Mazgourrah is the northernmost of the major Ratani Emirates. It lies on the Silk Road, a major caravan route running from Lirith Kai and points west through Mazgourrah into the southeast. To the northeast of Mazgourrah is the World's Edge, a gigantic cliff which separates the high and arid Rirorni Plains from the lower but equally dry land of Ratan and the well-watered An-Kiu Valley which is the heart of the Empire of Lirith Kai. To the southeast of Mazgourrah is a smaller cliff, the Ratan Scarp, which separates the short-grass uplands from the sandy wastelands that extend to within a hundred miles or so of the An-Kiu.

The city of Mazgourrah sits on a high point overlooking the large sunken valley of the Gourrah, cut into the uplands by the actions of wind and occasional water almost to the level of the low desert west of the Scarp. The Gourrah is watered by several reliable springs as well as the intermittent rivers that come down from the World's Edge and the mountains that mark the northern end of the Drakenfell Mountains, and this fertile and lush valley is justly called "the Jewel of Ratan." The Gourrah depression is formed by two rivers, called by the people of the area the Ahdou' Zindra and the Ahdou' Amounhar; joining in the Gourrah Valley they form the intermittent river known as the Ahdal Gourin, which reaches the An-Kiu River at Zur Danath. The land to the east, above the Scarp, is rolling, becoming hillier as you move to the east, and the short grasses, though unassuming to the eye, are nutritious; many flocks are pastured here. To the west and below the Scarp, the land is barren saving only where springs issue forth from the cliff itself to water small areas; it is a land of sand and stones and twisted brush, and few venture there without great need.

There are three villages in the Valley. Irzind is the northern one--it lies where the Silk Road crosses the Ahdou' Zindra. Irmonar lies well to the east in the canyon of the Ahdou' Amounhar. Irgouran is in the western part of the Valley.

There are seven other villages in the general area--they are considered to be more or less part of the Emirate of Mazgourrah. Yar Bab'na lies to the south on the Silk Road, two hundred miles from Mazgourrah; its allegiance to the Emir is nominal. Izmin lies to the north, where the Silk Road finds a break in the Ratan Scarp; it is some one hundred fifty miles from the Valley and as indifferent to the dictates of Emir Dahalb as is Yar Bab'na. Djanvarah lies at the canyon's mouth where the Ahdal Gourin emerges from the Ratan Scarp; this village freely acknowledges the authority of the Emir. Mil' Houzar lies south of Djanvarah at the foot of the Scarp where springs break forth from the cliff and supply water for crops; it gives no thought to the ruler of Mazgourrah. In the hills northeast of the Valley are three villages, inhabited mostly by shepherds and the weavers of wool; the people of Zin' Adahal, Nouramah, and Mahlak do not consider themselves to be the subjects of any emir, though they will claim to be under the protection of Mazgourrah if asked by strangers.

To the northwest, along the Silk Road, there is no major city until the road enters the Empire of Lirith Kai and reaches the ancient city of Miroi T'Chi-Chang, a matter of four hundred miles or more. To the southeast along the road, at approximately six hundred miles distant, may be found Nou' Imir, another important emirate. Onour Amoun, a third emirate, lies three hundred miles to the east, but the route to it from Mazgourrah is a rough trail only. It is from Onour Amoun that a trail leads up through the northern Drakenfells onto the Rirorni Plain and eventually to Rithakar.