Sultanate of Mashandra

The Sultanate of Mashandra is an independent nation founded near the Rann desert, located in the very south east of Thalia. It maintains a uniquely advantageous geographical position, since not only is it the only nation that borders every major human country, but it also does not share a border with a monster realm.

Desert Guides traverse the harsh landscape to enact the nation's commerce. Mashandra's economy is relatively strong, providing the rest of Thalia with several goods and resources unique to the desert.

The entirety of Mashandra is located bordering the Rann desert, which is huge, dry, and one of hottest areas in the world. The desert also regularly experiences intense sand-storms, making it impossible for any outsiders to explore very far into it, which also serves as a natural defense. The city of Mashandra is hidden deep within the desert and can only be found by casting secret enchantments that reveal passageways through the sand. Only its inhabitants know these enchantments and to divulge them is severely punished. Many nations have tried to conquer Mashandra over the years, but the Rann desert's challenges have caused all to fail. They have a small army that is mostly composed of desert dwellers commanding tamed desert worms. They are decently strong for a guerilla desert force, but otherwise not particularly powerful.

Living Conditions
Upon first sight Mashandra looks like an utopia. The city contains fresh water sources, opulent buildings, and beautiful citizens, a stark contrast compared to the surrounding desert. The palace holds regular feasts made up of exotic delicacies to celebrate the nation's fortunes. Mashandra's history boasts an unparalleled history of safety from both monsters and the armies of human nations.

The secret of Mashandra's success, and the reason it was able to establish a thriving country in a dreadful desert, goes back hundreds of years. The first Sultan of Mashandra somehow captured an earth spirit, trapped her in a secret dungeon, and forced her to obey his commands. It is her power that is responsible for the desert sandstorms and the secret enchanted passageways. Centuries later, she still remains hidden and chained in an underground dungeon below the Royal Palace of Mashandra.

Aside from the desert dwellers and the Sultan, there are no males in Mashandra. The nation's populace is otherwise entirely composed of beautiful women. These women serve the Sultan passionately without objection and run all affairs of the country. The women of Mashandra all share the traits of selflessness, submissiveness, and obedience. This is due to the Sultan's secret: none of these women are human, but dolls given life with magic. All women in the country were either exiled or killed when the first Sultan took power, with the help of a magical genie named Aladdin. Aladdin's magic gave rise to the current citizenry, a host of living dolls that exist to serve the ruler.