Desert elf Camp

Children of the desert, yours is the endless sea of sand and dunes, where only the brave dare to live, your resilience is a testimony of your faith in the gods, and They know it well, and they have rewarded you with power over all creatures in the desert and well known places to breed your cattle, to form a family and to live in peace. The beams of the sun and the heat don't hurt you or discomfort you, you're true sons of Unhel, blessed be his name!.

— A Desert elf elder to his fellow countrymen around a campfire.

 

Life in the desert

Desert elves are nomads, during winter they live around the oasis of the southern deserts of Unhellion and also around and across the Sea of the Doomed . They are basically pastoralists, taking their flock of sheep around Unhellion. During Summer, when temperatures are higher, some Desert Elf tribes travelled north to the region of Spearhead where there are very fertile lands for their livestock and where temperatures are cooler at that time of year. But even there, they always choose to live near the main rivers but always in their camps.   Meanwhile during that season, their kings and queens have to travel to Ymhilean, the capital of Unhelion to assist to the meetings of the High Court of Unhellion and to give their annual report to the lord, the Sun elf King.   When the monarch orders the camp to be broken up and the migration to begin. Everyone begins to take down their tents and pack their belongings. Everything is then placed on camels belonging to the tribe. Some women, as well as children and the elders of the tribe, ride on these animals in specially designed seats, while the rest of the tribe travels on horseback, guiding and protecting their flocks of sheep and horses.   When the tribe finally arrives at its destination, the monarch and his council choose the location of the new camp, usually close to sources of drinking water and fertile land for livestock, preferably unoccupied, or owned by the High King (since by royal law they have the permission of the High King of the Sun Elves to occupy those lands for their subsistence). If this is not possible, they can always make a pact with the local noble or governor, or with the locals in exchange for their services, such as eradicating monsters or bandits, or lowering the prices of their products in local markets, or offering some of them for free.   For example, a village of sun elves may make a pact with their desert kinsmen to settle the tribe in exchange for offering sacks full of wool to make winter coats, or cattle to feed the locals during the major festivals of the year.    

Structure of a camp

Desert elf camps are built and organized around the tent of the chieftain or King, who is the highest authority inside the camp both civilian and militarily. East of the King's tent always lies the big tent which serves as the main temple for the local tribe, where the mandatory 3 prayers a day are recited , the holy books are read and where sacrifices to the gods are performed. This religious building also serves as a school for the children of the camp. A good Desert Elf must know how to read and write, as well as memorize poems and epic songs, and then compose their own, singing their own deeds or those of their tribe. Around these two buildings there is a sort of great plaza, where the tribe is assembled in case of war, or when someone is going to communicate important news or to give an speech and where disputes are solved.   Each month or before migrating to another place a general assembly is held at this place presided by the King or Queen seated inside the royal tent, while the rest of the tribe sits in front, in the main square of the camp, this custom is also followed during the Elven festival of the Winter Solstice,the second most important festival of the year after Howazd, when a banquet is held in that place where everybody brings food (especially watermelons and pomegranates) and then watch the traditional magical fireworks that are set off from outside the camp.     Camps are also located close to one or more wells, the location of these are well known among all Desert Elf tribes and it is the task of the tribe before leaving the place to leave to well in good condition in case another tribe decide to settle there while they migrate to another place. Around the plaza are placed the rest of the tents , the closest ones to the King's tent usually belong to members of the royal family or members of the court, there is also an area of the camp that works as a marketplace and also as the "industrial" heart of the camp, where blacksmiths, cabinetmakers, silversmiths and goldsmiths are concentrated.   Near the camp are the corrals for the cattle and camels, which are usually guarded night and day to prevent a predator from killing one of these prized animals. Children are usually in charge of guarding them during the day, while adults replace them at night. Each week, shifts are established for guarding the camp. Each night, community members chosen to guard the camp perform night patrols until dawn. The guards charged with defending the camp are positioned on the settlement's main streets and entrances, fully armed. This system works the same way during a military campaign, if the High King summons the desert elves to fight for him and the Kingdom, or when certain tribes decide to raid the lands of the desert people or the hostile human kingdoms to the north.