The landscape is desolate, covered in howling winds and sands.  The nearby cities are now under the command of someone calling himself Warlord Ali Heydar (Great Lion).  In the sands is a large castle of gleaming spires.  There is something unnatural about this oasis in the middle of the deserts.  It is more like a castle from some fairytale.  It looks rather well guarded, patroled by well armed guards and vehicles.