Ophir

Ophir lies on Gondwana's Atlantean coast, with the Hesperian colony of Maia to the north, the Avakuli of Pemba to the south and trackless Awalawa inland. The mountainous north, roamed by manticores, griffins and sphinxes, holds little cave settlements in its sandstone cliffs; the eastern and southern jungles are empty of people, so the population crowds into rich coastal trade towns. Ophirians are black-skinned and nearly as tall as Nubians, dressed in loose white kaftans and elaborate burnooses and heavy with gold and copper jewelry.

Its mines yield more gold, diamonds and lead than anywhere else, plus silver, copper, quartz and a little tin and iron. It is a key trading partner of Atlantis, with links through Okalo and Marhashi to Sheba, and Atlantean influence has fostered serious magical and alchemical study, centered on the university at the capital, Khaffir. Khaffir's entertainments rival those of Tharshesh, and some towns hold week-long festivals every full moon, but wealth and rich visitors draw swarms of thieves.

The large, well-equipped army is too busy guarding frontiers to police the cities: Avakuli raiders cross from Pemba despite trade agreements, and beasts from Awalawa prey on the southeast. Kings of an unbroken line reaching back to Hesperian times rule fairly and are trusted, with councils of elders made up of hunters, warriors and shamans running each town and advising the King. The shamanistic worship of a vast, confusing pantheon of Old Gods gets plenty of lip service but little real belief, as people turn to philosophy instead.