Geography

Deserts (and the dry quicksand in there) cover huge areas of the planet. Living space and fertile land is scarce, people are forced to move into huge mega-cities that form around water and food sources.

In the shifting desert, there are rocky safe zones where rudimentary life can grow. Only dry, hard vegetation can live there, as well as people that are escaping the strict rules (and safety) of the city. Often the poorest citizens, they tend to husbandry and hunting to sustain themselves.

In areas of the planet where the water puddles come up close to each other, permanent bodies of water are formed. Here the dry quicksand turns into shallow marshes. These marshes house a hoard of animal and plant life and are frequented by hunters and poachers alike. No big trees can form there because the ground is not solid enough. Reeds and grasses are all that grows there.

On the few bigger patches of suitable land, City-States have formed. These are tightly packed conglomerates that house a lot of people on a very small area. Organization, laws, hygiene etc. are hard to maintain in these densely packed areas. The cities are all independent City-States competing for power. Trade routes between the cities are vital, because they do not have enough resources to sustain their growing population. They are usually well protected against lashing sandstorms by being built high on a hill or other natural defenses. They protect themselves against the sun through the tightly connected buildings, leaving most of the open areas in shade. City-States vary in size and placement, due to the conditions of the environment.