Raynland

Raynland was formed in the year 203 AM and is known for its education system, subsistence and trade based lifestyle, and entertainment. Raynland was the first country to be officially formed following the Anarchy Wars and was once one of the largest geographic areas in the world, however it is now one of the smallest countries, with an even smaller population.

## History

### Early history

Raynland was formed in 203 by Ecoute, a Direct Son of Patrick. Following the death of Patrick and Lecrivain, Ecoute was given three pieces of the Bible to spread across the world. Before the Exodus, her family had been from the area that went on to become Raynland, so she chose it as the base where she would spread the word of her brother. To Ecoute, the most effective way to spread Madelinism was to communicate it, both by learning efficient methods of communication, and by translating its texts into multiple languages. Ecoute's understanding of her brother's ideals were a peaceful one, and her wish for the spread of Madelinism was to achieve a more peaceful and harmonious world.

After reaching the land that would become Raynland, Ecoute slowly gathered followers until she had enough to start a University. During the Anarchy Wars, it remained as only one of two possible universities, which brought many more followers. Ecoute proved to be an extremely effective leader and her followers quickly grew in number until she was able to form not just a larger university, but an entire nation. This nation was named Rainrend, later changed to Raynland to suit Fransay.

Around this time, Ecoute had a son with an unknown follower of hers, and in the same year, adopted another boy who had been born on the same day. As she grew older, Ecoute began to leave more responsibility to her two sons as well as a handful of her most trusted followers. By the time of her death, Raynland had extended to include not just the original island where it had been born, but also the span of multiple countries on all sides of it. On her death bed, Ecoute gave each of her sons their text and part of her land. To Udhin Gould, her adopted son and her favorite of the two, she gave him the small but extremely lush and lucrative land that would go on to become Dhabbab. To Lot I, she gave a large patch of land to the north of Raynland, where the land was too frigid and radioactive for most plants or animals to thrive. Lot I was enraged and swore revenge on his mother's legacy.

### Development into modern Raynland

After losing much of the extended land it had gained in the last forty years of Ecoute's life, Raynland became a much more insular and self contained nation. Once again, Raynland decided to focus on its education and return to its roots. Raynland's main university, which still served as its capital, extended into an entire city and more universities across the country began to pop up.

Raynland's culture continued to base itself around its education system, which grew to start at a younger and younger age. The country began to focus on highly specialized academic fields that were difficult to find in other countries, which caused a culture based around outsourcing experts to other countries. When they would eventually return, these citizens of Raynland would want to live their retirement in a country which fully materialized their national ideals. Because of this, Raynland began to work on a life cycle for its inhabitants that followed a strict path of rigorous education through their teen years, specialization in a rare field in early adulthood, work abroad during adulthood, and then spending their middle age and end of life back in Raynland in small, community-based towns.

### The Lottish-Raynish Conflict

From the time of Ecoute's death onwards, Lot and Raynland had a tense political relationship, with Lot being the only country which accepted no Raynish experts and Lottish students being disallowed at Raynish universities. While inter-country travel and commerce was allowed, it was frowned upon. In 500 AM, with little warning, things suddenly shifted for the worse. Without notice, Lot invaded a Northern portion of Raynland, knowing its military was too great of a force to be fought against. The invasion was sparked by the new king of Lot, Lot VIII ascending to the throne after the death of his father.

A message was sent to Raynish citizens in areas near where the invasion happened, offering an ultimatum. If they surrendered, they would be taken as prisoners and used as indentured servants at the Imperial Palace. If they tried to fight, Lot would extend their military control and kill millions of Raynish people. While a small number agreed and surrendered, most refused, expecting help from foreign allies. However, when no country rose to the occasion, panic began to set in. Many more surrendered themselves, and military groups began to form themselves, despite Raynland traditionally being a pacifistic nation with no military.

The same year as the invasion, a new King of Raynland was elected, Rayn Birue. Rayn campaigned against surrendering at any cost, and led multiple guerilla groups who would sneak into Lot occupied land and regain it. Rayn was an exceedingly popular leader and held support from most of his country, who followed him into battle. In 505 AM, Rayn brought his family into one of the war torn areas as a show of solidarity with the people living there, and the soldiers who were putting their own lives on the line. Unfortunately, there was a surprise raid when Lot heard Rayn's family would be near, and his son, niece, and many other family members were taken captive.

Rayn's son, Jadoe Birue, was held captive for five years as a servant in Lot before Rayn was given yet another ultimatum. King Lot VIII would allow Jadoe to go free in exchange for Rayn's captivity. Realizing his loss would seriously hurt morale and the chances of holding lines against Lot, Rayn refused, essentially giving permission for his son to be executed. This was a controversial choice, however one that would later aid Rayn. As time passed, his choice was deemed the correct one, and his son, who survived his execution, would become a highly divisive figure in Raynish culture because of his strong ties to Lot and his rejection of Raynish culture.

As of 516 AM, only the major cities and Southern border of Raynland are truly safe and fully free of Lottish occupation.

## Culture

### Education

Raynish culture prizes education above all else and sees wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence as the most admirable traits. A lack of intelligence or education is stigmatized and essential, yet unskilled, careers are seen with distaste. Passion or drive are viewed as essential to life and success, and a genuine love for one's field of study is almost required to survive the seemingly endless years of school required for them.

### Food and drink

Raynland is one of only two countries in the world to not regularly consume Plastiks. While Plastiks are available in some major cities, for foreign students, the majority of Raynish people are unable to consume or digest them. Subsistence farming is an extremely common career for retired Raynish people, so meals based around meats and vegetables are common. Often, a neighborhood will strategize which neighbors grow which crops and trade with each other, to ensure that everyone receives enough food, as well as a healthy variety.

### Tattoos and robes

One of the most well known and distinct aspects of Raynish culture is its traditional tattoos. This tradition began with Ecoute, herself, who often tattooed herself as a way of remembering important events and aspects of her life. While her two sons did not take part, her followers admired the idea and followed suit. Before 490 AM, it was common for older Raynish people to have tattoos across the majority of their body, as well as their face, hands, and feet. However, as tensions grew worse with Lot and people began to consider ways to safely hide their ethnicity in the case of a full scale war, it became far less common to tattoo one's face or hands.

A person's first tattoo is usually given very young in life, in the form of a family's insignia or a motto the parents wish for their child to keep close with them, over the center of their chest. As they grow older, they will continue to add important life events, relationships, realizations, and moments in the form of tattoos, extending from their chest, until eventually, their bodies will be covered. Many times, these tattoos are extremely intimate or personal, and because of this, seeing one's skin is much more taboo in Raynland than in other places. While it is socially acceptable to show most of one's arm or leg, showing one's torso is extremely rare. Many Raynish people will go their whole lives without seeing more than maybe one or two other Raynish person's full body.

Despite this, scholar's robes often have slits in the arms and legs to show off more publicly visible tattoos, as these areas tend to often be where academic and success related tattoos are done. Scholar's robes are traditional clothing made for academics in Raynland, which are dark, velvet robes, embroidered and decorated with the insignia, motto, and other information of a school attended by the wearer. Often, they will also contain information embroidered into them, such as someone's research, major, or other accomplishments. At formal events, people will typically wear scholar's robes. People who are at some of the highest levels of academia will wear them on a daily basis, however they usually wear more comfortable and plain variations of them, often even lacking any school or major information.

In the event of a marriage, it is common for Raynish people to wear Gift Gowns, which are sheer, short tunics made from dark fabrics. They show significantly more skin than is regular for Raynish clothes and they help to mark marriages as ceremonies for those who are intimately close and associated with the parties getting married.

## Related characters

Jadoe Birue is originally from Raynland, as well as its former prince.

Bichou Birue is Jadoe's cousin and one of the many Raynish prisoners held captive at the Imperial Lottish Palace.

Arigne Deco is a Raynish scholar working in Dhabbab.