:root {
  --desert-ground: #FBF3E7;
  --desert-ink: #221C2C;
  --desert-accent: #50317D;
  --desert-support: #C1E2CE;
  --desert-surface: #FFFFFF;
  --desert-body: 'Spline Sans', 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;
  --desert-display: 'Yatra One', Georgia, serif;
}
* { box-sizing: border-box; }
html { scroll-behavior: smooth; scroll-padding-top: 28px; }
body { margin: 0; background: var(--desert-ground); color: var(--desert-ink); font: 18px/1.65 var(--desert-body); }
img { display: block; max-width: 100%; }
a { color: var(--desert-accent); text-underline-offset: .22em; text-decoration-thickness: 1.5px; transition: color .16s ease, text-decoration-thickness .16s ease; }
a:hover { color: var(--desert-ink); text-decoration-thickness: 3px; }
a:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid var(--desert-accent); outline-offset: 6px; }
::selection { background: var(--desert-support); color: var(--desert-ink); }
h1,h2,h3 { font-family: var(--desert-display); font-weight: 400; text-wrap: pretty; }
h1 { font-size: 50px; line-height: 1.1; letter-spacing: -.015em; margin: 0; }
h2 { font-size: 36px; line-height: 1.22; margin: 0 0 28px; }
h3 { font-size: 26px; line-height: 1.3; }
p { margin: 0 0 24px; }
.desert-skip { position: absolute; left: 18px; top: -100px; padding: 10px 18px; background: var(--desert-ground); z-index: 20; }
.desert-skip:focus { top: 12px; }

/* A tall trail marker and three labels following one bowed line. */
.desert-masthead { height: 138px; position: relative; max-width: 1320px; margin: 0 auto; z-index: 5; }
.desert-marker { position: absolute; left: 24px; top: 0; width: 86px; height: 180px; display: grid; place-items: center; background: var(--desert-support); color: var(--desert-ink); text-decoration: none; clip-path: polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% 88%,0 100%); transition: background-color .18s ease; }
.desert-marker::before { content: ''; width: 6px; height: 30px; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; background: var(--desert-accent); }
.desert-marker:hover { background: var(--desert-ground); }
.desert-marker:focus-visible { clip-path: none; }
.desert-marker-name { writing-mode: vertical-rl; transform: rotate(180deg); font: 26px/1 var(--desert-display); white-space: nowrap; }
.desert-bow { position: absolute; left: 210px; right: 90px; top: 19px; height: 105px; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: flex-start; }
.desert-bow::before { content: ''; position: absolute; pointer-events: none; top: -9px; left: 6px; right: -8px; height: 103px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--desert-accent); border-radius: 0 0 43% 55%; transform: rotate(-4deg); }
.desert-bow a { position: relative; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 9px; font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; background: var(--desert-ground); padding: 7px 12px; transition: transform .18s ease, background-color .18s ease; }
.desert-bow a:nth-child(1) { margin-top: 61px; }
.desert-bow a:nth-child(2) { margin-top: 32px; }
.desert-bow a:nth-child(3) { margin-top: 0; }
.desert-bow a:hover { transform: translateY(-3px); background: var(--desert-support); }
.desert-bow a[aria-current='page'] { text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-thickness: 3px; }
.desert-icon { display: inline-block; width: 20px; height: 20px; stroke-width: 1.7; flex: 0 0 20px; vertical-align: middle; }

/* The photograph fills the hero. Solid sand sweeps across it as one broad band. */
.desert-opening { position: relative; isolation: isolate; min-height: 670px; padding-bottom: 235px; }
.desert-opening-ground { position: relative; z-index: 2; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.05fr 1fr; gap: 7%; padding: 34px 6.5% 82px 15%; background: var(--desert-ground); border-bottom-right-radius: 44% 88px; }
.desert-opening-words { position: relative; padding-right: 5px; }
.desert-opening-words::before { content: ''; position: absolute; left: -32px; top: 5px; width: 6px; height: 150px; background: var(--desert-accent); clip-path: polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% 89%,0 100%); }
.desert-opening h1 { max-width: 570px; }
.desert-opening-lead { max-width: 460px; margin: 24px 0 0; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.5; }
.desert-opening-right { padding-top: 7px; }
.desert-welcome { font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 19px; max-width: 440px; }
.desert-promise { max-width: 520px; }
.desert-notch { position: relative; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 18px; min-height: 86px; padding: 18px 38px 18px 23px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.35; background: var(--desert-accent); color: var(--desert-surface); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 0 0 20px 0; box-shadow: 6px 7px 0 var(--desert-support); transition: background-color .18s ease, transform .18s ease, box-shadow .18s ease; }
.desert-notch::after { content: ''; position: absolute; right: -1px; top: -1px; width: 25px; height: 25px; background: var(--desert-ground); border-radius: 0 0 0 100%; }
.desert-notch:hover { background: var(--desert-ink); color: var(--desert-surface); transform: translate(-2px,-3px); box-shadow: 9px 10px 0 var(--desert-support); }
.desert-notch:focus-visible { outline-width: 4px; outline-offset: 7px; }
.desert-notch .desert-icon { width: 25px; height: 25px; flex-basis: 25px; }
.desert-qualifications { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.47; margin: 20px 0 0; }
.desert-dune { position: absolute; z-index: 0; inset: 0; overflow: hidden; background: #E6D9C8; }
.desert-dune-body { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center 65%; }
.desert-grass { position: absolute; z-index: 3; bottom: 160px; left: 21%; width: 144px; height: 200px; filter: drop-shadow(8px 6px 0 rgba(80,49,125,.16)); pointer-events: none; }
.desert-grass img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center 65%; clip-path: polygon(4% 100%,0 72%,14% 59%,20% 27%,30% 44%,45% 0,53% 36%,71% 14%,69% 49%,94% 32%,87% 74%,100% 100%); }
.desert-opening::after { content: ''; position: absolute; z-index: 4; height: 34px; bottom: -1px; left: 0; right: 0; background: var(--desert-ground); border-radius: 62% 38% 0 0 / 100% 100% 0 0; }

/* Complete essays, staggered across the one unbranched contour. */
.desert-traverse { position: relative; max-width: 1320px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 30px 50px 0; background: url('contour.svg') center / 100% 100% no-repeat; }
.desert-clearing { position: relative; width: 64%; max-width: 720px; margin-left: 8%; padding: 86px 0 92px; background: var(--desert-ground); }
.desert-clearing:nth-child(even) { margin-left: 32%; }
.desert-clearing:last-child { padding-bottom: 130px; }
.desert-clearing h2 { position: relative; max-width: 660px; }
.desert-clearing-marker { position: absolute; left: -67px; top: 0; display: grid; place-items: center; width: 44px; height: 44px; color: var(--desert-accent); background: var(--desert-support); border-radius: 48% 48% 4px 48%; transform: rotate(-7deg); }
.desert-clearing-marker .desert-icon { width: 24px; height: 24px; transform: rotate(7deg); }
.desert-clearing p { max-width: 64ch; }
.desert-clearing > p:first-of-type { font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.65; }
.desert-pause { position: relative; width: calc(100% + 40px); max-width: 660px; margin: 42px 0 14px -58px; padding: 30px 38px; background: var(--desert-support); border-left: 6px solid var(--desert-accent); font: 28px/1.4 var(--desert-display); transform: rotate(-2deg); box-shadow: 12px 12px 0 var(--desert-ground), 14px 14px 0 var(--desert-accent); }
.desert-pause::after { content: ''; position: absolute; right: 0; bottom: 0; width: 21px; height: 21px; background: var(--desert-ground); clip-path: polygon(100% 0,100% 100%,0 100%); }
.desert-pause p { margin: 0; }

/* Inner-page landscape bands have an offset caption resting on the dune edge. */
.desert-inner-opening { position: relative; max-width: 1320px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 24px 65px 0 200px; }
.desert-inner-opening::before { content: ''; position: absolute; top: 27px; left: 165px; width: 6px; height: 110px; background: var(--desert-accent); }
.desert-inner-opening h1 { max-width: 1000px; font-size: 48px; }
.desert-inner-lead { max-width: 740px; margin: 24px 0 0; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.55; }
.desert-photo-band { position: relative; margin: 42px 0 0; padding-bottom: 20px; }
.desert-photo-surface { height: 285px; overflow: hidden; background: #E6D9C8; border-top-left-radius: 32% 70px; }
.desert-photo-surface img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center 59%; }
.desert-photo-band figcaption { position: relative; width: fit-content; max-width: 560px; margin: -28px 8% 0 auto; padding: 16px 24px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; background: var(--desert-support); color: var(--desert-ink); box-shadow: 6px 6px 0 var(--desert-accent); transform: rotate(-1deg); }
.desert-inner .desert-traverse { padding-top: 12px; }
.desert-question .desert-clearing { padding-top: 54px; padding-bottom: 58px; }
.desert-question .desert-clearing h2 { font-size: 32px; }
.desert-reading-list .desert-clearing { padding-top: 28px; padding-bottom: 28px; }
.desert-reading-list .desert-clearing:first-child { padding-top: 70px; padding-bottom: 52px; }
.desert-reading-list .desert-clearing h2 { font-size: 28px; margin-bottom: 18px; }
.desert-reading-list .desert-clearing:nth-child(even) { margin-left: 22%; }
.desert-table-wrap { position: relative; margin: 36px -22px 36px 0; padding: 7px; border-left: 4px solid var(--desert-accent); background: var(--desert-support); box-shadow: 8px 8px 0 var(--desert-support); }
.desert-comparison { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: left; }
.desert-comparison th { font-weight: 600; background: var(--desert-support); }
.desert-comparison th,.desert-comparison td { padding: 17px 14px; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--desert-support); vertical-align: top; }
.desert-comparison td { background: var(--desert-ground); }
.desert-comparison td:first-child { font-weight: 600; color: var(--desert-accent); }
.desert-foot { position: relative; margin-top: 24px; padding: 80px max(6%,24px) 32px; background: var(--desert-support); border-radius: 38% 12% 0 0 / 46px 25px 0 0; }
.desert-foot::before { content: ''; position: absolute; top: 48px; right: 7%; width: 110px; height: 36px; border-top: 3px solid var(--desert-accent); border-radius: 50%; transform: rotate(-9deg); }
.desert-foot-inner { max-width: 1180px; margin: 0 auto; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.1fr 1fr; gap: 20px 90px; }
.desert-foot-brand { font: 34px/1.2 var(--desert-display); margin: 0 0 17px; }
.desert-foot p { font-size: 16px; max-width: 520px; }
.desert-foot nav { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px 25px; align-content: start; font-size: 16px; }
.desert-copyright { grid-column: 1 / -1; padding-top: 27px; margin: 0; }
.desert-lost { padding-bottom: 100px; }

@media (min-width: 1700px) {
 .desert-opening-ground { padding-left: calc((100% - 1220px) / 2 + 80px); padding-right: calc((100% - 1220px) / 2); }
 .desert-opening { min-height: 720px; }
}
@media (min-width: 651px) and (max-width: 1050px) {
 .desert-bow { left: 170px; right: 35px; }
 .desert-opening-ground { padding-left: 12%; padding-right: 6%; gap: 6%; }
 .desert-opening h1 { font-size: 43px; }
 .desert-opening { padding-bottom: 200px; }
 .desert-opening-lead { font-size: 18px; }
 .desert-notch { font-size: 18px; padding-left: 19px; padding-right: 30px; }
 .desert-grass { width: 114px; height: 156px; bottom: 130px; }
 .desert-traverse { padding-left: 42px; padding-right: 42px; }
 .desert-clearing { width: 74%; margin-left: 7%; }
 .desert-clearing:nth-child(even) { margin-left: 22%; }
 .desert-clearing-marker { left: -52px; width: 38px; height: 38px; }
 .desert-inner-opening { padding-left: 18%; padding-right: 7%; }
 .desert-inner-opening::before { left: 14%; }
 .desert-inner-opening h1 { font-size: 42px; }
 .desert-photo-band figcaption { max-width: 480px; }
}
@media (max-width: 650px) {
 html { scroll-padding-top: 20px; }
 body { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.65; }
 .desert-masthead { height: 84px; }
 .desert-marker { left: 20px; top: 4px; width: auto; height: 33px; background: none; clip-path: none; display: block; }
 .desert-marker::before { top: 4px; left: -9px; height: 23px; width: 3px; }
 .desert-marker-name { writing-mode: horizontal-tb; transform: none; font-size: 27px; }
 .desert-bow { left: 14px; right: 14px; top: 39px; height: 40px; }
 .desert-bow::before { height: 26px; top: 7px; left: 8px; right: 8px; transform: rotate(-3deg); }
 .desert-bow a { font-size: 16px; gap: 6px; padding: 3px 6px; line-height: 1.4; }
 .desert-bow a:nth-child(1) { margin-top: 12px; }
 .desert-bow a:nth-child(2) { margin-top: 7px; }
 .desert-bow a:nth-child(3) { margin-top: 0; }
 .desert-icon { width: 17px; height: 17px; flex-basis: 17px; }
 h1 { font-size: 26px; line-height: 1.18; letter-spacing: 0; }
 h2 { font-size: 30px; margin-bottom: 23px; }
 p { margin-bottom: 21px; }
 .desert-opening { min-height: 0; padding-bottom: 0; }
 .desert-opening-ground { display: block; padding: 18px 24px 38px; border-bottom-right-radius: 24% 27px; }
 .desert-opening-words { padding-right: 0; }
 .desert-opening-words::before { left: -12px; top: 3px; width: 3px; height: 57px; }
 .desert-opening-lead { max-width: none; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4; margin-top: 14px; }
 .desert-opening-right { padding-top: 0; }
 .desert-welcome { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 12px 0 16px; }
 .desert-promise { max-width: none; }
 .desert-notch { min-height: 0; padding: 14px 27px 14px 16px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.35; gap: 12px; box-shadow: 4px 5px 0 var(--desert-support); }
 .desert-notch::after { width: 20px; height: 20px; }
 .desert-notch .desert-icon { width: 21px; height: 21px; flex-basis: 21px; }
 .desert-qualifications { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4; margin-top: 17px; }
 .desert-dune { position: relative; height: 180px; margin-top: -28px; }
 .desert-dune-body { object-position: center 58%; }
 .desert-grass { width: 63px; height: 87px; bottom: 88px; left: 17%; filter: drop-shadow(3px 3px 0 rgba(80,49,125,.16)); }
 .desert-opening::after { height: 21px; }
 .desert-traverse { margin: 0 23px 0 0; padding: 8px 0 0 42px; background-image: none; }
 .desert-traverse::before { content: ''; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 17px; width: 2px; background: var(--desert-accent); opacity: .6; }
 .desert-clearing,.desert-clearing:nth-child(even),.desert-reading-list .desert-clearing:nth-child(even) { width: auto; margin-left: 0; padding: 47px 0 38px; }
 .desert-clearing:last-child { padding-bottom: 70px; }
 .desert-clearing-marker { left: -36px; top: 4px; width: 24px; height: 28px; border-radius: 45% 45% 3px 45%; }
 .desert-clearing-marker .desert-icon { width: 17px; height: 17px; }
 .desert-clearing > p:first-of-type { font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; }
 .desert-pause { width: calc(100% + 5px); max-width: none; margin: 30px 0 15px -5px; font-size: 24px; padding: 25px 20px; border-left-width: 4px; box-shadow: 6px 6px 0 var(--desert-ground),8px 8px 0 var(--desert-accent); transform: rotate(-1deg); }
 .desert-inner-opening { padding: 24px 23px 0 27px; }
 .desert-inner-opening::before { left: 12px; top: 27px; width: 3px; height: 65px; }
 .desert-inner-opening h1 { font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.16; }
 .desert-inner-lead { font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 19px; }
 .desert-photo-band { margin-top: 30px; padding-bottom: 9px; }
 .desert-photo-surface { height: 180px; border-top-left-radius: 40% 35px; }
 .desert-photo-band figcaption { margin: -19px 20px 0 45px; max-width: none; padding: 13px 17px; font-size: 16px; box-shadow: 4px 4px 0 var(--desert-accent); }
 .desert-question .desert-clearing { padding: 38px 0; }
 .desert-question .desert-clearing h2 { font-size: 28px; }
 .desert-reading-list .desert-clearing { padding: 25px 0; }
 .desert-reading-list .desert-clearing:first-child { padding: 42px 0 34px; }
 .desert-reading-list .desert-clearing h2 { font-size: 25px; }
 .desert-table-wrap { margin: 28px 0; padding: 3px; box-shadow: 4px 4px 0 var(--desert-support); border-left-width: 3px; }
 .desert-comparison { table-layout: fixed; font-size: 16px; }
 .desert-comparison th,.desert-comparison td { padding: 12px 6px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; }
 .desert-comparison th:first-child { width: 28%; }
 .desert-foot { padding: 60px 25px 27px; margin-top: 5px; }
 .desert-foot::before { top: 26px; right: 27px; width: 70px; height: 24px; }
 .desert-foot-inner { display: block; }
 .desert-foot nav { margin-top: 28px; }
 .desert-copyright { padding-top: 35px; }
 .desert-lost { padding-bottom: 70px; }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
 html { scroll-behavior: auto; }
 *,*::before,*::after { transition: none !important; animation: none !important; }
 .desert-bow a:hover,.desert-notch:hover { transform: none; }
}