In a desert.

You stumble out of the doorway into searing heat and intense sunlight. A tall man, with midnight blue skin like the night sky, grabs you so that you don't fall.

"Welcome to Drakar", he says as he steers you into a shed opposite the doorway. "I am Rom, Gatekeeper of this world. Take a minute to recover, and then tell me why you are here."

You sit in a proffered chair, and accept a gourd of water from Rom, from which you take a long, grateful gulp. You look down at yourself. There is sand in your expensive shoes, and sweat stains on your nicest shirt. Without even looking in a mirror, you're sure that your neatly combed hair doesn't look either neat, nor combed. You hope that you won't have to meet with anyone powerful in this state.

When you've recovered, you lean forward in your chair. Rom leans forwards too, ready to listen to what you have to say. But before you can begin, a high pitched sound comes from outside. You nearly fall out of your chair in shock. Rom leaps up, and runs out of the shed.