The Lore of Ergus

The Stone Peoples:

At the center of this land lies the Well Spring, a giant rock formation rising through the clouds, a massive pillar of stone to survey the barren desert around it. Surrounding the Well Spring is a vast oasis which is the home of the Stone Peoples who use the water to farm the land and feed the people of the Painted Sands.

The water from the Well Spring flows from the top of this precipice cascading down the sides of the massive pillar and filling the air with a fine mist that drifts up to a mile away. This constant flowing torrent sustains the creatures of the oasis surrounding the rock formation, creating a fertile environment where most of the crops for the Stone Peoples grow. The remainder of the water is filtered through the sand to collect into stone cisterns for civil works and later use. 

The Stone peoples are known as laborers and craftsmen as well as civil engineers who built the stone city of the Well Spring and provide most of the crafts of the desert.

The Sky Peoples:

The Sky Peoples live in the City of Clouds due to its construction high upon and within the face of the giant rock formation of the Well Spring. Their clothing is made primarily of plant matter grown on the impressive steppe gardens with some animal skins from their limited mountain livestock. There are plants and animals that thrive on the mountain and cannot grow and live well even in the oasis of the desert. 

They are led by a “holy” elder, who communes with the spirit of the well to ensure that the water continues to flow. Those that learn the magic of the Bloom do so here, in the Sky City, close to the Well Spring.

They are an isolated group only allowing audiences with the elders of the Stone Peoples and the Walkers of the Sand. When a decision must be made regarding the people of the Painted Sands or actions of commerce, a council of elders is formed of the oldest members of each community that debate and make decisions for the betterment of the people.

They have never been invaded nor gathered armies to venture forth on conquest. Their fighters are usually trained by the elders to defend the oasis and Sky City in the event they are ever invaded. These soldiers also maintain other roles within the community, either tending livestock, building, or gardening.

The Walkers of the Sand:

The Walkers of the Sand are a nomadic people that travel the desert moving between the 7 major oases of the Painted Sands. Each oasis rests in a different section of the desert noted by their specific sand color. The colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet with the red sands closest to the Well Spring and the violet sands closer to the borders of the Painted Sands. The sand around the Well Spring is white, and the sands at the border where it meets the soil of other lands, is black. Each color has a spiritual meaning to the Walkers. 

• Red symbolizes Energy and Wisdom and is associated with enthusiasm, passion, security, and vitality. 
• Orange symbolizes Self-Control and Determination and is associated with endurance, perseverance, and strength. 
• Yellow symbolizes Happiness and Joy and is associated with awareness, cheerfulness, energy, and order. 
• Green symbolizes Life and Abundance and is associated with growth, health, nature, and wealth.
• Blue symbolizes Relaxation and Stability and is associated with calm, communication, knowledge, and peace. 
• Indigo symbolizes Mystery and Spiritualism and is associated with awareness, intuition, spiritual attainment, and wisdom. 
• Violet symbolizes Individuality and Selflessness and is associated with creativity, imagination, luxury, mystery, and royalty. 

The Walkers rarely travel the White sands, and when they do they are usually called there by the Elder of the Sky Peoples. The Walkers never travel the Black sands as a people, because the Black Sands lead to the Cursed Lands of the others. However, individuals cross the Black Sands and delve into the Cursed Lands for various reasons from personal gain to exploring the dangers of the world that might one day threaten the Painted Sands.

The Walkers hold these oases as sacred, and when they have needs and questions pertaining to the colors’ meanings, they travel to the oasis of the appropriate color to meditate and contemplate the situation, hoping to gain insight into the solution of their problems.

The Walkers of the Sand are actually mounted people, utilizing animals for transport for riding and to pull small to massive carts, wagons, and caravans. They utilize the native Glow Wyrms of the desert to light their night travel, choosing to rest during the day when the sun is the most brutal. The Glow Wyrms are small, bioluminescent lizards (gecko size) that run atop the sands at night, traveling from oasis to oasis. They communicate by changing the color of their glow in relation to the color of the sands upon which they travel. The Wyrmcallers spend their lives learning the “language” of the Glow Wyrms so as to keep each caravan apprised of the conditions of the painted sands.

Their leaders are chosen based on the ability to survive in the desert, revering age above youthful skill, for the old have survived where the young have yet to tread. Disputes between Walkers are settled with ceremonial weapon duels, which are determined by drawing first blood. Magic and armor are not allowed in duels. Skill with a weapon or weapons will decide the fate of the duel and nothing else.

Caravans:

Each group of walkers are known by the caravans in which they travel. There are several caravans with the Walkers, and each have their own purpose in the desert. The purpose of the caravan is denoted by its color, and each caravan of that color is identified by the name of its elder. For example, the merchant caravan which is led by Obron the wise is known as the Caravan of Obron of the Green Sands. This is a long and lengthy name to use in normal conversation and is often shortened to Obron Green or just Green Sands.

• The Caravan of the Green Sands: Most of the Walkers of the Sands belong with this Caravan. This main contingent serves as traders, choosing to meet with merchants near the borders of the desert in order to trade different goods that they collect from deep within the desert or from the Sky Peoples and Stone Peoples. They are known for traveling with large bones from some unknown desert animal and thin fabric tents. Their wagons are large and built to carry cargo.
• The Caravan of the Violet Sands: A smaller caravan that chooses to pursue a life of adventure and discovery. They travel almost exclusively to the Violet Sands but will go off to raid merchants or foreign parties that travel near the borders. Individuals and raiding parties of this caravan cross the Black Sands more often than any other caravan.
• The Caravan of the Red Sands: A secret faction that lived among the Walkers in the days before are the Desert Winds. These assassins were known for being able to come and go like the wind using the ability to teleport, taught to them by a grateful creature once rescued from the desert’s dangers by a caravan of Walkers. No longer the feared threat that they were, since the ability to teleport vanished, the Desert Winds have been known to be employed by merchants and other caravans to remove competition, provide additional security or muscle, and to fortify the seven oases. Regardless of losing their primary advantage, they remain impressive combatants combining weapon prowess with magic ability to great effect.
• The Caravan of the Orange Sands: This caravan is known for its Desert Rangers that comb the vast sands seeking and identifying the dangers of the Painted Sands. They provide information for the location of these dangers and how to avoid or survive them if possible. Often the Caravan of the Orange Sands is called upon to rescue travelers who have stumbled foolishly into one of the dangerous areas of the Painted Sands.
• The Caravan of the Yellow Sands: This small faction of Walkers is gifted, talented, and skilled entertainers and artists. They travel the desert seeking inspiration, transforming their ideas into masterpieces of performance and art. Some caravans are traveling carnivals with excitements, games, and competitions for all to enjoy; some are traveling thespian groups performing plays of music, comedy, and tragedy; and yet there are others who are mobile art shows and craft markets that bring the delights of the desert to all people.
• The Caravan of the Blue Sands: These caravans are filled with the knowledge of the desert carried in scrolls and small traveling tomes as well as verbal Lorekeepers who carry knowledge within themselves and share it with anyone who will listen to their stories. The Lorekeepers are also learned healers and caretakers offering healing and relaxation through the manipulation of body vital points utilizing massage, pressure points, and acupuncture. They are known for their elixirs, potions, salves, and tonics but most importantly the brewing of coffee and cocoa. 
• The Caravan of the Indigo Sands: This small caravan maintains the spiritual connection between the Walkers of the Sands, the Painted Sands, and the Well Spring. They understand best the relationship between the Bloom and the Withering and the people of the world. They delve into the dark questions of spirituality and magic as well as the mysteries of the past. Other than the mages of the Sky People, these are the most magically skilled peoples of the Painted Sands.