<em><strong>The Emirate of Shantarra</strong></em><br/><br/>A moderate-sized desert nation.  One seaport (the wealthy city of Asbar) at the far Southernmost tip.  The predominant terrain is desert, which turns to rocky roughlands to the South.  Many oasis dot the desert, however, as ample water can be found deep underground.  There are three main rivers that cut through the nation, the Ghulam, the Batet, and the Harrak.  The Ghulam is a swift-moving river that denotes the Northern border of the country.  The Batet is a muddy river that rises dramatically in the winter and gradually drops the rest of the year (in Summer it is barely more than a muddy brook) that winds along the Eastern edge.  The Harrak is a large, wide, slow-moving river used primarily for boat-traffic, with feluccas and smaller dhow plying it's length from Asbar to Mentara, roughly 50 miles inland.<br/><br/>The people of Shantarra tend to be dark-complected (skin varies from bronze-tanned to nearly chocolate brown) but fine-featured.  Hair color is almost always black.  Brunette hair is usually only found on the lighter-complected Shantarrans.  Red or blonde hair is practically unknown and a novelty.  The Shantarrans are usually no bigger or smaller than the human average.<br/><br/>The primary coin used in Shantarra is the dinar (gold), followed by the drachma (silver), followed by the danaq (copper).  Paper notes are often used to denote large transactions when excessive coins are not wanted to be carried about (a response to thievery as well).  The primary export of Shantarra is overwhelmingly gold and precious metals, which can be found in the various mines that dot the country.  Worked metal is a common export as well, as are bejeweled items of all sorts.  Fine silk, expertly crafted clothing, extravagant rugs/tapestries, and a variety of carved stone items are also a mark of Shantarra pride.  The remarkable horses and bulls of the nation, which have been bred to great size, stand Shantarra apart from many of it's neighbors.  These animals have largely replaced camels as the typical beast of burden in the country, and are highly prized by the royalty.<br/><br/>The general mood of the country is currently peaceful, but it was not always so.  There has been war between Shantarra and other nations in the past, often fought over either border disputes or the acquisition of resources.  During one awful time in the distant past, a powerful and very fanatical vizier took control of the nation and plunged the country into war with all the other Levantine kingdoms.  When this vizier was discovered to be, in fact, a lich (an undead creature of great evil) the people rose up and overthrew him.  Similar fates happened also to a number of other religious fanatics who tried to dominate the nation through fear and terror.<br/><br/>There is, however, a strong sense of tradition and conservatism in Shantarra, mainly coming from the old and powerful families but their grasp on power lessens with every generation and a more free and open-minded Shantarra will soon be a reality.  This frightens some citizens, and gives hope to others.  One group, the Sihr, made up of people from all walks of life (janissaries, clerics, merchants, prostitutes, laborers, craftsmen, astrologers, etc) welcome this change and have already begun setting in place the framework of change.  Not just false hope, but change that is true and can be believed in.  Several dignitaries, ambassadors, sailors, and merchants either openly, or secretly, work on behalf of the Sihr and are trying to elevate Shantarra into a better position so that the nation will never again fall into the tyrannical hands of the old zealots again.