Bastion

The hot winds of the desert blow against your face. You look down upon the barren land, the desert, with every grain of sand as lifeless as the one next to it. There is little plant life, and even less fauna. This is a land forsaken by nature, and by anything that stares down.

You move on, steeling your will, forward into the depths of the desert. There is no choice but to move on. And then... Then you see it. Far into the horizon you see the towering Bastion of the Illuminated. A marvel of human ability and skill, this is all you came here for. You approach, in a matter of days, and then you can witness its true beauty.

It is the shape of a human being. If this was a human, it would be a muscular, bald man wearing a long robe. The sleeves are broad, as well as the body of the robe, yet around the chest it comes closer, and the muscular outline of its abdomen is visible through it. The face has sharp details as well. In one hand, lays a long, yet simplistic staff, with an orb-like shape on top.

Behind its back, lays floating a circle with several "spears" pointing towards the center, extending both on the inside and outside. While most of its body is made of black metal, there were lines of greenish-blue energy going through all of its body, in various patterns. The eyes themselves were lit up in the energy light as well.

There is another detail as well. There is a open hole at the center of its chest. Or rather, a lacking space, since it is clearly designed that way, instead of having been ripped off. There was a very bright light inside as well though, near its back, closer to the floating ring.

This land is governed by ten forces. And each of these forces are said to occupy a specific spot on the Bastion. Around its neck, a passage is written. "Life is suffering. To  live means to encounter suffering."

The left arm, is for those who try to escape suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat use dream force.

The right arm is for those who try to change suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat use mana.

The left leg is from those who try to face suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat use their own soul as power.

The right leg is for those who seek suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat are the ones who use "shadows", the realm of imagination and chaos.

The stomach is for those who feed on suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat have elected to utilize gems or crystals of a sort to store energy and then unleash it in various forms.

The forehead is for those who know suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat have selected to rely on the power of various spirits or deities.

The eyes are for  those who behold suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat, have eyes with the ability to  see "strings" foundational existences that are at the base of creation, and manipulate them. The means to this are written in special "grimoires".

The staff is for those who hold suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat, use various armaments or other objects which hold enchantments and other magical properties.

The wheel is for those who transcend suffering. Its inhabitants who chose to become versed in the art of combat, use their own emotions to attain supernatural ability.