The nation of Rivain is located in the northeastern part of Thedas.
Its capital city is Dairsmuid, which is on the southern end of the Rivain peninsula. Being a peninsula, it is almost wholly surrounded by water except for a bridge of land connecting it to neighboring Antiva.[1]
History[]
- -203 Ancient (992 TE): The Rivaini participate in the Battle of the Silent Plains in the southern reaches of Tevinter. Dumat is brutally stabbed and the darkspawn forces routed.[3]
- -120 – -53 Ancient (1075–1142 TE)[note]: 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 -53 Ancient (1142 TE), the Imperium finally abandons the east.[4]
- -44 Ancient (1151 TE)[note]: Foundation of the Kingdom of Rivain.[5]
- 5:12 Exalted: Awakening of Andoral and the rise of the Fourth Blight. The darkspawn pour into Rivain from Antiva.[3]
- 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.[3]
- 6:32–42 Steel: The Qunari conquer Rivain.[3]
- 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.[3] The wars take a terrible toll upon the population of Rivain.[6]
- 7:84 Storm: The Qunari have been pushed back to the city of Kont-Aar in northern Rivain. The Llomerryn Accords are signed and peace is declared.[3]
- 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 men, women and children and burying them in mass graves.[6]
- 9:40 Dragon: In the wake of the incident at the White Spire and the outbreak of the Mage-Templar War, Seekers, sent by the Chantry to investigate the Circle of Dairsmuid's integrity, declare the entire Circle to be apostates due to the free association between the mages and citizens; despite holding off initial attacks, the Templars invoke the Right of Annulment and ultimately destroy the Dairsmuid Circle.[7][8]
Geography[]
Settlements[]
- Afsaana – a city overlooking the Rialto Bay; site of a battle between the Orlesian and Qunari forces in 7:75 Storm during the New Exalted Marches[9]
- Ayesleigh – the city where the final battle of the Fourth Blight occurred
- Dairsmuid – capital city of Rivain; seat of the monarchy and the only place in Rivain where the Chantry has any substantial authority
- Kont-aar – a Qunari settlement located on the northern coast, it is the only peaceful Qunari settlement in mainland Thedas[1]
- Llomerryn – a politically neutral port city situated on an island located just off of the southern tip of Rivain; the city is famous for being the location in which the Llomerryn Accords were signed ending the Qunari Wars (that had raged across the continent for nearly 150 years); pirates and criminals use the city as a base of operations and often peddle stolen goods at the local bazaars; the city is also the headquarters of the Felicisima Armada[10]
- Seere – a settlement located in northern Rivain
- Vindaar – a Qunari village located in northern Rivain[11]
Culture and society[]
The Rivaini usually 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. This is often accompanied by extravagant jewelry.[13]
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.[10]
Food[]
Rivain is known for producing bananas,[14] rice[15], beets,[16] chickpeas,[17] teas, and couscous, a mild tasting pasta comprised of water and semolina flour. Couscous is used as a salad base, with one recipe for Rivaini couscous salad consisting of a combination of mint and red bell pepper.[18] Goat custard has become a popular dessert in the country. One local version of this recipe tops the custard with roasted figs, and specifically uses the milk of Ayesleigh gulabi goats.[19] The milk produced by these goats is sought-after for its sweet taste, even outside Rivain. One known Rivaini baked good is the Raider Queen's bread of many tongues, a banana bread that calls for Par Vollen bananas, though Rivaini bananas are an acceptable substitute. The teas Rivain produces are believed to have healing properties, with two blends in particular being used to treat headaches. One is a blend of cinnamon, ginger and cloves,[20] while the other is a blend of peppermint, lemon verbena, oregano, and licorice root.[21]
Race relations[]
The Rivaini have a peaceful relationship with the elves. Rivain is also home to the only peaceful Qunari settlement on the continent: Kont-aar in northern Rivain.[22] Qunari emissaries are also common sight in Rivaini settlements; however, they stay away from the nobility.[23] The Rivaini themselves originally hail from small island chains on the Boeric Ocean.[24]
Religion[]
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. As such, many hold to the belief that their god and the universe are the same.[1] Though Rivain's royalty is still Andrastian, the Chantry lacks any authority beyond the capital of Dairsmuid.[10] Many, especially in Kont-aar, have also converted to the Qun, as their religion and the Qun are not very contradictory. According to Ferdinand Genitivi, a well-known Chantry scholar:
"The Chant of Light never truly reached the ears of these people. Resistance to the Chant goes deeper than the Qunari Wars. The Rivaini refuse to be parted from their seers, wise women who are in fact hedge mages, communicating with spirits and actually allowing themselves to be possessed. The Chantry prohibition against such magical practices violates millennia of local tradition."[1][25]
Magic[]
- Main article: Seer
Though a Circle existed in Dairsmuid, it was merely a means to appease the Chantry. The mages of the Circle were allowed to see their families and the women were specifically trained to be seers,[8] a position in Rivaini society that is revered as a matter of tradition. These local hedge witches converse with spirits and even allow themselves to be possessed for the benefit of their villages.[1][25] These seers educate apprentices in their craft and are allowed their freedom provided they assist Templars when needed. The Rivaini Circles are similar to those elsewhere in Thedas and are supported financially by Andrastian nobles.[10]
According to First Enchanter Rivella of the Dairsmuid Circle, when the other Circles rose up in rebellion starting the Mage-Templar War, the Chantry discovered in 9:40 Dragon how the Dairsmuid Circle operated and declared the mages as apostates and used the Right of Annulment to destroy the Circle and kill all of its mages.[8]
Role of women[]
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.[1] Twice a year the seers travel to Dairsmuid to meet in council, forge trade agreements, and publicly pledge loyalty to Rivain's queen.[26]
Notable Rivaini[]
- For a complete list, see Category:Rivaini.
- Cade Arvale – Champion of Tantervale[27]
- Bharv – a Lord of Fortune
- Queen Asha Campana – also known as the "Queen Mother of Thedas"
- Warden-Commander Duncan of Ferelden
- Madam Hari – Isabela's mother
- Hollix – a Lord of Fortune who once worked a job in Minrathous with Dorian Pavus and Maevaris Tilani
- Isabela – self-proclaimed "Queen of the Eastern Seas"
- Senior Enchanter Maleus – formerly of the Rivain Circle; declared an apostate in 9:20 Dragon
- Captain Revaud – father of First Enchanter Rivella; member of the Felicisima Armada[8]
- First Enchanter Rivella of Dairsmuid[8]
- Severan – advisor to King Meghren during the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden
- Tayana – Duncan's mother[28]
- First Enchanter Vivienne of Montsimmard
Codex entries[]
- Codex entry: The Llomerryn Accords
- Codex entry: Rivain
- Codex entry: Seers and the Allsmet
- Codex entry: Tal-Vashoth
Notes[]
- Other sources claim that some historical events happened 25 years earlier, i.e. that the rebellion started in -145 Ancient, the Battle of Temerin took place in -78 Ancient and the Kingdom of Rivain was founded in -69 Ancient.[3]
Trivia[]
- According to David Gaider, the Dalish in Rivain have a semi-permanent settlement in the city of Llomerryn.[29] However, a party banter during Act 2 in Dragon Age II between Isabela and Merrill reveals that the Dalish have not yet reached Llomerryn (at least since Isabela was last there).
- Rivaini consider deathwatch beetles to be ill omens, and kill them on sight.[30]
- Empress Celene of Orlais is known to drink at least two different blends of Rivaini tea throughout the day in order to combat headaches.[31][32]
See also[]
- Tales of the Destruction of Thedas by Brother Genitivi
References[]
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