Ashkari

The Ashkari (اشکاری), which roughly translates to "people of the open desert" in their tongue, are a nomadic ethnicity native to the vast deserts of Athas. They are known for their resilience, adaptability, and deep connection to the harsh desert environment they call home. Commonly called "desert elves" by outsiders due to their pointed ears and lithe builds, the Ashkari have distinct cultural practices and physical adaptations that set them apart from other elven groups on Athas.

They have a strong genetic similarity to the Illari, or "city elves", who dwell in urban centers such as Tyr. However, the Ashkari have evolved to thrive in the extreme conditions of the desert, developing traits such as enhanced heat tolerance, efficient water conservation, and keen survival instincts.

According to Ashkari oral tradition, their ancestors were once part of a larger elven population whose ways are very similar to their current ones. Per said tales, they maintained their ancient ways during the Green Age, albeit in more lush world, and their natural asceticism and reverence for nature helped them endure the cataclysmic changes that transformed Athas into a desert world. Over generations, they adapted to the new environment, developing unique cultural practices and physical traits that allowed them to survive and thrive in the harsh desert conditions.

Historians, particularly among the Illari, question this assumption, preferring a history where their kind were more similar to the Illari, using magic to tame their environment, until said environment was ravaged by the defiling practices of sorcerer-kings. This is considered heretical by the Ashkari, whose taboo against arcane magic is deeply ingrained in their culture.

Name and Etymology

The term "Ashkari" is derived from their own language, where "ashkar" means "desert" or "wilderness", and the suffix "-i" denotes a collective or group identity. Thus, "Ashkari" can be interpreted to mean "people of the desert" or "desert dwellers". This name reflects their deep connection to the desert environment and their nomadic lifestyle.

It is generally assumed by scholars, and even most modern Ashkari, that this was clearly not their name before the Cleansing Wars, as elven people lived in many lands, not all of them deserts. Some debate exists as to whether the name was self-applied or given to them by outsiders, but the former seems more likely, given the Ashkari's strong sense of identity and pride in their heritage.

Prior to self-identifying as Ashkari, they are presumed to have gone by another name representing the broader elven peoples, or perhaps tribal names representing their various clans and lineages. Unfortunately, much of this ancient history has been lost to time, particularly given the upheavals caused by the Cleansing Wars and the subsequent desertification of Athas.

To an extent (debated by Ashkari, but somewhat less in modern times), the Ashkari have rewritten their own history, extending their ways and traditions further back than what logically follows from known history. It is an understandable desire to assert a long-standing cultural identity in the face of adversity and change, especially considering the extent to which adherence to tradition is considered vital to the survival of their people.

Physical Traits

It is not known precisely how the ancestors of the Ashkari appeared physically in the Green Age, but the consensus is that the were shorter, stockier, with shorter ears, and much fairer skin. Their current physical appearance is almost entirely attributable to selective pressure from the environmental changes since the Cleansing Wars, which favored traits that enhanced survival in the desert. To wit:

• Torpor: In high-temperature environments, the Ashkari become sluggish and lethargic, conserving energy and reducing water loss. This torpor can be mistaken for laziness or apathy by outsiders, but it is a crucial adaptation that allows them to endure the extreme heat of the desert. Most hunting, long distance travel, and other strenuous activities are done in between dusk and dawn, with Ashkari getting most of their daily sleep during the hottest hours of the day rather than at night.
• Skin Pigmentation: The Ashkari have developed a unique purplish skin pigmentation that provides enhanced protection against the intense ultraviolet radiation of the Athasian sun. This pigmentation reflects UV light at wavelengths that melanin does not, reducing the risk of sunburn and skin damage. The exact mechanism behind this pigmentation is not fully understood due to the level of technological sophistation of Athasian culture, but in Earth terms, they adapted to incorporate aluminum and other minerals from the environment into a new type of pigment, mutated from melanin, that provides superior UV protection and other benefits (see below).
• Iris Pigmentation: The Ashkari have evolved iron-oxide dense red irises, which protect their eyes from the intense sunlight and reduce glare. This adaptation allows them to see clearly in the bright desert environment and helps prevent eye damage from UV radiation. While they still employ many artificial means of eye protection, and even then suffer so much eye damage that the term for elders or wise folk is "white-eyes" (عيون بيضاء) because cataracts are the norm, not the exception at advanced age, this natural adaptation has been crucial for their survival in the desert. Without it, most Ashkari would be effectively blind before the age of 50, instead of hundreds of years.
• Eyelashes: simple, yet very effective, the extra-long and thick eyelashes of the Ashkari provide not only increased eye protection against particles and sand, but also shade against the sun. In bright sunlight, virtually all sighted creatures squint, and the eyelashes filter out most of the sunlight and UV radiation. Thicker, longer eyelashes enhance this effect, while also providing the ancillary optical benefit of aiding in focus against things like heat mirage.
• Limb Length: The Ashkari have longer limbs and an elongated torso compared to Illari and their likely ancestors. Primarily, it is thought this redistributes their body mass to a form allowing for faster overland travel, with longer strides being more efficient for uneven terrain. There is also a small but measurable improvement in the ratio of surface area to volume, which allows for more efficient heat dissipation. Ashkari stand 6-12 inches taller than humans and Illari on average, despite not weighing a proportionately higher amount.
• Fangs: it is believed that all humanoids used to have stronger jaws with thicker, sharper, and more numerous teeth, but that cooking and other food preparation techniques have led to a reduction in tooth robustness over time. The Ashkari, with less access to cooking fuels, have regressed to a prior evolutionary state in this regard, with stronger jaws and sharper teeth, including prominent canines that resemble fangs. These fangs are not venomous or used for predation, but they are noticeable to outside observers, and handy when rending the flesh of uncooked or lightly cooked food.
• Body Temperature: Ashkari run a few degrees (centigrade) hotter than humans and Illari as a baseline, meaning the threshold for the need to sweat or otherwise shed heat is that much higher. This is a crucial adaptation for desert survival, as it allows them to endure higher temperatures without overheating. However, it also means that they are more susceptible to hypothermia in cold environments, and they have a much lower tolerance for cold weather than other humanoids.
• Nasal Structure: the internal turbinates of the Ashkari nose are deeper and more complex than those of humans, allowing them to recapture exhaled humidity and reduce water loss through respiration. Even a few percentage points of efficiency can make a significant difference in survival in the desert, where water is scarce. The superficial visual difference is a longer, more pronounced nose, which isn't distractingly large due to the slight elongation of the Ashkari face overall, but is still noticeable compared to other humanoids. The nostrils are narrower than those of humans, as the Ashkari's aspiration is slower and more even, allowing the nose more time to capture moisture from the air before it is exhaled. Similarly, the resting musculature of the face more tightly clamps the lips shut, to avoid mouth breathing and the associated water loss, and even this subtle effect tends to make Ashkari look "grumpy" or "stern" by human standards. It has the effect of tightening mouth movements during speech, which have a noticeable effect on the Ashkari accent.

Practices

Skin Decoration

A very visible practice of the Ashkari is the use of an-mat (أنماط), or "patterns", which are intricate skin paintings that serve both aesthetic and cultural purposes. These appear as patterns of white pigmentation on certain areas of the body, in certain patterns that typically follow tribal, cultural, and familial lines. The patterns are created using a special paste made from crushed minerals and plant extracts, most notably titanium dioxide from rutile sands (called الرمال البيضاء), which is applied to the skin and sets in place, resisting sweat and abrasion for days or weeks before needing reapplication. The process of applying an-mat is often a communal activity, with family members and tribal members coming together to create the patterns.

This practice has very practical roots, which are mostly forgotten in oral history, but have been pieced together by Illari scholars. The titanium-dioxide-rich paste, easily sourced from certain sands found in the desert, is extremely effective at reflecting sunlight and reducing skin temperature, providing a significant advantage in the harsh desert environment. Over time, the Ashkari evolved natural adapations to the Athasian sun, which reduced their dependency on artificial protection; most notably their distinct, purplish skin pigments, which reflect UV at wavelengths that melanin does not, and their iron-oxide dense red irises, which protect their eyes from the intense sunlight. However, the an-mat patterns remain a deeply ingrained cultural practice, symbolizing identity, heritage, and social bonds within the Ashkari community. While they take the form of recognizable patterns today, thousands of years ago, they likely would have been evenly applied over all exposed skin, as the Ashkari's natural adaptations were not yet fully developed, and the paste would have been a crucial tool for survival in the desert sun.

Behavioral Adaptations to Environment

Ashkari are defined by their environment: a harsh, extremely arid desert. Their bodies have evolved small but meaningful adaptations to survive in this environment, but their behavioral changes accomplish the lion's share or their adaptation.

Clothing

Typically, even in a city, Ashkari wear traditional clothing, dogmatically adhered to based on near-superstition, but scientifically sound. Their clothing covers all skin possible, except often the ears, as they interact with air to shed heat. Inner layers are form-fitting and oiled to reject moisture, which pools in planned locations. Outer layers are loose and flowing, creating a pocket of still air that insulates against the heat. The outer layers are usually white or light-colored, not only to reflect sunlight, but to minimize IR radiation at night to keep warm and not attract predators.

Eye protection is paramount. Goggles are not uncommon, as glass is easy to come by in the desert, but cloth veils are usually more pleasant to wear, and protect the rest of the face as well.