Capital city: Hung-hung. Principal and only port: Bes Pelargic. Pop.: about 50,000,000. Old, cunning and very, very rich empire on the Counterweight Continent, also called the Aurient, because of its gold deposits. Ruled by the Sun Emperor, who is considered by his subjects to be a god (i.e. someone who can kill you instantly for no reason and not have to say sorry). Agatean architecture is inclined towards squat pyramids; there is a wall built round the entire Empire, around twenty feet high and sheer on its inner side, patrolled by the Heavenly Guard in very heavy boots, who jump on the fingers of the terminally inquisitive. Ladders and tall trees anywhere near the wall are emphatically discouraged.