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1.  Bedaya - The First People

Bedaya, meaning “Beginning” in Arabic, is the great expanse of desert land stretching from the turquoise shores of Morocco to the steppes and fertile oasis’s of the Syrian Desert. Before Luperci civilization as it is known now, before the rise and fall of mankind, life began here.

Roaming through the unforgiving terrain are the tribes of Badawī, known to all as the First People. They were there from the beginning, it is said - their ancestors helped to create man, and man perished to create them. Although cities and towns flourish around the abundance of the Mediterranean, the First People remain committed to their nomadic ways. They live and die by the Great Sun.

Spiritualists frequently come on a pilgrimage to find the mystical and enigmatic tribes of the Badawī, but whether they seek answers to the greater questions of life, to experience the old tradition, or to simply find passage through the mystifying deserts, the tribes turn away few. In the desert, all life is sacred.

2.1  Oasis

2.2  Highlands

© davidstanleytravel

Many Oasis's can be found throughout Bedaya, however, locating them can be of enormous difficulty and perilous to those who do not know the way. Knowledge of the fertile grounds is thought to be a Bedouin's greatest currency and it is usually passed down from generation to generation. Rarely do the tribes share this knowledge with each other and even less frequently with outsiders, though each tribe has a specific Oasis reserved for guests or meetings with other tribes of Badawī.

© Mzaghrir

The Mountainous regions of Bedaya, known as the Highlands to the tribes, are a lesser known respite from the unrelenting desert. There is a great propensity for life here, despite rare and sporadic rainfall and frigid winters. The Highlands are a major host of biodiversity, and many Bedouin will gather material here, or hunt from the populations of sheep, gazelle, or other similar herbivores that dwell in these locations.

2.3  Immortal Dunes

2.4  Necropolis

© ilse moser

The dunes of the desert have a deep significance to the Bedouin, and are worshiped and feared in equal amounts. For spiritual feasts and occasions, the tribes of Badawī will congregate in a particular space known as the Immortal Dunes. These sands are said to have been unchanged since the Beginning, and each granule is believed to represent the soul of every creature that has lived and died on the planet. Births and Deaths are honored here, for both are thought to be a type of beginning.

© martyworld

Deep in the desert looms the dark forgotten city that is Necropolis. The structures here are made from the sands that are slowly working to reclaim them, though their peculiar geometry and demented forms far precede this event. It is rumored that the haunted city can only be found in the crepuscular hours, when the sand and sky are red as blood. The tribes of Badawī all know of Necroplis, but they dare not go - only the most desperate, the most depraved, will venture into the city of the Dead. It is here that the three Devils are said to reside.

Morals and Ethics

There are three major sins to the Bedouin people: sin against the family, sin against the tribe, and sin against life.

The general rule for Bedouin ethics and morality is if the individual's needs are placed ahead of the group or their action causes imbalance rather than balance, they are in the wrong. So any act exhibiting this way of thinking, such as rape (satisfying one's needs over another, rather than having a consensual and mutually satisfying experience), or stealing (creating an imbalance), will likely be condemned.

That being said, Bedouins are a very philosophically minded people. They will consider intention (eg. stealing from one who has more to give to those who have less as a matter of balance) and other factors before drawing conclusions, unless the action is too egregious in nature to consider abstractly.

Spirituality

The Bedouins are a very practical people and much of their spirituality was developed around the arid world in which they live. They are extremely reverent of the desert and relate all matters of the soul to it. They are said to be deeply in tune with the earth's plan.

All Bedouins believe in the Desert as the Beginning of All Things. They believe in an immortal spirit in every living creature, while everything else (wood, stone, plants, water, etc) are seen as aspects of the Desert. Death is seen to be merely a transition, and one's soul returns to the Desert. Sometimes, the Desert is said to give the soul a new form, which is why some strangers feel familiar.

Laws and Crimes

While there are no true laws across the Bedouin people, each tribe has similar socially acceptable and unacceptable behaviours and follow similar methods of punishment.

Biases and Prejudices

• "My brother and I against my cousin, and my cousin and I against the stranger." - an old Bedouin saying.

The Bedouin people, though generally accepting of canines from all walks of life, will always side with their family or tribe before an outsider.

Trade

All of the tribes rely on trade to survive during the harsher seasons. Each tribe territory has at least one major port or city, and they typically spend the year gathering material and crafting clothes, jewelry, and other goods to bring to these markets.

Clothes, textiles, patterns, jewelry and ornamentation all hold individual meanings and purposes in Bedouin culture, usually signifying things like family, marital status (and availability), pregnancy, skills, etc. and no tribe is similar in this regard. The tribes of Badawī make everything themselves, and they will use every part of an animal or a plant.

Traditions

Ideas that appeal to Bedouins are unity, equality, and survival (conversely, unappealing to them is individuality, separation, and suicide).

The one exception to all Bedouin rules of family and tribe are the Tribe Leaders. Tribe Leaders choose to make the biggest sacrifice known to Bedouin and give up their family name in order to inherit the title. The Tribe Leaders are expected to view the whole tribe as their family, and they will sleep alone, take no wife or husband and have no children. The Tribe Leader will decide the migrations of the tribe, and if a conflict requires one to speak on behalf of the tribe, the Tribe Leader must do so (such as exiling an individual). The decisions of a Tribe Leader are formed by consensus with the various families. Tribe Leader duties outside of this are to simply provide help where it is needed to any individual or family. Although it can be a lonely role, most Tribe Leaders believe it is fulfilling, for they feel a powerful sense of belonging and purpose.

Before any celebration, Bedouins take sand baths to honor the desert. This can be a playful time, with many Bedouin choosing to shift to their four-legged forms in order to run, kick up sand, dig great holes and chase each other through the dunes. At the end of day, they will bathe in the waters (for most celebrations or rituals are done in an Oasis) for the festivities which officially start at nightfall. Day time is reserved, typically, for work and preparation.

The Bedouins have two meals, breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is a tribe affair, and the whole tribe will gather to help prepare it and eat together. Dinner is reserved for families (Tribe Leaders may eat alone, though usually they choose to eat among a different family each night).

The tribes will often celebrate celestial happenings, such as moon phases or meteor showers, and all Bedouins are familiar with the night sky and its stars. They can navigate extremely well by them. They do not, however, recognize constellations for that is not a concept that exists in their culture.

Oral Poetry

Each tribe has a tradition of passing on their history in the form of Epic Poems. Some families may have their own poems, and many will contribute verses to their tribe's poem.

Bedouins are said to have a very lyrical way of speaking, and they will often use metaphors and lengthy, meandering descriptions in a normal conversation. Outsiders may find that speaking with a Bedouin is very difficult, especially if the outsider does not possess a good memory or a large vocabulary. Bedouins are infamous for their memory - their poetry traditions allow them to practice memorization techniques from an early age. They also tend to be adept at picking up other languages and dialects - many Bedouin are multi-lingual (varying by tribe and region), though the primary language among the tribes is Arabic.

On the other hand, very few Bedouin are literate, and most cannot read or write.

Tea

Tea plays a major role in Bedouin culture. Certain teas will be used ceremonially or for healing, while other teas that are more common and easier to acquire will be made for daily life. During breaks, families will share a tea, and many families have their own unique recipe and taste.

To invite someone for tea is to make a gesture of intimacy. Typically this holds romantic implications, but an invitation can be done between close friends. However, if the tea is already being prepared and one is invited, this is seen as a conciliatory act - like an offering between strangers, or asking for a conversation to resolve a dispute.

Tea time is always a time for stories and poetry.

Common Coat Colors

Clothes and Humanization

Both women and men wear long garments such as thobes to help shield them from the sun and keep them warm at night. They will wear all manners of headscarves and face coverings as well, especially over their ears and nose during the seasons where the sun is hottest. There are no particular gender divides when it comes to colors and patterns. The Bedouins also do not discriminate to those who choose their four-legged forms over upright; in fact, many Bedouins will shed their clothes and shift to Lupus during celebrations.

Common Eye Colors

4.1  Shams - شمس (Sun)

• Tribe Leader: Asianne

Shams (pronounced "shun-sin"), the tribe of the Sun, covers the largest stretch of land. They have the biggest migration and member count, and are known in particular for their rare gems and beautiful jewelry. They are also known for their variety of mounts, prized camels and well trained Arabians. The Tribe Leader Asianne has only led them for a year. She took up this role when the former Tribe Leader was stolen by slavers, and as a result, she is very determined to protect Shams from those who would wish them harm. Shams is considered to be one of the most traditional tribes.

4.2  Najima - نجمة (Star)

• Tribe Leader: Tarek

Najima (pronounced "nah-jee-ma"), the tribe of Stars, stretches across the northern region of Africa. They have the smallest migration route, but live well due to their proximity to the ports of Algiers and Casablanca. They are most popular among Pilgrims and Spiritualists because of their accepting (some would say "commercial") nature - Najima will trade extensively at markets and frequently welcomes outsiders to their midst. They are also relatively well protected by the communities they visit, and many travelers who wish to go by land will ride with Najima.

4.3  Alqamar - القمر (Moon)

• Tribe Leader: Nur

Alqamar (pronounced "al-qa-ma-ro"), the tribe of the Moon, is one of the more enigmatic tribes. Their range extends throughout the ancient lands of Egypt and into the harsher climes of Libya, but rarely is the tribe seen in major cities such as Cairo or those populated along the Nile. It is said that Alqamar travels only by night and that they have no mounts, and this is why they are rarely seen. The tribe will send one or two Bedouins into small towns to trade, and they are always covered so that they cannot be recognized again. They are known to have the finest treasures - ornate weapons, intricately carved bowls and vases, gold pieces, and other goods all inlaid with glittering gems. Between the lands of the Sun and Moon is the fabled Necropolis, where the three devils are said to reside.

4.4  Ghym - غيم (Cloud)

• Tribe Leader: Halah

Ghym (pronounced "hleem"), the tribe of Clouds, is separated from the other tribes by the Red Sea. Their migration path is said to be the Holiest, for it covers many ancient ruins once walked and worshiped by Humankind. The Waterbringers of Ghym are said to be the greatest healers, and there are many who seek the Ghym tribe for their potions and tinctures. While very accepting of outsiders, the Waterbringer tradition is so highly valued that they will not allow anyone born outside the tribe to witness a Waterbringer at work.

5.1  Iblis - Seer of Mafdet

• Justice

Iblis was corrupted by his desire for justice. He betrayed the secrets of his tribe in order to get revenge on his wife's murderer. His pact is with Mafdet, the Goddess of Justice and a shapeshifter. Her original form is of a cheetah.

5.2  Shaitan - Seer of Banebdjedet

• Power

Shaitan was corrupted by her desire for power - she traded her eyes for prophesies of the future. She foresaw her Tribe Leader leading them into destruction, and murdered him before it could come to pass. Her pact is with Banebdjedet, the God of Power. He is sometimes called Baphomet, and he takes the shape of a goat.

5.3  An-Nar - Seer of Sekhmet

• War

An-Nar was corrupted by her desire for strife. During a harsh season, she manipulated the families of her tribe against each other so that her own family would survive. Her pact is with Sekhmet, the Goddess of War. Sekhmet will always appear as two lionesses.