Hot on the heels of the first Gazetteer which covered the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, we now get a similar book but this time dedicated to the Emirates of Ylaruam, a kind of Middle Eastern inspired section of the Known World, it gives some nice variety to the world by adding some detail to a very different setting within the world.

As is usual with these things, particularly those coming out in the 80s and earlier, the book trades a lot on orientalist stereotypes and I’d strongly advise people using the gazetteer today to exercise both good judgement a research skills outside the book itself to give the world a more fleshed out and less cardboard “Arab caricatures” feel to the setting.

There is enough value here, however, to help develop adventures in an Arabian Nights style of setting with plenty of plot hooks as well as detailed maps and descriptions of both large cities like Kirkuk and smaller trade villages such as Tameronikas which can work as good quest hubs. An interesting thing is the middle-section handout for players, giving them the information “everybody knows” about the setting while the DM keeps the secrets of the Ylaruam Emirates to themselves.