Rauf's Oasis

The population of Rauf's Oasis is a mishmash of different races and peoples. There are some humans who were traders at one point but decided to put down roots here. There are yuan-ti expats from the nearby city-state of Yuan who left for various reasons and now find community with other outcasts and expats. There are even some tieflings who felt Zahrabad was getting too crowded and wanted a more rustic, quieter lifestyle.   Most people in this tiny stopover village work in various service industries to support the traders traveling on the main road. There are three different inns and taverns, each specializing in a different vibe and clientele, that cater to the merchants and even allow them to drink on credit, knowing they will get paid when their goods are delivered and they can pay on their return trip. There are also cartwrights, leatherworkers, and camel experts who can help the merchants with anything they need to keep their caravans running smoothly.   Because of this emphasis on a service economy and the relative scarcity of resources and travelers in the desert, many of the citizens in Rauf's Oasis live poor lives, or modest at best. There is usually enough food in the town for everyone to eat, especially since the folk here are generous with an eye toward community, but the food is not always readily available or offered up. Still, most people have a roof over their heads and are able to eat at least one meal a day despite whatever income they may or may not have.

The government of Rauf's Oasis is somewhat monarchical, with Mayors tracing their lineage back to the original Rauf. There have been sevearl times in the village's 900 years that a mayor dies without an heir apparent; in every such case, someone came forward with proof they were related to Rauf through their third cousin or some other distant relative. In each case, that lackluster proof has been enough to satisfy the townsfolk who care less about who leads them than about how they're getting on.   The Mayor is also the sole creator and enforcer of laws and policies in the village, as well as the only judge and the village's representative for the island-wide quasi-government known as the Caladrem Confederation. With all of these hats, it is no small wonder that in times of great stress and scarcity the people call for some type of democracy or republic, fearing their mayor has too much power. But the mayor usually steps down or publicly cleans up their act, and everyone forgets about the concerns until the next scandal or hard time.

There are no walls or pallisades around the village of Rauf's Oasis, and no formal Watch either. The village maintains a small group of about half a dozen rangers who patrol the outskirts looking for trouble coming from the desert or mountains, but if the village is in danger the citizens have to deal with it themselves until members of Zahrabad's Desert Sentries can arrive.

There is almost no infrastructure to speak of in Rauf's Oasis. To help preserve the delicate ecosystem, there are no paved, cobbled, or gravel roads, and all transportation happens on dirt or sand roads. The fresh water mostly comes from the small spring and creek that form the oasis, but each of the three inns also has its own well that taps into underground aquifers.

All buildings in this small village are small and made either of adobe or are permanent tents set up to provide shelter. Most are dug into the ground a few feet, to provide some cooling for the interior and the floors covered in rugs. The exterior of the buildings is nothing fancy, with very few decorations or adornments on any houses.