The Color Spyral

Clan Structure
Desert kaasht are rarely found in large groups outside their native territory, the vast deserts of Tryne, but a few clans can be found on the edges of the plains, as they are well-suited to the heat of the grasslands. An even more rare few can be found in foothills and plateau territories, but they are on the whole comfortable in those places, as well, because of the way they mimic their native dunes.

Desert clans are primarily nomadic, though a few do live in small settlements near the edges of the deserts. Such movement is necessary in the desert to keep game levels high enough to feed the kaasht. Because of this, clans tend to be very small, with rarely more than thirty kaasht apiece. Keeping track of any more than that while constantly on the move would be impossible. When the wandering clans grow bigger than thirty-five, they will as a rule split off into two clans and go their separate ways. Clans generally follow specified routes, devised as they came out of the Time of Madness to give every clan room. There are large areas of the deserts that are left unpatrolled by the clans, in preparation for more clans emerging, though individual wanderers will sometimes claim small patches of these spaces for themselves.

Despite the ever-changing locale, or perhaps because of it, Desert clans are very highly structured. There are specific duties doled out to specific members of each clan and to shirk in these duties is to greatly weaken the clan and receive strict punishment. Elders are highly respected in Desert clans and are usually the clan leaders, as leadership is based on age and, occasionally, the outcome of a strictly-defined duel.

Desert kaasht tend to be isolationist or reclusive in nature, and thus are not very welcoming of outsiders. They are sociable enough in their own clans and with their own breed, but kaasht from outside of the deserts are greeted with suspicion and, at times, annoyance. The more easy-going Desert kaasht will leave clan life for their own desert territories or to wander Tryne.

Still, reclusivism aside, Desert clans are always available to help the needy. Though they do not give aid, rest, and shelter with the warmth of the Caves or the complete acceptance of the Beaches, they are bound by their honor to not let a need go unmet.

Culture
Culture within Desert kaasht clans has a high emphasis placed on tradition: what has been done for centuries is what is still being done. Breaking tradition is grounds for strict punishment or, in some case, exile. Almost as important is honor. To call a Desert kaasht honorless is the worst insult one could give him and for a Desert to act dishonorably, in or out of battle, is his ultimate shame. Due to this emphasis, Desert kaasht are very easy to offend, though they tend to be more difficult to truly anger.

Outlined by their sense of honor, Desert kaasht follow a rigid code of chivalry. The weak must be protected, though not necessarily liked, and the strong must be careful in their power. Female Desert kaasht are often expressly forbidden to fight or hunt, as it is a male kaasht's duty to protect them, though some clans are slightly more liberal when it comes to gender roles.

Desert kaasht also respect learning, especially in the areas of history and the spirit realm. The stories that Desert kaasht can tell are amazing in their accuracy, depth, and breadth. Generally each clan will have one or two kaasht in it whose sole duty is to remember and recite old tales for clan gatherings. Also, Desert kaasht are the only species, besides the elusive Old Mystics, that keep track of family lines. A Desert is often able to trace his lineage back six or seven generations. There are more than a few who can boast to knowing their bloodline all the way back to the Time of Madness, though not one can recall before that.

Family is important to Desert kaasht, but not entirely in a loving, caring sort of way. Desert kaasht feel it is very important to keep the family name alive, for Desert kaasht are one of the rare breeds to follow the tradition of remembering family name and attaching it to their given name. Not every clan does this but it is a widespread tradition nonetheless. Kits are raised by their parents, but they are educated in history and tradition by the whole clan.

Opinions on Other Species
(later)

Opinions on Other Kaasht Types
Mundanes: Desert kaasht are the most ruthless of all breeds, except perhaps the more feral Marshes and Isles, in exiling or ridiculing mundane kaasht. The dislike is so strong that even the parents of mundane kits can come under derision, causing either bad feelings towards the clan as a whole or, more generally, bad feelings towards the mundane kit. Life for a mundane Desert kaasht is, without fail, miserable.

Half-breeds: Desert kaasht generally frown upon mixed matings, as their results can be unpredictable and it confounds their efforts at keeping track of familial bloodlines. Even so, Desert half-breeds are far from uncommon, generally born of rebellious Desert kaasht or the more tender-hearted of the breed. The doubled abilities of a half-breed are often considered cheating in honor-bound duels but are grudgingly approved of in other situations.

Bi-colors: As with half-breeds, kaasht with more than one color are alternately frowned upon for being more powerful than a kaasht should be, and respected for their rarity and extra ability. Bicolor kits often disappear, however, though their clan usually presumes it was due to the mixed signals they receive from their peers or from some fluke of personality that made them unsuitable for clan life.

Protectors: Desert kaasht have little care for the world outside day-to-day survival and ancient history, and thus pay little heed to the rumors they hear about an organization of half-breeds. Those rare few who do understand the Protectors' mission find it an excellent way to remove troublesome half-breeds from their clans, however, and are usually willing to give up the youngster for such a "noble cause".

Guilders: As with Protectors, Desert kaash know little about the Guild. Those that do tend to feel more strongly about it than they do about the opposing force, as they see not only the Guild's purpose as without honor, but the Guild's method of recruitment is even more dishonorable. Deserts will very willingly kill a Guilder should they discover one.

Opinions on Colours
Desert kaasht place a high emphasis on the usefulness of a kaasht's color ability. Some Desert clans even divide their hierachy into color castes, though that is not the norm, illustrating how important they are to Desert life.

Most respected: Purple, Green (survival skills in a plantless and waterless place ^^ ), Silver

Respected: Gold, Red

Indifferent: White, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Black

Disliked: Transluscent (cheating), Copper (freaky)

Strongly disliked: Iridescence (really, cheating)


Back to Desert Kaasht	Clan Structure Desert kaasht are rarely found in large groups outside their native territory, the vast deserts of Tryne, but a few clans can be found on the edges of the plains, as they are well-suited to the heat of the grasslands. An even more rare few can be found in foothills and plateau territories, but they are on the whole comfortable in those places, as well, because of the way they mimic their native dunes. Desert clans are primarily nomadic, though a few do live in small settlements near the edges of the deserts. Such movement is necessary in the desert to keep game levels high enough to feed the kaasht. Because of this, clans tend to be very small, with rarely more than thirty kaasht apiece. Keeping track of any more than that while constantly on the move would be impossible. When the wandering clans grow bigger than thirty-five, they will as a rule split off into two clans and go their separate ways. Clans generally follow specified routes, devised as they came out of the Time of Madness to give every clan room. There are large areas of the deserts that are left unpatrolled by the clans, in preparation for more clans emerging, though individual wanderers will sometimes claim small patches of these spaces for themselves. Despite the ever-changing locale, or perhaps because of it, Desert clans are very highly structured. There are specific duties doled out to specific members of each clan and to shirk in these duties is to greatly weaken the clan and receive strict punishment. Elders are highly respected in Desert clans and are usually the clan leaders, as leadership is based on age and, occasionally, the outcome of a strictly-defined duel. Desert kaasht tend to be isolationist or reclusive in nature, and thus are not very welcoming of outsiders. They are sociable enough in their own clans and with their own breed, but kaasht from outside of the deserts are greeted with suspicion and, at times, annoyance. The more easy-going Desert kaasht will leave clan life for their own desert territories or to wander Tryne. Still, reclusivism aside, Desert clans are always available to help the needy. Though they do not give aid, rest, and shelter with the warmth of the Caves or the complete acceptance of the Beaches, they are bound by their honor to not let a need go unmet. Culture Culture within Desert kaasht clans has a high emphasis placed on tradition: what has been done for centuries is what is still being done. Breaking tradition is grounds for strict punishment or, in some case, exile. Almost as important is honor. To call a Desert kaasht honorless is the worst insult one could give him and for a Desert to act dishonorably, in or out of battle, is his ultimate shame. Due to this emphasis, Desert kaasht are very easy to offend, though they tend to be more difficult to truly anger. Outlined by their sense of honor, Desert kaasht follow a rigid code of chivalry. The weak must be protected, though not necessarily liked, and the strong must be careful in their power. Female Desert kaasht are often expressly forbidden to fight or hunt, as it is a male kaasht's duty to protect them, though some clans are slightly more liberal when it comes to gender roles. Desert kaasht also respect learning, especially in the areas of history and the spirit realm. The stories that Desert kaasht can tell are amazing in their accuracy, depth, and breadth. Generally each clan will have one or two kaasht in it whose sole duty is to remember and recite old tales for clan gatherings. Also, Desert kaasht are the only species, besides the elusive Old Mystics, that keep track of family lines. A Desert is often able to trace his lineage back six or seven generations. There are more than a few who can boast to knowing their bloodline all the way back to the Time of Madness, though not one can recall before that. Family is important to Desert kaasht, but not entirely in a loving, caring sort of way. Desert kaasht feel it is very important to keep the family name alive, for Desert kaasht are one of the rare breeds to follow the tradition of remembering family name and attaching it to their given name. Not every clan does this but it is a widespread tradition nonetheless. Kits are raised by their parents, but they are educated in history and tradition by the whole clan. Opinions on Other Species (later) Opinions on Other Kaasht Types Mundanes: Desert kaasht are the most ruthless of all breeds, except perhaps the more feral Marshes and Isles, in exiling or ridiculing mundane kaasht. The dislike is so strong that even the parents of mundane kits can come under derision, causing either bad feelings towards the clan as a whole or, more generally, bad feelings towards the mundane kit. Life for a mundane Desert kaasht is, without fail, miserable. Half-breeds: Desert kaasht generally frown upon mixed matings, as their results can be unpredictable and it confounds their efforts at keeping track of familial bloodlines. Even so, Desert half-breeds are far from uncommon, generally born of rebellious Desert kaasht or the more tender-hearted of the breed. The doubled abilities of a half-breed are often considered cheating in honor-bound duels but are grudgingly approved of in other situations. Bi-colors: As with half-breeds, kaasht with more than one color are alternately frowned upon for being more powerful than a kaasht should be, and respected for their rarity and extra ability. Bicolor kits often disappear, however, though their clan usually presumes it was due to the mixed signals they receive from their peers or from some fluke of personality that made them unsuitable for clan life. Protectors: Desert kaasht have little care for the world outside day-to-day survival and ancient history, and thus pay little heed to the rumors they hear about an organization of half-breeds. Those rare few who do understand the Protectors' mission find it an excellent way to remove troublesome half-breeds from their clans, however, and are usually willing to give up the youngster for such a "noble cause". Guilders: As with Protectors, Desert kaash know little about the Guild. Those that do tend to feel more strongly about it than they do about the opposing force, as they see not only the Guild's purpose as without honor, but the Guild's method of recruitment is even more dishonorable. Deserts will very willingly kill a Guilder should they discover one. Opinions on Colours Desert kaasht place a high emphasis on the usefulness of a kaasht's color ability. Some Desert clans even divide their hierachy into color castes, though that is not the norm, illustrating how important they are to Desert life. Most respected: Purple, Green (survival skills in a plantless and waterless place ^^ ), Silver Respected: Gold, Red Indifferent: White, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Black Disliked: Transluscent (cheating), Copper (freaky) Strongly disliked: Iridescence (really, cheating)