Duneriders

It's said that the nomads of the Sunswept Lands do not simply ride across the dunes, they ride the dunes themselves, following the sandstorms by secret ways that lead them through the otherwise impassable salt wastes of Khara. They are the people of Sirocco, the Desert Wind, their hearts and their words burning with a wild energy. Quick to wrath but quicker to laugh, the Duneriders defy the Demonic Imperiums, always riding steps ahead of the Infernals and their ilk.
The organization of Dunerider culture starts with the hurd. This is a single family unit consisting of three to four adults and any number of children. Several hurds together comprise a band, a traveling group small enough to stay nimble but maintaining contact with other bands. A particular large band is a camp, and all camps belong to a specific tribe.
Duneriders are nomadic and rely on quadripeds for rapid movement across the desert. Beastfolk, centaurs, desert & wind dwarves, orcs and humans are common among the Duneriders. They ride camels, horses and riding lizards (especially prized for their low water requirements). Each band usually uses the same or similar mounts, uniting themselves by that shared identity (A beetle-riding tribe, a lizard-riding tribe, a camel-riding tribe, etc). Centaurs either form their own groups or ride alongside a band of bipeds.
In ages past, the Duneriders waged war on each other, raided the communities at the edge of the desert, and practiced harsh rules of self-sufficiency and religious observation. The punishment for breaking with the community was exile and death in the desert. But in the wake of the Demonic Imperiums, the old ways have been set aside. Now, the Duneriders practice cooperation and have a shared culture of mutual respect and aid to help them oppose the Infernals and their ilk.

Suggested Parentages

Category	Parentages
Dominant	Human, Tabaxi
Minority	Centaur, Dwarven
Enclaves	Leonin, Equinal
Groups	Gnoll, Orc
Individuals	Draconic
Singular	Sphinx

Suggested Upbringings

Category	Upbringings
Dominant	Beastrider, Hinterland, Nomadic, Sprinter
Minority	Competitive, Dextrous Soldier, Hunter, Scout
Enclaves	Battle Savant, Combative, Hardy, Tracker
Groups	Athletic, Guerilla, Outcast, Pack, Survivalist
Individuals	Aggressive, Natural Artisan, Predator
Singular	Dextrous, Ferocious

Suggested Backgrounds

Category	Backgrounds
Dominant	Desert Runner, Outlander, Rider
Minority	Animal Breeder
Enclaves	Mercenary Recruit
Groups	Bandit, Entertainer, Poet
Individuals	Far Traveler, Folk hero, Mercenary Veteran
Singular	--

Suggested Classes

Class	Subclasses
Barbarian	Path of the Ancestral Guardian, Path of the Berserker, Path of the Blade Dancer, Path of Whirling Steel
Bard	College of Dance, College of Lore, College of Sword Dancing, College of Swords, College of Valor
Cleric	Air Domain, Community Domain, Evergold Domain, Fire Domain, Joydancer Domain, Love Domain, Passion Domain
Druid	Circle of Sand, Circle of the Land
Fighter	Battlemaster, Champion, Horselord, Sword Dancer
Paladin	Oath of Devotion, Oath of Forged Bonds, Oath of Glory, Oath of Passion
Ranger	Archer, Beast Master, Beast Whisperer, Firewalker, Guerilla, Hunter, Outrider, Skirmisher
Rogue	Duelist, Scout, Swashbuckler
Sorcerer	Divine Soul, Elemental Bloodline, Protected Soul, Wind Soul
Warlock	Animal Lords Patron, Elemental Lord Patron, Mother Patron, Primordial Patron (Giant Killer's Companion), The Elemental Patron (Archetypes of Eberron)
Witch	Red Magic, Sky Magic, White Magic

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Common, Giant

Culture and cultural heritage

The Duneriders have a code of honor and pride that governs many of their interactions. They've been shaped over the years by their harsh environment and nomadic lifestyle.

Shared customary codes and values

Bravery & Honor Familial Loyalty Hospitality

Common Etiquette rules

Always make a noise before approaching a tent, a humming tune or whistle, differs from band to band

Common Dress code

Loose tunic, cloak, leggings. Warriors wear padded leather chest-guards. Equipped with a steel scimitar at the left hip, a tough quiver at the right, and a short bow over the back. When at rest, special occasions, or trading, they wear beautifully woven dyed wool tunics with prayer squares over the heart.

Art & Architecture

Poetry is extremely important, as is music. They have a vibrant tradition of dance, including sword dances, and wear beautiful textiles under their desert cloaks. These feature lush colors and intricate patterns, including prayer squares over their hearts.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

The Challenge is common in daily interactions. Duneriders have a strong tradition of honor and pride that works strangely alongside their newfound belief in cooperation and mutual aid. Any slight can be the cause of a Challenge. Challenges may take the form of races, duels, dance-offs, cooking competitions, almost any head-to-head competition. If the Challenge is not answered, the Challenged is seen as deferring to the Challenger. If the Challenge is answered, the winner of the Challenge gets preference in the ensuing conflict resolution, but often both participants will negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome. It's less about who gets first dibs on the water in the oasis and more about not losing face.
This bravado undercut by a deep concern for one's community, even for strangers, makes little sense to outsiders, but to the Duneriders they see no contradiction in issuing an insult-laden challenge and furiously contesting someone, only to immediately go back to working together afterwards.

Coming of Age Rites

It's traditional for warriors, poets and hunters to hunt an ophies, a flying serpent that guards the secret oases of the inner deserts. By hidden rites and arts the spine of the ophies is hardened and stiffened into a lightning quick sword. Duneriders are proud to wear the Spine of the Ophies at their side, a sign of wisdom and bravery.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The funerary rites must take place within 24 hours. Fire must be lit either to cremate the dead or to burn a part of the dead. This sends their spirit on Sirocco's winds to keep them safe from the Infernals. There are specific songs that must be sung for the dead, and they must stand vigil from the lighting of the fire to the last ember's passing.
In times long past, the Duneriders would banish those who betrayed or failed their communities, exiling them into the desert. When the Infernals arrived the spirits of these exiled or dishonored dead rose up as horrifying undead. Now, the Duneriders make sure EVERY Dunerider gets an honorable burial, no matter what they did in life.

Common Taboos

Exiling or leaving someone to die of thirst. The Duneriders would rather execute a prisoner than leave them to die in the desert.

Common Myths and Legends

The Duneriders climb that their tradition began with Sirocco, the offspring of Sin and Vindur. The Burning Wind taught them the secret of riding the dunes themselves, allowing them to traverse the desert faster than any other. The secret oases of Allikas are their other blessing. It is from Sirocco that they derive their fiery sense of honor, passion for romance and love poetry, and restless spirit.

Related Locations

• Khara