Samaaeat

Those who dance, sing, and especiall whisper in the the deep desert to control the hamasaat al-sahra, which allows them control of the winds and sandstorms. They wear special robes for the desert heat, carry aetherial sand in hourglasses, and can become one with the dunes.

Desert Whispers

Hamasat al-sahra are the whispers of the desert, the sound of the winds over the sands on a quiet night or in the burning daylight. It responds to the voices of those the desert trusts and cares for.

Wandering

To become a samaaeat, one must wander the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, carrying only one bottle or skin of water. They must not spill any water upon the desert sands - not even their own sweat or urine - and so they must capture it. They wear special robes and carry special containers for this. They are not allowed to remain in an oasis or near a body of water for longer than six hours total over the course of the entire 40 days. And when, during the height of their exhaustion, the desert speaks to them, they must whisper back, and follow the voice, until they can hear the whispers clearly. Then they must sing with them.

If they survive, they become a samaaeat. If they do not survive, they were not worthy.

Most who wish to become a samaaeat train for years before attempting this.

Return

Once they finish their 40 days, if they have been found worthy, they return home (if they do not die but also do not become a samaaeat, they go home in shame). They are given water, which they drink their fill of, then rest. Once they are recovered. they go back into the desert under a clear sky and sing to the spirits to thank them. If the spirits respond, they are allowed to remain in their home. If they do not respond, they must wander the desert as a samaaeat until the spirits answer. If they are allowed to return home, they serve their people and help them travel through or survive in the desert.

Voice

The voice of a samaaeat is their most profound power. Their voice makes the desert whispers respond, which causes the desert to respond. Because the volume of their voice affects the strength of their spells, they almost always whisper (even if not singing). If they sing loudly, the desert will respond loudly - with a sandstorm (or even worse, a wild sandworm). Thus, their robes always cover their faces as well, to dampen sound.

Robes

The robes of a samaaeat are made from a special fabric that absorbs the water from their bodies without letting it fall to the ground. It moves with the desert winds, and it keeps them cool in the brutal heat. They have wraps for the face that keep their mouths and noses clear of sand and muffle their voices.

Sand

A samaaeat must carry sand from their own desert with them if they leave it, or they will lose their powers. If they have sand on them, they can control the wind, drain the air of humidity, move any nearby sand, cause intense heat, create mirages, sense water, or become a sand whirl.

Hourglasses

They keep their sand in hourglasses, for they can measure how much time they have to get back to the desert. Depending on their proximity, power, and usage of their powers, their time varies, but it usually measures out to three days per point of skill. If they break open their hourglasses, a sandstorm will emerge. If they flip it back over to reverse their flow, it will drain their power more quickly, so they avoid this assiduously.

Sand Types

Outside of a desert, they can only command sand if it is dry enough. Different colors and types of sand are easier or harder to control based on how different they are from where the samaaeat is from.

Dancing

Some samaaeat dance rather than sing, their movements in tune with the winds and whispers.

Riding

Samaaeat are almost always riders of some kind of steed. Most ride horses or donkeys or camels, but some ride sandworms, giant birds, or other supernatural beasts.

Variations

Some variations include

• Barid: a Mahadi who sends messages across the desert with their powers.
• Bawsa: a samaaeat who investigates mysteries in the deep deserts.
• Ceneteyu': a samaaeat who helps travelers find water in oases or cacti, often uses cacti to have visions.
• Gharza: a samaaeat who weaves their robes and great tapestries.
• Hashtaal: desert singer whose tears protect their tribe among the Shih-chai people.
• Mezoued: a player of the mizwed, an instrument used in north Taggaran music, who can control the desert.
• Nihinaaltsoos: one who studies and keeps the songs, stories, and words of the desert peoples.
• Pantirni: a samaaeat in Wondramagong who creates massive line drawings in the sands.
• Pi'pa 'ich Suupawch: an elder of the Shih-chai.
• Shogloom: a Ladryan japester and joker who performs in the sands.
• Tsivot: a samaaeat among the Suuukya people who works as a merchant for their tribe.

Cultural Variations

There are many desert cultures around the world, but the ones with the most notable samaaeat are

• Bel-torren: sibrwd.
• Dalaani: the Dalaa people, yaak'os.
• Hapikku: the driest desert in the world [Death Valley], the Nanewe people, watsinnimma'i.
• Haviily: the Humiich people, chahweyahwey.
• Kxau Desert: mi am-s.
• Ladryan: chikhevch.
• Mahadi: the original samaaeat.
• Sahra al-Riyahi: sawt naeim.
• Tanitlec: ichtacanonotza.
• Vimala: kaanaaphoosee.
• Wondramagong desert: jaalypa-wangkami.

Persecution

The samaaeat are sometimes enslaved for their powers by those who wish to cross the deserts for trade purposes, but mostly they are subject only to the national oppression their peoples are subjected to.

Skills

Some common skills include

• Singing
• Language
• Dancing
• Riding
• Desert survival
• Water-finding

Stats

PRO +1
ATH +3
STR +1
AWA +4
WIL +1
STH +1
PRS +1