Magan

Magan lies across a narrow strait from Punt: wide savannah rising to rough, gem- and ore-rich uplands inland. The Magani are tall, with ebony skin, shaved scalps and white-painted faces, and they wear towering headdresses of cowrie shells and lion's mane; they are said to welcome strangers. Other lands may have richer gold and diamonds, but Magan produces more copper than anywhere in Gondwana, so much that it is used freely for tools and plating.

The land was enslaved by Atlantean colonists in the First Age and later garrisoned by Hesperian Amazons; both times the Magani threw off their masters, learning much from them. Since then its only close tie is to Sheba, which buys copper, gold, diamonds, ivory, rhino horn and the skins of leopard, lion and zebra. Great herding families working vast ranches enjoy wide local respect. The back country along Samu and Awalawa holds small dragons and other beasts, bandits and the dreaded Afiti, and unicorns sometimes stray into the pastures.

The monarch, a trained warrior and mage, is chosen from the whole extended royal family, concubines and consorts included, through a three-day test of military and magical skill, and can be blocked only by a unanimous vote of the uncrowned royals. Society runs from the exclusive Regal class through Warriors, Scholars, High Citizens and Citizens to Beggars, who must register and owe labor, and Slaves, many bought along Sheban routes; arrested foreigners are often sold. The official faith is the fanatical, witchcraft-like cult of the Old God Ash, with the King as High Priest and occasional human sacrifice; rival cults are tolerated only while they stay meek.