Aráinia
| Aráinia | |
|---|---|
| Image |  Painting of a valley in Aráinia |
| Location |  Location of Aráinia on the continent of Méniail |
| Continent | Méniail |
| Country(ies) | Aráinian Republic |
| Capital and Largest City | Ilivul |
| Subregions | Lastèr Valley • Teilil Valley • Islhia Valley • Ursivèr Valley • Ecais Bay • Ibipudda Islands |
| Goverment | Federal republic |
| Size | 194,016 mi² (502,499 km²) |
| Spirits | Dásravai • Misay • Ivvapudda |
| Native Races | Barugoar • Gehasha |
| Population | About 3,650,000 |
Introduction
Aráinia is a region in the north of Méniail, enclosed by the Aráinia Mountains. It is a land of deep valleys walled by granite cliffs, of rivers, lakes and forests, with a coast on the northern sea and a chain of islands beyond it.
Aráinia has two peoples: the Barugoar, humans who landed on its coast during the Great Migration, and the Gehasha, a winged people native to its mountains. The whole region forms the Aráinian Republic, a federation of ten states and the District of Ilivul, where the capital stands. With about 3.65 million people, rich farmland, mines and a railway network, it is a prosperous region.
Etymology
The name Aráinia comes from the Gehashan arraanyaa, "valley", which the Barugoar adopted.
History
Formation
According to Barugoar tradition, the valleys of Aráinia formed where the tears of Yairan fell during the Great Erosion, and the mountains rose around them to shelter the land.
Age of Ascendance
In the Age of Ascendance the region was settled by the Ascendant Spirits Dásravai, Misay and Ivvapudda. Dásravai created the Gehasha, who made their homes in the mountain ranges.
Landing and settlement
During the Great Migration, a few ships of the armada bound for Gosterra broke away from it and landed at Ecais Bay around 20 ME, carrying about 5,000 people, and founded Atinigur. Their descendants are the Barugoar. Around 30 ME Gostaldi ships searching for the missing vessels found the settlers, and the two peoples have been in contact by sea since. Their first contact with the Gehasha was largely peaceful, though there were clashes in the 100s and 200s ME as farmers moved into the foothill pastures.
From the bay the Barugoar spread up the river valleys, and by the 400s ME four principalities had grown up there: Sènd, Alsie, Insaurd and Ursivèr. The islands governed themselves. The settlers kept the Tefar faith; after it divided in the 200s ME, they followed Yeparchism through their ties with Gosterra.
Aráinian Empire
Sènd, the most populous principality, defeated Alsie in a war of about 560–566 ME, and then the alliance of Alsie, Insaurd and Ursivèr around 580 ME. The four principalities became the Aráinian Empire under the prince of Sènd as emperor, with its capital at Ilivul. The wars of the 600s ME in Orinilure and Gosterra, fought with firearms and artillery, showed that the mountains no longer protected Aráinia, and the cost of defense weighed on the Empire. Around 650 ME an uprising brought it down, and the former principalities governed themselves under a loose union, which the islands joined.
Founding of the Republic
The union proved too weak to provide a common defense. In 702 ME the states united under a single constitution as the Aráinian Republic, with Ilivul as its capital. The Gehasha became citizens of the Republic within the states in which they live.
Modern period
Railways were built from the 840s ME and now connect Ilivul with the principal cities of the valleys, and the telegraph followed them. A gold rush in the foothills of the Aráinia Mountains in the 850s ME brought rapid growth to the southern valleys and led to disputes with the Gehasha over mining in their lands.
Geography
Aráinia covers 194,016 mi² (502,499 km²), not counting its islands. The Aráinia Mountains enclose it in a ring shaped like a teardrop, separating it from Gosterra to the west, Khamria to the south and Orinilure to the east; the Odhan forms part of the border with Gosterra. The sea lies to the north.
Within the ring, the Malcèr, Arcis and Oimind ranges divide the land into valleys. The Ursivèr is the principal river, the Sènd flows south from Ilivul, and the Lastèr runs north to the coast. The largest lakes include Urlur, Islhia, Lolitie and Silar. The coast is indented by Bavislic Bay in the west and Ecais Bay in the north. The islands stretch about 300 miles (483 km) northward from the coast; I. Uèrt, the largest, covers 1,635 mi² (4,235 km²).
The valleys are walled by granite cliffs and fed by waterfalls. Conifer forests cover the mountain slopes, and oak woods, orchards and farmland the valley floors.
Subregions
- Lastèr Valley, in the northwest, along the Lastèr and the shores of Bavislic Bay.
- Teilil Valley, in the far west, below the Aráinia Mountains.
- Islhia Valley, in the center, around Lake Islhia and Ilivul and along the Sènd.
- Ursivèr Valley, in the south, along the course of the Ursivèr.
- Ecais Bay, the northern coast around the bay.
- Ibipudda Islands, the chain of islands off the northern coast, named in Barugoar after Ivvapudda, whose house stands on them.
Climate
Aráinia has dry, warm summers and wet winters. Summers are hot on the valley floors, while the high ranges receive heavy snow in winter. The islands are cooler and windier than the mainland.
Goverment and Politics
Aráinia is governed by the Aráinian Republic, a federal republic of ten states. Each state governs its own internal affairs, while the federal government at Ilivul is responsible for defense, foreign relations and trade between the states. The capital stands in the District of Ilivul, which covers about 60 mi² (155 km²) on the southern shore of Lake Islhia and belongs to no state. The Gehasha are citizens of the Republic and are represented through their states; in Gahuya, in the mountains of the west, they form the majority.
| State | Capital | Area | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sènd | Lurie | 23,674 mi² (61,315 km²) | 630,000 |
| Ursivèr | Bigulus | 27,543 mi² (71,336 km²) | 645,000 |
| Insaurd | Iveond | 17,042 mi² (44,139 km²) | 475,000 |
| Alsie | Sèta | 19,534 mi² (50,593 km²) | 395,000 |
| Oimind | Olivie | 48,102 mi² (124,584 km²) | 395,000 |
| Ecais | Atinigur | 16,999 mi² (44,027 km²) | 350,000 |
| Costidia | Onsiol | 14,784 mi² (38,290 km²) | 230,000 |
| Menivia | Irerèrs | 6,443 mi² (16,687 km²) | 130,000 |
| Gahuya | Gahuya | 19,835 mi² (51,372 km²) | 90,000 |
| Uèrt | Caibul | about 1,700 mi² (4,400 km²) | 55,000 |
| District of Ilivul | Ilivul | 60 mi² (155 km²) | 260,000 |
The Republic trades with the Kingdom of Bóinbile, the Heialdyn Stratocracy and the Yeege Kingdom, which keeps envoys in Ilivul, and to a lesser extent with Khamria.
Economy
Aráinia is rich in farmland and natural resources. Its valleys produce grain, fruit from extensive orchards, among them almonds, pomegranates, quinces, cherries, apples and olives, and wine from its vineyards; livestock are raised throughout. Iron, marble and building stone are mined and quarried, and gold and silver are found in the foothills of the Aráinia Mountains. The mountain forests supply timber. Onsiol, on the northern coast, is the principal shipbuilding port. The railways carry goods between the valleys and the capital.
Demographics
Aráinia has about 3,650,000 inhabitants: about 3,550,000 Barugoar and about 100,000 Gehasha. About half the population lives in cities and towns. The largest cities are Ilivul (240,000), Bigulus (140,000), Iveond (100,000), Atinigur (75,000) and Lacuers (60,000).
Yeparchism is the predominant religion, and Uisla has a sizeable following. The Gehasha were converted to Yeparchism, but many also worship the spirits, above all Dásravai.
The Barugoar speak Barugoar and the Gehasha speak Gehashan.
Culture
Yeparchism shapes much of Barugoar life, alongside a sizeable Uisla community. Among the Gehasha, devotion to Dásravai remains strong.
Native Spirits
- Dásravai, the Ascendant Spirit of valleys, creator of the Gehasha. The House of Dásravai stands in the southeast, beside the Lirèr Forest.
- Misay, the Ascendant Spirit of self-reflection and self-deception. The House of Misay stands on Lake Islhia, beside Ilivul.
- Ivvapudda, the Ascendant Spirit of home and hearth. The House of Ivvapudda stands on I. Lurmutur, the northernmost of the islands.
See also