Hope Oasis, with the Oasis Sand People and sand robbers each occupying one side, stood in confrontation across the Central Lake.
The inhabitants of the Oasis, numbering in the tens of thousands, could muster a force of ten thousand at any time. This might sound like a substantial number, but they couldn't even arm every man with a medal weapon. Some were still using wooden forks and rakes, and armor was out of the question.
Moreover, they only had about five thousand camels in the entire Oasis. Their cavalry was also outnumbered by the sand robbers.
Against the battle-hardened, experienced, and well-equipped sand robbers, their ongoing resistance was merely the result of the enemy being divided, lacking unified command, and fearing casualties. They all waited for others to die first so they could benefit later.
As for the Oasis Sand People, their unity and persistence were born out of a need to protect their homes and land.
