Rivain

## Intro

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Rivain is a human nation unlike any other in Thedas, where the culture of the Qun butts up against tribal beliefs and the Chantry competes for influence. The country is bordered almost entirely by water, save for a land bridge to the northwest connecting it to Antiva. The two nations share the picturesque Rialto Bay, but little else. Because of its location and the lack of Chantry authority beyond Dairsmuid, Rivain is a favoured home of raiders and those who wish to skirt Chantry laws common in other human nations.

## Ruling Dynasty

The ruling queen of Rivain is Miraya Zeyase, who came into her position while still in her teens. Now she is in her mid-twenties and already have several heirs. She is known for her outspoken views towards the Chantry, partly, it is said, because she might have family among mages.

### Government/Ruling Model

Rivain is a Monarchy and ruled by Miraya Zeyase, a queen who had her coronation in her teens, married young and has already had heirs at the age of twenty-five. This monarchy reflects the views of the country, their monarch is outspoken against the Chantry and has varied views on other delicate issues both within and outside of her country. As with most monarchies she has a Privy Council which is made up of various leaders throughout the country as well as people the monarch trusts. Since it is rumoured that the Queen has mages in her family it would not be a surprise if there was a mage advisor on her council. Generally she takes their advice but only if she genuinely believes in it. This is the system of all Rivaini monarchs and they are often successful or failures depending on whom sits on the privy council.

## Nobility

Culturally, Rivain is known to stand very much apart from Andrastian ways, though certainly many of them are genuine believers. The noble class, who know better than many the hostility this kind of attitude can breed from the rest of Thedas, make public displays of loyalty and refuse to deal with the "heathen" Qunari as a result.

Among themselves many nobles secretly hold to the traditional faith of their people, holding the Natural Order sacred and holding dialogue with the local seers, so revered in the minds of the Rivaini. However, a sharp divide now exist between these conservative nobles and those who have genuinely converted to the Andrastian faith. Aside from this there is nowhere near as much internal strife among the upper class of Rivain as in, for instance, Orlais and Antiva. As a people Rivaini place little value on economy and embrace a cooperative spirit, leaving little room for greed or selfish ambition.

## Politics

Considering the collectivist culture of the Rivaini people the “politics” in Rivain are mostly for show at the highest levels to appease the Chantry and other states. Politics with the Raiders will be the most genuine version of it, with the state of trade and other naval activity dependant on these agreements with Felicisima Armada. Generally the tribal and clan politics are minimal, for the Seers and Oracles are revered and the nobility care more about the “cooperative spirit” of the country than the self serving politics of other nations.

## Connections with other countries

Due to their proximity Rivain has the closest contact with Tevinter and Antiva. With the former there is always tension, particularly when Tevene’s hunt for slaves and steal resources. With the latter there is a trading relationship, and most certainly a naval bond since Rivain’s ports are often filled with Antivan merchants and vessels as well as Felicisima Armada ships. Llomerryn is technically Rivaini land and plays host to almost every Raider on the Waking Sea. There is also sometimes tension between Rivain and Antiva over Rialto Bay. Regarding the rest of Thedas, Rivain is so far north very little is known about it. Mostly they are thought to be the home of pirates and hedge mages, which is a fairly good description, truth be told. Trading agreements exist between Rivain and all Thedosian countries.

## Connections with factions/organised groups

Within Rivain there are far too many groups to recount, but the largest and most influential are:

* The Oracles - they have political and social obligations and so wield power within Rivain.
* The Seers - twice a year the Seers meet and in their council they make trade agreements - these deals are auspicious. They also pledge loyalty to the monarch. There are also feasts, lavish gift-giving ceremonies, and musical contests.
* The Resolutionists - the rebel mages have a base in Nueva Libertad and a heavy presence in other parts of Rivain.
* The Dalish - outside of the city of Llomerryn, upon the island of the same name and on the coast opposite there are Dalish communities in semi-permanent settlements.
* The Qunari - the Qun has its largest presence and influence in Rivain and is welcomed there, though the further north you go the heavier the Qun’s influence.
* Felicisima Armada - Raider ships are common in Rivain, though few go further north than Kont-Aar.

## Culture

The Rivaini have skin tones ranging from dark tan to ebony. Social standing in Rivain is often marked by tattoos and body piercings. The more elaborate one's decorations, the higher one's rank. The Rivaini are traditionally a matriarchal people and many believe that women are best suited to ruling. Most Rivaini communities are governed by elder women, the most senior of these women being the above-mentioned seers.

The Rivaini, though possessing a currency-based economy as other nations do, place no real value on the accumulation of individual wealth and instead promote the idea of community welfare. As such, communities work together to support each other, sending supplies to other communities when needed.

### Language

Those who live in Rivain more than likely speak their mother tongue to one another fluently, as they fought hard to break away from Tevinter and keep their culture their own, but since the Rivaini do not have the same moral/ social stigma against other races, and given it’s placement of a mainly “Port” country, Rivaini people tend to learn many languages. Since they have Qunari settlements in Rivain, and many Qunari emissaries, and Qun converts, Qunlat are often part of a Rivaini’s language palate, and given its neighboring country of Antiva, speaking enough Antivan to get by is also helpful. Being a trade town, the trade tongue would be necessary, so Common Tongue and Rivaini is probably the most widespread, and enough or Qunlat/Antivan/Tevene to get by is common.

### Art

Rivaini people often use their bodies as a canvas for their art. They actually sort their social order through peircings and tattoos, the move one has, the more detailed and extravagant, the higher one sit’s on the social pecking order. They also tend to focus on music and short plays that tell moral stories, or warnings.

### Fashion

Rivaini clothes are comfortable and flamboyant at the same time. Lightweight loose cottons, linens and silk clothes because of the heat in the island. Women put on skirts, a top and a headscarf that is made from calico, while men wear trousers and shirts with designs of flowers. All wear traditional clothes which - most of the time - hand-made, in a loud, vibrant, and striking colours. Tops vary from short-sleeves to no sleeves for both men and women. They also put on sandals for the footwear. Typically, there's little difference between informal and formal clothing because the need of keeping cool.

They tend to use lots of jewelry, more jewelry come out as a higher status, In addition to their flowing Tattoos, many motifs from nature. Tattoos may vary depending on whether or not a person comes from a specific group, or lives in a specific area. While wearing less or revealing clothing usually not considered a social faux pas, people in some regions closer to jungles wear more clothing (in spite of the heat) in fear of dangerous insects bites.

## Military

Rivain lacks both the great wealth and meticulous, unified structure one would find in the armed forces of Orlais, Tevinter and Nevarra, and so cannot field the same vast, well-equipped armies they can. The Rivaini people and their culture, and thus their army, has been colored by their closeness to the ocean, which has been both a blessing and a curse to them in the past. While they are a true nation, each Rivain settlement takes care of its own affairs first-hand. All these facts have greatly shaped the Rivaini way of war, and their armed forces can be divided into two separate branches.

The first is the town militia. Comparable to the levies of any nation, this all-volunteer force fills the roles of guardsmen, sentries and foot soldiers in times of war. Each city and village is responsible for the raising and maintenance of its own militia, with the result that each company can vary greatly from another in matter of numbers and equipment. For instance the militia of Dairsmuid, the capital, is numerous and stands clad in plate armor and carries fine blades. Meanwhile, the militia of a small coastal village can be few in number and tote short-swords, wooden shields and crooked spears, wearing only leather armor at best. Each town militia is commanded jointly by a Watch Commander and the local Seers.

The second, and far more noteworthy and capable branch, is the Sea Guard of Rivain. Also knows by others as the Rivain Fleet, the Coast Guard or simply the Guard, this is an elite collection of war ships and marines responsible for fending off pirates and foreign attacks.Back in 6:32 Steel, Rivain was conquered by the overpowering Dreadnaughts of the Qunari, and since then have been plagued by raiders and pirates. The Sea Guard was the answer and today they hunt down pirate vessels, escort nobles and wealthy merchants, and stand constant vigil against fresh Qunari insurgence.

Rivain is probably the most fair when it comes to gender in Thedas, and is in fact quite matriarchal. It should be no surprise then that fifty percent of the Guard are female, and two thirds of the officer staff is held by women. The basic hierarchy of the Guard is fairly simple. Each ship, carrying a detachment of anywhere between 10-50 marines depending on the class of ship, is commanded by a Ship-Captain. A brigade of 10 vessels is led by a Brigade-Commander. And finally a fleet of never fewer than 50 war ships are led by a Fleet-Admiral. As of 9:51 Dragon, the Sea Guard fielded some 10 000 troops, counting both sailors and marines. This means that there are currently four Fleet-Admirals, each commanding a fleet of roughly 2500 men.

Second only to the clashes between the fleets of Tevinter and Seheron, the greatest amount of naval conflict is waged between the Sea Guard and their arch-enemies, the Felicisima Armada. The Guard themselves are easy to recognize, as they paint both the sails of their ships and the plates of their armor a deep sea green. As the marines specialize in ship-to-ship boarding and the occasional close-to-shore target they wield smaller, quicker weapons like short-swords, one-handed axes, short bows and buckler shields. Spears, longer sword, long bows and two-handed weapons are unheard of within the Guard. They could serve as competent infantry if pushed but this would not be their area of expertise, and they lack all cavalry. Their overall First Admiral serves closely with the Rivain government, and should Rivain be threatened again it will be the Sea Guard who responds.

## Religion

The only peaceful Qunari settlement on the main continent is in Rivain - in Kont-aar. The influence of the Qun, if not absolute adherence to its teachings, is present throughout the country, getting stronger the closer to Kont-aar you get. The Chantry never truly got a foothold in Rivain, unlike the Qun, and the reason is that the Qun is more similar to the tribal beliefs than the Chant of Light. The Chantry would try to take away Rivaini Seers - the communicating with spirits (which is typical of these hedge mages) forbidden. It is rumoured that the Seers allow themselves to be possessed by Fade denizens and the Chantry prohibition against such magical practices violates millennia of local tradition.

Nowhere in Rivain is the Chantry influence stronger than in Dairsmuid, the capital. Rivaini royalty are Chantry faithful, but also progressive in their beliefs, if only out of necessity. The nation, with its patchwork cultures, remains one entity through consensus and compromise.

The Rivaini people trace their roots to pantheist ancestors, and many in Rivain still believe that their god and the universe are one in the same. The Tribes of Rivain have a myriad of beliefs, but they all follow the basic form of pantheism. One particular form of religion is Xirakè, whose moral code focuses on the vices of dishonour and greed. The priestesses of this religion practice a magic that utilises the craft of Sympathy and souls.

## Views on Magic

Because Andrastianism never took a firm hold in Rivain, the denizens do not look upon magic with fear as many in Thedas do. Though there is an Andrastian Circle in Dairsimmud, it merely pays lip service to the Chantry’s requirements and its inhabitants often lead lives similar to non-mages, including marriage and free movement outside of the Tower. Most Rivaini's secretly revere the women mages of note in their country, specifically the Seers and Oracles.

### Seers

In fact, in accordance with time-honored traditions, the most revered members of a community are mages known as Seers. These women are what may be called hedge mages who learn their craft outside a Circle, usually being apprenticed to an older Seer.

Women who follow this path are trained from the moment their magic manifests, living with the master Seer and shadowing her to learn her ways. A major talent of these mages includes ready and easy discourse with spirits of the Fade. Occasionally, these women allow themselves to be possessed during complicated rituals, but the circumstances of aftermath of such dangerous practices are shrouded in mystery and not revealed to non-Seers.

Regardless of anyone’s personal feelings about possession and magic, Seers are almost universally revered in Rivain, many taking on positions of authority. They may be called upon to deal with dangerous mages or abominations, even in service to Templars, but the Seers’ loyalty always remains with their communities.

### Oracles

Deep in the treacherous swamps, far from civilization, live the Oracles. These are the practitioners of Xirakè, an ancient and obscure religion. These women live in small groups called Covenants, which are made up of smaller covens of priestesses and other practitioners. Their magic is entirely antithetical to that permitted by the Chantry. Their existence is often hidden from the spying eyes of the Chantry for if the Andrastians learned of these women’s whereabouts, there would surely be another Exalted March against them for their rampant heresy and paganism.

Those in desperate need of assistance or guidance might find the courage to seek out these mages and those who are successful often return to their communities changed utterly--wiser and sadder with the knowledge these enigmatic women impart.

## Economics

Rivain works as a collective people, so even though they are a currency based economy, they don’t hold much value for material goods. They have a strong belief in community welfare and those that do well will often reach out to assist those that need it. Rivain is in no way a land of wealth, but they make the most out of what they do have. Which is good, because their idea on mages leaves it difficult to trade with the countries that are heavily influenced by the Chantry.

Luckily, the superiority of their metal works, and their good trade relationships with Qunari, and the Dwarves and the nomadic elves keeps them stable. Rivain is also in the friendliest terms with the Antivan crows, so no other countries go too far out of their way to actually place sanctions on trade with the lawless land.

## Geography

Rivain is a small port country in Eastern Thedas. Rivain shares a border with Antiva and is dominated by coastline almost all the way around; bordered by the Amaranthine Ocean to the South and the Venefication Sea to the North. The geography of the Rivain is greatly diverse, ranging from dry semi-desert plains, to lush valleys, to tropical rain forests and bogs. Its varied climatic zones result in a wide variety of incredibly beautiful vegetation. Rivain consists of a diverse range of highland and lowland areas, all of which contribute in some way or another to the varied beauty of the country, the land tends to get a lot of rain, which combats the lack of rivers and lakes as fresh water sources. Travelers will find magnificent gold or white sand beaches, but the interior has a mountain range that runs along the North, West, and part of the Southern coast line.

Rivain is divided into seven settlments. The capital Dairsmuid. Other major cities include Afsanna, Ayesleigh, Kont-aar (A Qunari settlement), Vindaar (A Qunari Village), Llomerryn (Rumoured to be an Elven settlement.)

### Cities/Provinces

* *Dairsmuid* - capital at the southern end of the Rivaini peninsula. It has an official Circle, but it seems mostly to exist to appease the Andrastean Chantry.

* *Afsaana* - Southern city that is more influenced by Antiva, including a Chantry presence.

* *Ayesleigh' - site of the end of the fourth Blight in 7:54 Exalted. The Grey Warden Garahel defeated the archdemon Andoral in combat, freeing the city and the entire world from the darkspawn.*

* *Kont-aar* - a Qunari settlement located on the northern coast. It's the last holding of the Qunari on the main land of Thedas and is supposed to be well fortified. It is also the sole peaceful Qunari settlement on the continent. Originally, the Qunari ranged all over Rivain, but were pushed back to Kont-aar in 7:84 Storm and the Llomerryn Accord was signed, bringing peace to the nation. Many non-Qunari in this city have converted to the Qun.

* *Vindaar* - a Qunari village located in northern Rivain

* *Llomerryn* - Llomerryn is a politically neutral port city on an island off the coast of Rivain. It is best known for the Llomerryn Accord signed there to end the Exalted Marches and the Qunari Wars that wracked Thedas for almost 150 years. The Island has since become a haven for pirates, brigands, and all manner of criminals. The famed markets and bazaars of Llomerryn overflow with treasures - often pillaged - from far-off lands. The Raiders of the Waking Sea, also known as Felicisima Armada, operate out of Llomerryn.

* *Seere* - Northernmost city in Rivain with a high concentration of Qunari.

### Flora and Fauna

#### Typical Fauna

* wild goat
* wild pig
* deer
* wolf
* lynx
* fox
* rabbit

#### Typical Flora (tree)

* Jacaranda
* Palm
* Sequoia
* Almond
* Ficus
* Fig
* Pine
* Oak
* Olive
* Juniper
* Cork

#### Typical Flora (plants)

* Rosemary
* Lavender
* Pistachio
* Thyme
* Laurel
* Azaleas
* Daffodils
* Aster

### Regional Race Characteristics

"Complexion:" Ranges from Tanned to Dark Ebony
"Common eye colors:" Shades of brown and black
"Common hair colors:" Shades of brown, black
"General Description:" The Rivaini, without being affected by racial heritage, are usually of a short stature, average build and dark, tanned complexion. Typically, their hair-eye color combinations are consisted of brown, black and all the in-between shades.

## History

In -203 Ancient (992 TE) the Rivaini participated in the Battle of the Silent Plains in the southern reaches of Tevinter. Dumat was destroyed and the darkspawn forces routed. Seventy years later they went on to rebel in an attempt to split off from the Tevinter Imperium. They were supported by the eastern cities in the Free Marches. Tevinter launched campaigns to stop the rebellion and after several losses that culminated in the disastrous Battle of Temerin the Imperium finally abandoned the east. The foundation of the Kingdom of Rivain happened in -69 Ancient (1126 TE).

During the Fourth Blight the darkspawn poured into Rivain from Antiva. By 5:24 Exalted: Rivain was freed from the darkspawn during the battle at the city of Ayesleigh, where Garahel died after defeating Andoral in combat. One hundred years after the Fourth Blight the Qunari conquered Rivain. The New Exalted Marches were declared repeatedly by both the Imperial Chantry (to retake Seheron and the eastern city of Qarinus) and The Chantry (to retake Rivain). Three major Exalted Marches occurred. The wars took a terrible toll upon the population of Rivain. The Qunari were eventually pushed back to the city of Kont-Aar. The Llomerryn Accord was signed and peace declared. After 7:84 Storm: The Chantry and nationalist forces of Rivain, unable to convert its people back to the worship of the Maker, try a purge by the sword, slaughtering countless unarmed people and burying them in mass graves.

9:40 Dragon: The Circle of Dairsmuid in Rivain was deemed out of control and The Templar Order tried to Annul it. They failed and the Circle became the first Libertarian stronghold in Thedas.

### Brief Timeline

* 203 Ancient- The Rivaini participate in the Battle of the Silent Plains.

* -145- -75 Ancient- Supported by the Eastern cities in the Free Marches the Rivaini rebel against Tevinter to break away and be a free state.

* -78 Ancient- The rebellion continues through to attempts to quell it, and finally succeeds, Tevinter abandons the East.

* 5:12 Exalted- Andoral awakes and the Fourth Blight begins. Darkspawn spill over from Antiva into Rivain.

* 5:24 Exalted- Andoral is killed by Garahel, and Antiva and Rivain are freed from Darkspawn incursion.

* 6:32-42 Steel- The Qunari conquer Rivain.

* 7:25–85 Storm- The New Exalted Marches are declared repeatedly by both the Imperial Chantry (to retake Seheron and the eastern city of Qarinus) and the Chantry (to retake Rivain). Three major Exalted Marches occur. The wars take a terrible toll upon the population of Rivain.

* 7:84 Storm- The Qunari have been pushed back to the city of Kont-Aar in northern Rivain. The Llomerryn Accord is signed and peace is declared.

* After 7:84 Storm: The Chantry and nationalist forces of Rivain, unable to convert its people back to the worship of the Maker, try a purge by the sword, slaughtering countless unarmed people and burying them in mass graves.