Rivain

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Location
Rivain

Type:

Nation

Location:

Northeastern Thedas

Capital:

Dairsmuid

Appearances:

Dragon Age: Origins (referenced in)
Dragon Age II (referenced in)

The nation of Rivain is located in the northern parts of Thedas. Its capital city is Dairsmuid, which is on in the southern end of the Rivain peninsula.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Culture
4 Notable people with Rivain origins
5 Trivia
6 Codex entries
7 References

Geography Edit

Major cities:

Ayesleigh
Dairsmuid (Capital)
Kont-Aar
Llomerryn

History Edit

992 TE: The Rivaini participate in the Battle of the Silent Plains in the southern reaches of Tevinter. Dumat is destroyed and the darkspawn forces routed.^[1]
1050–1120 TE: The Rivaini rebel in an attempt to split off from the Tevinter Imperium. They are supported by the eastern cities in the Free Marches. Tevinter launches campaigns to stop the rebellion. After several losses that culminated in the disastrous Battle of Temerin in 1117 TE, the Imperium finally abandons the east.^[1]
1126 TE: Foundation of the Kingdom of Rivain.^[1]
5:12 Exalted: Awakening of Andoral and the rise of the Fourth Blight. The darkspawn pour into Rivain from Antiva.^[1]
5:24 Exalted: Rivain is freed from the darkspawn during the battle at the city of Ayesleigh, where Garahel dies after defeating Andoral in combat.^[1]
6:32 – 42 Steel: The Qunari conquer Rivain.^[1]
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.^[1] The wars take a terrible toll upon the population of Rivain.^[2]
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.^[1]
After 7:84 Storm: The Chantry and nationalist forces of Rivian, 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.^[2]
9:38 - 40 Dragon: The Circle of Dairsmuid in Rivain is annulled.^[3]

Culture Edit

Its dark-skinned humans, the Rivaini, have a peaceful relationship with the elves. The city of Llomerryn is known to have a semi-permanent Dalish encampment on its outskirts. The Qunari settlement of Kont-aar is in northern Rivain.

Unlike the majority of peoples in Thedas, the Rivaini are not Andrastians and don't believe in the Maker. Rather, they are pantheists who believe in the Natural Order. Many, especially in Kont-aar, have also converted to the Qun, as their religion and the Qun are not very contradictory. Although there are prohibitions on magic, seers are revered as a matter of tradition. These local hedge witches converse with spirits and even allow themselves to be possessed, though it is supposedly done so for the benefit of their villages.

The Rivaini have skin tones ranging from dark tan to ebony.^[4] Social standing in Rivain is often marked by tattoos and body piercings. The more elaborate one's decorations, the higher one's rank.

Notable people with Rivain originsEdit

For a complete list, see Category:Rivaini.

Trivia Edit

Rivain possesses strong allegories to Spain during the Middle Ages, particularly around and during the occupation of the Islamic Moors (ala Qunari in Dragon Age). The references to Spain can be seen in the Mediterranean complexion of the Rivaini people, as well as the parallels of religious circumstances and society known of Iberian territories prior to the Reconquista.
Also the people of Rivain bear similarities with the real world nations of Italy, Lebanon, Greece and Israel. Their religion, which is centered around Seers, has similarities with voodoo. Also, in Rivain piercings show social status, just like some African tribes.