Ravka

Ravka
General Information
Capital	Os Alta
Language(s)	Ravkan Suli
Ethnic groups	Suli
Religion(s)	Ravkan religion
Demonym	Ravkan
Government	Monarchy
Ruler	Yaromir Lantsov Yevgeni Lantsov Anastas Lantsov Ivan the Golden Alexander III The Darkling Nikolai Lantsov Zoya Nazyalensky
Currency	Ravkan currency
Coat of arms

Ravka is a nation bordered by Fjerda to the north, Shu Han to the south, and the True Sea to the west. The Ravkan colors are pale blue and gold.

History

The nomadic Suli people lived on the land that would become Ravka, Fjerda, and Shu Han.

The territory that would become Ravka was once several feudal provinces, led by kings, which were constantly in conflict with one another. Yaromir the Determined unified the provinces and became the first King of Ravka, founding the Lantsov royal line. However, the young kingdom remained war-torn as it faced invasions from the north and south.

Geography

The Shadow Fold, also known as the Unsea or simply the Fold, runs from Ravka's northern border to its southern one. Part of the Fold was once known as the Tula Valley.

The Petrazoi are an ice-covered mountain range northwest of Ryevost and Os Alta. To the northwest of the Petrazoi is Tsibeya, a vast area of wilderness just south of the permafrost. Ravka is bordered to the south and east by the massive Sikurzoi mountain range. In the mountains lies a valley on the southern border, Dva Stolba, which has occasionally been part of Shu Han during the border wars.

The Sokol River is a major river for commerce, feeding into Alkhem Bay at the major trading port Os Kervo. It later branches into the Obol River.

Climate

Ravka's climate is cold and it usually snows in winter. Its summers are warm and there is a thick layer of permafrost at its northern border.

Settlements

• Os Alta - Capital of Ravka.
• Os Kervo - Main trading port.
• Kribirsk - Eastern end of the journey across the Fold.
• Novokribirsk - Western end of the journey across the Fold.
• Ryevost - Largest of the river cities.
• Velisyana - Ruins to the south of Arkesk.
• Balakirev - A town directly west of Os Alta.
• Pachina
• Tashta
• Adena
• Brevno - Near a lake where a demon was said to have lived.
• Chernitsyn
• Duva - Site of the Ravkan folktale "The Witch of Duva".
• Keramzin - Location of the orphanage where Alina Starkov and Malyen Oretsev grew up.
• Kerskii - Location where the the Apparat once preached.
• Polvost - Site of the Ravkan folktale "The Too-Clever Fox".
• Vernost
• Poliznaya - Location of the military base where Alina Starkov and Malyen Oretsev trained.
• Sikursk - Small settlement near the Sikurzoi mountains.
• Chernast - Settlement in the northern Tsibeya.
• Caryeva - Settlement near the southern border of Ravka, known for its horse races and horse auctions.
• Ivets - A town on the Obol River and site of a miracle. A bridge across the Obol collapsed while people were parading across it, but a new bridge made of bone appeared in its place.
• Arkesk - Settlement on the northern road, north of the ruins of Velisyana.
• Grevyakin - Settlement once visited by King Nikolai Lantsov.
• Kelink
• Nezkii - Settlement near Fjerda.
• Ulensk
• Tsemna - Settlement that was entirely consumed by the Fold.
• Valchenko
• Yaryenosh
• Yelinka - Settlement about fifteen miles from Os Alta.
• Udova
• Ulyosk
• Varena
• Shura
• Gayena - Settlement where the Cult of the Starless Saint camped.
• Pachesyana - Town used as a base of operations for Ravka's forces.

Demographics

Many of the nomadic Suli people live in Ravka, mainly in the northwest. They have historically been mistreated by the Ravkan majority government.

Language

Main article: Ravkan language

Main article: Suli language

Culture

Ravkans are practical, modern, and supposed to no longer be controlled by their superstitions. They are a people who are used to being at war.

Religion

Main article: Ravkan religion

Government

Ravka is a monarchy formerly led by the royal Lantsov family. Currently, it is led by the Nazyalensky dynasty.

Known rulers

• Yaromir Lantsov, the Determined
• Yevgeni Lantsov
• Anastas Lantsov
• Ivan Lantsov, the Golden
• Alexander I Lantsov*
• Alexander II Lantsov
• Alexander III Lantsov
• The Darkling (by usurpation)
• Nikolai Lantsov
• Zoya Nazyalensky (current queen of Ravka)

*According to Alina Starkov, Aleksander was a name used by kings. Since Alexander is a variation of the same name, it's possible that the Lantsov dynasty used the name Aleksander and eventually changed it to Alexander.

Coat of arms

The Lantsov family coat of arms is the Ravkan crowned double eagle, grasping in the dexter claw a scepter and in the sinister claw a cluster of black arrows bound by red, blue and purple ribbons.

Military

Ravka is protected by two armies: the First Army, comprised of Otkazat'sya soldiers, and the Second Army, comprised of trained Grisha.

For more about the armies, see First Army and Second Army.

Behind the scenes

• Ravka is heavily influenced and inspired by Tsarist Russia of the early 1800s.
• Many of the countries that surround Ravka are based off of real nations that surround Russia (Mongolia and China for Shu Han and Norway and Finland for Fjerda).