Riveta

**Riveta** (Rivetan: *Rivéta*) or the **Holy Kingdom of Rivéta** is a landlocked country located between the Bahktlan and Aruk mountain ranges in the Olgrograk Valley, named for the Olgrograk River.

The country is continually ruled by a succession of three or four *kalaps* (kings) who rule from the Palace of the Seven in the city of Sevásten. The tradition of an oligarchy comes from a event known as the *Great Convention* at which four chiefs from the violent peoples of Olgrograk Valley met and outlined the creation of a single kingdom that would protect their peoples from surrounding countries. Eventually one of the tribes fell out of favor with the nobles, the Arrielians, and thus the number of kings became three.

Much of the country is self-sufficient, having large mountain ranges on three sides of the kingdom. The only way out besides the southern part of the country is through the eastern passage, which leads into nearly uninhabited steppeland before giving way to the unforgiving rocky coastline of upper Lietuva. Most Rivetans farm cereal crops like barley, rye, or rice or raise goats and sheep. A small portion of the population are artisans, making a variety of goods.

## Etymology

The word *Rivéta* comes from the Rivetan religion. The afterlife in the traditional religion is a lush, farm-filled valley known by many names. At the time of the creation of Riveta, the word "Rivéta" was used. It is thought that King Urma I himself came up with this name. Other languages have adopted spellings of the country's name as well. In Ahremian and most other Ivlonian languages it is simply *Riveta*. In most Buthenian languages, it is known as *Ricetara*. In Halak (a northern Raivonian language) it is *Rifatta* and in Lietuvan it is *Hifedia.*

## Geography

Riveta is located entirely in a mountain valley known as the Olgrograk Valley. The Bahktlan Mountains form the valley's western and northern edges, while the Aruk Mountains form the western edge. The northern and western parts of country are primarily coniferous forests while the southern area is primarily plains which eventually join with the Halak Steppeland in northern Raivon.

The Olgrograk River is the country's main waterway and flows southward through the valley. Near its headwater at the joining of two smaller rivers is the country's capital and largest city, Sevásten. In the west is the fortress of Kirktusk and its surrounding city and in the east of the valley is Ehrgirbin, the country's second largest city. In the south are the heavily Buthenian influenced cities of Arriel and Jehle. Spread out through the country lies hundreds of small towns and villages in which the vast majority of the population live. The population of the country's largest city of Sevásten is said to be about 90,000 - for comparison the population of Ehrgirbin is about 19,000.

Riveta is bordered by the Kingdom of Buthenia to the south, Lietuva to the east, Gherraladan Lan to the north and an area known as the "wild lands" to the west. Its primary trading partners are Buthenia, Lietuva, and Raivon. Although in close proximity to Ahremia, Riveta does not maintain many connections with the rest of Ivlon.

## Economy

The currency used in Riveta is the *laik*, which derives from the Buthenian *mirrerlaik*, first minted in the late 9th century SY. One laik (RL) is thought to equal 0.377 ASC. The general conversion rate is 1 RL = 0.37 ASC, even though the laik rarely makes it way into the Ahremian economy.

Much of Riveta's economy is based around the trade of cereal crops, animal products, and quarried resources. Many of these goods are floated on the rivers of the valley rather than brought overland, as Riveta lacks any meaningful road network. Many of the cities of Riveta developed around a *khubaz* (a sort of fenced in corral/livestock market), as the trade of livestock and animal products has always been the backbone of Riveta's economy.

## Culture

### Religion

Although Riveta has no official religion and no religion is enforced, most Rivetans follow the traditional Rivetan pantheon. The pantheon consists of five gods who are worshiped at temples. The gods are usually worshipped through physically praying in an altar room or through the attendance of sermons or by making small offerings at shrines. Most temples consists of living quarters for the clergy and a main altar room. The temple of each town plays an important role in organizing festivals and maintaining order through the hiring of mercenaries using funds gathered from offerings.

Most Rivetans pray briefly in the morning every day and then attend a communal prayer service in the evenings one or two times each week. Some Rivetans who show particular aptitude in their understanding of the pantheon will become voluntary members of the *vluda* - or clergy. Members of this lower clergy may be selected to be provided to by the temple funds, at which time they will become a type of monk called a *hsagut*. One of these monks (generally the oldest) will be selected to give sermons and have a public presence and will become the *nahsagut* (or priest).

Every temple constitutes a part of the collective Temple of the Five, an ancient institution which owns almost a quarter of all land in Riveta and plays a part in almost every aspect of Rivetan society.

### Daily Life

#### Food and Drink

Rivetan cuisine is not necessarily any different from the cuisine of Buthenia, Lietuva, or any other country in the region. The most common foods eaten in Riveta are bread, rice, cheese, and vegetables. Most Rivetans will have either some sort of barley cake, slice of bread, or rice with any meal. Many different ways are used to prepare rice in Riveta. There is *civan* (onion-rice), *hzirta* (apple-rice) and *arelkira* (corriander-rice). Bread is usually eaten with goat or cow cheese or butter. The most basic Rivetan meals consist of rice cooked in some sort of vegetable broth on top of which shredded cheeses, butter, steak, sausages, onions, or other vegetables are placed. The dish is similar to a rice pilaf.

It is seldom that a Rivetan will have anything but water, milk, or a light tea during their day. Teas are brewed from mountain herbs although in cities herbs could be from a variety of places. Some wealthy Rivetans drink juices such as apple juice, but the amount of fruit (an already rare ingredient in Riveta) needed to press juice makes drinking juice an impossibility for most people of Riveta.