Desert Nation

Land:

• Biome is primarily desert, grassland, and chaparral; climate is very hot and dry in the north, more humid in the south
• Northern region is dominated by a large rain-shadow desert, lots of loose sand, with a few canyons and sandstone cliffs; further south, there are vast grasslands and savannahs; the western border is marked by a tall mountain range, and the eastern coast features a beautiful view of a warm blue ocean; One major river splits the north from the south, and a single lake in the northern region forms a lush, tropical oasis
• In the middle of the desert, where the sun shines the brightest, liquid sunlight collects in massive pools; droplets of glowing sundew collect on the ends of cactus needles like morning dew, lighting up the whole desert
• Flora– Palms, cacti, succulents, scrub brush
• Fauna– Camels, donkeys, rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, foxes

People:

• Inspiration– Middle East and Mediterranean
• Skin tone ranges from tan to medium brown, with olive undertones; freckles are common
• Eyes tend to be brown or black, sometimes green or amber; usually almond shaped, with long lashes and a prominent brow bone to block out the sun; those in the southern region tend to have somewhat lighter skin and hair
• Hair is usually dark, thick, and glossy, with textures ranging from 1c to 3c; often cut short or worn in a tall updo
• Build is typically tall and slim, with lean muscle and low body fat; body hair is quite prominent
• Clothing tends to be loose and thin, in light neutral colors; sandals and other open-toed shoes; head coverings to protect from sunburn; common fabrics are silk and satin
• Colored glass jewelry is very popular, and warriors wear hardened glass armor; those living in the desert also wear glass goggles to keep the sand out of their eyes

Society:

• Government– very militaristic; definitely not a democracy, there's no way people voted for these rulers; most want them gone, they're only in power because they have too much money and military power for anyone to oppose them (I think when I described this nation to Perceptor he suggested nationalism but I don't actually remember what that is so I'll have to look into it more).
• Economy– Major exports include glass and Sundew , and major imports include produce and medicines. Goods are transported by caravan across dirt roads or through the bottoms of canyons, or pulled across the desert on massive sleds. The most common occupations include soldiers, glassmakers, and sun refinery workers. Upper class citizens work as historians, archaeologists, mages, or military officers.
• Settlements– There are relatively few settlements in the northern region, but the ones they have are massive, bustling metropolises; The capital sits in an oasis in the center of the northern desert, around the biggest lake in the region. Most cities are centered around sun pools, if not actual water. In the south, there are a larger number of smaller towns and villages in the savannah, with less sun but far more water. Buildings are tall and heavily embellished, made primarily from sandstone, with lots of windows for better airflow. More expensive structures are made from glass, marble, or brass. The vibes are similar to Markarth and Rome– neutral colors, towering buildings, and a strong sense of grandeur wherever you look. Occasionally, ancient, crude settlements buried by sand are unearthed and repurposed by the poor and homeless for shelter.

Culture-

History-

• Origins

The Desert people are native to another continent to the east.

• The First Dragon War

War with the Dragons blah blah blah, they lost and their homeland was rendered completely unlivable, so they migrated to their current home. This was approximately 100 years ago maybe

• Arrival on the Mainland

When the Desert people arrived on the mainland and found it occupied, they made quick work of removing the natives to make room for themselves. They made no attempt to coexist with the Mountain people, immediately utilizing their military power to force them out. Their forces may have been greatly diminished by the Dragon War, but the natives had no military at all, and thus were easily overpowered.

• The War of Red Sands

The desert wasn’t always a desert. It used to be a lush, forested region teeming with life. Not long after arriving in the region, the Dragons became dissatisfied with the way the land was being treated by its new occupants. They confronted the Desert people, commanding them to change their ways, but they refused, and a devastating war broke out. 

Unfortunately for the Dragons, the Desert people planned for such an outcome. During the first Dragon War, they had begun developing a weapon capable of killing a Dragon that was never put to use. This weapon made its debut near the beginning of the war, and the destruction it caused was nearly cataclysmic. 

The Desert people were winning the war, but as it went on, there was less and less land left for them to rule over. With each Dragon they killed, the species of plant or animal it ruled over instantly disappeared. What was once a lush, green region was rapidly turning into a barren wasteland, devoid of all life. Even the soil turned to sand as the Earth himself exacted his fury upon them, devastated at the loss of so many of his children. The conflict was mostly centered in the northern region, so many fled south to avoid the destruction.

When they killed an elder dragon and an entire forest instantly wilted and crumbled to dust, they finally put down their weapons and called a truce. The Dragons agreed, knowing the war was only accelerating the destruction of the natural world, but they were still extremely angry. Many left the region entirely, their domain species migrating with them. By the time the war concluded nearly four years after its start, all that was left of the region was a harsh, sandy desert, with some areas melted into glassy pits by blazing dragonfire. 

• Current Day

The Desert people have spent the last few generations trying to repair their relationship with the Dragons and thus rejuvenate their land, but alas, the northern region remains barren. They have done little to change their destructive ways, and the Dragons know this and thus refuse to return.

In the southern region, things are going better. Many who did not want to be involved in the conflict in the first place fled south during the war, and they are doing a much better job of earning the Dragons’ forgiveness. However, though this region was originally populated mainly by refugees, soldiers from the north now seek to reclaim it, as it is far greener than the desert they call home. If not for this, the region might be back to normal, but alas, it remains much more barren than it once was, though still far greener than the northern region.

Citizens in the southern region are in the process of attempting to split off from the rest of the nation. They worry that under their current leaders, their fragile relationship with the Dragons will not last, and they refuse to lose another home. They hope to have the southern region to themselves so they can protect it from the same fate that both the northern region and their homeland suffered. The northern region is where all of the sundew is exported from, however, and is thus still providing for the southern region financially, hence the delay. Not to mention the abundance of military personnel who have been sent to occupy the southern region and claim its resources.

*Note: As this nation is somewhat inspired by the Middle East, and its government is quite militaristic, I need to be careful not to demonize Arabs or imply that they are inherently violent. I will most likely do this simply by making it clear that it's the government that's the problem, and most of the citizens are good people who do not support what they are doing. Maybe there will even be an uprising at some point and they'll reform their system into something better. That would require me to know more about how governments work, though. I shall consult Soundwave.