Desert Traditional Homes

Brief

Traditional housing used by certain beings within Piray. Due to the extreme heat and harsh temperatures, homes that are partially underground, or built into the natural rock faces of the geography are common. The main beings that use them are Naga and Sand Clan Bloodkeepers. Humans use them as well, but due to the fact they are less hardy than the scaled and furred beings, they often build above ground with minimal below ground assets.

Alterations

Depending on the species using the home, each is built with various alterations to be as beneficial and comfortable as possible. For example, most naga dens will not have stairs, but instead slight inclines. This is for ease of comfort due to the fact they move via slithering and stairs would be uncomfortable and unsuitable for their locomotion.
To counter, Sand Clan bloodkeepers would likely have stairs, but also not make their homes as deep in the sand and cave/cliffs. Due to their heat wicking ears, bloodkeepers can regulate their temperature slightly better than their limbless neighbours.
Regardless of the changes made, each home has at least one central fireplace, to help circulate heat in the cold months, and chilly evenings.

Architecture

Traditional homes are typically made out of blocks of clay, sand, straw and water combined-- which were originally dried in the hot summer sun. These were then stacked together, and covered in another layer of the same paste to help hide the shape of the stacked blocks and fill in cracks.

Temperature Regulation

The heavy walls provide a thermal mass that slowly absorbs heat during the day and radiates it at night. In winter, corner fireplaces release heat into the rooms. The thick walls hold the heat in and keep winter cold outside.

Alternative Names

Sand Block Homes, Sand Caves, Naga Dens, Bloodkeeper Dens

Common To

Alkast, Piray

Common Inhabitants

Bloodkeepers, Humans, Nagas