Mazgourrah is an independent emirate on the northwestern edge of the region called Old Ratan. The walled city of Mazgourrah sits above the verdant Gourrah--the lush oasis valley that was once known as the Jewel of Ratan. The wealth of the city and its Emir Dahalb te Gour comes partly from its rich fields, which yield three crops a year, partly from the artistry of its silver and goldsmiths (no one knows where the silver and gold come from), and partly from the trade that flows through Mazgourrah between Lirith Kai to the west and the exotic lands of Gath and Sankalh to the southeast.

Old Ratan was once united, an empire in its own right, but that time is barely legend now. About eight hundred years ago, it was conquered by Lirith Kai, and it remained a part of the Swordsman Empire for three hundred years. Nearly five hundred years ago, when the Empire was weakened by internal strife, the Ratani Emirates gained their freedom--but Lirith Kai is strong again, and they watch the west uneasily.

The walls of Mazgourrah the City are of golden limestone quarried from the cliffs that rim the valley; the city within is of golden stone and orange brick. The walls have four gates, which are closed at sunset: the Caravan Gate faces south toward Ratan, the unwalled serai quarter lies beyond it; the Valley Gate faces west toward the Gourrah; the Swordsman's Gate faces the north--toward Lirith Kai; and the Gate of Fear faces east, from which direction come Rirorni raiders--and dragons. The buildings are tall and narrow, dome-roofed, with bow windows protected by elaborately carved wooden lattices. The main street of the city--the Emir's Parade--runs from the Swordsman's Gate to the Caravan Gate, passing the Emir's palace and the main market plaza. The Street of the Gourrah crosses the Emir's Parade in the main plaza and connects the other two gates. The rest of the streets are narrow and crooked, most of them little more than alleys between the tall buildings.

The Emir Dahalb is a benevolent despot--all power is his, but he is not an unreasonable man, and he takes the responsibilities that come with his privilege very seriously. The Gourrans are prosperous, content, and law-abiding. Even the travelers--regarded as fair game by most cities along the trade routes--are treated fairly and not charged more than twice what a local would pay for goods and services. The Emir, threatened on the east by the constant menace of Rirorni raiders and on the south by the quarrelsome and greedy Ratani Emirates, keeps a large, well-trained army.

When the Emperor of Lirith Kai suggested Mazgourrah for the site of an arena, Emir Dahalb did not feel he could refuse--the army of Mazgourrah is as a raindrop to the lake of Lirith Kai's forces--but it made him uneasy. Lirith Kai has lately been seeking to reestablish the old ties with the Emirates. The Emperor's suggestion that the arena be temporarily affiliated with the Charter Cities and the Free Blades advanced arena surprised him--and pleased him. His feelings on the transfer to the Lirin Kiv advanced arena are not known. The arena was built on the edge of the serai quarter southeast of town; it is a splendid structure of the local golden stone with two blocks of apartment-like residences attached for the use of teams who don't want to go to the time and expense of building their own guildhouses. The fights are popular with travelers and visitors to the city, and the presence of the arena should enhance Mazgourrah's standing among the other Ratani Emirates.