The People: "The people of Ylaruam hate outsiders. None of them speak any civilised tongues, and if they do, they pretend they don't. They're hot-tempered and always fighting among themselves. They dress funny, all wrapped up in these long robes and headdresses, which they wear even in the hot sun. They live in the desert in tents, though some live in crude brick houses in the cities.
"They all ride camels and horses, and great horses they are, mind you, and they're pretty sharp traders. They aren't very civilised since they live outside all the time, and they haven't got any princes, lords, or nobles like we have, just tribal chiefs."
The Land: "It's one big desert. There is nothing but sand, sandstorms, and rocks. I can't imagine how anyone could live there."
Ylaruam: "That's the city in the desert where the Sultan or Emir or something lives. There are some tall, pointed spires covered with gold, they say, and there's a university full of scientists and lawyers."
Other Towns: "Tameronikas is a nice port and has lots of foreigners. Abbashan is a big oasis full of exceptionally nasty people."
How to Get Rich and Famous: "Ride camels on long caravans. Look for lamps with djinni in them. Find magic carpets in the desert, and rings and efreeti in chests in ruins. Get sorcerers to find hidden treasure, then trick them out of their share."
Hot Tips: "The government is hiring mercenaries and irregulars to suppress goblins and giants from Altan Tepes."
"There's plenty of caravan and expedition escort work around. Check around in taverns for merchants."
The People: "Most are honest and honorable. When they give their word, they mean to keep it. They are extremely religious, always praying and quoting Al-Kalim, their hero and prophet. Debating fine points of law and ethics is a pleasant pastime for them. They have little trust or respect for Unbelievers and foreigners, and from what I've seen of the world, with some justice."
"As a people they're most touchy about honor, and quick with a sword when you offend it. Most citizens are armed and quite with weapons, and are happy to use them. The soldiery is first-rate. They are disciplined, well-trained, and fiercely loyal."
The Land: "It's warm and pleasant along the eastern coast, and hot and dry in the central desert and highlands. Learn native ways, and there's little danger from the weather, except during violent storms. The nation is safe if you stick to caravan routes and towns, but its wilderness regions are among the most dangerous in the world. There are few humans, but plenty of monsters and otherworldly horrors. Stay away from Nithia unless you like trouble."
Ylaruam: "It's comfortable for foreigners. Plenty of merchants and government officials are hiring experienced adventurers. Information and scholarship are plentiful if you know where and how to look."
Other Towns: "In Parsa local Makistani tribesmen live in hut-and-tent towns; they're like Ethengars, only cheerful and pleasant. They are more hospitable and easy-going with strangers than desert people. Tameronikas is pretty much like coastal towns around the world. At Ctesiphon and Cinsa-Men-Noo the locals cater to travellers and adventurers. There's plenty of wilderness escort and expedition work, and outfitters and guides are available for all types of expeditions."
How to Get Rich and Famous: "The conservative route is to start off in caravan or expedition escort work. Build a reputation, get connected to nobles or rich merchants, earn the respect and gratitude of a ruler, and win a dominion.
"The dangerous way is to hunt treasure and exotic creatures in the wilderness, but it's hard to judge the risks, and you're a long way from help if you get in trouble.
"If you don't care about money, but do want to tame the wilderness and punish evil, there's plenty to do in the wilderness, and you'll quickly earn the respect of the locals."
Hot Tips: "Do not lie or break an oath. Even if the locals don't kill you for it, they'll never deal with you again.
"Once you've got a reputation as a tough adventurer, there's plenty of work. The best native fighters, magic-users, and clerics are in the military so locals routinely hire reliable foreigners as mercenaries, guards, for missions into the wilderness, or for rough stuff. Sit around the taverns and keep your ears open, or make contacts in the Vouchery of the Provinces who'll send tips your way
"If you're going to freelance, stay conservative or carefully research your objective. Seek out reliable informants and pay them well.
"The natives are superstitious. They do have some pretty odd stories about the uninhabited regions. They are not sissies. If they are nervous about something, it's worth being careful."
The People: "Desert folks are obviously tougher, more honorable and fearless, than house-dwellers. City folk are liars and cowards, they can't ride or fight, and would die in a minute in the desert. Foreigners are just as as bad, though it's said that some are better than others. Friendly tribesmen are always welcome in our tents. Bandits, thieves, and murderers deserve to bleed to death in the desert."
The Land: "Respect the desert, and the desert is your friend. The desert only kills fools, but it is easy to be a fool during the sand storms.
"Our familiar pasturage and traditional tent grounds are usually quite safe. We are not cowards, but there are places in the desert and the hills where only fools go, full of monsters, evil sorcerers, and powerful spirits.
"The villages are interesting places, especially during summer camp at market time, though the local people and merchants are sneaky and greedy."
Ylaruam: "They say it is beautiful. It's full of liars and merchants, but the Sultan's palace and university are hundreds of feet tall and decorated with gold and jewels. The Sultan's gaming fields are said to be carpets of living grass, and the tournaments of the Military Orders are said to be quite fine. I would love to ride with the Sultan's guard, and someday my chief will give me armor and weapons so l can go to Ylaruam and become a Knight of the Lance."
Other Towns: "Kirkuk is quite big with many stone buildings and several tall towers, and very busy, with a market day twice a week. Our tribe camps there during the summer with other friendly tribes and we have games and feasts and trade our spare horses and camels so we can buy the weapons and coffee we need for the winter.
"Abbashan is a city like Ylaruam, but Father says men are not soft and corrupt in Abbashan like they are in Ylaruam. In Abbashan they are quite strict with the heathens and greedy merchants."
How to Get Rich and Famous: "I want to ride with a raiding party so l can prove that I am a warrior. Then my chief will give me armor and weapons and I will go to Ylaruam and become a soldier.
"Or perhaps my chief might let me go with the Secretary on a ride into the Empty Places. That way I'll become famous for my deeds and the Secretary will introduce me to the Sultan, who'll make me a faris so I can ride around the land and punish the wicked and unfaithful."
Hot Tips: "They say one may be paid for riding with scholars and miners into the hills. Some men from my tribe went to cities and villages to find such work, and they returned with fine weapons and expensive horses and great tales to tell.
"There are stories of young boys who open trapdoors in the desert and who find beautiful princesses and magical rings and fierce demons. I'm not sure about these tales, but they must be true; else, how would men imagine them?
"Sometimes in difficult times men from our tribe ride into the desert to hunt fearsome beasts. Then those who live go to towns and sell the beasts to sorcerers and scholars."
The People: "The people of the coastal plain live comfortable and peaceful lives, and fine cloths and spices sell well there, though the peasants and poor folk of Nithia suffer under their squabbling and cruel chiefs.
"The desert nomads are usually polite and formal, but you must take care not to offend them. They are good markets for coffee and weapons, but they only buy while encamped for the summer.
"The cities and towns of the Emirates are all good markets for fine crafts and imported luxuries (except Abbashan, where they frown on luxury and frivolity). The poor folk are devout and orderly, and the nobles and craftsmen are sturdy Defenders of the Faith and free with their purses.
"The pony-folk of the northwest may seem fierce and war-like, but they are really playful and light-hearted as children. Their needs are modest, and their lands plentiful. They are nowhere near as touchy as the desert people, but they are rather uncouth and uninterested in conversation and bargaining, though great fans of fantastic stories of wizards and heroes.
"It is fashionable to say that men of other lands are without honor or virtue, but I have seen for myself. The Unbeliever hardly values his word, and though I have seen the splendid temples of his numerous powerful and fearsome gods, I have seen few at worship therein. Nowhere have I seen the common piety and daily reverence of the least of the True Believers."
The Land: "It is dry, but the people live well. The coastal region grows fruit and vegetables in abundance, and the plains of the Ust-Urt Valley yield excellent crops of grain. The wadis and oases provide pasture for the nomad herds and vegetables to supplement the abundant meats and cheeses of the nomad herders.
"I've been north and south along the coast, and over the mountains to Darokin, Specularum, Thyatis, and Dengar, and nowhere have I seen a happier, better-fed nation."
Ylaruam: "Certainly smaller than Thyatis and Specularum, but not less grand, and more civilised in many ways. The markets of Ylaruam are twice the size of those of Specularum and Thyatis, and the skill of Ylaruam's craftsmen is second to none.
"There are poor folk in Ylaruam, but they are far less desperate than the wretched poor in the slums of the other cities of the world. The Eternal University is one of the finest in the world, and scholars may be seen lecturing or discoursing in plazas and gardens throughout the city. And the Sultan's palace and the Vouchery District is splendid with its colourful mosaics, fountains, gardens, and the magnificent Great Throne Room with the great arched ceiling."
Other Towns: "Parse is a comfortable caravan stop, but not a very profitable market; the Makistani prefer their ponies over our magnificent stallions, and their pony-hair blankets and tents over our fine silk and wool fabrics. Ctesiphon is a nasty spot, but has lots of money from the local mining projects. Cinsa-Men-Noo is the nicest town in Nithia, not that it is much of a distinction, and a good market in summer when the nomads are encamped. Surra-Man-Raa is a disgrace. The Sultan should take a couple of divisions and clear that place up once and for all. I certainly won't trade there. Tameronikas is a lovely climate, lots of quality imported goods, and keen traders to deal with. It is always a challenge, but always profitable. Abbashan is a clean enough town, but an unprofitable market for anything but coffee, weapons, and fine horses."
How to Get Rich and Famous: "Buy coffee, spices, textiles, and expensive household crafts in Darokin, Karameikos, or Thyatis. Sell high in Tameronikas, or better yet, ship across the caravan routes and sell at twice the price in Ylaruam, or three times the price in a rural market. Buy the best horses from the nomads, the best rugs and pottery from rural craftsmen and weapons, glass, and jewelry from urban craftsmen, and export them. Then invest your money in mining or an import/export firm.
"Get to know the right people, get a well permit, get a charter from an emir for a new dominion, and build yourself a comfortable country estate. Support wilderness expeditions because sooner or later one may uncover some treasure or ancient artifact, and your fortune is made.
Hot Tips: "To earn your stake, dig around at the Vouchery of the Provinces. Those fellows know all about the hidden treasures of the wilderness, and are eager to con you into chasing after them. Provinces will put you in touch with other rough-and-ready entrepreneurs, and may have suggestions for backers to touch for investment capital.
"Mining metals and precious stones is the wealth of the future. As the northern and southern highlands are cleared of savages and monsters, they will become among the richest mineral deposits in the world."