Editing Rira (country)

{{nation|place=Rira
|map=Locator_Rira.png
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}{{update|book=sa3}}
{{for|Rira (character)|the slumlord of Hallandren|pre=This article is about a nation on Roshar}}
'''Rira''' is a kingdom in northwestern [[Roshar]], bordering [[Iri]] and [[Babatharnam]].{{map ref|Roshar}} Formerly a part of the [[Silver Kingdoms|Silver Kingdom]] of Iri, the people of Rira have a distinct appearance, with blond hair and light skin.{{wob ref|3934}} Their culture is also unique, and incorporates certain aspects of both Iriali and [[Vorin]] tradition.{{book ref|sa3|66}} 

==Geography and Ecology==
Rira is located in northwest Roshar, a warm area of the continent.{{book ref|sa1|i|5}} Rira primarily borders [[Babatharnam]] to the south; it also has a very small border with the [[Misted Mountains]]. To the east, a large lake separates Rira from Iri, with land borders to the north and south of the lake. The northeastern portion of Rira is mountainous and surrounded by the [[Reshi Sea]].{{map ref|Roshar}}
===Notable Locations===
Rira contains an area known as the "sunken forests".{{book ref|sa3|66}} It also controls the island that contains the city of [[Kurth]].{{map ref|Roshar}} [[Rianal]], [[Drehy]]'s birthplace, is in the west;{{book ref|sa1|49}} based on Drehy's blond hair, it may be located in Rira, but it does not appear on available maps.

==History==
In the [[Silver Kingdoms]] era, almost all of Rira's territory was a part of [[Iri]]. At some point, the Riran people that occupied the eastern portion of Iri formed their own nation. Rira also took control of a small island near its coast that contained the city of Kurth, previously held by the Silver Kingdom of [[Rishir]].{{map ref|Silver Kingdoms}}{{map ref|Roshar}}

Iri continued to claim Rira as a vassal state, but this claim was disputed, and Rira was recognized as a sovereign kingdom by other nations.{{book ref|sa3|16}}
{{sidequote|side=right|size=300px
|Soulcasters. We have not these things in Rira or Iri. Fascinating, fascinating ... And so many Shards here. Perhaps half the world's wealth of Blades and Plates, all contained in Vorin kingdoms. The Heralds themselves favor you.
|[[Toh]]{{book ref|sa3|19}}
}}
By the end of the [[Era of Solitude]], Rira was not a military power and it did not possess [[soulcasting|Soulcasters]].{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{book ref|sa3|19}} It did have at least one set of [[Shardplate]], which belonged to a teenager named [[Evi]].{{book ref|sa3|26}} Evi and her brother [[Toh]] "stole" the Shardplate by taking it out of Rira; they used the Plate as a bargaining chip to gain asylum in [[Alethkar]] and convince [[Dalinar Kholin]] to marry Evi.{{book ref|sa3|19}}{{book ref|sa3|4}} The other Rirans were enraged that the Plate had been taken, and exiled Toh and Evi.{{book ref|sa3|66}} Toh was very worried about retribution; he and Evi intentionally sought out the Alethi seeking protection through their military might.{{book ref|sa3|19}}{{book ref|sa3|26}}

During the [[True Desolation]], the Riran government did not respond to Dalinar's overtures to form an alliance to fight the [[Voidbringer]]s.{{book ref|sa3|24}} The monarchy of Iri claimed to speak for Rira; they considered Dalinar a thief due to the history of Evi's Shardplate, despite the fact that the Iriali may not have had a valid claim to the Plate. Dalinar actually considered giving the Iriali the Plate, now worn by [[Adolin]], if it would bring them to his side, but the talks quickly broke off.{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{book ref|sa3|24}}

As the war progressed, the Iriali invaded Rira and reclaimed its territory.{{book ref|sa3|27}} Rira was then incorporated into [[Odium]]'s stronghold in northwestern Roshar, and their armies fought against Dalinar's coalition.{{book ref|sa3|96}}{{book ref|sa3|107}}

==Politics==
Rira is referred to as a "kingdom",{{book ref|sa3|16}} implying that it has a monarchy of some kind, but the structure of their government is not known. Even though Iri's claim on Rira as a vassal state is disputed, Iri is thought to have significant sway over Rira, at least from a diplomatic standpoint.{{book ref|sa3|12}}{{book ref|sa3|16}} Because Rira and Iri lack Soulcasters and Shards, they are not thought of as a threat in the east.{{book ref|sa3|19}}

Rira becomes a strategically significant location during the [[True Desolation]] because of the [[Oathgate]] located in Kurth. Because Rira is deep in the territory controlled by Odium, Dalinar's coalition has not made an attempt to capture Kurth.{{map ref|Oathgates}}{{book ref|sa3|107}}

==Culture==
===Peoples===
{{quote
|<nowiki>[</nowiki>Zu<nowiki>]</nowiki> had bronze skin that seemed metallic to Adolin, and her hair wasn't like his own blond&mdash;it was too golden. Though his mother had been from Rira, near Iri, the two peoples were distinct.
|Adolin's thoughts on [[Zu (Roshar)|Zu]]'s appearance{{book ref|sa4|22}}
}}
Riran people superficially share some physical traits with the Iriali. They are tall, and have relatively light skin and blond hair.{{book ref|sa3|19}}{{wob ref|3934}} However, Rirans do not have the Iriali trait of a metallic tinge to their skin and hair.{{book ref|sa4|22}} Rirans have a mixed ancestry{{wob ref|12791}} and there are genetic differences between the two peoples.{{wob ref|3934}}{{book ref|sa4|22}}

[[Ialai Sadeas]] claimed that Rirans and Iriali wear very little clothing, similar to the [[Reshi]], although she may have been exaggerating in order to tempt Dalinar. Evi does wear a "filmy" dress when she first meets the Alethi, and awkwardly covers her [[safehand]].{{book ref|sa4|22}}

===Religion===
Rira seems to be ideologically and religiously distinct from both the Iriali and the [[Vorin]] nations to the east. Some Rirans have a belief system that incorporates parts of each of these religions, while others feel that neither doctrine applies to their people.{{book ref|sa3|66}}

Evi believes in the Iri concept of the [[One]] but also seems to worship the [[Herald]]s.{{book ref|sa3|36}} However, she uses unique names for the Heralds such as [[Yaysi]] and [[Kellai]], and she does not pray to the [[Almighty]]. She burns [[glyphward]]s, but she is careful to use fragrant paper that also serves as incense.{{book ref|sa3|26}}{{book ref|sa3|71}} She also refers to an unknown entity named [[Shishi]].{{book ref|sa3|36}}

===Language===
Rira has its own language that is linguistically related to the Iri and Reshi languages.{{wob ref|3977}} The "Re" in [[Renarin]]'s name comes from the Riran language, although it has no specific meaning.{{book ref|sa3|52}}

Toh and Evi speak Alethi with a thick accent, lengthening their "oh" and "ah" sounds.{{book ref|sa3|19}} Riran idioms do not translate well into Alethi.{{book ref|sa3|36}} 

== Notes ==
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