Rivain is a kingdom in northeastern Thedas. Located on a peninsula, it is almost wholly surrounded by water, only connected to neighboring Antiva by a land bridge. Its geographical isolation has made it a human nation unlike any other. Traditionally, Rivain is a matriarchal society, and though it is officially ruled by a monarch, most communities look to their eldest women for guidance. The most senior of these are called seers and freely practice magic. The Rivaini's unwillingness to part with their mages has made it hard for Andrastianism to fully take hold. Many Rivaini stick to their traditional pantheistic beliefs that their god and the universe are the same. In addition, many Rivaini converted to the Qun following the Qunari invasion in the Steel Age.
The Orlesian Chantry launched three Exalted Marches to reclaim Rivain over the Steel and Storm Age. The wars took such a terrible toll on the Rivaini population that the Qunari voluntarily retreated from Rivain, leaving Kont-aar behind as the sole peaceful Qunari settlement in continental Thedas. After over a century under the Qun, many Rivaini refused to convert back to Andrastianism, and were slaughtered for it by the Chantry. As a result, Chantry influence is minimal outside of Dairsmuid, Rivain's capital and seat of the monarchy. The lack of Chantry oversight and its isolated location have made Rivain a haven for pirates and raiders.[1]
History[]
Ancient history[]
Rivaini heraldry[2]
The area now corresponding to Rivain was once a province of the Tevinter Imperium. In -203 Ancient, the Rivaini participated in the Battle of the Silent Plains where Dumat was finally slain and the darkspawn forces routed after almost two centuries of conflict.[3]
Rebellion started to stir in -120 Ancient, as Rivain attempted to split off from the Imperium. Several of the newly-formed Marcher city-states came to Rivain's aid. Tevinter launched campaigns to stop the rebellion. After several losses that culminated in the disastrous Battle of Temerin in -53 Ancient, the Imperium finally abandoned the east.[4][3]
The kingdom of Rivain was officially founded in -44 Ancient.[note][4]
Blight and Qunari invasion[]
In 5:12 Exalted, the Archdemon Andoral awoke, starting the Fourth Blight. After devastating Antiva, the darkspawn poured into Rivain through the land bridge that connects the two nations.[3] Rivain was only freed from the darkspawn in 5:24 Exalted, when Grey Warden Garahel died striking the killing blow against Andoral at the Battle of Ayesleigh.[3]
In 6:32 Steel, two years after their arrival on Par Vollen, the Qunari launched an invasion. Scores of ships landed in Seheron and northern Rivain, marking the beginning of the First Qunari War. Over the next decade, the Qunari conquered much of Rivain, the Imperium and Antiva.[5][3] Many people in Rivain converted to the Qun in the wake of the occupation.
Between 7:25 and 7:85 Storm, the Orlesian Chantry and the Imperial Chantry allied for the first time since the Chantry Schism to launch three Exalted Marches against the Qun and retake Rivain and Seheron, respectively. In 7:55, the pirates of Llomerryn banded together to form the Felicisima Armada, helping to turn the tide against the Qunari at sea. The Battle of Afsaana took place in 7:75 Storm. During the battle, Vidathiss, a Qunari "re-educator" with a (possibly unfounded) reputation for crushing the heads of captured knights was killed by an Orlesian knight, who then claimed her famous mace as a trophy.
By 7:84 Storm, the Qunari had been pushed back to the city of Kont-aar in northern Rivain. The wars had taken a terrible toll on the Rivaini population. When the Third New Exalted March had all but massacred the people of Kont-aar without even chipping the Qunari occupying force, they finally agreed to withdraw. The treaty that put an official end to the Qunari Wars was signed on the politically neutral island of Llomerryn off the southern coast of Rivain. They received Par Vollen in exchange for cessation of hostilities against all signing nations. Only Tevinter refused to sign.
The Kingdom of Rivain immediately violated the treaty, twice. The first violation was when the humans of northern Rivain, who had almost all converted to the Qun and therefore were Qunari by definition, refused to leave Rivain to go to Par Vollen. The second was when the Chantry and nationalist forces slaughtered countless unarmed people who refused to convert to Andrastianism and buried them in mass graves. For some reason, the leaders of Kont-aar did not inform the Qunari of Par Vollen of the massacres.[6]
Modern day[]
In 9:40 Dragon, in the wake of the incident at the White Spire and the outbreak of the Mage-Templar War, Seekers were sent by the Chantry to investigate the integrity of the Circle of Dairsmuid. When they found the mages able to freely associate with their families and young women being trained in the ways of the seers, they declared the entire Circle to be apostates and invoked the Right of Annulment. First Enchanter Rivella led the defense of the Circle, and while they initially saw some success, the Templars brought a small army and ultimately destroyed the Dairsmuid Circle.[7][8]
Geography[]
Settlements[]
Small Rivaini port
- 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[]
Rivaini port[12]
The Rivaini usually have olive skin, with skin tones ranging from dark tan to ebony.[citation needed] 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]
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.[14] Qunari emissaries are also common sight in Rivaini settlements; however, they stay away from the nobility.[15] The Rivaini themselves originally hail from small island chains on the Boeric Ocean.[16]
A Rivaini village
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][17]
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][17] 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.[18]
Food[]
Rivain is known for producing bananas,[19] rice[20], beets,[21] chickpeas,[22] 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.[23] 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.[24] 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,[25] while the other is a blend of peppermint, lemon verbena, oregano, and licorice root.[26]
Notable Rivaini[]
- For a complete list, see Category:Rivaini.
Duncan and Isabela
Vivienne
- 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[]
- Dates on Rivain's founding differ by 25 years depending on the source. The Prima Official Guide claims that Rivain's rebellion started in -145 Ancient, that the Battle of Temerin took place in -78 Ancient and that the Kingdom of Rivain was founded in -69 Ancient, whereas Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 claims that the rebellion started in -120 Ancient and that Rivain was founded in -44 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[]
David Gaider (May 20, 2009). 
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