House of Crows: Relationship with Rivain

## The Crows of Antiva and the Peoples of Rivain

The word alliance is a rather capricious term to use when describing the relationship between the Antivan Crows and the nation of Rivain. The Crows do not have allies or ‘friends’, they simply have benefactors. That being said, Rivain is quite easily the one place on ‘friendliest’ terms with the assassin’s guild.

For hundreds of years the Crows have had relations with Rivain, or more specifically the people. Back when the bulk of the nation was still dominated by tribal communities and the Crows was a tiny force with a mere fraction of the merit and power that it has in the present day Thedas, it was an alliance built on necessity. The Crows leaned on the Rivaini peoples for things such as resources, trade, education, but most importantly of all: safe harbor. In a world that originally hated rather than feared the Crows, a land that was considered uncivilized, heretical and, for the most part, absent of law, was a great asset to the guild for obvious reasons. That being said, to a nation as vulnerable as Rivain, which had a number of people vying for control of it and it’s people, having something like the Crows at their disposal and in their favor certainly wasn’t an inconvenience.

Over time the relations between the guild and the tribes of Rivain grew, the mutual allegiance forming and benefitting both parties involved. Eventually many Crows took on donning elaborate tattoos, both of insignificant, primarily geometric designs and intricate symbols mimicking that of the tribes that the Crows sought to gain favor of, as a show of trust and a declaration of allegiance. In turn, the peoples were not only impressed, but they followed suit; donning markings of the Crows and even going so far as open and vocal support as time passed. This tradition has continued to present day, if perhaps in a quieter manner. The allegiance does not need to be declared so much when it is rather common knowledge.

Still, if you inquired Rivaini royals and nobles, they would deny such things. The actual dealings with the Crows usually lies within the common people and those on the lower, shadier depths of the social hierarchy. That being said, the Rivaini government certainly wouldn’t do anything to hinder the Crows, and many speculate that the Crows in fact have unlimited movement within the nation, the second largest compound built within in addition to the rumor of many other hidden bases throughout. The Rivaini themselves are not without fear of the Crows. Their quasi alliance doesn’t exclude any of them from attacks and the enactment of contracts. A Crow would not have second thoughts to take out a contract on a Rivaini official or even a member of royalty, as has been demonstrated a few times throughout history. Still, the alliance (or more appropriately ‘business relationship’, as it is more akin to a sense of trust rather than a true political alliance) has been maintained, acknowledged and built upon for hundreds of years, and will remain so until the Crows no longer consider it to be in their benefit. The moment that changes however, it is likely the Crows will not hesitate to act in their own advantage.