Mephista

Mephista is a harsh desert nation unlike any other in Diamante. While its temperatures are more moderate compared to most deserts, the land is constantly threatened by devastating sandstorms that strike with little to no warning. The nation’s distinct domed and circular canyons act as natural wind tunnels, magnifying the already fierce desert gusts. These winds lift Mephista’s native sand—unusually sharp, heavy, and abrasive—turning it into a deadly force capable of reducing buildings to rubble and stripping flesh from bone in seconds.
  To survive, the people of Mephista developed a remarkable defense system powered by the now-dwindling Time Crystals. Their cities are outfitted with specialized rooftops that absorb solar energy and, at the first sign of an approaching storm, generate protective energy fields that shield entire communities from destruction. Without these barriers, even a single sandstorm would be enough to raze a settlement completely.
  Deeply spiritual, the Mephistans worship the Owl, a solemn creature in Diamante’s lore said to watch over the dead and protect the fallen from scavenging vultures. The Owl holds a sacred place in their burial rites, with funerals traditionally conducted at hidden underground lakes across the land, where the deceased are laid to rest under the silent watch of their revered guardian.