Children of the Sands

Kurish waited patiently beneath the sands, waiting for the faint vibrations to draw closer. They belonged to something small, not so small as to be unworthy, but not so large as to be a potential threat. It's footfalls drifted closer and Kurish tensed himself, waiting for it to come to exactly the right point.

The vibrations stopped and Kurish rushed forth from the sand, filling the air with sparkling silicate particles. Golden carapace glistening in the desert sun his pincers clamped down on the unfortunate lizard, the stinger struck home, deep into the side of Kurish's pray. Green poison oozed forth, the moment passed and the Scorpion and lizard both disappeared back into the churning sands.

Cunning predators and silent sentinels of the unclaimed desert, the Children of the Sands seek prosperity by might, to be strong enough, fast enough and knowledgeable enough to secure and hold their home territories. Their desire for power, be it indirect, martial or arcane, often drives these creatures beyond their homes for periods, choosing to explore and learn, interacting with the other races of the world. In many places they are seen as aberations, hunted and driven out, but in some corners of the world, or among some small group of similarly unusual folk, they find a way to expand their understanding and increase their own abilities.

Arcane Origins

While the Giant Scorpions from which the Children of the Sands originate are as ancient as the sands themselves, it from magic that these intelligent beasts are truly born. In some cases this is so strongly apparent that scholars of the world are unsure if they should in fact be classified as beasts, or aberrations.

Regardless of how these creatures are classified, they are undeniably intelligent. Capable of speech, reading and even writing in addition to complex combat techniques and the arcane arts.

In addition to their sapient capabilities, they are known to leave the deserts from time to time, to seek out new experiences, skills and knowledge so as to better understand the world and the peoples in it, so that they may better protect their homelands.

Desert Guardians

In many regards, these creatures are still giant scorpions. Only truely at home in the burning sands, they claim the unclaimable, ever shifting dunes, as their own, and they will do whatever they must to defend their homelands from intruders, magical, beastial or otherwise.

While not dangerous to a well meaning traveller, the Children of the Sands are known to take vengance upon those who harm the deserts, including hunters, prospectors, settlers and soldiers. This has lead to a reputation of violence and vicuousness.

Bestial Reputation Competent natural predators and guardians of their homeland, the Children of the Sands have a reputation for violence and vicousness against even the most trivial of offences. This has lead to many races misinterpretting their actions as those of a simple wild beast. The Children of the Sands are often met with violence and distrust, driven from populated areas by fire and pitchfork. To see one of these carapaced creatres roaming freely in a town or city is a rarity beyond even the small number of their race.

Simple Society

Do not hunt in my sands, do not hide in my sands, do not bring trouble to my sands, do not despoil my sands, for here, in my sands, I am an Emperor, a god.

These simple, self-enforced rules are all that prevent conflict in the blistering heat of the desert sun. With advances in communication, memory, knowledge, the arcane arts, science and even the adaptation of a more nuanced body plan, come many new complexities and causes for strife.

The desert was never meant to feed such a large creature and all the meats it offers are insufficient to feed the complex minds that now shift beneath its surface. Aided by their articulated pincers, which allow them to reach around their own bodies and grasp fine objects, even on their own backs, they have mastered fire and tools.

With fire comes cooking and an omnivorous lifestyle, a bounty in nourishment that was previously unavailable, but still, the limits of the desert hold sway, and skirmishes over food, fuel and territory are a commonality in the churning sands they call home.

Children of the Sands Names

Whether a result of some unexplained cognitive bias, of the way that their native tongue translates to common or an idiosyncracy of their speech, all names used by Children of the Sands have simple commonalities dependant on gender.

Almost all male names start with a "K" and almost all female names start with a "V".

Furthermore, when the Children of the Sands mature, they all tend to start dragging the vowels in their names, doubling any that are not the last letter.

Male Child Names

Kalore, Kameral, Kare, Kas, Khon, Kimathum, Kovell, Kralsk, Kurish, Kynneril

Male Adult Names

Kaaloore, Kaameeraal, Kaare, Kaas, Khoon, Kiimaathuum, Kooveell, Kraalsk, Kuuriish, Kynneeriil

Female Child Names

Varogh, Vashner, Veldin, Venth, Ventyr, Vish, Vler, Vortrana, Vraran, Vuren