The Veil of Sands

The Veil of Sands is the most recognisalbe garment worn by the Al-Qamari. Worn by scouts, cravan leaders, spiritwalkers, and even children during their first solo trek, the veil is both practical and sacred, an emblem of endurance, faith, and belonging. At first glance, it is simply a long, lightweight length of fabric (usually silk or desert-bred linen) dyed in swirling tones of ochre, charcoal and red. But the Veil is far more than scarf or face covering. It is a map, a ward and a badge of honour. Each veil is embroidered with runic markings specific to its wearer's family line and region of the desert. These markings, stitched in fine metallic thread, glow faintly under moonlight; a guide when the stars are obscured. Sandrunners say you can tell the direction of the wind just by how a veil shifts around the shoulders. Spiritwalkers wear theirs soaked in sacred oils during desert rites. Warriors soak theirs in blood after a kill. Widows wear black veils with silver thread, while betrothed lovers exchange veils dyed with desert flower ink. Removing someone's Veil of Sands without permission is an unforgiveable offence, punishable by exile. To touch one's own veil during conversation is a sign of sincerity. To wrap another in your veil is a declaration of love, loyalty... or war. In exile, some Al-Qamari wear veils even in cities where it draws suspicion, a soft, stubborn way of saying I remember where I come from. It is said that if the wind ever carries away your veil, your soul is fated to follow. Children are tuahgt to weave their first veil by the age of seven, not merely as a rite of passage, but as a survival skill. Many a desert child has been saved by wrapping their veil around their limbs for warmth at night, or using it to flag down passing scorpion riders. Some tales even whisper of veils that have absorbed so much spirit energy they move on their own, coiling protectively around their weaver or flaring out in warning. While most dismiss these as fireside legends, a handful of Al-Qamari elders will only say "The desert remembers, and so do the veils".