39. SOUTHERN SAND WARRIOR: IRUSAQ,

15^TH CENTURY POST IMPERIUM

Trained in the huge city of Ssisao, Sand Warriors are specialised guerilla outriders who patrol the deserts beyond the city; deal with minor threats; and send or bring news to the city regiments when there is something too big to handle themselves. Within the cities of the desert it is believed that they were once Forest People forcibly removed from their homes, and valued for their knowledge of the terrain and everything that lives and grows there. They are experts at locating water and equally skilled at what some say is a true art of invisibility, and others dismiss as gifted camouflage. Whatever the truth of the matter, the cities depend upon their Sand Warriors for border protection and early warnings of invasion, and look after them, paying extremely high wages, allocating property to their families and showing their appreciation in numerous ways.