Sphera's four provinces are distinctly different from one another, from the highlands of Shannon, to the dark forests of Sebordi the majestic plains of Sendoa, and the beautiful grasslands of Keres. Representing each of the very different four nations that began the nation, each province's look, architecture, and general style are vastly unique. But what is amazingly special, is that the closer you get to the borders, the more the styles of any two adjacent provinces blend into one another, symbolizing their unity into one. In the center of it all is the capital Argiloain, which is a complete mix of all four. I tworks amazingly well, as though each province was one instrument ,and Argiloain is the symphony.
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~ Excerpt from The Great Nations of Riven - Dr. Chase Meriden , 1681
Notes on Sphera - By Chase Meriden
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Nation: Sphera Population: 46.5 million Establishment: 300 AGB Capital: Argiloain
Religion: Christendom dominant religion Government: Republic
Leader: President Nora Quinn (Took office 679)
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Brief History: Sphera started out of the remnants of the Kingdom of Gaelia after the fall of Concord. After the fall, Eight kingdoms popped up, Keres, Ixidor, Sebordi, Sendoa, Tolla, and Claire, Rhia, and O’Hare. Over the next hundred years during the Age of Chaos, the kingdoms struggled to maintain stability. This was common for much of the Two Continents during the Age of Chaos, but these kingdoms developed a reputation beyond many other places.
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During the AoC there were many stories of odd things; creatures, monsters, ghosts. This region had far more than anywhere else. In fact, 54% of all stories, legends, sightings etc. of anything paranormal on the Two Continents after the Great Break came from the Sphera region. There were several towns that not only claimed to have dealt with beasts, but treated it like it was normal.
Tolla and O’Hare faded and collapsed themselves. At that point Claire began to become the dominant of the remaining six. Under the rule of King Shaun the Red, Rhia and O’hare were conquered and brought into Claire.
When Shaun the Red set his sights on the remaining four, they had a meeting with just the four Chieftains in a small town in Ixidor called Spher. It was here they agreed to work together to remain independent. In 198, a pact was signed and the Claire War began. It lasted ten years, and ended with Shaun Mallory winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Two Shauns and putting an end to Shaun the Red’s reign, and to Claire all together.
There was a chance for unification after, but it did not happen. The four remaining kingdoms survived and developed separately with one another, having loose alliances for protection purposes.
In 254, Sendoa and Keres broke into war and brought in Shannon and Sebordi. This would be called the Shattering of the Four. The war lasted three years and was almost the end of all four kingdoms, but the silver lining would be the peace that would be brokered after was the foundation for what would become the Kingdom of Sphera. In 257 the Treaty of Argiloain is signed and the four agreed to cooperate. This cooperation developed, maybe because the four sides were trying so hard to make sure another war didn’t break out.
In 280 the Kingdoms signed a more permanent alliance of protection, and then in 300 the decision was made, after years of debate and discussion, to unify under one flag. After three month long negotiations The Kingdom of Sphera is formed under a constitutional Monarchy and Oscar Maloney is elected as the first King of Sphera. There are criticisms that the new government grants too much federal power, and this becomes a high point of debate for the next two hundred years until the War of Violets and the change in government.
The newly formed nation was put to the test in 386 during the Final War, when they joined the Alliance against Marcus Lucian. The Spheran forces helped Kalahari, Rughara, and Rhone to hold back Lucians forces from over taking Riven. From that point on, Sphera established itself as a world power.
In 403, a great plague struck Sphera. Over the course of the year, the country would lose more than 83,000 people. Many blamed it on a creature called a Malwraith, a “fiend” level creature which are among the most powerful on the creature scale. A hunting party led by Mariam Ardennian claimed to kill the beast. The plague stopped shortly after.
In 434, the people of Sendoa came under the spell of a powerful Esra, who was believed to be a tier 2. They all started behaving in a trancelike state. Siblings Patrick and Aoife Ardennian, with the help of a party of Esra from Esara Island led by Christopher Loe managed to defeat the Esra and restore the Sendoans back to normal.
In 445, King Shane O’Connell takes the throne passes a number of laws that alienate Sphera from its neighbors. Sphera has several sanctions levied against it for its treatment of refugees from the former Kingdom of Joy. Several prominent Spheran families publicly denounce O’Connell, the Ardennians, the Fitzgeralds, and the Murphy’s, who themselves were politically affiliated with O’Connell’s party.
In 446, March 25th the Day of Many Funerals happens. Fourteen-year-old Liam Adrennian dies under mysterious circumstances. Domestic Terrorists from Sendoa attack the funeral, and ten are killed, including four Adrennians (Patrick III, Eileen, Oscar, and Sean), the four terrorists, and two attending friends. Accusations are mounted that Shane O’Connell had a hand in the attack, but it is never proven. Prominent Spheran’s condemn O’Connell for his rhetoric against the Ardennians, and publicly censure him for his speech. O’Connell is not waivered.
In 447, O’Connell declares the Ardennians and Fitzgeralds criminals and dispatches troops to Wadiswaken and Clark to take the towns.
On July 5th of 448, the Shattering happens when an insurgence party led by Callahan Fitzgerald storms the palace in Argiloain and overthrows O’Connell. Insurgent forces are met by pro-O’Connell supporters and there is a violent brawl. In the end, 45 people are killed during the event. The overthrow is successful mostly due to the lack of support O’Connell has from the military, who was not only fighting a war they didn’t seem to want to fight but were also losing.
In Sept of 448, O’Connell is put under house arrest for crimes against the country. Fitzgerald and his insurrectionists are also tried for high crimes against the state in a very public trial. For the worst crimes, they are found ‘Not Guilty’ though Fitzgerald gets a few minor convictions that don’t amount to much. Four months later, O’Connell is assassinated in his home in Sendoa. Tally Ardennian is widely suspected of the act, but no real evidence ever presents itself.
In January 449 the Spherans meet at a new constitutional convention to evolve the constitution so to prevent anything like from the past few years from ever happening again. The role of King is changed to a President, and a system of checks and balances in government is designed to prevent any overreach of power from anyone. The people are widely in support of this. Callahan Fitzgerald is elected the first President of Sphera. He serves two terms, and while having a number of controversies over personal issues, is widely remembered positively.
In 465, King Richard of Rhone takes unclaimed territory from the Wild Lands of Cheyenne. Sphera issues a threat, stating if they do not desist, they will take action. Richard responds defiantly and the War of Violets begins. Kalahari joins the War of Violets against Rhone forcing the country to fight the war on both fronts. Led by Kari Ardennian, Sphera wins a decisive battle against Rhone forces on April 5th. The Rhone forces surrender shortly after.
In 470 the Spheran Express is created, a large luxurious passenger train originally designed to travel from Raleigh in Rhone, to Banah in Kalahari. The effort is to repair damage done during O’Connell’s reign. On the first trip of the Spheran Express, a duchess from Sebordi passes away from a sudden sickness. Over the next fifty years, twenty-five people will die on the Spheran Express for one reason or another. Sphera’s reputation of being haunted is often blamed for this, and the Spheran Express becomes considered one of the most haunted attractions in the entire Two Continents, which it remains to this day.
In 520, President Deirdre Walsh starts the Walsh Plan which provides support to the newly formed nations of the Cheyenne Territories. Sphera sends a number of non-military tradesman personnel, food, and supplies to help them get on their feet. The different nations clash over who is getting more aide than others and there are several violent incidents. The program lasts twenty years overall, but only was really effective for five, and is widely viewed as a failure.
In 533, the Esra embassy in Wadiswaken operating at Bluestone Manor is taken over by rogue Esra Damien Penbreaker. Penbreaker’s control of Bluestone creates a great concern among the people of Sphera and Riven, believing that potentially another Marcus Lucian is growing in power. Penbreaker managed to hold the manor for fifteen years, and in 548 a joint force of Spherans, Rhonians, and Esra remove him from Bluestone.