==== The Clan Trials ==== ## After the defeat and fall of the Duneborne Colony, the Sand Village continued to grow in power under the leadership of Tall Yome. The shinobi were soon approached by a man unfamiliar to most but known by few as the father of Tall Yome. He spoke with the shinobi about the villages past, and a war long ago that sent the inhabitants of the land into hiding deep underground. ## The shinobi learned that each of the four major sand clans; Kazesuna, Houki, Oribe, and Yome, all had sites where their ancestors hid, with years of history to be discovered. They set out to find these sites, and learn more about their past, and the great war that led them to hide underground. ==== The Houki Trial ==== ## The Shinobi uncover the Yome trial and members of the Yome clan enter. They utilize their clan skills and prowess to complete the trial, having to sacrifice one of their shinobi to continue, only to find him later within the trial in a cell, trapped alongside a strange, white-haired child. The Yome break the bounds of the trial to free their companion and the strange girl, gaining information on the clans history within the Land of Wind. ==== The Kazesuna Trial ==== ## The Kazesuna Trial is uncovered and the clan enter, finding a trial that tests their patience and will within the deep desert sands. They meet a spirit of the long-dead Kazesuna Elder, who was trapped within the trial to let his clansmen escape. The shinobi complete the trial, learn about their clans history, and aid the Elder in finding a new vessel to inhabit, the vessel of a stray cat found within the Sand Village. ==== The Oribe Trial ==== ## The Oribe Trial is found and the shinobi of the Oribe Clan enter to find a fiery test to prove their worth. They utilize their clans signature ability, and complete the puzzle. They find their Elders skeleton trapped to his throne, discovered to be a purposeful attempt to trap the Elder as his clan escaped unharmed. The shinobi realize now that something killed two of the past elders, and the next trial may reveal more... ==== The Houki Trial == ## Members of the Houki Clan visit their clans trail, finding a massive cavern to test their control over the wind and art wielding their fan blades. They complete the trial with ease, finding their Elders meeting room. However, before they leave one shinobi notices something odd about the room... A small button found within the room reveals a hidden compartment with documents and lights flashing green, all except one... ## The Shinobi read the notes to find notes detailing the Houki Elders contact with a group, coordinating with them to assassinate the other clan heads, promising information on their clans for protection of the Houki Clan. Shinobi question the documents, and leave more knowledgeable about the Houki clan and its tremulous past. ==== The Great Scorpion War ==== ## After completing the clan trials, the shinobi finally uncover the truth about their clans and the war that led to their hiding. //The Great Scorpion War// a war caused by one of the oldest clans to reside within the land, the //Sandstone Colony// who sought to harness the power of the Scorpions to control them. However, their attempts only angered the creatures of the land, causing the scorpions to attack all the colonies residing within the Land of Wind. ## As the fight continued on, more creatures of the land were disturbed, causing the smarter of the clans to prepare to hide underground. Not even halfway into the war, something awoke, and rampaged through the land, killing off anything left above ground, and turning the Land of Wind into the vast desert it is today. As weeks passed, the remaining clans continued to train and wrote down their histories in case they died out, and soon, the war was over. ## After the war was over, the remaining clans sought to reclaim their territories, but were brought together by a man named Tall Yome, who united the clans to form the allied Sand Village. ==== The Aftermath ==== ## As the shinobi uncovered their clans history, and learned of how the Sand Village was formed, a new threat revealed itself. A man wearing an ancient mask and cloak, warning them to stay out of matters that don't involve them, before disappearing into the sands... //Many of the pictures taken in this arc were lost to time due to the old Sand server getting raided, if you have any pictures, Dm @pigskin to get them added!//