In the vast expanses of the Kaukloutan desert, a place known for its treacherous sandstorms and hidden oases, Elias, the seasoned Adama caravan driver, made his journey. With a reputation that extended beyond the dunes of Kaukloutan to the bustling streets of Ponte Cidade, Elias was renowned for his uncanny ability to navigate the desert and find the safest routes, thanks to his astute understanding of the land and stars. His skills with the bow were unmatched, and his prowess with the sword was something that few dared to challenge.

During one fateful journey across the desert, as a sandstorm began to pick up and the horizon was painted with a fierce shade of orange, Elias came across a silhouette in the distance. As he drew closer, he discovered an unconscious Mochveneba woman, her crimson skin covered in a layer of fine sand, barely breathing but still alive.

Moved by compassion and sensing a deeper connection to this mysterious stranger, Elias took the young woman into his caravan, offering her shelter from the storm. When she finally awoke, she introduced herself as Lunara. Orphaned at a young age and separated from her tribe, she had been wandering the desert in search of her lost heritage.

As the days turned into weeks, Lunara and Elias’s bond deepened. He taught her the art of desert navigation, and she shared with him the spiritual teachings of the Mochveneba. In Ponte Cidade, Elias adopted Lunara as his own, and she started assisting him in his merchant endeavors. Her unique skills of enchanting weapons and items made their stall near the Grand Bazaar Bridge even more popular.

The story unfolds as Elias and Lunara face challenges in Ponte Cidade, from the intrigue of the imperial court to the competitive world of trade. But throughout it all, their unique bond serves as a beacon of hope and understanding in a city known for its contrasts and contradictions.

Pumo Jom, born of the Mochveneba, the ghost race of the desert. Abandoned after her parents were ruthlessly slaughtered by a local bandit raid

Traveling Scholar

About the first watch of the day, I awoke. The camp was already bustling with life, as merchants packed their tents and loaded their wagons. Elias, my sell-sword, was preparing our water bladders for the long trip into the desert. “I don’t like this fog, Elias”. Elias grimmaced, starting into the clouded horizon, and then said to me reassuringly, “it should clear up long before the noon.” Turning toward the horizon we could not see, I replied “I have a really bad feeling about this. Kauklatan desert is infamous for hiding some of its most fierce sand-shifting storms in an early fog.” After packing my blankets, securing my gear to the wagons, we starting forming our caravan heading west. with the hope the fog would lift before high sun, and not serve as a cload for shifting sands.

Only an hour into our journey, it struck. A sandstorm so wicked, it tore the canvas coverings from our wagons. Our pack animals writhed in the wind, we had to stop.