Earía

**Earía** (Rivetan: *Iarrita*), officially known as the **Kingdom of Earía**, and known contemporarily as **Hilvvetica** was a large kingdom located northeast of Buthenia, northwest of Ahremia, and west of Lietuva, occupying roughly the same territory as the modern-day kingdom of Riveta. Although the date of the kingdom's founding is unknown, in legends the founder is *Ers-Aktrikbaun, Chief of the Needs -* who was a chief of the Needs, a tribe from the south-central Olgrograk Basin. The kingdom was invaded multiple times by Raivon and Buthenian tribes, as well as being subject to raids by barbarians from the wild lands.

The kingdom was most notable for being the birthplace of Pretor, the prophet of Pretorism. Soon after Pretor's death in about 150 SY, Earía was invaded by a coalition of Raivonian tribes, who sacked the capital of Zevaasten and captured the king, Yinnar. In a deal with the Kingdom of Mesralla, Yinnar was allowed to be exiled to Mesralla in exchange for clemency with Earía's Ahremian allies. After the sack of Zevaasten, the kingdom's lands were divided up between Raivon chiefs.

## History and People

Earía's placement in the upper lands of Ivlon put it in a poor position. It was bordered on nearly all sides by much more tribal, uncivilized lands. Despite this, the kings of Earía were able to make alliances with the northern Ahremian kingdoms, notably Mesralla and Norbrampton. Unfortunately, the physical path to these allies went through the lands of both hostile Buthen tribes and various warring city-states of Lietuva, one of the banes of Earía's existence.

The formation of Earía began when a semi-legendary chief of the Needs tribe, named Ers-Aktrikbaun, united the tribes of the Olgrograk Basin under one banner. Although most tribes offered their vassalage in exchange for protection, some resented and migrated into Lietuva, beginning a large migrational period that would result in the de-Ahremianization of the Lietuvan language, and the founding of the *Pers o Metra,* a communal city center in Lietuva.

Although Ers-Aktrikbaun had formal control of the tribes, his authority was limited. The main functions of his government was to draft, collect, and organize a central army to protect against invasions, and collect taxes to build forts and fortifications along the border. Ers-Aktrikbaun would allow, in his will, his advisor to succeed him as king.

### Pretor

(main article: Pretor)

In about 100 SY, a man named Pretor was born in rural Earía. His parents were Anni (or Anna) and Lwestre - a local miller. In the stories of Pretorism, his father was extremely abusive and his mother died shortly after his birth. Tribal religion dictated that the largest families were of better quality to smaller families, meaning Pretor was one of 14 children. After Anni died giving birth to his 14th sibling, nearly all his siblings would die over the next couple years, leaving only him, a brother, and a set of twin sisters.

His father, Lwestre, grief stricken and depressed, would consistently leave the village to the cities to gamble and drink. Pretor, being the oldest, put his brother in the care of relatives and planned to marry his sisters to two local boys. Unfortunately, both his sisters would die in a plague that swept Earía in the 120s SY.

The young Pretor, left with nothing, packed up what little he had - including various pagan idols - and began the journey to Zevaasten, hoping the preach for money. On his way, he was visited by an apparition of Tyn (the patriarchal god of Pretorism) who convinced Pretor of his power by destroying his idols in a single snap of his fingers. Converted, Pretor journeyed to Zevaasten where he formed the first cell of Pretorism. The rest of his life he spent preaching the words of Tyn, who he received regular visions from, and eventually his followers became known as Pretorians.

Pretor would die by being burned alive in the square of the city on Montescue, in Elvekia. His preachings would spread after his death, and by the 1500s, nearly all Ivlonian nations embrace Pretorism as their religion.

### Later Years

Earíans tough placement among hostile peoples eventually would be its downfall. Soon after Pretor's death in about 150 SY, Earía was invaded by a coalition of Raivonian tribes, who sacked the capital of Zevaasten and captured the king, Yinnar. In a deal with the Kingdom of Mesralla, Yinnar was allowed to be exiled to Mesralla in exchange for clemency with Earía's Ahremian allies. After the sack of Zevaasten, the kingdom's lands were divided up between Raivon chiefs.

## Language

The Earíans spoke *Earían*, a dead language that evolved from the Needic (tribal) languages. It is loosely related to both Lietuvan and Buthenian, yet little record of it survives. A Earían scholar, named Macsus, visited Eisenhall in around 200 SY - and recorded some vocabulary and grammar of his language in writing. These writings are the only complete record of the language.