)
* Grilled yucca
* Honey candy (globs of honey with pine nuts and spice: a summer treat)
* Mesquite bread (firm and has a light, sweet flavor. Often eaten with agave nectar or honey)
* Miner's lettuce (usually made into preserves)
* Nettles (often made into soups and stews)
* Peppers (several of varying spice levels: Whitesand cuisine tends to make their spicy foods super spicy! Most visitors can't handle it)
* Pine nuts (can be ground into flour or roasted as a snack)
* Pine tea (pine needles in water: makes for a slightly astringent tea. Clears up a congested nose.)
* Seasonal Teas:
	+ Spring Tea (an assortment of spring desert flowers that makes a light, sweet, and refreshing tea)
	+ Summer Tea (dried spring desert flowers with a dash of spice: a local remedy for colds)
	+ Autumn Tea (dried remnants of cactus flowers that make for a fruity, floral, and sweet pink-hued tea: loved by children)
	+ Winter Tea (grey-green leaves from a winter plant that make for a dark green pungent and minty tea: loved more by the older crowd)

Whitesands' seasonal teas are quite famous around the world, but are known under a variety of different names, as given by traders so that it sells better. Unfortunately, the village is rarely given credit for the tea.

## Whitesand Technology and Trade

Whitesand technology is considered basic by the rest of the modern village: agriculture, hunting, etc. However, there is beauty in its simplicity, and most cityfolk that happen upon the village find its rustic nature refreshing.

Most Whitesand villagers don't stray too far from the village, so any trade generally comes from travellers. Though villagers have no use for coins, as long as they believe the trade is of equal value, they will gladly trade.

The village of Whitesands is known to trade teas, herbs, incense, perfumes, carvings, pottery, textiles, clothing, jewelry and more.

## Notable Locations

* Cactus Farms (fields of cactus grown in neat rows)
* Flower Dunes (dunes of sand nearby the village covered in desert plants and flowers)
* Goat Pens (goat pens kept nearby the village: provides the village with goat fur and meat)
* Soothsayer's House
* Trade Stop (a designated place for traders)
* Village Well (situated at the center of the village: hasn't run dry to date)