Hesperia

Hesperia is a warm, sunny island in the River Oceanus between Gondwana and Atlantis, rich in fruit trees, edible plants and clear streams. Its Amazons are a warlike, female-ruled people: only women may fight, own property or hold power, and men are thought fit only for menial or heavy work. Their empire once rivalled First Age Atlantis but fell after the Cataclysm to disasters, war with Gorgos and inner strife, and the revival of Atlantis, a rash war with Qaddan and the growth of Ophir and Tharshesh have shrunk it since. Hesperia and Gorgos are still formally at war, locked in stalemate.

Its navy, reckoned at over a hundred warships, guards the Oceanus, and a separate naval branch handles all sea trade since private enterprise is banned. Its archers, heavy cavalry and elite honor guard are among the region's best, and its unicorn-mounted lancers may be the finest light horse anywhere, though too few mounts keep them under about 100. Atlantis and Ophir are believed to have defense pacts with it, and it swaps gems, cattle, wine and produce for Atlantean steel and Ophirean gold and diamonds.

The queen rules absolutely and is high priestess of the warrior goddess Hesperus; she and her advisors, all paladins, lead army and faith alike, and any other religion means death. Hesperians are tall, bronze-skinned and dark-haired, few women under six feet and elite troops at least six and a half. Nymphs, bright birds and lions share the jungle interior beneath the dormant twin volcanoes Electra and Mena, while people live along the coast in marble homes amid gardens and fountains. Only Amazons may live in any settlement, including splendid Chersonopolis; foreigners must explain their visit to the guard to earn a one-month pass.