Prelude

A land covered by sand is a land deemed to have no life; not a single flower was meant to bloom nor any walking creature was meant to breathe. Shuffling sands, turbulent winds and a landscape spilled with death was to never become a place called 'home'. Yet, through the curtains of sand and hidden dunes lies a city.

Dohnovan.

Dohnovan was a small city unlike any city across this deserted landscape. Tall structures almost touched the skies from dawn to dusk. The structures were so tall it was believed the children in the structure were able to touch the glittering stars in the heavens.

Spilling across Dohnovan were small structures housing the middle class to slums housing the poor. Every day the peoples gaze upon the tallest structure in Dohnovan, known as The Twin Roses to get a mere glimpse of the two princesses living inside. It was said the princesses only emerge out of the structure once a year to greet the people, offer them advice then slip back into the shadows.

The Twin Roses soon became Dohnovan's capital structure where important meetings and tournaments took place for the rich, teasing the poor with their wealth. Dohnovan's image was expected to be a city devoid of crime and filth but that was far from the truth; the city hid dark secrets.

Around Dohnovan hid Sand Bandits, thieves entering the city during violent sandstorms. The Sand Bandits were like sandstorms; as quickly as they came, they disappeared to leave devastation in their wake. Nobody had ever seen what a Sand Bandit looked like but people knew these people were exceptionally adaptive, just like sand.

Gazing at Dohnovan from a distance, a young man cloaked in black and blue rags scanned the protruding structures under the scorching sun. Extending out his hand, the winds had begun to pick up allowing ribbons of sand to slip through his fingers. It was time. Arriving beside him was another man, slightly taller cloaked in black with purple accents. They looked at each other through dark, thick goggles and nodded without words.

Awaiting the right moment, a sandstorm roared behind them prompting the two to ski down sand dunes blending in with the curtain of sand and wind.

A storm was coming.