Those who live in the Sensa Empire or who travel through the land experience its wealth, both in riches and deep traditions. #### Aurum Guild Gold mining is a respected career, crucial to the empire’s prosperity. Those who work with the riches of the earth number among the land’s most respect artisans and have few peers. To support its members, the Aurum Guild allows miners and craftspeople to build social and professional connections, better their craft, and organize for improved labor conditions. Each city-state has its own chapter of the guild that pushes back when local rulers make unfair demands of miners for personal benefit—often placing the guild in conflict with those rulers. #### Life and Legends The empire is known for its rich tradition of oral storytelling, in which traveling historian-storytellers known as griots pass down tales from generation to generation. The most common tales are of Emperor Kassa, who founded the Sensa Empire after defeating the now-extinct aurumvoraxes—gold-eating predators—that once plagued the region. The arid land of the Sensan Empire has inspired simple fashions, and Sensans of all genders wear loose cotton tunics, trousers, dresses, or caftans to stay cool. The region’s deserts provide limited opportunities for agriculture. While spices and preserved foods are frequently imported, ocean-caught whitefish and locally grown plantains, cassava, and yams serve as staples of the Sensan diet. #### Split Rule The Sensa Empire’s three city-states are hereditary monarchies united into a coalition under the empress’s control. Historically, rather than a single imperial line controlling the throne, each empress or emperor selects an heir from among the eldest children of each city-state’s monarch. While no law prevents rulers from selecting their own children as heirs, few do so, fearing they’ll fall victim to a terrible curse. Heirs are usually chosen based on merit. #### Wealth of the Empire With gold abundant in the Sensa Empire, there’s no lack of lucrative, respected jobs in the mines, though the work comes with occupational hazards. But the wealth of the empire often draws threats. Banditry is an ongoing problem, and sometimes diplomacy is all that prevents raids from neighboring territories. #### Names Sensan names are typically drawn from significant locations connected to the parents’ relationship, the pregnancy, or the child’s birth: **Feminine.** Aisha, Ayaan, Daniya, Fiza, Imani, Kinza, Laila, Sabah, Tania, Zakia **Masculine.** Abdu, Dakhil, Ehan, Fahim, Haji, Jamal, Kasim, Mahdi, Omar, Zaid **Gender-Neutral.** Akua, Azmi, Ijal, Jami, Maheen, Neeya, Rafi, Razan, Ula, Zuha **Surname.** Abiodun, Buhle, Chike, Emem, Nnadi, Okiro, Zivai