Sacharan Sultanate

The Sacharan Sultanate is a fictional territory on the fictional continent of Rahamra, which is part of the Source Lands Setting, found specifically in the North-Eastern Rahamra, and is the binding link from Rahamra to The Orient.

Geography
The Sacharan Sultanate's territories start at the center of the North-Coast of Rahamra, then reaches down to the Rhun Mountains (which form a natural border separating the arable North-Coast from the Great Desert) and then stretches all the way to the East-Coast. At its height, the territory even extended down along the Eastern Coast, into and beyond the Great Desert. The Sulatanate always had its primary holdings north of the Great Rahamran Desert, but they also had a number of powerful and ancient cities along oasis routes through the desert, and even a few below the desert. During the Imperial Era, anything south of where the Desert begins has been purged, but in the post-imperial Era, these cities have re-emerged as Necropolis.

History
The Sacharan Sultanate was, during the pre-Imperial Era, a powerful and independent nation, built both on academical pursuits as well as occultism. The early Sacharans were obsessed with unlocking the secrets of the Eldar-Race, and built a chaotic and poorly organized collection of City-States from that over-all desire, which eventually was formed into the Sacharan Sultanate, which was a magocratic state.

Imperial Era
During the Imperial Era, the Sacharan Sultanate was subjugated by the Neferan Emirates, who did so on behalf of the Westerland Empire, which controlled them. However, the Sacharan Empire, at its height, was almost three times larger than it it was after the take-over, as the war did not go entirely as expected.

The Cult of the Dark Lord
A powerful Cult dedicated to the Dark Lord existed among the power-elite of the Country, and a very hectic battle ensued between the Westerland Empire and this Cult-Faction. The Cultists had largely adopted necromancy as a tool for their continued advancement, and and attempt was made to purge them. It was largely believed to have been a success, but clearly the Gifts of the Dark Lord were underestimated, and not long after, some of these Necromancers resurfaced as Liches or Vampires.

Post Imperial Era
In the Post Imperial Era, the Necropolis had risen in the desert, and the followers of the Dark Lord were once again a power-house in the former Sacharan Lands. Knowledge of this spurred Crusaders into action, giving them yet another excuse to wage war against the Oriental sphere.

Politics
The Sacharan Sultanate is Feudal Nation that heavily supplements its workforce with Slaves, and are entirely anti-magic, due to their past clashes with the Cult of the Dark Lord. The Country is littered with ancient temples and ruins from ages past, that are guarded heavily, but never explored.

Military
A combination of conscript-soldiers, a military caste of Mameluke (Knight) warriors and some professional soldiers, not too different from how the military works in the Westerland Culture.