The Deserts of Light

"Only in a desert that shines so bright could the sins of the corrupt be bleached from sight."

The deserts of light hold many secrets. As the oldest land of the six, the dunes hide the remnants of countless civilizations that have risen and fallen just to be replaced by the next, eventually finding ruin in the same mistakes.

## Geography

The deserts of light are named as such for the glimmering expanses of bright yellow sand swarming with tiny dazzling refractions in minuscule glass shards. As the first civilizations many centuries ago crafted early glass panes that eventually fell away to time, the fragments would scatter far and wide with the sandstorms native to the area. When chance would have it, these glass shards would line up just right and magnifying direct sun, would create new glass beads. The temperature and nature of the sand makes for easy conversion due to the high silica content of the grains. As glass begets glass, the passing of time has only created more sparkle in this huge sea of dunes.

The land is split down the center by the River Yor, a staple source of income and agriculture for the nation. Most life outside of the cities exists within close proximity to Yor who hold their livelihood in growing a bounty of harvest all year round to provide for the cities and themselves. No one has ever found how the water from the Paleo Ocean becomes so fertile and salt free, most with Desert of Light hailitage putting it down as a 'gift from God'.

## Settlements and History

Pre-Fragmenterra, the 'Star of Cities' existed as five individually governed centers each with their own identity in culture, architecture and customs. While allied and in healthy relationship with each other, these cities took great pride in their feats of worship, always in constant competition for greater displays in an attempt to 'out zeal' their neighbors.

At the beginning of Fragmenterra, the land remained mostly unchanged with no elementals in the conventional manner envoked. This changed when the five cities became four as after the space of a few years, an entire sprawling cathedral city almost vanished off the map springing to life. Beautiful buildings crafted in ornate style rife with stained glass and white formwork stood to attention, the entire city forming into an army that marched in steady stream on the other cities. Termed 'Tecton'; wells, churches, houses and libraries erected themselves as humanoid and bestial shapes before stomping their way over the dunes. For fifty years the regular arrival of a seven-story hospital or museum would land itself at the doorstep of a neighboring city ready to lay siege. Beneath its feet, many were made to stain glass under stained glass, their blood running through the sand.

Of the four cities, three banded together to defend each other, share resources and on many occasions risked many personal losses to save another's citizens. The fourth city became a glorified bunker looking only inwards for self-sustaining defense. While this did prove successful, animosity grew between the allied three and the silo city. History books of the land accurately recant details of Admah, Zeboim, and Bela, the three cities that emerged victorious with transcripts written post Fragmenterra exalting their bravery. All mentions of the first city to fall and the second to follow have been scrubbed from record with all old enough to remember their names unwilling to voice it for belief of fatal omen.

The second city to defound and take charge was the bunkered city. Similar to the first, it tore up its foundations that ran deep beneath the desert to march upon the others. Rather than many individual constructs like the first city, the entire capitol assembled itself into one titanic colossus of assault that quickly made pace to where the first had failed.

By divine intervention, as the colossus of catacombs and spires reached the cities it would that it could simply step on and extinguish, an angel descended from the heavens to intercept the threat. Flying right into the heart of the Demi-Titan, the miracle delivered the remaining triadic cities from their fate. None have seen this hero since.

Glass and gold rained from the sky plunging gaudy debris deep into the sands below.

## Culture

The very nature of those in the Deserts of Light is one of poor choices and corruption. While many good souls can be found, most end up tainted in their pursuit of status in their religious sphere. Wealth, acclaim and intellectual exhibit are pitfalls that snare all too many of the land's denizens catching them hypocritical in their teachings.

This sort of culture has led to, in some areas, destruction and moral decay. These places are often purged with a blind violent culling for the 'preservation of sanctity.' Firm belief is held by most that any area falling into heavy debauchery will bring upon another mass structure exodus like those during Fragmenterra. While this is enforced by many officials and high-powered groups within religious-political circles, these groups have been accused in the past of being very far from innocent of the exact crimes they persecute.